Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to make reference to the matter in terms of how it is that priorities are set in terms of the highways and construction and, of course, the maintenance.

How does the department deal with the various winter roads across the North? Some perhaps could be a higher priority than other areas. Some could be abandoned. What is the position of the Department of Transportation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is significant that Bill 24 provides the Finance Minister may hold a plebiscite if certain conditions are met; it does not require the Minister to do so.

Following the amendment mentioned earlier, members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations support Bill 24 as presented and recommend it as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

The committee understands the Finance Minister’s decision that under circumstances specific to this bill, Cabinet will not support it. The committee therefore respectfully requests that Cabinet abstain, or allow a free...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s difficult to listen to this, because at the community level, not everybody is in the position at their leisure to move to larger centres. Small communities, we try to at least to bring the services to the people. I think that was the whole philosophy about decentralization in our recent discussions. As we go forward on this, I am just not prepared to support this motion.

The small communities, I think, deserve more resources in terms of ensuring that we do deliver these educational opportunities for people at the smaller communities. At this point, I can see the merit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The committee believes that, while upholding Aboriginal and treaty rights, legislation should clearly recognize the value of wildlife to all residents of the Northwest Territories. The committee heard that the bill needed to further convey that all Northerners have a responsibility for stewardship that comes with the opportunity to access wildlife.

The committee also heard that legislated wildlife management is contradictory to the traditional Aboriginal relationship with wildlife and the land. A Tulita elder told the committee, “Unfortunately, the Dene way of self...

I’d like to thank the Minister for providing that answer.

What would be some of the features in terms of developing an on-the-land program? Would it be a philosophy that’s based on the AA program? Would it be a philosophy that’s based on First Nations affinity to on the land in terms of the environment? Could the Minister explain? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wanted to follow up with questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services on the Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre.

Until the Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre is reopened or another homegrown facility is established, can the Minister of Health commit to streamlining the process for entry into southern residential treatment programs? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say something in my own language just briefly.

[English translation not provided.]

Giant Mine is a legacy of underground arsenic that could be potentially dangerous if it ever leaks into Great Slave Lake, and also down the Mackenzie River. For those reasons, I strongly support this motion, along with my colleague.

Of course, the efforts of the review board and the report and recommendations must go forward. This effort has been going on for some time. I really encourage my colleagues and all governments to ensure that this legacy of abandoned mine sites not be left...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of listening to the Minister indicating that there are three on-the-land programs that might be piloted, is there a timeline in terms of when we can expect those pilot on-the-land programs to commence? Mahsi.

My question is to the Minister once again. There has been some discussion in terms of on-the-land programs and what it may mean. Perhaps the Minister could tell us the philosophy behind the on-the-land programs, especially the plans and the status of such an initiative. At what point would the Minister be able to explain to this House how an on-the-land program would work? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, the scope of addictions and problems are widely known. It’s practically an epidemic. That is disgraceful.

In our territory, 32 percent of residents are heavy drinkers, a figure twice the national average. Alcohol and drug-related hospitalizations are widespread and expensive. Beyond frequent hospitalizations for extreme detoxification, there are injuries from falls and physical violence, and longer-term conditions such as liver disease, heart disease and stroke. Eighty-five percent of crimes are related to alcohol or drug...