Norman Yakeleya

I understand, also, there are different times of the year that you purchase the petroleum products. Specifically, about the diesel and gas and mostly looking at the smaller communities, so all our fuel for the smaller communities – and I’m just going to stay with my region – comes from the Edmonton refinery? Is that where we’re getting our products coming from now?

Thank you. I look forward to that, Mr. Speaker. Also, sewing, beading and making jackets has a lot of power. Has the Minister ever engaged in this type of work with his department in conjunction with the Health department, asking the meaning behind the beadwork or putting together a moosehide jacket or traditional wear such as yours, Mr. Speaker, in regards to helping our people with issues in their life?

People in the North are the best source as bead makers and Members around the Assembly here certainly demonstrate the fine work that our people have done in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the Minister if he would maybe instruct his staff to look in the North and see if we could somehow formulate a discussion around having an international forum on beading and making vests or making jackets, right across. It would bring our people together with other international groups so that we could demonstrate our high quality of professionals.

I just wanted to ask, the Minister mentioned a second bundle, is there a third bundle? I just wish there was some news on the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to honour Mrs. Judy Lafferty of Fort Good Hope, who was chosen as the Sahtu recipient at the annual Wise Woman Awards yesterday.

Mrs. Lafferty is a traditional woman who has many skills. Her beadwork is remarkable. Her ability to prepare meat and make dry fish is impeccable, and her care in raising a family is priceless.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Lafferty has always mentioned that her learning came from her late mother, Mrs. Mary Barnaby, who is no stranger to the Sahtu region.

On behalf of the Sahtu, congratulations to Mrs. Lafferty and the other well-deserved...

Mr. Chair, that’s all I have to ask.

Who are these industries?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to ask a question on the $140,000 with regards to the winter road ice paving program and also to enhance the winter road there. Is the $140,000 something that the Department of Transportation negotiated with industry with regards to their use of the winter road, their use of sections of the winter road? Is it to put water on the roads and to do other work to ensure that there’s safety with industry as they haul their equipment through the Sahtu region?

Madam Chair, I just want to let the Speaker know and also the Office of the Clerk that I appreciate the work that their staff do to accommodate us during our busy work as MLAs. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. I have two other themes here. The second one is, with the low prices of the fuel products, are we now into a position where we are now possibly saving money for our territorial government. I’m not too sure how long that will remain in the low bracket of pricing our fuel out. How are we doing comparing that to the biomass, the wood pellets, in regard to putting wood pellets into our communities and using that product now? Because at one time the diesel prices were quite high and so we started to look at other means of energy into our communities, especially into my region...