Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have some general questions for the Minister on the petroleum products division and the energy conservation department here. I want to ask the Minister, in the government’s dealings, where are we receiving our fuel products from? Which country, which area, and how much are we receiving?

Has the department initiated some policies or regulations to protect our…(inaudible)…from any type of abuse or any type of stealing of our designs or our beadwork?

A bundle of money, Mr. Chair. Okay, I’ll leave that and I’ll figure that out.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of ITI. I want to ask the Minister of ITI, has his department been investigating or looking at a concept where international beading or design-making or makers come together in the North to share their experience with other designers around the world?

Mr. Chairman, I too am happy to see that the first bundle is making its way through the process here. I want to ask the Minister if there’s going to be a second bundle coming through. Because what I’ve seen in the existing highways, and rightly so, they deserve the work that’s being asked by the Members here for their highways. I’m still waiting for a highway. I’d like to be part of the group here, I mean, because I know in April we’re going to melt away, because our roads are not going to be staying too long.

I just wanted to say that the government is doing some good work to move some of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week in the Assembly I will focus on economic and sustainable development in the Sahtu. In the North in all our regions we are rich with renewable resources, also with non-renewable resources and with our people, our own people. We will continue to recognize our people with their awesome creativity.

If you ask for a comprehensive assessment of all the data on the potential of the great wealth with our renewable resources, it will be incredible. As an example, look at our good trappers and all the well-sought-after Mackenzie Valley furs, or the ever-empowering Great...

So it’s a common practice that industry contributes also to our highway maintenance and enhancement of winter roads when they come up into the area to do work. Otherwise, the Department of Transportation would not see this type and amount of money going into winter roads. Is that correct?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the additional information and thank the Minister for the commitment to look at the issue in the Sahtu. I realize that there is some work that is needed to be done, and certainly through the assistant deputy minister, you guys have come through with some good numbers for us in the communities. We appreciate that.

I guess the point that I want to make, there are certain individuals in our communities that certainly look forward to the help in seniors’ heating subsidies or the early child benefit or even student financial services and the income assistance as...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have probably about four major items that I want to talk to the department about.

The first one has to do with the college contribution to the department and the contribution to our small communities. You know that I want to thank the Minister for two things. First, to conducting the needs assessment in the Sahtu region for our students, the number one issue of that needs assessment has to deal with the literacy issue in our region by the younger people. Listening to them on CBC Radio and reading the article in the Globe and Mail, there is a pretty good indication as to...

What’s the strategy for filling vacant positions in small communities in regions outside of Yellowknife?