Michael Nadli

I'm glad the Minister didn't go on an obtuse tangent, but he committed to the idea of the point. Would the Minister agree or commit to work with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, municipalities, and other departments as required to find meaningful ways to recognize the work of First Nations surveyors in building our current communities? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, surveying has been part of the development of the human environment since the beginning of history. Land surveyors have a key role in most construction projects as well as transportation, communications, mapping, and defining legal boundaries for land ownership. It is an important tool for research in many other areas. Mr. Speaker, a little recognized fact is how much the Northwest Territories owes to the First Nations land surveyors who took on this role in the early days of our communities. I want to take this opportunity to recognize my constituent, Louie...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for highlighting that initiative that was just recent in terms of the move forward in terms of bringing the regular side of the House to be involved in the spirit of consensus of trying to at least address the outstanding land claims that are still ongoing. Trying to at least help out the process. Maybe the Minister could at least outline to us maybe some of the principles or interests that he might ensure that negotiators have in terms of moving forward. The fundamental question is: how can this government help negotiations move forward? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the spirit of trying to advance the Iand claims and self-government negotiations forward, especially with the outstanding regions, I just wanted to understand. It states within, at least the departmental business plans, that there will be an effort to revisit the negotiations mandate, and these are the mandates that, you know, guides the negotiators at the table. I want to understand, in terms of the negotiations to mandate for the GNWT that we bring to perhaps, you know, the Dehcho First Nations table or the Tlicho table or else the negotiations with the Metis. When...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am aware that our Minister had been chair at the national level of the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group. That chairmanship ends this summer, so I just wanted to maybe ask whether the Minister could maybe highlight for us in terms of the GNWT’s involvement at the national level and how perhaps we have influenced the national agenda in terms of addressing the Aboriginal issues across Canada, and more so for the NWT. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Maybe I can be corrected in the presentation of the positions. Perhaps we could maybe see a breakdown, a distinction, between Deh Cho and Nahendeh. Thank you.

No, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've seen other jurisdictions across Canada successfully provide incentives for people with disabilities. In the Northwest Territories we already have precedents. Precedents of providing assistance to seniors' fuel subsidies as one example. Will the Minister commit to review this issue through the government's inventory of available services? Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. The services that the Minister outlines, can he provide an explanation in terms of those services that are available to disabled persons at the community level, and at the same at the territorial level?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I must raise an issue brought to me by one of my constituents. In my riding of the Deh Cho there is a need for fuel subsidy for those with disabilities. For a bit of background, a program like this is already in place for elders and seniors. The Senior Home Heating Subsidy helps low-income seniors heat their homes, providing access to wood, oil, propane, gas, and/or electricity. But like many seniors, many people with disabilities live on fixed incomes. If they are approved by income assistance, they may be able to access a monthly disability allowance and incidental...