Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you are probably well aware, the First Nations negotiating groups right now are, I guess, in a bilateral negotiation process right now. So how are we going to integrate this trilateral strategy into their arena? I just want to find out how you plan on coordinating that with the First Nations right off the get go because I know they’re kind of, like I said, the First Nations groups are right now sceptical about this whole devolution approach. How can we regain their confidence in the government saying we are going to go on a three-way tri-party system to get...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about a significant step towards improving an education program within my constituency. Mr. Speaker, next week, on November 2nd, there will be a celebration to mark the unique educational programming initiative in Lutselk’e that was spearheaded by four organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Lutselk’e Education Authority, South Slave Divisional Educational Council, Aurora College and the Fort Smith regional office of Education, Culture and Employment for working collaboratively on this important undertaking of raising awareness in...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess it’s good that we’re definitely taking a strong stance on that issue with respect to the ongoing negotiations. I still am just having a problem trying to figure out what the big picture is going to look like at the end of the day when we have devolution negotiations in place. I guess there are going to be a lot of contingency scenarios with respect to ongoing negotiations when the land claims do get settled. Say they have a settled claim ratified after the GNWT and the aboriginal governments come together and sign a resource revenue devolution interim measures...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I have to commend the Premier with securing over $100 million over the next few years with the federal government in our territorial formula financing and equalization. I have to express my scepticism in promises that are made and agreements made with our federal counterparts with regard to equalization and territorial funding just due to the fact that these programs are highly unpredictable and they are volatile depending on economic fluctuations in various parts of the country. Then our equalization gets off balance and new formula financing agreements come...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to use my Member’s statement today to talk about the NWT Housing Corporation’s rent scale policy. Mr. Speaker, the rent scale policy of the NWT Housing Corporation is geared solely on income and has remained unchanged since its first implementation 30 years ago. There have been numerous consultation processes done by the Housing Corporation with local housing organizations, public housing clients, and the public in general on how the rent scale policy can be adjusted or changed to be more in harmony with the needs of public housing clients.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Does the NWT Housing Corporation have a plan to revisit the rent scale policies and develop a policy that is not geared solely on income?

Does the NWT Housing Corporation plan on revisiting the harmonization policy?

What changes to the rent scale policy is the Housing Corporation looking at and what measures will be implemented to ensure that it will be acceptable and affordable?

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have a quick question, probably more directed to the Minister of Transportation, I guess. With the Mackenzie gas project on the horizon and increased traffic both on the roads and in the air coming through the whole NWT -- that’s including Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River and everywhere else where there used to be a lot of 737 service in Norman Wells, Inuvik and beyond to Alaska, Fort Simpson, to Whitehorse and the Yukon, and Hay River south -- I’m just wondering why the federal government has no plan in place or doesn’t plan on upgrading or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I don’t know what would be better, a remissible loan or pay the tax on your grant. I’m not sure which, where the student would come out on top. The Minister said he has had some dialogue with the federal cohorts on this taxation issue. I’m just wondering what his department, as the Minister of Education for all our youth, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike in the NWT, is doing to assist and help these treaty people to get a point across to the federal government that this is a treaty right and should be non-taxable. Whether it is a remissible loan, grant…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my question would be directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I just want to ask the Minister what his department will do or plans on doing, if anything, to protect the constitutional rights of the aboriginal treaty natives in the NWT…

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess maybe it’s something that this government should make the federal government aware of; that given the increase in the international travel, you see it all the time with big jets landing here in Yellowknife, landing in Inuvik or in Whitehorse, just due to security reasons or mechanical purposes, but eventually there is probably going to be flight services from Inuvik to Moscow in the near future. Who’s to say that’s not going to happen? I know we do a lot of work in that country as it is, and just not to have a plan in place to ensure -- if you want to ensure...