Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Me too, I’d like to recognize several people in the gallery. The official Languages Commissioner; revitalization board; Jonas Landry, Emma Amundson, they work on the Aboriginal languages; and Violet Jumbo. She’s working on the revitalization program. I’d like to recognize them for the hard work that they’re doing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just maybe my final point or question is what's next in terms of the department working along with the communities and the proponent to ensure that, you know, there's a timeliness and at the same time successful stage in terms of ensuring the reality of the wood pellet plant being in operation? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to get a status report. I know we're on the cusp of enhancing the biomass industry by establishing an industry activity in the South Slave area. I just wanted to see if the Minister could provide us an update in terms of the progress towards establishing a wood pellet plant, in terms of his role in assisting communities to advance that proposed business initiative and how communities have been involved this far. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's sometimes almost like a puzzle in terms of ensuring the immediate needs and critical needs of people are met. That's the obligation of this government that we have in terms of taking over responsibility from the federal government and ensuring that communities and families do receive houses. In terms of working with First Nations, you know… Some aspire to ensure that homeownership is a critical need, and that's their focus, but sometimes public housing, you know, people would rent their houses for a long time and not really perhaps aspire to own their own homes...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my statement, I talked about treaty rights and obligations that are encumbered by the federal government and also the GNWT. My question is to the Minister of the Housing Corporation. Treaties of NWT are by nature bilateral between First Nations and the Government of Canada, and on the south of 60, we have a direct relationship between the federal government and First Nations in their communities in terms of their responsibilities to their citizens. Up here in the North, we have federal transfer payments that are received by the government...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of my constituents are First Nations, signatories to Treaty 8 and 11 with the Government of Canada in 1899 and 1921. In those treaties, promises were made to continue existing unhindered and of cultural pursuits, and with the most treaties, there were certain promises that were made including education, health, and housing just to name a few. Those promises are what we call today fiduciary obligations for program and services for housing. This is a brief historical perspective.

[English translation not provided.]

Our people were nomadic, they...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, thank you. I'd like to thank the deputy for providing an update. I know some communities have done some inventory analysis in terms of the potential for forest products within their territory, and whether the forest fires from the past two years have negated or significantly impacted their inventory in terms of, you know, working with the proponent and the community and whether that's become a factor or not. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been a lot of progress in terms of selfdetermination of First Nations communities, ensuring they have responsibility for their citizens, and housing is one aspect of that. Could the Minister provide an overview to this side of the House in terms of how it's working with First Nations communities that aspire to have selfgovernment agreements with the Government of Canada and what its role is?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in terms of certainty, I mean, within the Nahanni, Liard, and the Mackenzie herd, you know, we have a matter where we don't have final agreements with the Aboriginal governments. I want to understand how the department is engaging communities in terms of ensuring their involvement with developing management plans for bison. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, in terms of the active positions summary, it says Dehcho, and the positions that are noted are 15. Can I get a distinction between Dehcho and Nahendeh? I know Dehcho kind of is presented as is. I mean, it's like there's 15 positions in my riding, and I really would like that, but from what I understand, Dehcho would mean either Fort Simpson or Fort Providence. Can I have some distinction in terms of which positions are situated either in the Fort Simpson region versus Fort Providence? Thank you.