Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise slowly. For the past 24 hours, I have played some dynamite hockey in the birthplace of Canada: in Deline.

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Mr. Speaker, today I want to acknowledge the hard work that people in Deline did. The volunteers organized a successful event. The hand games were enjoyed by many people. There were many people from the Sahtu communities, Yellowknife and Tli Cho communities. They were there participating. They had family events. It showed by the volunteers being there, their dedicated time and determination, made it a successful event. It was...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a clarification on this national justice issues, $9,000. Is that from the federal government? Can I get a little explanation on working towards improving the Canadian justice system?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The on-the-land programs, specifically the Tl'oondih program, is that on a continuous basis? Are we doing it once a year or is it every six weeks? Is this a special pilot project not like the ones around this area where there are wilderness camps for inmates? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, a lot of interest too I’ve read in the Minister’s opening marks with regard to this important department. I find it very interesting that the operations budget for the department has increased this year from last year, as stated in his presentation, by $460,000. I guess I will save some specific questions for later on in terms of the reason why there are increases in the operations budget and we’re making some cuts in other areas. The increase is $460,000 from last year’s main estimate. This increase is to help our communities become safer and provide...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, thank you to the Minister. However, sometimes the call of the community falls on deaf ears by oil companies where an oil company in Colville Lake had run over some traps in that area even though the community probably wasn’t informed. The Minister of MACA gathered all of the leaders in November to hear what the leaders want to say about the oil and gas. I would like to ask the Minister of MACA, does he have any plans for the same, specifically for trappers in the Sahtu or any other regions to organize a regional meeting with trappers to discuss the impacts of...

Mr. Speaker, trapping is important for our life in the Sahtu. In the late 1980s, the trapping industry was pulling in over $5 million. In the year 2002, it is barely breaking the $1 million mark. Mr. Speaker, trappers are being affected by the oil and gas activities. Now they propose the Mackenzie gas pipeline. I understand that the Government of the Northwest Territories is the intervener at the hearings. I would like to ask the Minister of RWED, as being the lead in the oil and gas industry, what is he doing to consult with the trappers in terms of the pipeline? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The budget shows the repairs for some work in Fort Good Hope on Chief T’Selihye at $15,000. I wonder if the Minister can expand on what type of repairs can be done for $15,000 in the school with so little money. Maybe the school should be replaced instead in 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the status of schools in the Sahtu region. Mr. Speaker, Chief Albert Wright School was built in 1970. Two years ago, they had a serious incident where some of the walls in the school were cracking. The permafrost underneath the building was shifting and they did some work on there and ventilation was a problem. They reported some rotten walls on the foundation. I would ask the Minister if he could give an update on the scheduled repairs to Chief Albert Wright School in Tulita...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs met with the Minister and his officials on January 18, 2005, to review the main estimates for the Department of Justice.

The committee noted expenditures of $79.803 million for operations expenses and $1.78 million to be spent on capital projects, of which $1.092 million is to be spent on preliminary work on a new standalone courthouse for Yellowknife.

A wide-ranging discussion on a number of issues, including proposed employee layoffs and shutdowns of facilities and services took place. The committee has the following comments...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is correct in terms of his department doing as much as it can in terms of the regional trappers. This is our lifestyle for the trappers. This lifestyle is going to be impacted by the pipeline. I want to ask if the Minister of RWED and the government know the impacts on trappers in regard to the pipeline. Thank you.