Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister, the Premier, had indicated to us the next six to 12 months are very critical for us, the people of the Northwest Territories. Survival, I said in my Member’s statement, of a nation and of a people is critical in terms of the issue that we’re talking about here today. I’d like to ask the Premier if he would call an emergency meeting of all people, of all leaders in the Northwest Territories, to deal with this issue once and for all. Strike a plan that would see the benefits stop leaving the Northwest Territories and stay in the Northwest...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to hear the Minister talk about the short-term option of leasing premises or leasing some form of facility to encourage the students to continue their education. Mr. Speaker, I also hope that the Minister would give some thought in terms of a new facility that they would consider the community or the region of the Sahtu or any other region before they get their facility. Mr. Speaker, in terms of the short term and leasing of a premises, when would the people in the Sahtu know that they could possibly look at a new facility in the short...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, I mentioned 18 graduates from the two Aurora College programs that graduated this month. The programs were partly administered and delivered out of a trailer, a 20 foot by 50 foot building. Now, Mr. Speaker, how is it that we can live in such a dilemma? We are encouraging our students to get all the things they can, only to make it an old ATCO trailer that they are getting the programs out of. Can the Minister inform me what his department is doing to improve this trailer...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise in the House to congratulate the recent Aurora College Graduates in the Sahtu.

Mr. Speaker, all these students should be proud of their achievements. They are most impressive, considering the Norman Wells Aurora College program is delivered out of a decrepit 20 by 50 foot ATCO trailer. A crying shame, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to recognize the graduates from the Kitchen Helper Program: from Norman Wells, Kyla Green, Yi Beng, Chen, Robin Lu, Dean Neyanda; from Fort Good Hope, Chelsey Gully; from Deline, Tanya Modeste, Conrad Modeste; from Tulita, Jonathan...

Mr. Chairman, could we have a recorded vote?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The issue of recommendations by the Electoral Boundaries Commission brought me back to if we had two extra seats added to the Assembly it was going to be a dominoes affect down the Mackenzie Valley. I strongly support the status quo of 19 Members. The amount of money that's going to be taken out of certain programs within this government is going to have an affect on our programs in the smaller communities. Adding more seats to the House will add more costs. It has an effect on the Cabinet and on the Assembly as a whole.

Madam Chair, the people in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister again for supporting people in the Sahtu in terms of a short-term solution. When can I ask the Minister to make a commitment to coming to our region and talk about a leasing of a premises so that people could have an idea as to when they will see a facility in the Sahtu that would make them all smile when they go to the Aurora College classroom?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The campus that he’s referring to is very challenging. It’s like a honeybee's nest with all the flies and bumble bees flying around because it’s so active. We have an increase of activity. We have self-government negotiations. We have business in our communities that are expanding. I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, what type of short-term options may be planned for the Aurora College facility in Norman Wells? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, last week I attended a function with yourself and I wanted to recognize the members of the Canadian Forces in the gallery. I had a tour and I certainly appreciate the work that they do…(inaudible). As Mr. Braden said, they defend our precious freedom here and thank you very much. Thank you.

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