Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Once again, I'm seeking clarity. I'd like to ask two or three questions to the law clerk. This is a territorial statute that we are considering at this point, is it?

Thank you.

Yes, it's concerning that unsettled areas are not recognized. There have always been aspirations of First Nations of being recognized. There are always challenges in recognition of committees or First Nations, and this legislation basically spells that. That is, perhaps, the next step. Maybe the Minister could clarify for me, at least, my concerns that I have, perhaps he could maybe clarify in those regions, like in the Deh Cho and the Akaitcho, because they're not explicitly recognized in this legislation. It doesn't mean that the legislation will never apply to their lands. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is supplementary. Why is it, then, we put a lot of effort in terms of formalizing recognition of settlement areas, but we don't also, in the same effort, recognize unsettled areas, say, like the Dehcho region or the Akaitcho region and their communities? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

On reviewing Bill 45, it was not clear to committee what the bill was trying to achieve. In collaboration with the Minister, committee developed Motion 3 in Appendix A to articulate clear aspirations for the NWT correctional system and to establish principles for guiding the Correctional Service.

Sections 4 and 5 of Bill 45 authorized the Director of Corrections to establish community advisory boards and appoint members (CAB). Among other things, CABs are meant to provide observations and advice on the day-to-day operations of correctional centres and liaise between...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In Fort Providence, there is an interest in terms of establishing a trail from perhaps the base of the Deh Cho bridge all the way to Fort Providence, and the community wants to create a project to draw in more tourists at the same time as trying to create a decent option up there for people who drive long ways up north, to give them an opportunity to walk the historical trail along the Deh Cho. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment: is there a program or funding available to create historical or interpretative signs for trails? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has touched on some key points in terms of, perhaps, long-term views of the Small Community Employment Support Program. Will the program continue, and what are the future plans for this program? Mahsi.

I don't know where this trail is leading to, but I will try my best. Would the Minister have her staff in the Small Community Employment Support Program reach out to the community on how they can access funding for this project?.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Most of the communities in the Northwest Territories are in locations that have been long used by Dene, in key locations on rivers and waterways. Fur traders and priests later built permanent settlements around the trading posts and churches, and our traditional gathering places have now become our permanent homes.

Mr. Speaker, [translation] if we do that, it would be good for us. We need to do that with Fort Providence. People, we still remember where the gathering is. That is why we need to protect those areas, and sometimes we need to protect the water. Sometimes, it's...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The motion before us, I support the idea because I think, as Northerners, sometimes we are given what we receive and sometimes we do not have a choice. What we are facing is an imposition of a tax, and, seeing people struggling in small communities, you know, a further tax on their household income is crazy, I mean, if I could just put it bluntly, especially at this point, as we kind of move towards the idea of an election. People will gauge your performance on whether you support a tax or not, and that is what we are facing at this point. Besides that, I serve on the...