Robert Villeneuve

With the new employment equity of programs, Mr. Speaker, is the government going to be applying any special measures to improve the rate at which our qualified members of a designated group are hired in the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay. Well, let’s review the policy again and we’ll go over what was mandated in that policy. I’m pretty clear that there was an advisory committee that was supposed to be established. That’s all I’m saying. I don’t see why we would sway from having an objective body to oversee the operations like that. Just with respect to Yellowknife alone, the population of Yellowknife comprises of roughly 51 percent of aboriginal population here and the public service here in Yellowknife only comprises 14 percent of indigenous aboriginals in the public service in a community which...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister responsible for Human Resources with respect to the Human Resources amalgamation. Just as I was stating in my Member’s statement today, Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is, the affirmative action policy since it was first mandated in 1989, there was a policy in there to put together an affirmative action advisory committee, which was an objective, independent committee that had a gender balance and a racial balance to oversee the operations of the affirmative action policy. I think if that committee was implemented when it was...

Yes, besides the historical, ecological and spiritual reasons given, are reasons related to employment given equal weight? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A quick question in relation to what other Members are asking. Specifically in areas when negotiations are still in the works, like the Dehcho and Akaitcho, when the tourism licence that is going to be issued is reviewed and consultation has taken place, how much weight does the aboriginal organizations offer, I guess, with their decision on whether to renew or issue a tourism licence that’s given by the government when they make the final decision on whether to issue or renew?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Can the Minister provide this House with the “new” affordable housing plans?

What innovative changes are incorporated into the affordable housing plans that more adequately meet the needs of northerners?

Has there been any post-analysis done to assess whether or not adjustments to floor plans will better meet specific needs of potential clients. If so, can the Minister provide this information?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are they all these 500 units that they are planning on putting on the ground in the next two years now, do we already have the clients already listed of who is going to be getting a house, which ones are going to the public housing? Are those lists already drawn up, family sizes determined and needs assessed? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for Housing. You’re not off the hook until 5:00 today.

---Laughter

So I better get my questions in.

---Applause

Anyway, just talking about the affordable housing initiative. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Speaker, I’m fully supportive of the affordable housing initiative. I only have concerns because I just don’t want this initiative to be reflected on five years from now or after its completion by the public as another big Housing Corporation mistake on the type of units that are put on the ground. I just want to ask the Minister...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just want to talk about the consultation processes this government conducts with the regional governments, our community governments and any individual residents in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, we have all heard of a lack of comprehensive consultations and the lackadaisical attitude of taking proper direction from community organizations and residents in outlying communities by our bureaucracy.

We often hear about the issues and concerns during these consultation meetings falling on deaf ears. We are not reaching the proper authorities; for example, the...

Yes, as we move forward to develop regulations that are regionally specific, would it be safe to say that regions could include or incorporate into their own regulations for the region into any tourism licence, employment-specific regulations when dealing with the issuance of any tourism licence? Is that within law or is it allowable? Thank you.