Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question relates to an earlier statement that was made in the House in terms of the jurisdictional issues and red tape that stand in the way of taking the boards off a board of houses and making them available for residents to call their homes. Speaking specifically of the Hay River Reserve, can the Minister give me an update in terms of what type of arrangement has been made? Perhaps the offices from either Hay River district or else the South Slave district that perhaps will be involved in terms of working with the First Nations to ensure that those houses are made...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, me too, I’d like to recognize members of the Northwest Territories Seniors’ Society. In particular, I’d like to recognize the mayor of Fort Providence, also at the same time, a former MLA, chief, speaker, Mr. Sam Gargan. Also, at the same time, another member of the Northwest Territories Seniors’ Society, Jeanna Graham, from my constituency of the K’atlodeeche First Nation, who is on the band council as well and a constituent of mine too. Masi.

This will be my final question on this section, Mr. Chair. Is the Minister indicating or stating that possibly in the near future there could be an existing LHO on the Hay River Reserve? Thank you.

Mahsi. Mr. Speaker. Small communities sometimes are drive-by communities. We drive by, and we see a small community, and we just drive by. One particular community is Enterprise, located within my riding. It is in the Deh Cho riding, but it also has access to the jurisdiction of the South Slave district offices. However, my questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Can the Minister explain how Enterprise is involved in discussions at a territorial level about initiatives and activities that have an impact on the community? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Enterprise is the first Northwest Territories community on the Mackenzie Highway north of the Alberta border. Built when the highway was first extended into the NWT to capture highway trade, Enterprise is home to just over a hundred people at the junction of Highways No. 1 and No. 2, 43 kilometres south of Hay River. Enterprise is too often overlooked because of its size. The mayor recently shared some concerns with me that the community is under-represented and goes unnoticed, especially its Aboriginal population. Mr. Speaker, according to census data, almost...

Yes, thank you. Again, Mr. Chair, I’m just trying to… Maybe… I don’t know if the Minister or his officials would have access to just a total figure amount for in one year how much money is expended in terms of medevacs out of small communities into Yellowknife. Thank you.

Perhaps this is my last question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just seeking to understand whether… You know, we purport in one instance to recognize 11 official languages, including Aboriginal languages. Now we finally recognize the Dene font. Am I missing something here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is in relation to that same page, but it affects just the recent recognition of the need for Dene fonts in terms of parents registering their children with their traditional First Nation names. I wanted to understand: what is the cost in terms of implementing the formal recognition of Dene fonts and its use in the vital statistics. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The other question that I have is the riding that I represent, of course, has four communities. Two could be categorized in a South Slave district for regional administration purposes. One of them, of course, is the Hay River Reserve and Enterprise, and then you have Kakisa and Fort Providence. How do communities ultimately decide which authority they’re going to work with and is it the prerogative of communities to make their own decisions, or is it the Minister and department that decide which communities should work with what authority? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister agree to meet with the mayor of Enterprise and visit the community the next time he is in the area on official business to explain his explanation that they are full partners in terms of any initiatives that are perhaps in their neighbouring community? Mahsi.