Debates of October 5, 2023 (day 167)

Date
October
5
2023
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
167
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O’Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon Armstrong
Topics
Statements

Member’s Statement 1652-19(2): Regional Decision-making Authorities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the priorities of this government was to increase regional decisionmaking authority. I am unsure how much of that we actually have done in this government. We have decisions continuously coming from the capital. In my region, you know, the thing is that we have certain land claims, we have certain things. You know, we're waiting for decisions on cabins and how we're going to have you know, people are going to be able to establish a lease on a cabin if they're Indigenous. But we can't deal with it in our region.

We have procurement issues in my region. I have heard nothing but procurement issues. I know the Minister has stated that things are going to change. But I'm hoping that they're going to get better in my region.

Mr. Speaker, housing. Housing has impacted my region significantly. You know, the thing in our region, we've lost when we lost the housing or the territorial housing for our staff, this impacted our children's education. This impacted the health of our people. We cannot get jobs, people to come there. The cost of living is too high. That, and we get brand new graduates. I'm not saying that they're not great people but new grads teaching our children. You know, they're dealing with many issues, especially in the smaller communities in my region.

A lot of these decisions, the health authority, you know, that one of the reasons that I left GNWT was the centralization of the health authority. All the decisionmaking, the things that we could do in our communities different and tweak the programs, those kind of went away because we have to get permission from Yellowknife.

We made this a priority. We've had things come through us. You know, we had confidential little documents saying what they're going to do. So I am going to have questions for the Premier as to what decisionmaking authorities have been given to the regions and have they changed and have they impacted and made positive changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.