Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement is on the Gameti spiritual healing workshop. During our visit to the Sahtu region early in February, Mr. Henry Zoe and myself had the opportunity to speak with the Deline people who at that time were talking about a cultural exchange trip on the land to Gameti. The Deline coordinator spoke on the Dene history, the passing down of knowledge to the younger generation and the essential movement to keep the traditions alive by embarking on this trip. By fundraising and seeking support from this government and other organizations, the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Will this be in the mains next year, the business cycle?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Also, would this show up next year in our business planning?

Thank you, Madam Chair. As my honourable colleague Mr. Hawkins said, we just got elected into the government in November and we took the onus to skip the business plan to deal with the budget here. Being new to the House and the system and learning as we go, I think one of the things that I’d like to say is that we have something in front of us, let’s deal with it. Good or bad, right or wrong, we have to deal with it. I knew that this government was going to be into a debt wall when I was running for Sahtu MLA and they told me about the debt wall and how would you deal with it. I never really...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. Can he instruct his department in the communities that need to work out some of the case-by-case details in terms of informing the mental health workers, or the drug and alcohol workers -- because it might be a week or two before they have their final details to secure them into these new positions -- that these workers will continue on with their employment and the detail will be worked out to secure them in their positions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. In light of that, can the Minister inform this House and instruct the majority of the authorities of the mental health and drug and alcohol workers in terms of the expectations of having these workers secured in place in this initiative, in terms of security in their positions and their roles from now on with the GNWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize someone very important in my life, a most important teacher, my mother, Laura Lennie.

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My questions are for the Minister of RWED.

In their budget, the federal government has put $75 million for northern oil and gas development. There is also another $10 million for 2004-2005 in the northern economic development strategy. Can the Minister please provide the details that explain the following?

What this funding is for?

Who can access this funding

How you can access this funding?

When this funding will be available?

What other programs does the Government of the Northwest Territories have to help the Sahtu take advantage of oil and gas development and what is the best way for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Premier. In light of the Bear River hydro potential for power in the Sahtu, and the rest of the Northwest Territories, between now and whenever that project comes to reality, what can we tell the people in Colville Lake and other communities like Colville Lake in terms of how to reduce the cost of power in their communities? I understand that the Bear River could be a significant benefit to a lot of people in the Northwest Territories, but between now and then I would like to know what type of plans the NWTPC has in terms of reducing the cost of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister, for one of the biggest forces in getting the pipeline off the ground and working through the Mackenzie Valley, the Treaty needs of the people in the local communities in the regions. The Minister informed the House as to what steps he will take with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of assessing the Treaty rights in their regions. Thank you.