Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement asking the honourable Premier and in his capacity as well as Aboriginal Affairs Minister. The Dehcho First Nations are really quite upset about the Order-in-Council by the federal government. I would like to ask at what stage was our government involved or notified of the decision to remove the subsurface rights aspect of the protection of the Edhezhie area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, all stakeholders in the NWT are befuddled by Ottawa’s decision, so this is a win-win situation wherein our government has nothing to lose by backing the Dehcho First Nations on the issue of Edhezhie.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Premier and our Cabinet demand that Canada alter the Order-in-Council to include subsurface protection in the proposed Edhezhie protected area. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, Canada has terminated the protection of the ecologically sensitive Edhezhie/Horn Plateau area. Those lands had protection from development since 2002 under an interim agreement between Canada, the Dehcho First Nations and other partners. That agreement is a critical step in the Dehcho First Nations’ negotiations towards resolving the Dehcho land claim.

The Dehcho lands have been blessed by great national resources and the Dehcho First Nations would like to see them preserved as long as the grass grows and the water runs. They work long and hard on the Dehcho...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I understand that some of the parameters are that the contributions are to the officially recognized municipalities, the hamlet or whatever, but we have had instances in the past three or four years where we did provide contributions over to the band councils, because they’re the ones, it’s their membership, they’re the ones that expend the most money there, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to ask the Minister if that will be considered as well. Thank you.

I move that this committee recommends that the planned evaluation of the Early Childhood Development Program includes a review of both strengths and weaknesses of the program outcomes; and further, that the evaluation also identifies performance indicators and a means to collect baseline information on children as they enter kindergarten; furthermore, that this information be used for ongoing monitoring and reporting to support and provide direction for the Early Childhood Development Program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As well, the Minister spoke about enhanced services and enhanced equipment. I know that those are just new to the Dehcho Health and Social Services, new to Fort Liard and new to Fort Simpson. What would be a good time period for her to assess how well the new equipment is working and helping with the services in the communities and regions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations presented its Report on the Review of the Report of the Auditor General on Education in the Northwest Territories to the House on Monday, November 1, 2010, and read it into the record. It contains seven recommendations. If there are any general comments from Members, we can hear them now; otherwise, I would propose to move the following.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly have the confidence and acknowledge the confidence of our health authority and staff. However, residents of Fort Liard feel they are better served if they can just make the two-hour drive over to Fort Nelson, B.C. for some of the minor things. I am not talking about a highly complex arrangement with the ministry of Health in B.C. or else their northern health authority, just the ability to go to quick exams, X-rays, et cetera. Anything major will certainly be identified. Can the Minister at least analyze this? I am certain that there will be a cost savings, Mr. Speaker...

I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories give consideration to educating elementary and secondary students about the risks associated with on-line activities and that it provides specific information in school curricula about these risks and the precautions that should be taken in order for youth to reduce them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fort Liard medical needs. I have stood up many times in this House to request on behalf of the residents of Fort Liard to have their health needs taken care of in Fort Nelson, B.C. This makes sense to them as it is only a two hour drive for them.

In many previous negative responses from the Minister of Health and Social Services, the main reason for not allowing this is that we have a health agreement with the Capital Health Authority of Alberta. Now, recently, it was brought to my attention that there is no longer a Capital Health Authority in Alberta, so I believe that...