Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The decision to refer the question of the GNWT’s legal right to impose restrictions on the aboriginal people from the harvesting of caribou is not a good sign of consensus government. Regular Members should have been involved in the decision to refer this matter to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. The legal right of the government to ban aboriginal people from caribou harvesting is a major question. The result of the court hearing could have serious implications not only for the caribou hunt but for the future discussions regarding aboriginal rights and...

I’ll just close off with a question here. A comment and a question, I guess. When we first started out with this type of discussion around the Deh Cho Bridge, we always want to look at two things: the best scenario and the worst scenario. I think today we are dealing with the worst scenario. That’s reality. That also takes a lot of courage and leadership and foresight to deal with this type of issue. But we are dealing with the worst scenario today. It’s right before us.

I want to ask the Ministers about dealing with the worse scenario and this bridge being completed, what if some poor guy...

That’s good to know. We’re going to certainly go through a process. Should the Ministers receive support from the Members on the appropriation bill, is there a mechanism to ensure this House and Members regarding regular reporting to us and through the process in terms of the questions we are raising tonight to ensure the time frame is on target, the quality of the work is being done and some questions that would help us? Sort of like checkpoints through the project, so there is some accountability and some transparency in terms of going forward on the Deh Cho Bridge. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my last question in this round here would be the issue of project management and quality assurance in terms of going forward. I reviewed what the Ministers have put before us and it seems like we really have taken the bull by the horn on this project here with the GNWT in terms of how you set up the org chart and you told us how certain qualified people are going to manage this program, get the bridge built, in terms of that quality management project team initiative.

The one thing I wanted to look at, besides that, is how the community of Fort Providence is...

The other question I have is in regard to the issue around Minister Flaherty and the Minister of Finance in terms of a working relation arrangement. I think what I heard from the Premier, Mr. Chair, in terms of that coming close to some satisfaction, in terms of yes, this will not hinder us in terms of our fiscal forecast, forecasting projects that we have in the future, and that I’m leaning towards the Premier’s voice in terms of the evidence that the Minister is going to do something, the federal Minister. He said something like that. I just need to know if the Premier would, even if it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was thinking about this last night and I was thinking about whoever thought that a bridge connecting the southern part of the Northwest Territories would be such a troublesome headache and heartache for some people, and for other people, what were they thinking, you know? Those types of thoughts ran through my mind.

Mr. Chair, when the bridge was considered in 1958 it was targeted at $6.2 million, as commissioned by the federal government consultant to do and at that time it was too expensive, unheard of, can’t do it. So they waited until a little later, until 1975, and...

Does the Minister anticipate the ruling of the court will have an impact on future discussions involving aboriginal groups and treaty rights?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice. I want to ask the Minister of Justice who Cabinet consulted with on the decision to refer the question of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ legal right to impose a ban on aboriginal people from hunting to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of decades many programs that were once provided by the NWT have been turned over to non-government organizations to deliver, known as NGOs. NGOs would also offer additional programs. These programs are vital as they improve the quality of life for people in the North. Many are programs that provide social services. For example, in the NWT our family assistance and counselling, emergency and transitional housing for homeless families, shelters for women and children, services for adults with disabilities and mental health issues and quite a few...

Would the Minister then inform the House and myself as soon as there is a deal that’s going to be satisfactory to both sides on this issue?