Bob McLeod

Thank you. We have committed to doing that and we’ll be doing exactly that when we convene in the fall. Thank you.

Thank you. I’m pleased to hear the Member offer that we should be looking at all positions, because that’s what in fact we will be doing. We will be looking at all the positions that we have with the Government of the Northwest Territories, and this government has committed to, and it is a priority of this government to see the decentralization, and committed to the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning that we would work very closely with all of the Members as we go forward in implementing this priority. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to recognize the following visitors to the gallery, the Coalition Against Family Violence members Lorraine Phaneuf and Annemieke Mulders; Samantha Dechief with the Status of Women Council; Jo Sobool, Salvation Army; Jean Basil, Native Women’s Association; Lydia Bardak, John Howard Society; Mira Hall, Centre for Northern Families; David Wasylciw, Men for Change, Northwest Territories; and Gail Cyr, our women’s advisor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, on June 21st we will celebrate National Aboriginal Day. This is an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal people’s outstanding contributions to the history, languages, arts and cultures of our territory and Canada.

As my colleagues are aware, our celebration of this national holiday in the Northwest Territories is unique. In 2002, National Aboriginal Day was declared a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. This year marks the 10th anniversary of that declaration. To this day, the Northwest Territories remains the only jurisdiction in Canada to recognize it as a statutory...

I’ve been listening to these kinds of requests before. For those communities that have gas tax funding, they do have the authority to make those kinds of decisions on whether to chipseal a road or not.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe we have an assortment of disaster funds that we can call upon. I think the biggest one is the arrangement we have with the Government of Canada where they have a disaster fund. We do have a Forest Fire Disaster Fund, mainly for harvesters. We do have a Harvester Disaster Fund for hunters and trappers that have acts of God causing them to lose equipment. I believe through MACA we have emergency funding that can be called upon if required.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating the recipients of the 2012 Premier’s Awards. The Premier’s Awards for Excellence and the Premier’s Collaboration Award are presented annually to individuals and teams for their outstanding service to the Government of the Northwest Territories. As well, I am pleased to confirm the second Dave Ramsden Career Achievement Award was presented.

This year’s recipients are from a range of departments across the public service, engaged in a variety of work that improves the lives of the residents of the Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to stand today to support this motion on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories and my fellow Cabinet Ministers. The residential school system has had long-lasting effects on the people of the Northwest Territories, their families and their communities, and on Aboriginal people across Canada. Generations of children were separated from their families at a young age. They often lost their language and their culture. They sometimes suffered abuse. Instead of growing to be strong, healthy peoples and good parents, they struggled with addictions...

We have had input from the standing committee and they have advised that they want to see the number of MLAs attending be staggered over a four-year period and we will be organizing it accordingly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to advise the Member that we have booked conference rooms or a ballroom in the Chateau Laurier and we will be holding NWT Days at the same time that the Winterlude is happening in Ottawa. We are doing business plans for 2013-2014 at which time, with the support of the Members, we’ll be asking for funding to upgrade our Ottawa office.