Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that every jurisdiction across the country was totally shocked and appalled with what happened with regard to the federal government’s decision to totally do away with the program, especially the critical needs of aboriginal people in Canada in light of the commission that has been established to look at residential school effects across the country. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, it is one of the societies of our country who is suffering the most, whether it’s through alcoholism, drug abuse or impacts of residential school, were aboriginal children and also their families.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s fundamental that this Legislature sends a strong message to the federal government. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the House to support this motion, because the motion clearly states that we are asking the Speaker to transmit this motion to the federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and send a strong message to the federal government that we do not support the decision that was made and to help those people. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will seek a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am in full support of the motion. I am a third generation residential school survivor. When my granddad went to school, I heard a lot of stories by my mother. This is like a slap in the face from the federal government, trying to pull the funding, trying to give us a quick injection of money. I think this is a really good step to force the hand of the federal government to reinstate the funding that is needed in our communities that still don’t have a full complement of social services in regard to seeing the doctors that are required.
So, Mr. Speaker, I’m in full support of this motion and I just wish to remind all our Members that once it’s a recorded vote, to all stand up and be counted. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Members who have spoken to the motion to get the message to the federal government, because I think they have to hear where we stand on this issue. I think what we would like them to do is at least make an attempt to make an effort to find a system that will work for the people across Canada and in the Northwest Territories who are coping with the challenges we face day to day, but more importantly, the effects that some policy decisions have made and affecting the lives of people throughout the Northwest Territories and Canada.
So with that, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.
Mr. Krutko; Mr. Bromley; Mr. Abernethy; Mr. Menicoche; Mr. Ramsay; Mrs. Groenewegen; Mr. Hawkins; Mr. Jacobson; Ms. Bisaro; Mr. Yakeleya; Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
---Applause
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. Results of the vote: 17 in favour, none against, none abstaining. The motion is carried.
---Carried
The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have heard from all Members of this Legislative Assembly, including yourself, many stories and the history of Mr. Whitford throughout the Northwest Territories. Indeed on the trips I have been at and he has been a part of, he seems to always know someone in the crowd. That has always impressed me with that ability to speak to people and touch their lives.
There are so many stories. Mr. Miltenberger leaned over to me as we listened. He said, “For all of the stories we have heard and as many of us have heard around this table, he really must be 150 years old or something like that to have done and achieved all that he has done in the Northwest Territories.” But we know he is much younger than that. In fact, his many walks, at times he would be walking out to the airport terminal and back just to stay fit and trim so that as he came into this Assembly to assent to bills, he would do so looking fit and trim as our Commissioner.
There is so much more, I think, one can say. There are so many more people in the Northwest Territories I am sure that would express their gratitude to Mr. Whitford. I would like to thank all of the Members of this Assembly for saying all the things that they have and put them on record for the history of the Northwest Territories. This is one of the, as we have heard from a Member, rare times that all Members of the Legislative Assembly have talked so positively about one individual. I would like to thank the Members for that.
To further mark the record of the history of the Northwest Territories and the history that Mr. Whitford has played in this, I request a recorded vote.
---Applause
Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South; Mr. Krutko; Mr. Bromley; Mr. Abernethy; Mr. Menicoche; Mr. Ramsay; Mrs. Groenewegen; Mr. Beaulieu; Mr. Hawkins; Mr. Jacobson; Ms. Bisaro; Mr. Yakeleya; Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. Okay. Results of the recorded vote are: all those in favour is 18; opposed, none; and abstaining, none. The motion is carried unanimously.
---Carried
---Applause
The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.
---Unanimous consent granted
