David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to move a motion that Bill 7 is amended by adding the following after section 1:

1.1

(1) For greater certainty, nothing in this act shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from Aboriginal or treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

(2) An action or thing authorized by this act must be carried out in accordance with any applicable land claims agreement.

(3) If there is a conflict or an inconsistency between a provision of this act or the regulations a provision of a land claims agreement or...

As a land claims negotiator with the Dene/Metis claim process, the Gwich’in, the Sahtu, my main obligation was to do the land selection. Municipal land selections in the Sahtu and the Gwich’in and also in the Dene/Metis claim were a very strategic part of those land claim agreements. Lands were selected in the communities in the Sahtu, in the Gwich’in Settlement Region, for specific special purposes. They were used for rural lands, hinterlands, commercial lands, residential. Again, there was a lot of time and effort put into selecting lands in communities for these type of purposes, so that in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister consider looking at some sort of dispute mechanism to resolve this issue between the parties and the person that basically is in the situation of basically doing a job, being paid way less than other types of people doing a similar arrangement, either through having that individual become a government employee providing government services? That is the situation that you’re going to find yourself. If that NGO walks away, that position will have to be filled by the government as a government employee. Is that the only situation we put the employee...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to mental health and addiction services, especially in my riding, and also the commitment made by governments to enhance programs and services in our communities, especially in the area of mental health and addictions.

The whole intent of the change was to ensure that we had wage parity, that we were able to provide benefits to individuals in that particular field and bring them in line with the rest of the public service. There is still a definite disparity between how people are being...

I had an opportunity to speak to the operator in Tsiigehtchic and the regional director of petroleum products division in Inuvik, and he says that their understanding was that the subsidy was not applied, for one reason or another. So I would like to ask the Minister if you could check if the subsidy was applied to the operation in Tsiigehtchic, and if so, could you give me a response back? Also, can you give me something in writing so that I can provide it to the community?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister responsible for PPD, petroleum products division. It’s in regard to the price of products, especially in the community I represent of Tsiigehtchic where the price of gas is $1.71 a litre, yet it’s a government-run operation.

I understand there’s a $5 million Petroleum Revolving Fund that’s there to subsidize these isolated communities to allow them to have a price that’s close to being competitive with the regional markets. I’d like to ask the Minister why it is that we are not using the Petroleum Revolving Fund to offset the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today with great sadness and a heavy heart to pay homage to one of our own. Our own Gwich’in boxer Jonathan Steven Andre. Jonathan was born to May and James Andre on March 30, 1980, in Teetlìt Zheh, which is Fort McPherson. His grandparents, John and Rachel Robert of Teetlìt Zheh and Anthony and Carol Andre of Tsiigehtchic.

Jonathan’s early life was one of turmoil and trouble. He had battled with drugs and alcohol, and with violence and anger. However, in the last decade, much to everyone’s surprise and happiness, Jonathan turned his life around.

In 2007 he left...

Mr. Chair, if it’s acceptable to the House, can we do this in blocks? We’ve got 80-something clauses, so it could save us some time. So if that’s acceptable to the rest of the House, maybe we could consider that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I stated earlier, the majority of positions I meant, but I think if you take a close look at exactly where you look at the Indian branch lands and the management of those Indian branch lands by bands in our communities. Also in regard to the municipal lands in our communities, there are special arrangements.

I find it kind of odd from the Minister and the deputy stating that they don’t have anything to do with it because it’s a federal land claim agreement. Those municipal lands that were selected through the land claim agreement are in our communities. There are...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d just like to note for the record that there was no consultation with the rural and remote communities, the Aboriginal governments. The consultation process in which the majority of the Members you talk about are Aboriginal by way of the Rangers program. I think it’s important to realize that that level of government has not been consulted. The only consultation that has taken place was here in Yellowknife. I think it’s important that any legislation that comes through this House, every effort should be made to consult with all residents of the Northwest Territories...