Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a quick question for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation with regard to the use of trailers as opposed to stick-built units in the communities. In my community, in Deninu Kue, we have five trailers situated there at a cost of $130,000 per unit. If there was some preplanning done before this whole market initiative was rolled out last year with the ordering of 20 trailer units, I think there would have been better response from community members in both my communities if this government had invested the $650,000 and built a stick-built apartment...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess with reference to some of these programs that are going to help these people get into homeownership, with reference to some of the programs the Housing Corporation used to run, the HAP program, from the feedback I have been getting from Housing is that that was a very successful program, but that was sunsetted a few years back. The good part of that program is people were able to at least assist in building their own houses. Sweat equity was a big consideration in that program. I think a lot of people took a lot of pride in participating in constructing their...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, this question originates from numerous enquiries to my office from current and past students and more so from students who have received Student Financial Assistance but have been cut off suddenly by this government when they are into a three out of a four-year program, either be it in the South or in the NWT.

My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

1.

Can the Minister provide information on the number of aboriginal and non-aboriginal students...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land selection phase that the Akaitcho Territory Government will be embarking on in their next phase of negotiations with this government and the federal government is probably something that we all, especially Yellowknife residents, would be looking forward to reviewing. What commitment does the government have to ensure the Akaitcho Territory Government that the land selection process that they present to this government and to the federal government, which is probably going to include a lot of land around the city of Yellowknife…I know the city council is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs a question with regard to the Akaitcho Territory Government’s treaty negotiations that are still ongoing. Just what measures is this government currently incorporating with providing the Akaitcho Territory Government a smooth transition through their treaty negotiation process and how are they supporting them in this process? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to inform and to set the record straight with my constituents of Lutselk’e, on the latest media reports over the radio with regard to an interview I had about the proposed changes to the Lutselk’e First Nations leadership, which is underway and hopefully will be resolved next week when the band elections take place.

Mr. Speaker, I could stand here for the next two-and-a-half minutes and criticize the local media for their misuse of information and sensationalizing issues, that often result in the obstruction and deterioration of this government's efforts for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just rephrase the question to the Minister. I guess the lands in question are Commissioner’s lands right now, with respect to the sandpits and the Con Mine area and other land around the Ingraham Trail, which is in the Minster’s constituency. All these lands are currently under Commissioner’s authority, so this government definitely has authority over that land withdrawal, land application, land permitting, land use process. When the land selection of the Akaitcho Territory Government, which is going to include probably all of that put forward, how is the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend the next session on March 1st to the 3rd in Ndilo. I just wanted to ask the Minister in respect to some of the land development issues that are going on around the city of Yellowknife by Members of this side of the House and two Members on that side of the House about the treatment and exclusion of city council in this government’s so-called preferential treatment of Akaitcho territory residents. I just want to ask the Premier what measures he is going to take for the Akaitcho people in this...

But I won’t, Mr. Speaker. Instead…

---Laughter

…I would like to inform my constituents that, no where in my statements to the media about the removal of the chief and council, did I say the word “glad.” I did not mention anybody's name, and I definitely did not say anything about being happy with the upcoming changes in the leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I am not happy about the sudden changes to this leadership. For this past year I had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with the chief and council and I thought they were doing a really good job. They were working diligently and were...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about some of the recent political developments that have taken place in my constituency; specifically the community of Lutselk'e over the past week. Currently, there is an interim committee put in place to oversee the operations of the Lutselk'e First Nations office and the band elections, which are slated to take place on February 24, 2005. A non-confidence vote brought forward by a majority of the band members last week to have the chief and council removed has been carried out. Now the members have to select a new chief and council...