Mr. Speaker, the Department of Human Resources launched eRecruit on January 4, 2010. Implementation of eRecruit is being managed in a three-phase process. The first phase of eRecruit allows individuals who are interested in employment opportunities with the Government of the Northwest Territories to view job postings and apply for jobs on-line from anywhere in the world.
In the initial two weeks of eRecruit being launched, we had approximately 8,000 visitors to the site. These visitors came from across the Northwest Territories, Canada and a total of 76 countries across the world. From these visits, almost 800 people have registered on-line which led to 587 applications for the 112 Government of the Northwest Territories’ job openings that had been posted to date.
As Members, we identified an effective and efficient government as one of our goals and priorities for action during the 16th Legislative Assembly. Efficiencies are achieved through use of automated and technologically current business practices.
Making use of existing government technology, eRecruit provides access to browse employment opportunities as well as apply and manage applications on-line. Other immediate benefits for the government and the Department of Human Resources are reductions in paper-based processes and competition processing time.
Mr. Speaker, key features for applicants are immediate confirmation through e-mail that their
application has been received, the ability to declare their status under the Affirmative Action Policy and the ability to track the status of competitions they have applied on through the entire recruitment process.
The Department of Human Resources is encouraging all applicants to apply via eRecruit but has maintained flexibility for applicants so that applicants are still able to fax, e-mail, mail or drop off their applications to the applicable Human Resource Service Centre. Applicants who choose to submit their applications through fax, e-mail or mail can still check their application status with the Human Resource Service Centre.
Phases two and three of eRecruit will provide a comprehensive job candidate application platform for managers and the Department of Human Resources to allow more work and interaction with applicants be done electronically are scheduled for implementation during the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, when fully implemented, eRecruit will transition the Government of the Northwest Territories from a paper-based recruiting system to an on-line electronic recruitment system, allowing for a more streamlined, efficient process of recruiting.
Our investment in strengthening and improving the efficiency of the recruitment process is an investment in the government’s ability to provide services and programs to Northerners through a qualified public service. An efficient recruitment process enables the Government of the Northwest Territories to have the right people in the right jobs at the right time.
Mr. Speaker, I invite all Members and the public to empower your future by visiting eRecruit on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ website at www.gov.nt.ca. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mr. Speaker, February marks an important time to recognize education in the Northwest Territories.
Later in this session I plan to update Members about Education Week that is being celebrated from February 22 through February 26. Across the Territory, there are many people who are passionate about education and training at all levels of our system. Their efforts don’t go unnoticed as their contributions are important for building success. On the front lines, teachers and college instructors continue finding innovative ways to teach course material,; support staff in our schools are helping students reach their full potential, and department staff are working with education authorities, developing programs that help students achieve their goals. In addition, Mr. Speaker, parents volunteer in our schools and we have industry and community partners who make valuable contributions to our education system.
I am pleased to advise Members that this year we will be introducing a new way of recognizing people who make a difference in Northwest Territories education. I’m excited to announce the creation of an education Hall of Fame to stand as a lasting symbol of our gratitude.
This spring we will honour 12 leaders in education, as they are inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony held here at the Legislative Assembly. Many people deserve this honour, from teachers and literacy coordinators, to volunteers and elders and administrators. While the final list of nominees is not confirmed, this year’s recipients are people who go above and beyond in their support of education. Mr. Speaker, I will be consulting with Members of this House as well as with education authorities, Aurora College and others in identifying people who are making a valuable contribution to education so we can recognize their efforts.
I would like to take this chance to thank our partners in education at the aboriginal governments, at Aurora College, in the communities and everybody who is dedicated to improving education for our people. I believe if we continue fostering partnerships like these, we can look forward to even more success in 2010. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Mr. Speaker, the health of our Northerners begins with each individual choosing to live a healthy lifestyle. An essential part of one’s lifestyle is deciding to make healthy food and beverages a part of everyday life.
The Drop the Pop challenge, now in its fifth year, is a positive way for the Department of Health and Social Services to encourage healthy choices and to raise awareness about the negative effects of too much sugar in one’s diet. Since the inception of the campaign in 2004, we have increased school participation from 13 schools to 40 schools registered this year. I would encourage the remaining schools to visit www.dropthepop.ca and register for this year’s campaign.
February is Drop the Pop month in the Northwest Territories. This year we are partnering with Nunavut and Yukon in a pan-territorial initiative to help people make the choice to “Drop the Pop.” This year’s theme is Strong Bones 2010.
We are strongly encouraging schools across the North to participate in this year’s challenge to promote foods high in calcium and practice healthy eating. This can be achieved by consuming/harvesting traditional foods.
Health and Social Services is also pleased to be working with Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) and grocery stores across the NWT to provide education about drinking too many sugar sweetened beverages. Sugar sweetened beverages are not only linked to weight gain in children, but they are also being linked to weak bones in adults. Too much sugar also results in poor oral health and tooth decay.
Mr. Speaker, this initiative helps maintain a very important goal in the Foundation for Change action plan to ensure health promotion is delivered effectively across the NWT through resources that help Northerners make healthy choices. This initiative has also resulted in the Legislative Assembly “dropping the pop” and that is a move in the right direction.
Recently studies have shown that obesity is emerging as a major threat to public health. In 2008, Statistics Canada reported that 51 percent of adults were overweight or obese. The addition of excess sugar to one’s diet greatly contributes to this health problem. More children than ever are struggling with obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Mr. Speaker, and we fear that if these trends continue, it is entirely possible that we will see parents outliving their children, as many people are predicting.
The Department of Health and Social Services will continue to raise widespread awareness about the detrimental effects of consuming sugary beverages through our Drop the Pop campaign. We encourage all parents, schools, communities and others to join us in promoting healthy lifestyles by “dropping the pop.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning about 5:00, I was reading a book...
Oooh.
...Mr. Speaker, and the book is on the Sahtu. I was thinking about the discussions we’ve had the last couple of days about the caribou. In this section, page 46 or so, there’s a discussion about the caribou from the Sahtu perspective. In one of the stories the elders have told, there is a story about near Aklavik there was a discussion, the elders say, about some animals. It was a story about the wolf and the caribou that came together and they were discussing how they were going to live together, Mr. Speaker, and they came to an agreement that the wolf would allow the caribou to live, not wipe out the caribou. That process, I looked at from the caribou and the wolves’ perspective and the elder’s story was a process of consultation where they come to discuss certain things and they come to an agreement. That’s the process of consultation in the old days, Mr. Speaker.
Today we have different versions, different definitions we use in terms of consultation. The aboriginal leaders have their definition, the federal government certainly has their definition of consultation, the territorial government has their view of consultation and the aboriginal elders have their view of consultation. Mr. Speaker, even the courts have weighed in regarding consultation. There is the Sparrow test in terms of certain rights that aboriginal people have.
Mr. Speaker, what I want to say in terms of consultation and going forward with this type of issue that is before us in the House here, it has brought forward many passionate views, different views on how we look at things on the land. It’s good because this important issue is being discussed during the House and gives the people an opportunity down the Mackenzie Valley how we need to work together amongst ourselves, what things need to come together for the survival of this herd, also survival of the aboriginal culture and people of the Northwest Territories.
Northerners are known for working out very important issues, issues that are very important, and the principle of the caribou and the people of the Northwest Territories. I wanted to ask the Minister some questions at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I considered a subject for my Member’s statement today, I realized I have been taking the government to task for the past week, some might say too harshly. So I thought I would take a look around and see if I could find a few good things happening within the GNWT and the Legislative Assembly. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that I found lots of good results.
For instance, during last year’s budget debate I was very vocal about the millions earmarked for the Olympics, but the money was approved and now the work has been done and the value of the money spent is becoming evident. NWT performers and artists in Vancouver will have the eyes and the ears of people from across Canada and the world. Our Northern House will educate them about the NWT; who, what, and where we are. The NWT will be very visible in Vancouver and the planned activities will do a great deal to promote our Territory. Northern House especially has received rave reviews from visitors and the Vancouver media already.
Again, a few short days before Christmas I was contacted by a constituent with a human resource problem. My thanks go out to the Department of Human Resources for their quick action in solving the problem. I can’t argue with the 24-hour turnaround time.
Thirdly, the announcement in the budget address of a commitment to establish a heritage fund is good news.
The announcement by Education, Culture and Employment of the transfer of responsibilities for public housing subsidies back to the NWT Housing Corporation is also good news; long-awaited, but good news.
Minister Lafferty’s announcement yesterday that the minimum wage will increase April 1st is music to my ears. After two years of lobbying and pleading, I’m overjoyed that the GNWT finally saw the light.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations produced a comprehensive and valuable report on NWT official languages. I commend them for their excellent hard work.
The Standing Committee on Social Programs is in the middle of a comprehensive and thorough review of the Child and Family Services Act. Our staff are doing great work and the meetings held to date have been informative and exciting.
Lastly, as added proof that we live in a great place, the northern lights stretched across the sky over my head two nights ago as I trudged home from work after a long day.
I’m told by my colleagues that the teacher in me comes out now and then. I guess you can take the teacher out of the classroom but can’t take the teacher out of the MLA. So using my teacher voice I say thanks to those responsible for creating these good things and may we all keep up the good work.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about telephone service in the North and the problems with the phone services in Tuktoyaktuk this week. Since early last week telephone service has been down. NorthwesTel has experienced problems with one of its frame relays. Technicians couldn’t get to the site until today due to high winds and extreme cold. They found the problem at the Parsons Microwave Site halfway between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik. The next day long distance completely failed.
On Friday tower crews were able to fly in with helicopters to repair the structural problem on the microwave tower. Local cell services are in operation, but long distance services are still out.
On Monday NorthwesTel sent in three cell phones to the hamlet office, the health centre, and the power station. More cell phones were sent in for the school, the college, and Aklak Air, but long distance services are still not working for the people of Tuk.
Today we find out that the technician has to wait for the weather. The blizzard warning has ended. I hope phones will be working soon.
Also, not everybody in Tuk has a cell phone, so you know families are not being able to phone in to see how their families are doing due to the weather. Not having operational long distance phone systems in the communities is unacceptable. What if there’s a major accident? Given the few cell phones available could make it difficult to calling Inuvik or Yellowknife for help. Would any other community accept this lack of service?
We need more reliable telephone services in Tuk and throughout the NWT. If telephone service is down, we need to be kept informed from NorthwesTel, the service provider, of what’s going on and what they’re trying to do to fix the problem. The community of Tuk has an FM station now, so they should be keeping the community informed via the radio station.
All this week people were not even able to use their debit card or credit cards to purchase food. These days everybody uses debit cards in the communities and don’t carry money. So the lack of service and the lack of people able to go purchase food and stuff, the necessities for the family, there should be something...
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
With NorthwesTel having the people bear the brunt of this weak service or lack of service in the community for the telephone system, I hope NorthwesTel and our telecommunications rep, our Minister should get a letter into NorthwesTel requesting a full investigation on how they can make better this problem.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today there’s still no cell phone ban legislation before this Assembly. There’s not even a legislative proposal coming forward that I’m aware of or anyone’s aware of, that I know. Mr. Speaker, the Minister still refuses to make the call on this issue. I’m not sure why; perhaps maybe just being stubborn. Mr. Speaker, the Minister’s leadership on this issue is so far behind I couldn’t even call him Johnny-come-lately. He just doesn’t care.
Mr. Speaker, I was watching TV the other day and Oprah Winfrey has even weighed in on this issue and she’s set up a blog and a website to show people she cares about this issue. She’s asked people to make pledges to show that they care about this issue, that they will not drive while using a cell phone.
Mr. Speaker, just this week Ontario and B.C. came forward with enforcement on their cell phone ban, which they had passed legislation some time ago. Mr. Speaker, we’re still behind Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Saskatchewan on this particular issue. The Yukon itself has had two people, one on each side of its house, recognize the importance of this issue, one from its government side and one from its opposition side. Mr. Speaker, the trend should be clear. Mr. Speaker, Alberta itself is starting to recognize that this is an important issue that they need to examine thoroughly and find a way and an approach that works for their province.
Mr. Speaker, I talked to the SADD rep the other day and talked about pledge forms. I think something is coming forward where we can start engaging the youth. Maybe the youth need to show the leadership on this particular issue if the Minister refuses to do it himself. I question why do the youth understand this and the Minister does not. Is it one reason that he feels it’s a Yellowknife issue? Hopefully, he’s certainly come around to that by now. But the fact is it’s a safety issue, Mr. Speaker; a safety issue that at least 90 percent of the population of this country are protected by good legislation that speaks loud and clear. I only wish that Minister would answer that call too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, the students between grades 1 and 9 in the Northwest Territories, in small, aboriginal communities are missing a lot of school. Right now, about 20 percent, or 900 students across the Territory, aboriginal students, are missing 20 percent of the classes and 500 of those 900 are operating below grade level. Forty percent of those aboriginal students are missing… I’m sorry. Two hundred and eighty students, or 40 percent are missing more than 40 percent of their class and 80 percent of them are functioning below grade level. Over 50 percent of the non-aboriginal students that miss between 20 and 50 percent are functioning below grade level. Some of them are functioning two or three grade levels behind. Some of them are even higher.
If you look at all of the stats across the Territories you’ll see that 66 percent of the non-aboriginal students that miss more than 50 percent are also functioning below the grade level. So the difference, Mr. Speaker, is that there are only six non-aboriginal students in the whole Territories that are missing more than 50 percent of their classes and less than 70 percent of the non-aboriginal students are missing 20 percent or more. So 50 percent of them are also functioning below grade level. So you can see, Mr. Speaker, that grade level is not associated with non-aboriginal or aboriginal students, but directly associated whether or not the student is attending class.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT should be hiring people in the small, aboriginal communities to get students to go to school, I guess a little bit like some of the truant officers that they used to have but something a bit different. Mr. Speaker, these employees should be working directly for the Department of Education. We all know the benefits of at least having a grade 12 diploma. Without this diploma there would be very little or no chance of employment. We need employment to cure the social ills of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am pleased to recognize the career and dedication of a Hay River resident who has recently retired from the NWT Housing Corporation. Tom Makepeace devoted his career to working for the Government of the Northwest Territories.
For 26 years he provided excellent service and expertise in everything he worked at, from carpentry to administrative duties and the management of the NWT Housing Corporation district office in Hay River.
Tom completed the NWT Carpentry Apprenticeship Program in 1981. After being self-employed at his company called Makepeace Carpentry, Tom began working for the GNWT. From 1983 to 1988 Tom worked for the NWT Housing Corporation as a carpentry foreman in Fort Simpson in the Nahendeh region. He built public housing units and supervised a number of jobs where he was responsible for the completion of significant housing projects including training and supervising of staff.
From 1988 to 1993 Tom performed his duties as a project officer technical coordinator for the NWT Housing Corporation for the South Slave district. During this time he was responsible for inspecting HAP housing projects, public housing construction and home repair programs for homeowners.
From 1994 to 1996 Tom was the manager of technical services in the South Slave district. Communities he served included Lutselk’e, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Fort Providence, Enterprise, Kakisa Lake and Hay River. He provided maintenance management to five community-based housing authorities who maintained an inventory of 423 units.
In 1997 Mr. Makepeace advanced to the position of director of the NWT Housing Corporation for the South Slave district office located in Hay River. In his years of working for the NWT Housing Corporation, Tom acted in a professional and compassionate manner providing good judgment and management as well as having an insightful understanding of the people he was serving and their needs.
On a personal level, Tom Makepeace is a well known and respected member of the community who has spent countless hours volunteering. He was appointed to the position on the NWT Trade Qualification Board for carpentry and has served as president of the Hay River Lion’s Club being voted Lion of the Year in Hay River. He has played a significant role in community, organizing and coaching minor ball and minor hockey as well as participating in these sports himself on a men’s team.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Besides these endeavours that I have mentioned, Mr. Makepeace was also a dog team racer for a number of years and enjoys gardening and reading, especially books and articles on northern history and energy-efficient housing.
Mr. Speaker, Tom Makepeace is a book of knowledge when it comes to housing and home construction in the South Slave. He is a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather. I wish him well in his retirement and hope he will now have lots of time to enjoy his hobbies and his family. I would like to thank Mr. Tom Makepeace for his service to the GNWT and wish him all the best in his retirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to speak today on the Bathurst caribou issue. Yellowknife has the largest aboriginal population in our Territory. It is home to over 8,000 aboriginal people. I, therefore, have many constituents that are of aboriginal descent and, given the proximity of the communities of Dettah and Ndilo to the City of Yellowknife, the decision to ban hunting in the North Slave region is having a tremendous impact on some of my constituents.
It is very clear the science on the freefall of the Bathurst herd is compelling, but how do over 100,000 caribou disappear in just over five years? One theory is that many have gone east and joined the Ahiak and Qamanirjuaq herds. For most of us, what happened to the 100,000 caribou is certainly a mystery.
The fact is the Bathurst herd, as defined by ENR, is in serious decline. Decisions are required to conserve and protect the herd. However, the Minister of ENR has made a decision which directly impacts the Treaty rights of aboriginal people. My fear, Mr. Speaker, is that we are setting ourselves up for a protracted and costly court battle that will only benefit the lawyers that are involved. We need to stay out of court, Mr. Speaker. We need to have a meaningful consultation process with aboriginal governments and leaders. If the consultation process was done the right way, a solution negotiated between the GNWT and aboriginal governments could have been found. My belief is that it’s not too late to do this.
The Minister has to absolutely take every possible step to ensure consultation contains proper representation from all potentially affected groups. Given the way that aboriginal leaders and people have reacted to the government’s decision, this would indicate, quite clearly, that we have not done the job necessary to both conserve the herd or respect treaty rights.
England’s Royal Proclamation of 1763 recognized the vast area of this continent as aboriginal hunting grounds. One enduring effect of that proclamation has been settler governments’ acceptance that harvesting fish and game is an integral feature of the aboriginal way of life. For aboriginal people, the implication is much stronger. For them the proclamation and treaties it inspired not only recognized but also protected their hunting and fishing privileges.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
We do need to protect the caribou, but how can the Minister of ENR simply ignore the rights of aboriginal people? The failure to negotiate a solution is going to cost this government dearly. Our credibility is clearly in question.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
I would like to speak about aboriginal language funding. Last year, as chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and with my fellow Members, I was involved in the review of the Official Languages Act. Our research showed that many aboriginal languages are getting near to or at risk of disappearing.
When we visited communities, people expressed concern. One of the recommendations we made to the Legislative Assembly was to confirm government’s responsibility to support language communities in using, maintaining, revitalizing, protecting, and modernizing the respective languages.
Recently, one of my constituents raised the concern that government has not expended all the funding that is available for aboriginal languages. It turns out that last year 6 percent of ECE’s aboriginal languages budget was not used. That amounted to $645,000 and could have contributed to the important work. We certainly don’t want to see funds for aboriginal languages go unspent. The previous year before this, $800,000 was unspent.
In November I supported a request on behalf of the Deh Cho Friendship Centre in Fort Simpson for funds to prepare a Slavey CD-Rom. I received a letter back in December from the Minister of ECE indicating there was no funding in the budget to provide for assistance. I was advised that all funding was allocated. I wonder if all these projects and programs are on track to be completed. I have heard that it is sometimes difficult to get contractors to complete these types of projects. I would be happy to hear that this year’s project will be fully expended, but it is a bit hard to believe, given the track record over the past couple of years.
I would like to ensure aboriginal language funding is flexible enough so that budgeted dollars can be used to good advantage towards protecting and revitalizing our aboriginal languages. I would also like to ask the Minister of ECE not to dismiss a unique proposal like this if they are going to lapse hundreds and thousands of dollars.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to clarify some discussion points on energy issues in a way that will help us move forward on the opportunities we have for developing these should we choose to do so.
At a recent opportunity I had to speak with consultants about energy issues I asked them whether northern utilities provided programs to help residents purchase appliances that would help reduce their energy cost. To my astonishment they responded that alternative energy was something that wasn’t feasible and went on about alternative energy. The response did not have anything to do with the question I asked. I’m concerned that might be a filter amongst others in the House preventing us from moving forward in a progressive way to take advantage of the opportunities we have; opportunities which offer job creation, environmental benefits and, of course, financial savings.
I rarely speak about alternative energy. The government may have a role in research and testing technologies. I speak about renewable energy; energy, forms of technology that are well proven, demonstrated in thousands to millions of homes and businesses around the world and, in fact, applicable here. In almost every case there is an instance or more in the Northwest Territories where these are in place.
When I talk about renewable energy I talk about hydroelectricity. This is off-the-shelf technology, especially run-of-the-river. The Yukon has had these in place for over four decades. We have opportunities and we have spent millions of dollars studying our opportunities, but not once have we put it in place yet.
I talk about solar water heating. We have solar water heaters in the Northwest Territories. They are saving us dollars and have reasonable payback time. This is not something to be tested and so on. These are demonstrated technologies.
I talk about biomass. We know there are millions of homes and tens of thousands of businesses that use this technology. In the Northwest Territories we are using it and in every case we have made big savings, created jobs, and been better off for the environment.
I ask that when we speak about these issues we don’t let these opaque filters slide over our faces, we actually must listen to the words that are spoken and realize that we’re talking here about real opportunities.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
I started mentioning the consultants that I had talked to about energy issues. They mentioned that they had read my statement to the House on Monday and again went off on why the alternative technologies were not possible and feasible and so on, no role for research and that. Again that underlines to me the need to be clear when we are speaking about these issues, that we hear the words that are being spoken, realize that I am not speaking in the House... I don’t speak much, if at all, about alternative technologies. I speak about what is actually viable and proven. These are real opportunities again that can provide us financial savings, provide us jobs, cleaner energy, and represent the responsible action that the world is expecting of everybody. There are individuals, businesses, communities, and entire jurisdictions that are taking this approach around the world and enjoying those benefits. I think we need to lead in that direction.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I at this time would like to rein in regarding the caribou issue. I believe for one involved in the land claims negotiations going back 15 or 20 years, I think this was the fundamental element of the Dene-Métis claim; realizing that they wanted more than just hunting rights. They wanted to have the ability to manage the wildlife, manage the forest, manage the resources through an instrument like a land claim to ensure that they do have the tools to be included, be able to consult with their members and, more importantly, to be involved in the decision-making of policies before government makes the final decision. Allow them to work themselves into systems that allow for the renewable resources board, working with the community renewable resource councils, working with the harvesters, and working with the organizations that are out there. At the end of the day aboriginal people have been maintaining their lifestyle for 10,000 years because of caribou. The importance of caribou that there is on aboriginal culture in the Northwest Territories is important and critical to who they are.
I think it’s essential that this government looks at those instruments and those land claim agreements that have worked in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, that have worked in the Gwich’in Settlement Region, that have worked in the Sahtu region, and now in regard to the Tlicho communities to ensure that those instruments, and those instruments that aren’t in those other regions, work with those harvesters, work with those aboriginal leaders to clearly demonstrate that we are a consensus government in the Northwest Territories.
We try to work things out, we talk things through, we find solutions to these problems, and not impose restrictive measures on people that get their dander up because they’re upset. If you’re going to take someone’s rights away, at least allow them to be consulted, be involved in that decision, so when the decision’s made we have unanimity, we have people onside, we have people knowing what are the options, what are the alternatives. We’ve done that in other areas. We have the Bluenose situation in the Beaufort Sea area in regard to working out with the Bluenose Caribou Management Board from the Sahtu, the Gwich’in, the Inuvialuit, to come up with a regime where we have allowed for tags to be issued to communities in regard to that herd so you know how many tags are being used, making sure they have the ability to use those tags. But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, is to find a solution to this problem through dialogue, not enforcement of the powers of a Minister…
Mr. Krutko, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we cannot use the...(inaudible)...law of the land by way of having a ministerial decision made that is imposed on the people that have depended on subsistence for years. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister some questions around this matter in regard to the legal authority that he made this decision on, what legislative tool was used and exactly what instrument of law, of authority, of powers, where did it come from? Thank you.
