Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have five written questions. My questions today are for the Premier, the Honourable Joseph Handley.

What is the direction of this government in providing support for survivors of residential schools?

Where can survivors of residential schools go to receive specific treatment for issues that are a result of the residential schools?

How is this government working with the office of Indian residential schools established by the federal government?

Would the Premier provide this House with clear direction as to where survivors can receive assistance in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns of the families is the new services being proposed by this government to be used by the clients who are in Edmonton is that Integrated Services may not be a good move. Some of the families indicated that the Aboriginal Partners and Youth Society has a really good program and are afraid that their clients would not receive the same type of programs by this new proposed facility. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that the new contractor meets the needs of the aboriginal clients who are being suggested to move to the new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the information from the Minister. In saying all this, I also want to ask the Minister and his officials what they are planning to do to inform these nine clients who are in Edmonton about the facility. Not so much the clients, but look at the families of these people rather than just having a phone call to the families. What is his department doing to talk to the families? I know it’s a sensitive issue and I would appreciate a phone call from any department of this government to let me know what’s happening to someone who is close to me. I think we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable colleagues. Mr. Speaker, these clients are far away from home, Mr. Speaker, and they have certainly looked to us for some guidance and direction as it costs a lot of money for families to go down to Edmonton. Mr. Speaker, I don’t see why the facilities that are operating in the Northwest Territories are running empty, and this government is paying millions of dollars to keep them operational. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

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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...