Robert Villeneuve

Oh, a question…

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a quick question for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation with regard to the use of trailers as opposed to stick-built units in the communities. In my community, in Deninu Kue, we have five trailers situated there at a cost of $130,000 per unit. If there was some preplanning done before this whole market initiative was rolled out last year with the ordering of 20 trailer units, I think there would have been better response from community members in both my communities if this government had invested the $650,000 and built a stick-built apartment...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend the next session on March 1st to the 3rd in Ndilo. I just wanted to ask the Minister in respect to some of the land development issues that are going on around the city of Yellowknife by Members of this side of the House and two Members on that side of the House about the treatment and exclusion of city council in this government’s so-called preferential treatment of Akaitcho territory residents. I just want to ask the Premier what measures he is going to take for the Akaitcho people in this...

But I won’t, Mr. Speaker. Instead…

---Laughter

…I would like to inform my constituents that, no where in my statements to the media about the removal of the chief and council, did I say the word “glad.” I did not mention anybody's name, and I definitely did not say anything about being happy with the upcoming changes in the leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I am not happy about the sudden changes to this leadership. For this past year I had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with the chief and council and I thought they were doing a really good job. They were working diligently and were...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, this question originates from numerous enquiries to my office from current and past students and more so from students who have received Student Financial Assistance but have been cut off suddenly by this government when they are into a three out of a four-year program, either be it in the South or in the NWT.

My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

1.

Can the Minister provide information on the number of aboriginal and non-aboriginal students...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land selection phase that the Akaitcho Territory Government will be embarking on in their next phase of negotiations with this government and the federal government is probably something that we all, especially Yellowknife residents, would be looking forward to reviewing. What commitment does the government have to ensure the Akaitcho Territory Government that the land selection process that they present to this government and to the federal government, which is probably going to include a lot of land around the city of Yellowknife…I know the city council is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs a question with regard to the Akaitcho Territory Government’s treaty negotiations that are still ongoing. Just what measures is this government currently incorporating with providing the Akaitcho Territory Government a smooth transition through their treaty negotiation process and how are they supporting them in this process? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to inform and to set the record straight with my constituents of Lutselk’e, on the latest media reports over the radio with regard to an interview I had about the proposed changes to the Lutselk’e First Nations leadership, which is underway and hopefully will be resolved next week when the band elections take place.

Mr. Speaker, I could stand here for the next two-and-a-half minutes and criticize the local media for their misuse of information and sensationalizing issues, that often result in the obstruction and deterioration of this government's efforts for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just rephrase the question to the Minister. I guess the lands in question are Commissioner’s lands right now, with respect to the sandpits and the Con Mine area and other land around the Ingraham Trail, which is in the Minster’s constituency. All these lands are currently under Commissioner’s authority, so this government definitely has authority over that land withdrawal, land application, land permitting, land use process. When the land selection of the Akaitcho Territory Government, which is going to include probably all of that put forward, how is the...

A good example of this was displayed here on this side of the House yesterday, if you recall, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, myself being a new Member of this 15th Legislative Assembly, I have learned in the past year that things have to change and change is good. I support the residents of the Lutselk’e First Nations in addressing their issues with their leadership and the accountability concerns that they have in their financial management regime because these, I feel, are legitimate concerns and should not be construed as a personal attack toward anyone in the community.

In closing, Mr...