Norman Yakeleya

We’re probably going to get a similar answer if I ask the question, but I have been asking it ever since I’ve been here. About the Metis core funding, I think it’s averaged out. I think it’s $13,000, if I can recall. Every year this funding has not increased. That’s one of the complaints I get from my region, is that the Metis get core funding. I know it’s a nice thing to do for this government here. There really is no funding for them except some Metis are under a land claim settlement and they have other kind of funding. This one for the GNWT, I guess it’s a nice gesture to recognize the...

I’m sorry if I’m asleep at the wheel here. I just want to ask one question here to the Minister. In regard to the land use framework, have we... I know it’s somewhere in the Department of Executive in terms of the land use framework and I’m trying to locate some information. Is that going to be forthcoming or do we already have it or have I just misplaced it? It’s an important initiative by the Executive in terms of going forward. I want to ask if the Premier would have some good discussions with us or where can I get some information on that.

The funding in terms of accessing funding, there are various programs that Sport North and other organizations have that sometimes it becomes very difficult in terms of accessing funding for the youth. I wonder if the Minister then could possibly look at maybe one of the organizations from the Sahtu communities looking at the funding and how we can get a youth hand game tournament in the region. Again, we could have about 40 teams participating.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I say that there are two other areas here that don’t show any dollars. Is that the same type of scenario with the federal government on the funding arrangements?

Mr. Chair, I want to find out the issue of analysis of field samples that we don’t have any budget. Can I ask the Minister in terms of this item here: analysis of field samples?

I have just one more point. I know the community of Colville Lake is dealing with an issue here on their tank farm and I know it’s quite a costly endeavour to work with Colville Lake to move the tank farm. I just wanted you to know that I’d like to continue working with the Minister on this issue. It’s quite a costly endeavour and Colville Lake has made a request on their tank farm situation. It’s going to cost them about a million dollars to move to a place where they want to do it. It’s within their community plan. However, Colville Lake just doesn’t have that kind of dollars to be a partner...

Thank you. I know that small communities that rely on trapping people have gone out trapping for a good portion of their lives, these elders, and certainly there are some young trappers who also want to be part of that lifestyle. I agree with the Minister that there are programs that contribute to trappers in the Northwest Territories. Just in saying that, I wanted to ask the Minister about the Trapper Training Program. I’m not too sure if it quite goes with the youth trapping, but I could be wrong. It was just something that they were asking that, you know, we have a group of trappers, but...

Thank you. Just on the environmental management, they had a close call during spring breakup in terms of the petroleum products fuel lines. Has that been rectified and are there other issues like that, that when the ice breaks up, the fuel lines are being monitored and there are safety mechanisms in place that we don’t have a fuel spill into the Mackenzie River?

There is a misunderstanding later, because they do not fully understand what they’re signing for. We need to make sure that the NWT Housing Corporation receives proper orientation to understanding their clientele.

In closing, the issue of bringing up the treaty will continue until it is clear what was meant when the government asked for our ‘X’. We were promised, as the saying goes, as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the river flows. This is a good treaty.

Yes, last comment, just on the technical support for Safe Drinking Water Initiative. Can the Minister just allude to the standards that we want to bring up in terms of the water for the Safe Drinking Water Initiative, the support for the municipalities that desperately do need the valuable support to make sure that our water is always at a standard, that we can assure our people that this is an issue that is being monitored throughout the year?