Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had staff down in Edmonton now for almost three weeks, senior staff working through the situation and dealing with the clients on a daily basis. We’ve also made sure, as we have tried to keep everybody informed, that the families have been informed. Some of them are very active in this particular issue. If there is more to be done, then I would be glad to take advice from the Member to see what that would be in terms of keeping the families better involved and informed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the honourable Minister Michael Miltenberger. In my Member’s statement today, I talked about the uncertainty facing clients in the Northwest Territories who are currently living in the facility operated by the Aboriginal Partners and Youth Society. While I sympathize with the troubles of the society, I have too, as a legislator, recognized there are certain standards and criteria that have to be met by this government to continue other contractual relationships. I cannot advocate a cause that would open them up for lawsuits. This would be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to talk about the Aboriginal Youth and Partners Society in Edmonton and about the uncertainty of outpatient clients in the Northwest Territories who are living in that facility. Two of the clients in that facility are my constituents, so I have become involved in this matter. As it stands today, Mr. Speaker, NWT clients are being asked by this government to move to a new service provider, Edmonton Creative Services. They are concerned that the service will not be good, and they have indicated that they do not want to move.

The...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members of the House, since the incident, I have given some thought to it, prayed on it. There are some people who have thought about it, but I had to go inside my heart. Even last night I was talking to Tony. I said what do I do and what way should we go about dealing with this issue. I talked to the Sahtu leadership on Friday and talked to them over the weekend and today. I asked about this motion. It is really painful to move it. The Sahtu leadership told me that I would make the right decision, but also gave me some flexibility in terms of continuing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess I am sad about this motion. Mr. Allen asked me to consider seconding the motion. Mr. Speaker, I heard that in order to get to the Promised Land, we have to negotiate our way out of the bushes. So I look at this as an opportunity with the Northwest Territories being the promised land because of the potential wealth that we have in the Northwest Territories and the amount of wealth that the federal government takes from the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we are in a unique position. There are unique circumstances in the Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. I will take you up on your offer to meet at a later date. As we know, sometimes we send information out to the federal government and some days it takes very long. Like the devolution issue. It takes a long time to get some answers from the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, the present student financial assistance program will provide assistance for 20 semesters of university. Would the Minister consider allowing Metis people to attend the university and college interest program through Aurora College under the overall eligibility? Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. As I stated in my Member’s statement, the Metis people aren’t eligible for university and college entry programs. I realize the department is only delivering programs as directed by the federal government’s policies, however, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell me whether the department has ever considered extending the university and college entry programs to Metis people? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about what I see as an unfair application of aboriginal rights by the Government of Canada as they related to the Metis people.

The failure of the federal government to recognize and provide a safe process to access programs and services to the Metis as an office to status Indians is unacceptable. It is even more unacceptable, Mr. Speaker, that the Government of the Northwest Territories is forced to follow the federal policies and return it as a royalty for the federal programs to be delivered on their behalf. The...

WHEREAS pursuant to section 61(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner the appointment of Members of the Executive Council;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 61(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the persons appointed hold office during the pleasure of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the assembly, pursuant to these powers has chosen the Honourable Henry Zoe to sit as a Member of the Executive Council;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that this assembly...