Robert Villeneuve

I think in these interim measures agreements that we have, I think the Minister or the government still has the final say on whether to issue a licence or not, whether an aboriginal organization or community organization, NGO, for example, has some issues surrounding the issuance of a licence to a particular operator or an operator that is maybe not from the territory. How much consideration is given to the final outcome of any issuance or renewal to an organization that has those concerns? Thank you.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Bill 11, Tourism Act. The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met on September 5th, 2006, and October 16th, 2006, to review Bill 11, Tourism Act for the Northwest Territories.

The committee had a brief presentation from Ms. Robin Wotherspoon, president of the NWT Tourism Association.

The committee is pleased with the new simplified process of obtaining a tourism licence in the Northwest Territories. The existing tourist establishment licence and travel and tourism outfitter licence will be replaced with a single tourism operator licence. A new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lot of these affordable housing units are going to be going into communities. The Housing Corporation’s intent is to have them turned into or sold off into private homeownership programs or to private individuals in the community. Just with respect to the multi-housing units that are going to be going out there, I know the ones that are there now, they have shared mechanical rooms, water tanks and sewer tanks, which are the design of the old multi-units that we have today. We have lots of problems with the tenants that are in them. People don’t like to be in them...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me ask the Minister if he can provide this House with what changes from the old reserve style matchbox 5-12s that the Housing Corporation has been putting on the ground for the last 10 to 15 years. What changes is the Housing Corporation going to incorporate into this new affordable housing initiative?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the Fort Resolution Metis Council president and one of the original native cousins, Mr. Lloyd Cardinal.

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I’d also like to recognize Vern Jones because he is my cousin-in-law. Welcome to the House.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize that the workshop is coming up, but since this management plan has the approval of the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada, the Lutselk’e First Nations and the Akaitcho Territory Government, but not the approval of this government to move this plan forward, and with the declining numbers of caribou that we are addressing here today, why do we need another workshop for this government just to basically rubber stamp the plan and move it forward so the WWF in conjunction with the Lutselk’e First Nations and the Beverly Caribou Management Board can...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of resource revenue sharing agreements has been emphasized by our government as an important first step towards the development of the Mackenzie gas project. Since this approach does not seem to have the full support of the First Nations groups along the proposed route, some of whom are negotiating their own resource revenue sharing agreements with the producers and the federal government, I feel that it is imperative that this government take a more supportive approach to addressing this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal Summit was first...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the plan has been approved by everybody but this government. I don’t know what the hold-up is. Basically what the people are worried about, Mr. Speaker, is that the claims that have been staked in that area are uranium exploration claims. The amount of activity is dramatically increased because the price of uranium has obviously gone up, so everybody is going in there and investing in their exploration towards mine development in this area. The people want to get some protection against the mines to ensure that the calving grounds of this Beverly herd are...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, the Honourable Joe Handley. As everyone is well aware, we did sign an MOU in Lutselk’e to look at the viability of establishing a protected area in the East Arm area. Lutselk’e, the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada, the Lutselk’e First Nations Council and the Akaitcho Territorial Government recently approved the Thelon management plan that would ensure better protection of the Beverly herd calving grounds in the Thelon area. This management plan has been provided to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am also a strong supporter of this motion simply due to all of the reasons that all of the Members gave in their Members’ statements today. I hope that we can reach some agreement-in-principle by the deadline that was specified in the motion.

Mr. Speaker, in my constituency of Tu Nedhe, we have two multi-billion dollar mines that are operating. We have one that is currently under construction. We have another one that is in the regulatory stages. We have a few more that are in the assessment stages of whether they are going to develop or not, and many more exploration...