Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of MACA in regard to the chipseal program in the Sahtu. I understand they are doing a report and review. What can the Minister tell the people in the Sahtu, specifically the citizens of Fort Good Hope, in terms of what type of support they will achieve this year on their chipsealing program because of the enormous amount of dust that is flying through people's windows, and what type of program the people will see in terms of the chipsealing program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am surprised to hear about the negotiations, Mr. Chairman. I know it’s a very complicated set of negotiations. I think that’s what we want in our communities. What is being done on our behalf? There are also aboriginal land claims agreements being talked about. Sometimes we miss communications and talking with each other on some of the issues. It’s really important for this government’s leadership to know what’s being done on their behalf in terms of looking at the agreements that are coming down. I think people would be very happy to know that we are working on...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the students and teachers really work well together in the Sahtu. The prime example of education is the small pilot project in Fort Good Hope where they have a shop program where there is a young Grade 5 fellow, Bradley Kelly, who makes pens. Different organizations contribute to the Fort Good Hope school and in the vision of the Education department, I want to ask the Minister when he foresees types of homemade shops that would be available for other schools in the Sahtu in terms of improving the students and the trades that can be improved in the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Chairman, I’d like to ask the Premier a question in regard to the AIP that is going to be looked at this spring or possibly this summer with Minister Goodale, Minister Scott and Deputy Prime Minister McLellan in regard to sticking to those time frames in terms of the devolution agreement. In his opinion, in terms of having something signed by the end of this summer on devolution and resource revenue, is this something we will see or something that will give us some security as we move forward with our resource development potential areas in...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I support the goals of the Department of Education. I believe that education should be within reach of every child and family in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, it is somewhat different in the smaller communities that I represent in the Sahtu. I would like to ask a question of the honourable Minister. Generally on the education part in the Sahtu, what type of support is he giving the educational boards in terms of retaining good, qualified teachers in the Sahtu? For example, we have heard in the past of the teachers' housing situation...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to get the recycling program done over time in all the communities. Would the Minister look at having this program be supported by the smaller communities where they can be part of the program even though they may not have a recycling program in the communities or have the machinery to support this? Is there anything they can do in terms of getting the program off the ground and start making communities aware of the situation and have a clean environment for all people?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, at this time of the year, many colleges, universities and other post-secondary institutions and high school academic years are coming to an end. For most students, their semester is already over and this is the time for celebration. I’m sure many students are happy that their final exams are over and that summer has arrived. But more importantly, this is a season in which graduation is celebrated and it is in recognition of a student's successes, success for all the students in the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, I’m proud to recognize the...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister also look at this in terms of working with the other departments in supporting this initiative, especially the school children? Would the Minister commit to a time frame where we could expect some good news from this initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the EDAP program the Minister has said there is, and I have noticed, some special consideration for the small communities versus the larger centres. Now in these small communities, can the Minister advise or inform this House in terms of the large amounts that are given to the individuals in the smaller communities in terms of this program here? Why are such large amounts given to our smaller communities than our larger centres under this program here? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, the EDAP program seems to be getting a good response from the smaller communities. In terms of the home ownership programs, can the Minister inform this House if someone is rejected for whatever circumstances of their application if there is a process for the people to reapply? Is there an independent board that they can go to, or do they apply through the office of the Housing Corporation to seek another approval of the application? Thank you.