Michael Nadli

Throughout my thoughts, my statement, and the questions that I have, I wanted to come to a common understanding, and I wanted to hear some good news. Get a status in terms of whether indeed we are addressing our mandate, and look and to see if there's ways from this side of the House we could help the leadership in terms of the Minister leading the charge against addressing family violence in the North. I think we have to get beyond the whole stage of denial and admit that we have a problem, and that's a big challenge that I see. Has the Minister, in his eyes, ensured that this is crisis...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was reminded of a circumstance of a person that you might find yourself in, and that's facing a crisis. I was reminded that yesterday in terms of the discussion on child and family services. You face a crisis. Say, like you're in this boat that's sinking, and the captain tells you, well, stay calm and relax. Despite not having a life jacket, you are going to be okay. Yesterday, that's what I was told. Unfortunately, that is the reality and challenges that we are faced with.

My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. The...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, family violence commonly happens in a family situation, where there is a relationship between two people. What needs to be understood is the personal wellness of individuals caught up in the cycle of violence. Often alcohol is a major contributor to the incidence of violence and the debilitating legacy of intergenerational trauma because of residential schools.

Mr. Speaker, family violence rates in the Northwest Territories are appalling and at crisis levels. Therefore we made it a part of the mandate of the 18th Assembly.

In 2013, the Northwest Territories'...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question was: the Minister makes reference, very confidently, to transportation through the trucking industry in terms of bringing fuel to Hay River, by railroad as well, and also, he seems to suggest that there has been some analysis, and whether there has been some studies in terms of cost comparisons as to an existing base in Hay River, as opposed to, perhaps, an option like Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk as a base of operations for MTS. Would he share those studies and findings or analysis with the committee? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it is very concerning in terms of what is happening way up north. We, in the southern Northwest Territories, you know, have the highways to transport our goods and services to our communities, but unfortunately, people that live way up north, a lot of their goods and services have to be brought in by barges, or sometimes, in this extreme example, flown in because they don't have any other choice. I really sympathize with my colleague, who spoke in terms of ensuring that, you know, people from those communities got some answers.

My question is very basic, and...

The Minister stated two interesting streams of a process that communities would undertake: one, for the purposes of residential interest, people could apply for land; and, also, the other process is a commercial interest in communities. What is the difference between the two processes, and are they basically the same?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think everybody has a dream of owning their own home and building a home, but a house needs a critical aspect of making a long-term home, and that is land. My question is to the Minister of Lands. What steps has the Minister of Lands taken to identify and make land available for residents of the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, despite this vastness, we are all too familiar with the fact that our residents do not have access to land. I'm talking about the lack of land available for community development, residential, recreational, commercial, and agricultural purposes.

Mr. Speaker, throughout the life of this Assembly, my colleagues and I have raised numerous issues related to land availability, such as unauthorized or untendered occupancy, lack of agricultural land, and high securities burden. From a community development perspective...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My last question is, you know, I live in Fort Providence. The ice goes out about May 12th or thereabouts, and then it follows, maybe, from there, north to Inuvik within a two-week period. The river is pretty well open within that period of time, but unfortunately, Great Slave Lake ice persists to keep the lake frozen, and MTS, their operations have to stand still during that time, while the river is flowing freely.

The point that I am making is that there have been changes in river breakups. We are seeing changes in terms of the sea ice flow up in the High Arctic, and my...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Minister for providing that insight as to why the base has to be in Hay River. The Minister speaks very confidently in terms of how decisions were made to ensure that the base continues to exist in Hay River, and he makes reference to, you know, the volume of trucking and the costs of, perhaps, the railroad.

If there have been studies, could he make, perhaps, those studies and analysis to committee level in this House? Mahsi.