Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister of Transportation. Last week, I indicated that I was in the Sahtu in a regional conference. One of the elders from Fort Good Hope said that the road is so good up in the Sahtu, it is beyond the gold road now. It is scary there. I want to thank the Minister and the Premier for the work. The elder said that he can put his coffee cup on the dashboard now and not spill the cup. I want to ask the Minister for an update in terms of the winter road in the Sahtu in terms of the bridge work that is going to be put into various...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the invitation from the Minister. However, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask again, in terms of the types of services that are being performed, our nurses are working hard in our centres but need these types of services. I am hoping to have something from the Minister today in terms of saying to the people in the Sahtu we will get you this emergency equipment, such as defibrillators, cardiac monitors and IV pumps, that are standard in each hospital across the North. Also, to other centres that need them. I am looking for a commitment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that Sahtu health is underway with the new health board. I want to ask the Minister responsible for Health what plans are in place for the new health board to have all the health centres brought up to standard in terms of the medical equipment for emergencies such as stroke, heart attacks and such other things that the other regional health centres have had. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this bill allows them to purchase fuel. There’s something else that allows them to distribute the fuel or deliver the fuel. This allows them to purchase, and I understand this bill, I guess there’s something more. Maybe I’m reading into it. I’m going to leave it at that right now, Mr. Chairman. The Minister knows my concerns that I’ve raised and I know this bill is something the Minister is working for the benefit of the Northwest Territories. So I’m going to leave it at that right now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have no arguments with the Minister about the way they’re looking at living by this new bill here. My question again is that they talked about buying bulk fuel with NCPC and having bulk fuel in the North here and in the regions. This bulk fuel may be used sometimes as a means to sell to other companies that may see that they have lower prices than the private market. I’m scared that this bill may leave some flexibilities here. We are in the business of too bad for the private businessman. Lower the costs. As they call it, sharpen your pencils. As...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a written question to the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

What is the latest assessment of core need of housing in the Sahtu?

What types of NWTHC programs are committed solely to the elders/seniors?

Who in the Sahtu region have taken up the manufactured homes since they were brought in?

When will the NWTHC begin regional discussions with our region on the concept of Novel manufactured homes?

How many homes did NWTHC sell to community members and what programs were used to assist them?

What plans are in place to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to say this on behalf of the people, that they wanted to congratulate Minister McLeod and other people who made it happen that we happen to have a very excellent road this winter here. In terms of the bridge, I know that costs and factors are high. That is why I want to ask the Minister in terms of doing business in the Sahtu. It is certainly different in the south here. We have to pay the Sahtu prices for doing business there. I want to ask the Minister, what types of plans are in place for his department to stay in the Sahtu prices, because otherwise...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister if there is anything in the policies in the current system right now, because of the time that we take to have our meetings and get the funding approved, to have certain medical equipment in our region between now and that time. Is there anything in the policy that would be of assistance to the Sahtu in terms of assisting people who have strokes or heart attacks that would satisfy on an interim basis? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a former constituent in the Sahtu, Mr. Donnie Roberts who is now in the Gwich’in area, former social worker in our region. Thank you.

---Applause

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.