Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. To have a real shot at success in university or college, Aboriginal youth need financial aid that matches the real costs of education. They also need transitional supports because they confront barriers at every turn.

The rate of post-secondary obtained is considerably lower than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Only four in 10 Aboriginal students in the NWT complete high school. Lackluster school performance haunts them for life. For example, Aboriginal people are not fairly represented in the GNWT because they often don’t have the right kind of educational credentials...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I understood that this process was completed in our last session and a decision was made. Unfortunately, we’re talking about this again, so I won’t be supporting the motion. Mahsi.

Thank you. The Minister indicated that part of the efforts to address the need for daycare subsidies is that it’s something that quite possibly could be expanded.

Why doesn’t this government provide a financial aid package that matches the real costs of education? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Northerners aspire to further their education, there becomes different trails that students take, especially in regard to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. We all want, in the North here, to ensure that we have enough doctors, lawyers, management professionals, teachers, just to name a few, so our students can aspire to those positions.

In small communities there has been a trend in terms of our schools not doing well, especially our students compared to larger centres. Four out of 10 of our Aboriginal students compared to the non-Aboriginal students don’t...

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question is in terms of fracking. I know that it’s a practice that is happening here in the NWT and now that we’ve taken responsibility from the National Energy Board, the functions of this act in terms of regulating control and activities related to oil and gas, I wanted to ask if there are any further advances that this government might undertake in terms of trying to add our further substance to the guidance document that this government has developed in overseeing fracking and practices and how it could be employed here in the North. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the seconder of the motion, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Robert Hawkins.

I’m presenting this motion because there’s a growing interest in wild mushrooms. Northerners are interested in the harvesting of mushrooms as a business opportunity and livelihood that complements the northern lifestyle of the outdoors.

Recently, we are witnessing people coming into parts of the NWT and harvesting mushrooms. They are taking our natural resources and leaving the NWT. Currently, there are no regulations on wild mushrooms, on morels, to manage and regulate this...

Would the Minister agree that a tax on junk food could be a possible source of badly needed revenues? Mahsi.

Earlier I also made the comment that some provinces, such as Quebec and Ontario, are seriously taking the lead in terms of implementing taxes as a deterrent to the lifestyle of their citizens because they realize the significant costs it incurs down the road to the health care institutions.

Would the Minister of Finance agree to follow the lead of those provinces and begin examining the idea and concept of perhaps coming to a point where you could come back to the House with a proposed idea of maybe putting a tax on junk food? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There’s no dispute obesity is a serious health issue with adverse impacts on people’s quality of life, longevity and public health care. Obesity used to be a personal issue, but with the increasing burden on our taxpayers, it’s turning into everybody’s problem. This government can take action by introducing a tax on junk food. It will help raise revenues and guide consumers toward healthy choices. It’s already a very popular idea.

A coalition of health and education experts has called on the Quebec government to introduce a sugar tax on soft drinks and energy drinks. Ontario...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank my colleagues. This initiative goes to the very heart of community economies. It has always been the standard of this government to try to develop the traditional economies of hunting, fishing and trapping of the smaller communities. This is a step in the right direction. If we support this initiative, then we’re supporting that very concept.

There are entrepreneurs out there who would like to work with each other or else at least get the northern spirit collectively in trying to look at partnership arrangements. Hopefully, this will set the stage for...