Floyd Roland

Before I respond directly to the question, I must thank the Member, I guess. We can have one more lively question and answer process. This is going to be our last opportunity. We have one more day coming up to debate such an important subject, and I must say the Member has been very consistent in his approach and his values placed on Aboriginal leadership and the fact that we need to take our responsible place in decision-making here in the Northwest Territories.

Along with that, I think we’re so close, and I’ve said this to the Aboriginal leadership in the territory. We’re speaking almost the...

The work that we’re doing by handing it over to the committee for their initial look and being part of the transition I can’t commit to a public release. We would have to, as we transition this to the next government, leave it to the new government to decide if they will distribute it publicly after hearing from the committees in the 17th Assembly.

The work that we’ve done in forwarding the discussion paper to committee, we’ll await their response. Clearly, as I’ve indicated to Members, this will be part of the transition that we will be preparing for the 17th Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I had the opportunity to recognize a few folks that are down doing some work around caribou issues as well as Wildlife Act issues. Further today I’d like to also recognize James Firth. I believe he’s about to be chairman of the Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled Status Report to June 2011: Environment and Natural Resources Framework for Action 2008-2012; and 2011-2015, A Greenhouse Gas Strategy for the Northwest Territories.

The transition document itself will cover quite a number of areas: the work that we’ve been doing as the 16th Assembly, the work that’s ongoing. This will fall into that category of ongoing work and put it before them. I can’t weight a priority of the next government, but it will be part of that document of transition and a commitment from the 16th Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Member will be happy to hear that, in fact, I’ve just signed off a letter to forward the discussion paper to the Standing Committee on Social Programs. Thank you.

One of the things we’ve done in the life of this government is looking at how departments have been performing with budgets, and look at the growing demand for more resources, and have an internal look at it that way as we do the work around refocusing our government. The additional work of these types of audits has been done in the past on a number of our corporations. That is as the Auditor General of Canada’s office makes that request, we co-operate and they do that review. The other way is Members of this Assembly can call on that and we wait for a response from the Auditor General. That...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with the recognition of a few others that have already been recognized here, I’d like to welcome the chair of the Inuvialuit Game Council, Mr. Frank Pokiak, and Larry and Yvonne Carpenter as well. We have some other folks from the Inuvialuit Game Council; Steven Baryluk, Jennifer Lam and Bruce Hanbidge. As well, I’d like to extend our welcome to the grand chief of the Tlicho and the chiefs as well that have joined us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of this 16th Assembly, our government, and all residents of the Northwest Territories, I offer condolences today to those individuals and families who are mourning the loss of colleagues, friends, relatives, and loved ones as a result of this weekend’s tragic crash of First Air flight 6560 near Resolute Bay.

Despite the vast distances that separate us we, as Northerners, are a tightly knit community and the impact of this tragedy extends well beyond the boundaries of our northern territories to touch us all. Our lives in communities will be forever changed.

Yet...