Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to ask a few questions of the Minister. I want to ask the Minister: in terms of renovation or replacements or small repairs to the schools in the Sahtu, where does that fall? Does that fall under small capital projects such as the Colville Lake foundation or the Norman Wells school or Délînê? Is there funding there? I don’t see it in the book.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The question that I have for the Minister or his staff is that when the communities ask for additional space in these facilities such as Inuvik or even Tulita, the community had to buy into the deposits. The community had to upfront some money in terms of additional spaces that they need, and then the community put the funding to, say in Tulita, the addition of a stage to the gymnasium. Now that the budget has increased significantly for the Tulita school building by just over $20 million, the community is asking why they had to put an extra $400,000 out of community...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier in terms of the initiatives he announced earlier in the life of this Assembly. The initiative I’d like to talk about is a small community committee that he initiated. There are certain challenges these small communities that we represent have to deal with.

I’d like to ask the Premier, in terms of the status of this specific committee, when we could see some light of day in getting this committee off the ground.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister inform this House as to the status of the water resource management strategy? When can we see the final version?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke about the Mackenzie River and the protection that is going to be required through some avenues with the territorial government and the federal government and also with the Protected Area Strategy. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for ENR: in terms of living up to the commitments of the Protected Area Strategy, what is the current status on the Mackenzie Valley five year action plan?

Thank you. I look forward to that information. I hope I can get it before we leave the House on October 24.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the responses. My question now is going to focus on education in terms of the capital infrastructure for the community museums.

The communities at times have seen not much of a contribution, even though they appreciate and are looking at ways they can get involved. So I would also ask the Minister responsible for the museums if I can get some detailed information on what they are allocating to the community in terms of community museums.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to pay tribute to the late George Blondin. George Blondin was an uncle to many people. He was an uncle to me. I have a statement here I want to make in the House.

George Blondin, a respected elder from the Sahtu, passed away October 12, 2008, from a heart attack and double stroke at the age of 87.

George was a traditional Indian and a skilled hunter and trapper who enjoyed living off the land and water. He’s best known as a storyteller for the Dene culture and tradition. He was an author of three books: When the World Was New, Yamoria and Trail of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of ITI regarding his Minister’s statement today. In terms of the 2008 NWT Aboriginal Business Conference and Trade Show next week in Yellowknife by the Denendeh Development Corporation, my question to the Minister is: will the GNWT be making a presentation in terms of the forum to the small businesses that are going to be participating in the conference?

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to a time and date as to when we can expect some discussion paper so we could have some input before it circulates through the various committees and to Cabinet for some type of recommendation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Seniors. In terms of the question to the former Minister responsible for Seniors in July 2007, what I was asking for is a one stop shop for seniors where they would have a place to go to be helped by the government in terms of all the services and programs they are eligible for.

I want to ask the Minister again: in terms of her role, in terms of her working with the NWT Seniors Society and seniors at large and the vision for seniors, could she see her way in terms of helping find a coordinated approach? The need is for...