Norman Yakeleya

It was duly noted last night at the opening ceremonies that the Minister was preoccupied, and so that was understandable by the participants.

I guess what I wanted to say was there were so many people out there – coaches and athletes and volunteers – that it would be nice to have some type of a book so that we could start reading about the traditional games, because that’s kind of where things are going nowadays even though they’re handed down orally. We kind of understand that in our smaller communities.

I want to ask the Minister, for the support of these traditional games, is there is long...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the amount of dollars going into the Sahtu and people having that type of opportunity, those are some good things that people are doing with the money. There are also some things that people are not doing so well. With this type of readiness session sometime in the future, hopefully it will be in the next five months, we want to look at the social impacts.

Recently, we’ve seen lots of liquor being confiscated by the RCMP. We need to talk about some of the social issues. Will that be part of the forum?

Mr. Speaker, going back to the two ladies, the chief and the lands director from Fort Nelson, they talked about striking a balance. Certainly we hear the benefits that Mr. Ramsay indicated. Now we are talking about striking a balance of the economic benefits plus looking at the sustainability of our land, water and animals. Mr. Ramsay communicated with the Minister of ITI. We are actually on the verge of a huge turning point in the Northwest Territories.

Is there some type of discussion with his department and ENR, saying we need to look at balance with the land and with the economic...

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize a young Page that was serving us. His name is Ben Karstad. Ben and my son Chase practice karate together, so I want to recognize him. I would also like to recognize the chief from Aklavik, Charlie Furlong, and his partner, Joanne Deneron. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in the economic measures chapter, if there is going to be any type of changes to the policies and programs and services, is there an opportunity that this Minister will then sit down with the Sahtu leadership and discuss the type of changes that could possibly be coming forth or whatever that there’s going to be a shift from this Constitution written document?

I look forward to the review of the medical travel in this situation. It has certainly failed her in this case here.

I want to ask the Minister, is it a policy when a patient from any community requests an escort in this type of situation, is an escort then automatically granted or is it within the power of the nurse to deny the medical escort for a patient?

Mr. Speaker, on the medical travel, is that common practice when somebody is seriously injured in the community in the Northwest Territories that it takes a couple days to medevac the person out? Is that in the policy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement is about an incident that happened in Fort Good Hope and it will talk about a few things.

A young lady was struck by a skidoo, which at the time had four people on it. It was considered a hit and run incident and at the time when she was hit, she was transported to the local health centre where she was assessed.

It wasn’t until a few days later that she was finally medevaced from Fort Good Hope to Yellowknife for treatment. So the question is: Why two days waiting in Good Hope when she was hit by a skidoo?

When she finally arrived in Yellowknife for...

Madam Chair, I have a motion. I move that the Department of Finance continue to work with the Auditor General of Canada and GNWT departments, boards and agencies toward the completion of both the interim and the final public accounts at the earliest possible date each year.

WHEREAS there are 10 communities in the Northwest Territories without resident RCMP officers;

AND WHEREAS there are nine communities in the Northwest Territories without resident nurses;

AND WHEREAS both policing and nursing services are critical to the health and safety of all communities and their residents;

AND WHEREAS the lack of these services has continued for many years despite ongoing pressure from communities and Regular Members to expand them;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the government...