Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT, in its discussions with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation members, will discuss the public release of the concession agreement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize an elder from the Sahtu: Andrew John Kenny.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to, first of all, thank my family back in Tulita and the people and my family members in the Sahtu region for supporting me. Mr. Speaker, without them, we say our family is so important to our life, more so in the job that we do today as MLAs, as Ministers, as Members of the Legislative Assembly. My family members are there at the end of the day.

I want to also thank my friends and thank my ready campaign team, which we had a break from the campaign thanks to the gift of the Sahtu people for acclaiming me as their representative in this Assembly....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my loving wife and my little boy, Chase. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a huge delegation from the Sahtu region: elder Morris Mendo, Grand Chief Frank Andrew, elder David Etchinelle, Ricky Andrew, chief from Deline, Raymond Tutcho, Mrs. Ayha, Mrs. Mackenzo, Mrs. Taniton, Mrs. Kenny and I would like to recognize other people also who are in this House today.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister was up in Colville Lake and landed on their runway. I think that, compared to Yellowknife, the Colville Lake runway is like a parking lot and we want to extend. There’s lots of activity going on in the Sahtu region. I just got word this afternoon that some more oil and gas activity is going to be happening this year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Transportation in terms of the issue on feasibility study on the extension of the runways in the small communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the 1-800 number. I would like to see if there’s more of a cultural relevance in terms of small communities where the elders -- their primary language is their aboriginal language -- in terms of having something else besides a 1-800 number; somebody in the community that is dedicated just for seniors that has a strong language and can speak to the seniors; one person in the community that can work with the seniors in terms of coordinating some of the programs and services they are dealing with today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Seniors, Mr. Bell. Sorry. The question I have for the Minister responsible for Seniors is: Is the government looking at implementing a one-stop shop for seniors in small communities where they can all go to one building, get all their services, get all their programs that they need, get the services that they need to find out about, in our smaller communities? Thank you.

It’s a major decision and it will pay off in the long run, Mr. Bell.

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I want to say that Mr. Roland…Mr. Speaker, I’d like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

So the Ministers, they represent all of us in the Northwest Territories.