Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today in my Member’s statement I spoke about the economic measures chapter of the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement and how businesses and people in the Sahtu do not feel that this territorial government is living up to its obligations under this chapter. It’s very disappointing for my people to see the government taking 11 years to work on this chapter here. My question is to the Premier. Would the Premier be willing to meet with the Sahtu people to hear about their concerns and disagreement about the economic measures chapter and to work with them to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be supporting the passage of Bill 13. The reason I am supporting it is very simple. If the government has to find resources from within to find funds that aren’t approved here today, our communities will suffer. As an MLA, it’s a choice I have to make. That’s our responsibility to our communities. I can’t blame the government or anybody else. I am responsible here. So the roll of the dice says I have to vote yes. That’s what I am doing to support this bill.

At the same time, we are learning the process as working MLAs. We see how things move and some of my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Please provide the dates for completion of the Main Street Chipsealing Program for all of the communities in the Sahtu region.

Please also provide a cost estimate of each project.

Other than chipsealing, please provide information with regard to alternate methods of paving roads and controlling dust.

Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is why I asked the Minister to look at some innovative solutions in terms of curbing the hard drugs in our communities, by talking to these other Ministers and saying that this is a comprehensive approach. Again, go back to the report that Mr. Andre, deputy mayor from Fort McPherson, is talking about, having underage children who have been dealing with underage drinking in the community of Fort McPherson. I am asking the Minister, can he look at other solutions with other colleagues in terms of coming up with a northern solution? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was reported, on October 26th at 12:15 p.m., that communities along the Mackenzie Valley, specifically in Fort McPherson where they are dealing with underage drinking, ran around to see how they can resolve this issue. It’s also reported that communities are dealing with the hard drugs like crack addiction, and also in Yellowknife and in Hay River. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, can he inform this House of what type of strategy he is working on in terms of dealing with these issues in the small communities and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier knows that I also tried to get into that region to meet with the Sahtu people. How soon would the Premier be able to contact the Sahtu officials to set up a date and a meeting with them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my earlier statement, I am very passionate about this issue about housing in small communities. I grew up in my grandfather’s house, and my grandfather's house was taken down by the Housing Corporation who said that they would build a new building there for us. I'm still waiting for it today. In saying that, this is one of many stories that people in small communities have in terms of housing and that’s why I’m quite passionate for the people in homes. Like my honourable friend mentioned to me and mentioned to the House here, that is one...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I fully support this motion. Mr. Speaker, looking at the housing needs survey in the communities, visiting the people in the communities and looking at the conditions of housing and seeing where the federal government’s obligations to our people are, in terms of giving us affordable housing in our communities and giving us places where we can stay that don’t run into many problems such as our honourable Member for Nahendeh mentioned about mould. Some of our houses in our communities are in bad shape. Hopefully, this motion will give the Minister some good...

Thank you. I’m going to clean my glasses, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 29, 2004, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation identify and recommend to this House viable options to sustain our long-term public housing investment;

And further that the Government of the Northwest Territories sets as a target the reduction of core housing need in the Northwest Territories by 10 percent by the year 2007;

And furthermore that the Minister responsible for the NWT...