Tom Beaulieu

I am not really clear whether or not we can split it from the response, but I assume that we can. Can one of these pieces, whether it be resource revenue sharing or devolution, be negotiated to completion without the other one being negotiated to a completion? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I’m just asking, because of some caution in the future that I wouldn’t want to see a land use plan that consists of when everybody put all three governments -- the federal government, the territorial government and aboriginal governments -- put in their land use plans and then the area that each of them wished to… It’s not, I guess, essentially claimed for the various activities, whether it be resource development or parks or protection of the land or something that’s set aside for future resource development, that adds up to 100 percent and not 140 percent and everybody’s caught...

I’m wondering if the Minister could advise me if there’s any involvement at all such as taking the position in how the land use plans are laid out from the various aboriginal organizations, like any position at all in the area of land use plans. Thank you.

One more comment on that page. I would also support to see core funding increased to Metis locals. I have one Metis local in Tu Nedhe, so they are always finding ways to get funding to do various initiatives in the community. They are fairly active and so on. That is something I would support as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll keep my comments brief as well. I think one of the few consolidated efforts that this government has put forth over the last several years that I agree with is the consolidation of utilities. I would be curious about the placement of positions as a result of the shift of $30 million-some-odd dollars in utilities going from the various departments to Public Works creating quite an unusual increase in the budget of 65 percent. However, that’s recognizing that’s probably going to be a good thing with commodities such as fuel, when one department can administer...

I recognize that the sawmill didn’t work out, although it existed and created lots of business and put some income into the community and some employment. As I’ve often indicated, the low employment in Tu Nedhe communities, I was more or less thinking of opportunities for some other business in both Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e, opportunity for a business similar to the type of businesses that the investment corporation now supports in other parts of the North. There is no business in Tu Nedhe that is supported by the investment corporation. That’s basically what I’m asking. Are there plans...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, on behalf of the Tu Nedhe residents, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a few people for the kind contributions and selfless acts during Christmas holidays.

Mr. Speaker, Christmas can be a trying time for families, particularly elders living alone or single mothers in small communities. For some of these, the Christmas Hamper Program provides the only opportunity to have a nice Christmas dinner with their family.

Mr. Speaker, each Christmas the Salvation Army here in Yellowknife runs a Christmas Hamper Program in collaboration with Air...

Mr. Chairman, just shifting gears for a minute here, one of the other key areas in both Tu Nedhe communities, Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, seem to be small loans. I’m not sure if that’s some sort of venture capital needed by some smaller scale businessmen in the community just employing one or two people and just some capital to get their business off the ground. Right now, the structure is set up where the economic development officers don’t work directly for the department but actually the department has a contribution agreement with the local organization to bring the EDOs into the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, previously in Fort Resolution, the NWT Development Corporation, prior to their amalgamation into the Business Development and Investment Corporation, supported a business in the community of a sawmill. Similar supports to the businesses that are successful now under that investment corporation like Acho Dene Fur Clouds and Fort McPherson Canvas Shop. I understand from discussions with local people that there was always an intention, even though that business of the sawmill did receive a lot of support from the government, ultimately at the end of the day...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take time to remember a friend and constituent who recently passed away: Albert Christian Jensen, who was more commonly known as “Tiny,” from Fort Resolution.

Tiny grew up in Swan River, Manitoba, and moved north to Hay River in 1967. He first worked at the mine in Pine Point and then with the government with airports and highways in Fort Simpson, Hay River and Fort Resolution.

Tiny is survived by his children: Ralph Beaulieu, Shelley Jensen, Heather Semenok, Cheryl Bugghins, Albert Jensen Jr. and Chris Jensen. Tiny was predeceased by his wife...