Robert Villeneuve

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as this is the last day that we will be formally sitting in the House for the next couple of months I would like to take some time for two minutes and 20 seconds to reiterate some of the initiatives and concerns I feel could make some significant progress forward, given the right rules and encouragement by the Members of this House; namely, our Ministers opposite.

First, Madam Speaker, the taxation issue could be moved forward and possibly be resolved by the end of this taxation year if the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Financial...

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My written question is also for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Premier Joe Handley. If this government recognizes and supports the inherent rights of aboriginal people in the development of their self-governments:

What is the GNWT intending to do to strengthen this support and recognize aboriginal governments as legitimate governments representing the aboriginal public?

With the development and negotiations toward self-government by aboriginals in the NWT, does this government accept and endorse aboriginal governments to acquire revenues flowing from their ongoing...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Maybe I’m getting conflicting information here, but I’ve got a note here, Madam Speaker, that is right from the Minister’s office that says unfortunately there is no dedicated funding provided to Lutselk’e for dust control. So I don’t know where the Minister is getting the idea that it’s built into their O and M budget, because he’s saying right here that there’s no dedicated funding in O and M for dust control for Lutselk’e and it’s up to the community to spend whatever it feels is appropriate out of their O and M budget, which makes no specific reference for dust...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s good to know that the report has been completed and that the department will be reviewing it. I guess just based on the findings of the report I know there’s going to be some communities that will have really severe dust levels that have been reported in the report; other communities not so bad. I want to know what measure the department is going to take. When they review the report, are they going to include extra funding to the communities that have really high levels of dust during the summer months? How is the department going to address the issue?...

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Today I rise in the House to raise an issue that’s been ongoing for quite some time. I am talking about the outstanding issues of property taxes in smaller communities in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, this issue requires cooperation and coordination of two GNWT departments, Municipal and Community Affairs and FMBS, to find an amicable solution that many of the homeowners and ratepayers can live with. I hope this challenge does not impede the process and that the delays in finding an agreeable approach to tackle this issue are dealt with before the end of this...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be brief with respect to the committee motion that’s before us. I have to agree with the other Members about the process by which this change has been brought about is definitely not in accordance with the directives that are clearly stated in the Financial Administration Manual.

On the flip side, I have constituents I have to answer to and who have definitely expressed their support for this initiative. That is the one reason I just can’t support this motion. I don’t think even something like this would have even come about if we had this much compassion...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I guess the whole issue is getting down to the dollars and cents. I just want to make sure that the Minister is acknowledging the fact that there are some communities that have severe levels of dust, and other communities aren’t so bad. I want to make sure that the Minister is going to prioritize communities that have a severe problem where issues have been coming forward to this House year after year with respect to the high levels of dust around there and to this day really nothing has been done. So I just want to make sure that the Minister is well aware that...

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It is in regard to an issue that has been really important in the community of Lutselk’e and has been brought forward to the Minister in the past number of years with regard to dust control…

---Laughter

…the control and the level of dust in Lutselk’e. Now the dust bowl that is created in the community of Lutselk’e, because of the prevailing summer winds and the landscape in the East Arm area, makes for a perfect spot where the community is that you can see it when you are flying over there. Just...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the Minister has made my office aware that June 20th is the big day that these tests are supposed to come back and are going to determine the fate of the Hook Lake bison recovery project. Either way I am trying to let the community know that either way the bison are going to go, come positive or negative results from the lab. So I just want to make sure that the department is actually prepared to move should the tests come back negative for tuberculosis or whatever bison diseases they are looking for, and would the department be in there within a timely manner...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can understand the Premier’s point that the resource revenue is going to go to the government that delivers the service. But if the service that they’re delivering is not meeting the needs of these communities and these regions that are going to be operating under their own self-government, why is it an issue for this government to say well, yes, we’re delivering the base issues of every service, we deliver that, but it just doesn’t meet the community needs? That’s what we’ve been told here for the last few months by all the communities in all the outlying...