Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since we are on the topic of elder abuse, it’s a good time to read my Member’s statement to talk about some of the housing issues that have come to my attention lately.

Mr. Speaker, about six months ago, the Deninu Kue Seniors' Society, which represents the interest of nearly 100 seniors in Deninu Kue, all of an average age of about 68 years old, made a recommendation to the Housing Corporation to build a six-plex to house seniors in independent living somewhere near the seniors complex. Mr. Speaker, the regional office came back outlining what the Housing Corporation requires in order to carry this initiative forward such as looking for a suitable location, researching land ownership, negotiating land owners to acquire property and gathering written support from various local government organizations in order for them to follow up on this initiative.

The Deninu Kue Seniors' Society did follow up with the Housing Corporation’s request from the regional office and eventually the property was purchased by the Housing Corporation and all indications pointed towards the next step of moving forward on this project by putting out a tender for the construction of a seniors’ six-plex and this was considered great news for the hard work of the Deninu Kue Seniors' Society.

Just recently, Mr. Speaker, the Deninu Kue Seniors' Society has been informed that the Housing Corporation is again questioning the feasibility of a seniors six-plex and is wondering if the units will be occupied by seniors and would like the Deninu Kue Seniors' Society to seek further support from the local government organizations, something they have already completed. They have assured the Housing Corp that they do have seniors who would be willing to move in as soon as construction is completed. Understandably the reluctance of the Deninu Kue Seniors' Society to go out and seek the same support from local government organizations has created a lot of frustration amongst our elders and is viewed as simply a stalling tactic by the Housing Corp to follow up on their previous commitment. The Deninu Kue Seniors' Society would like to know why.

Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of the Housing Corp, at the appropriate time, why the Housing Corp continues to put up barriers and hoops when things are moving along in what seemingly seems to be a cooperative, positive and collaborative manner. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Member’s Statement On Regional Development And Autonomy

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement is going to be on the issue of our regions coming to age, Mr. Speaker. I have had the opportunity of being able to accompany the Minister of MACA, Mr. McLeod, and also Premier Handley, leader of the Government of the Northwest Territories, to attend the Association of Municipalities meeting in Norman Wells, along with my colleague, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, the issue I am talking about is in our regions, the smaller communities; they seem to be lacking certain basic essential services that other centres have in their communities. Still in our region alone, in the Sahtu, we are playing catch up, the catch up region that, in terms of services, programs, Mr. Speaker, in terms of the quality of living we have. The mayor of Tulita talked about going to the Northern Store and buying a loaf of bread for $6. It costs even more to make bread in Tulita and those are the prices that we have to live with. It seems to be that our region seems to be lacking the support, Mr. Speaker.

The people in the Sahtu are light years ahead in terms of things that they can do from the South. This is the 21st Century, but some of the government programs are still in the 18th and 19th centuries. Look at the Colville Lake Health Centre. Look at the services of no RCMP in Colville Lake in this day and age. Some of the other communities in the Northwest Territories have those services and it is good for those communities because they require it, so why not in the Sahtu region at this time, day and age, if activity is happening in the region there? We don’t have those types of services and the government can, if they want to, bring those services into the community.

Our region has been babysat for too long by other regions. Look at the Department of Transportation. The Inuvik office for the air and transportation is in Fort Smith, but other departments are babysitting our region. We want some autonomy. We want to control our lives. We want to do what is right for the people of the Northwest Territories. There is lots of activity. So let’s give back to the region that deserves and not be isolated. Thank you.

---Applause