Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been handed a note by the president of the Renewable Resource Council in Tulita in terms of community freezers. I want to ask the honourable Brendan Bell if he has any idea as to my question here in terms of the community has been promised, similar to Paulatuk, community freezers for individuals or families that need it. So I want to ask the Minister if he's aware of such a promise, maybe by the previous government or the previous administration, in terms of community freezers for the community members in Tulita.

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier what is his position from the government in terms of Imperial Oil or if the federal government ever decides to sell their share of the oilfield. What are the chances of the Government of the Northwest Territories to have some ownership in an oilfield, because if the Norman Wells oilfield is being sold by Imperial Oil, the first agreement says in here under the Norman Wells Imperial Oil Agreement, Imperial Oil shall give the U.S. government the option to buy half of the recoverable reserves in the proven area. So I want to ask the position of this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the federal government has some ownership in the Norman Wells oilfield along with some pure oil, in 1920 they struck a deal, so I don’t think they really want to give up their golden pot here to say we are going to share with our own people in the Northwest Territories. So that position, I am not too sure how strong our argument is, Mr. Premier, in terms of how we negotiate something like that. I think it is over 86 years that they have been retracting royalties from the Norman Wells oilfield. I think they own a considerable amount of dollars. I want to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly support Mr. Premier’s invitation to have Mr. Minister sit in the middle of all of our leaders so they could talk to him. Mr. Speaker, shortly after the November 9th meeting, how soon can the leaders from the Northwest Territories settle our unsettled land claims, come together and have some real discussions as to how we save this nation in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for the comments from the Members. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to conclude, saying that when you look at this motion Mr. Premier is right; it is a strong recommendation to his government to look at working with the aboriginal governments, working with business, working with other strong leaders is the North to bring home a deal that would benefit all of us in the Northwest Territories. So we're not quite home yet in our own home here, so I'd ask the Premier to really seriously consider our recommendation from this motion.

I will ask...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also referenced the book I called, I read “The Genius of Sitting Bull”. Sitting Bull, in order to save his people, save his nation, rallied the leaders around that country to get a job done. He did it swift and quickly. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, in terms of doing things in the North as Mr. Braden has indicated, millions are leaving here as we speak right now. There’s thousands leaving this community and the Northwest Territories. Would the Minister consider with the aboriginal leaders having some discussion about constitutional reform issues? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS, the people of the Northwest Territories desire a self-reliant future within the Canadian federation to enjoy the same freedoms as other Canadians in determining their own affairs and priorities;

AND WHEREAS the people of the Northwest Territories desire to have a prosperous future for ourselves and our children, based on the wise management and sharing of the wealth of our lands and waters, and the hard work and the resourcefulness of our people;

AND WHEREAS the anticipated royalties and taxes resulting from current and prosperous mineral and hydrocarbon resource...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also recognize the honourable Member from Newfoundland/Labrador for visiting us. Also the hard-working nurse who also takes care of the Sahtu patients at the Stanton hospital, Susan MacInnis. I also recognize that today is the birthplace of ice hockey in Deline.

---Laughter

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 27, 2006, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommend that the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories aboriginal governments reach a fair and equitable agreement-in-principle before the next federal budget; and further, that, for the sake of the future generations of northerners, all northern leaders set aside their differences and work together to achieve an agreement that will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we had resource revenue sharing we could give everybody two freezers in the whole Northwest Territories.