Herbert Nakimayak

I appreciate the response. There is such a need for housing in every aspect, not just here in Yellowknife, but across the territory. We don't see it. We don't travel often enough to the regions to see the suffering, sometimes, of some people. I think, Mr. Speaker, we need to make a point of getting out more and maybe having sessions outside of Yellowknife. I know this is the legislature, but there are times when we need to go to different regions to see what it is really like over there.

Mr. Speaker, my next question to the Minister is: what other corporation initiatives are planned to address...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, my question is: does the NWT Housing Corporation have plans to expand the Northern Pathways to Housing program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I believe it is an important aspect of everything. Sometimes we work around the system, but the system needs to focus more on human beings.

Mr. Speaker, I know a woman in my riding who had to give up her child in order to help her escape the mother's impoverished circumstances. In foster care, foster parents are given a rate in order to meet the child's basic needs. Mr. Speaker, when guardianship is transferred to a relative, why aren't the relatives given the same foster rate to meet the child's basic needs?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will try to keep most of this short. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services on children in care. Mr. Speaker, children who are in temporary and permanent care are extremely vulnerable in every aspect of their health and well-being, where the development is extremely dependent on the adults who control them and their environment.

The Auditor General report has found that children were not consistently monitored and/or interviewed. Mr. Speaker, what can the Minister do for these children, if they are not being regularly contacted by...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the NWT Recreation and Parks Association's Active Elder Award was recognized to one of my constituents, Ms. Eunice Nasogaluak from Tuktoyaktuk, which recognizes an elder who is physically active. Mr. Speaker, Eunice has lived in Tuktoyaktuk for the past 52 years and enjoys being a part of the community. She gives back in so many ways, through music, teaching, sharing her language, and volunteering at community events. Mr. Speaker, Eunice has been part of the Walk to Tuk challenge for the past few years, keeping active and encouraging others to do...

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, earlier in this Assembly, I mentioned that Health is such a massive department; I think we need to look at something just for children and for elders, for that matter, so that issues like this don't reoccur.

Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the extreme dependency children have on the adults that they are surrounded with, and it is an injustice when children don't know their own rights. Mr. Speaker, what can Health and Social Services do to ensure children and guardians are well aware of child rights so that they are protected in mind, body, and spirit?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on in my Member's statement, I mentioned Ms. Eunice Nasogaluak, who is an elder from Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, Eunice is married to my relative, the late William Nasogaluak, and seeing her presentation yesterday was actually very uplifting. I just want to thank Eunice for all the hard work that she does within the community and around the region with her culture and traditional knowledge. Keep up the good work, Eunice. Thank you. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize, as well, Jozeph Carnigarsky, my high school buddy. Joseph is here making amendments to the Wildlife Act, and it's good to see his young leadership with the Gwich'in. He's also a negotiator for the Gwich'in, so I just want to give him a shout-out for all the hard work he is doing. Also, to Jimmy Kalinek. Over the weekend we were in Tuktoyaktuk for Persis Gruben's birthday. Jimmy is a very avid cultural performer, drum dancing, and many aspects of the Inuvialuit culture, so a shout-out to Jimmy, as well to Jordan McLeod who is, as my colleague from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has been working on a new Arctic Policy Framework since December 2016. The NWT will have a chapter in the policy, and, to ensure this chapter reflects the views of our residents, the GNWT has engaged with stakeholders across the territory and released "what we heard" reports for sessions with Indigenous governments, industry and business, GNOs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in one of my Member's statements earlier this year, I have outlined some of the recommendations from the Inuit Circumpolar Council, focusing on Inuit self-determination...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Getting back to operations, my question to the Minister is, you know, they are looking at possibly doing that down the road. That's not going to be within the next year or two years. The next year, we are going into election mode. Would they look at having some sups for possibly doing that once the study comes out in March of 2019? Thank you, Mr. Chair.