Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, Premier Handley. I'd like to ask Premier Handley in terms of the territorial vision or the territorial next step in terms…For example, if we get the devolution agreement and if we get resource revenue sharing by the time this government finishes its term here, I'd like to ask the Premier what's the vision, what's the next step once we get devolution, once we get the resource revenue sharing, what's the vision? Where is the Premier leading us, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Four point seven million dollars, when you look it, it's a big, huge pot when you're looking at the projects and authorities that were discussed. I believe at that time, we, Sahtu, were probably in the authority of the Inuvik Regional Health Board and now we've got our own health board. Certainly, we look at Inuvik as a big region; lots of needs there. It's negotiated so I really hope that this funding gets into the communities that desperately need improvements. Certainly we can really improve on the inadequate flow of doctors and nurses. Let's at least get a...

This tenant improvement is being offset by revenue from the Government of Canada, I believe. The Minister gave some indication to Health Canada. We get funding from Health Canada to do tenant improvements or do pilot projects, as Ms. Lee indicated, from the earlier question where we're going to get information from the Minister in terms of the breakdown and the pilot project. I understand that this is one-time funding, but it seems like we're ongoing in terms of this type of funding. So do we have specific funding revenue from the Government of Canada to do projects like that? My question...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, again, we’ve certainly seen some improvements needed in our smaller communities and it seems like it’s not getting some of the attention that is needed. I’m trying to follow this process here and some of these buildings that are needed in the communities that need improvements that doesn’t seem to make a good acceptable business case for Cabinet sometimes if they take it or leave it and then come back and say well it’s not their building, they won’t do anything to it or not their responsibility and it’s up to the landlords. So I’m having a hard time in terms...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A leased building, so that’s not our building, it’s somebody else’s building?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social.

When will the communities/schools be eligible for funding to take the "Drop the Pop" challenge?

How much will each community/school be eligible for participation funding?

When will the "Drop the Pop" campaign be communicated to our communities/schools?

Will the communities receive recognition for participation in the campaign?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When will we have the resource revenue sharing agreement signed, and when we have a properly satisfied devolution agreement with this territorial government, I'd like to ask when, when will the Premier again involve the people of the Northwest Territories in any type of post-devolution and resource revenue sharing. What's our next step? We're now masters of our own land, so I look forward to that day. I think that's going to be a great day for the Northwest Territories when we have those two deals in our back pocket when we can determine our own future. So when...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the news I read that the North of 60, there was a territorial challenge by the Nunavut government called, Drop the Pop campaign that will begin on March 27th to March 31st. It is challenging the Yukon government, the territorial government here in the Northwest Territories and also the Nunavut government. It is based on a creative concept in Nunavut. It is about having the communities and the schools avoid drinking pop for one full week. Again, this challenge went out to the two other territories. It is to create awareness for the schools in the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for answering my frustrating questions. I'm beginning to understand and I hope to see in the future of this government give some priority to some of these communities that we represent as MLAs, because these questions here will be answered. We have to have some answers, as MLAs, to our people in the communities. I'm not here to defend government in terms of their spending. So I'm asking these needs in our communities. When you have all these services it's okay, but when you don't have them, that's when we bring up our concerns. So I'm going...

Is this funding ongoing funding? I know the Minister said a one-time pilot project. Is this funding available next year and the year after? Thank you.