Tom Beaulieu

Now that the needs survey has been completed, I am going to ask questions on the survey. The Minister and the staff may not have had a full opportunity to review it, but I’ll still ask a question. I would like the Minister to tell me what plans are undertaken to address core need issues for seniors’ households. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Plus, Mr. Speaker, while waiting for the repairs, our oldest residents, each of the oldest residents in both Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e passed away before receiving the assistance they were requesting.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister on their plan to address core need issues in the area of adequacy for seniors’ households at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about a respected elder who passed away on February 26, 2010. Billy Enzoe is a good friend to all the residents of Lutselk’e. Billy was born on January 10, 1930, and lived off the land. He hunted and trapped throughout his years, but his greatest passion was fishing. Billy was well known for his fishing skills and it was not uncommon for Billy to put all his children in his boat and go to his fish camp.

Billy lost both his parents at a very young age. This contributed greatly to the Billy Enzoe...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I talked about the community status of Lutselk’e and their concern about having to convert to meet certain conditions in order to receive increased funding to deliver municipal services. I have questions for the Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister and the Department of MACA recognize the inherent right of self-government as an existing aboriginal right under Section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982 in their day-to-day business? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you. The community recognizes that the Minister is not asking them to change status, but it’s asking for provisions into the NWT Act to accommodate them. Will the Minister commit to keeping me informed and the community when these discussions are to be taking place, so I can also keep the community abreast of the most recent things that are occurring in these discussions?

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize the chief and council as a legitimate First Nation government of the community of Lutselk’e? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the community status of Lutselk'e. Mr. Speaker, Lutselk'e is governed by the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation and, according to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation is a designated authority for delivery of municipal services.

Mr. Speaker, Lutselk'e is with the Akaitcho Territory Government. The Akaitcho Territory Government is in land negotiations with the Government of Canada, so as you can imagine, there are complex factors involved here with regard to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted a public review of Bill 3, Medical Profession Act, at meetings held on February 15 and 24, 2010.

Bill 3 replaces and repeals the existing Medical Profession Act, which is almost 30 years old. The new act will modernize the processes for the registration and discipline of medical practitioners in the Northwest Territories and will make consequential amendments to the Ophthalmic Medical Assistance Act and the Pharmacy Act.

The committee heard from several stakeholders including the executive director and the...

Will the Minister affirm that recognition and direct his staff to begin discussions with the community with the end means of funding them at similar levels as other community governments created under the NWT Act as hamlets? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.