David Krutko

Mr. Chairman, again, I think it’s important that we do identify climate change and impacts that we’re seeing. I think one of the most obvious impacts that we can see is the erosion that we’re seeing with the melting permafrost and the slumping that’s happening throughout the tundra in regard to the coastline erosion and erosion in our mountain valleys, and more importantly, creeks that are basically filling up with mud from slumping and sliding. I think that we have to realize that it’s eventually going to continue to grow. I think that’s one area that we can really show the rest of the world...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also would like to talk about a similar issue in regards to energy management. I think that we have to realize that communities are probably a little ways ahead of us in a lot of this stuff and I know that the communities I represent, Tsiighetchic, Fort McPherson especially, are looking long term which they are looking at setting goals of 2025 of trying to cut their emissions down to 50 percent, and I think the communities are trying to do their part as communities in the Arctic that can show the rest of the world that we are doing our part when it comes to climate...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to traditional knowledge funding, like I stated, there’s been a major reduction. In this it’s down to $65,000 from $110,000. Just going back to the previous page in grants and contributions it was some $415,000, but most of that was... I’d just like to know exactly, you mentioned that there’s some $225,000, why does that not show up in that line item where you’re showing $65,000?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to comment around the area of traditional knowledge, but more importantly, the Traditional Knowledge Policy and if there’s actually a policy. Because I think that one of the things that people used to always assume was that scientific knowledge was the basis for all information, but I think because of the traditional knowledge importance and the way that traditional knowledge is compiled over decades and not thousands of years, that you can basically realize the importance of that and also working in conjunction with the Aboriginal organizations and wildlife and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I too would like to thank the Minister for his opening comments in regard to the road from Wrigley to Tuk. I think that the groups have done a lot of work and I’d like to thank the Minister. He made reference to the progress on the road from Inuvik to Tuk. I believe there has been a lot of progress from Inuvik south also, and I had an opportunity to be privy in Inuvik to a presentation on the road from Inuvik southward and I think that they also have done a lot of work and I was pretty impressed with the report that they put together. Again, it does encompass a lot. Again...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the reason I bring the motion forward is realizing that we also have to have an integrated system of care throughout the Northwest Territories and not continue to take these services out of our smaller communities and provide them elsewhere.

Mr. Speaker, for too long we have taken our children out of our communities and basically sent them somewhere else to be either educated or cared for through programs and services of the government-of-the-day that meant well. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the consequences of those decisions are long lasting in regard to the social...

That’s okay. I’m used to that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, because I think we do have some legal standing when it comes to the agreements we have with the Mackenzie basin watershed agreements and the other jurisdictions. I think we also have to, I know Mr. Yakeleya raised this question about water rights and whatnot. I think under the land claims agreement and treaty and rights in Canada, Aboriginal First Nations people do have rights to water, regardless of quality, quantity, rate of flow. It’s in the modern day treaties and is recognized internationally that they do have rights to water...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of saving the Joe Greenland Centre. The petition contains 193 electronic signatures. Of those, 109 signatures identify themselves as resident of the Northwest Territories. The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories continue to operate the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik as a long-term care facility.

This issue has come up in other departments and also on the previous page. I was going to ask a question earlier, but again, in order to depend so heavily on contract services, is that because you don’t have the internal capacity to carry out this responsibility or because the groups that you require that information from bring a special type of knowledge to the table, which we don’t have? I know that has come up with other departments. It seems like we’re either using a lot of contract services and contracting a lot of stuff that could be done internally. So I’d just like to ask what’s the...

Again I think it’s important that we do deliver sort of elders day care programs and improve the quality of life for seniors in our communities. I think it has to be encompassing that you look at Meals on Wheels or the physical activities. We have to provide programs similar to the other segments of our population and ensure that we have a scheduled program in place in our communities so elders realize they are an important segment of our population and they are included in activities in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to know where we’re going to enhance elders day care programs in our...