Tom Beaulieu

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, it has become a tradition of mine to do eulogies for the people who have passed from sitting to sitting in my riding. Today I have two such eulogies. I would first like to speak of Clifford Cardinal, who was born December 4, 1952, in Hay River and passed away on April 14, 2017, at 64 years of age.

Clifford had three brothers: Lloyd, the late Ross Cardinal, and Allan Cardinal, as well as three sisters: the late Stella, Clara, and Freda. Clifford was the son of Dora and Ben Cardinal. Ben Cardinal, I believe, was originally from Lac la Biche...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see this as a fairly simple process. Has the NWT Housing Corporation identified individuals that could be candidates for the program to allow them to age in place? I have said many times in the House that this is essential. It is essential to government. If we can keep a senior in their own home, we are saving $140,000 not having them in long-term care. I would like to know if the NWT Housing Corporation has actually identified people this year, not next year, because then we'll be in our third year of planning. This year, if there are going to be any...

One of the main obstacles to individuals applying for and getting loans to improve their homes, making their homes barrier-free or seniors friendly, is the land that the units sit on. I was wondering if there has been any discussion aside from the Minister speaking to Health and Social Services. Have there been any discussions with the municipalities or the lands division on how individuals can access more than just a basic amount of money in order to improve their homes by dealing with the land issue?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I usually don't recognize individuals from other ridings, but today I have somebody who I have known for a long time, Raymond Michaud, who was my supervisor when I was in Grandin College. I just acknowledged Mr. Clifford Cardinal had gone to school in Grandin, so I'd like to recognize Mr. Ray Michaud.

Also, I want an opportunity today, it may be my last opportunity to recognize the translators, because I won't be in tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Maryrose Sundberg and Dennis Drygeese, who are interpreting in the Denesuline and...

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Human Resources. I’d like to ask the Minister along the lines of the questions from the honourable Member for Nahendeh: what is the motivation behind making unreasonable offers to affected employees under the staff retention policy? Thank you.

That project that moved forward previously was Deze; that had Aboriginal partners. Aboriginal people were instrumental in moving it forward and supporting it so that the diamond industry could become a customer. Because of the life of the diamond mines we were unable to make a deal, this is a little different scenario. If they were involved in Deze, are we just living off the consultation from back then or are we planning on engaging Aboriginal governments sooner than later?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the rise of the House we had a presentation on the Taltson Hydro Expansion. I asked the Minister if they were going to do any consultation with Aboriginal groups that are affected by the Taltson River Expansion and he said no. So I would like to ask the Premier if that's the policy of this government not to consult with people on potentially the biggest project that this government is going to be taking on?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will do my statement in loving memory of Virginia Lafferty. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to send my condolences out to the family of Virginia Lafferty. Everybody called her Virginie.

Mr. Speaker, Virginie was born on February 13, 1935, on the Hay River Reserve and passed away on January 4, 2017. Virginie married Louis Mickey Lafferty in Fort Resolution and lived there for the rest of her life.

Mickey and Virginie adopted their first son, Edward Overvold, and then went on to have Cecile, Doug, Louis, Lloyd, Ralph, Michael, Linda, and Mary Olive. They also...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider the continuation of Tabled Document 7-18(2), Report on the Review of the Members' Conduct Guidelines, and Committee Report 9-18(2): Report on the Review of the 2016 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on support to Communities for Municipal Services – MACA. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have letters from the deputy ministers that indicate, right on there, that this is considered an unreasonable offer. My question is: why? What is the motivation behind that type of offer to individuals? Individuals are affected. During the Staff Retention Policy, the Government of Northwest Territories tries to retain staff, good staff, long-term staff. What would the motivation of offering those members of the public service an unreasonable offer?