Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a motion on the appointment of two members to the Human Rights Adjudication Panel.

WHEREAS Section 48(1) of the Human Rights Act provides for the establishment of an adjudication panel composed of at least three persons appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS Section 48(5) of the Human Rights Act provides that the members of the panel hold office, during good behaviour, for a term of four years, with the exception of the first members appointed;

AND WHEREAS the appointments of two of the adjudication panel members...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank some of the Members in the House that will not be seeking re-election, that being David Krutko from our side of the House. It was good to work with David. He’s got lots of experience, as we all know; 16 years. I enjoyed a lot of good advice from David throughout my four years as MLA for Tu Nedhe.

I’d also like to thank Premier Roland for his work for the people of the Northwest Territories.

I’d also like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for doing such a good job, in the four years I’ve been here, running this House.

I’d also like to...

Can the Minister briefly explain a little more on what some of the barriers or some of the obstacles would be for us to move into supporting the traditional healing as an alternative? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about traditional healing practices that should be supported by the GNWT. I was generally referring to our own GNWT staff. I have questions for the Minister of Human Resources on the matter.

Can the Minister advise me if he has had any discussions at all in his department on traditional healing practices as an alternative to healing for our staff? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I am seconding the motion by the MLA for Nahendeh because I feel that before moving to a final devolution agreement, the Dene have to have the opportunity to do a thorough review of what is fully in the AIP and have their input into the AIP. This commission will give them the opportunity. If the commission is put together, that gives them the opportunity to work through the commission to have a good opportunity to look at the AIP as it stands.

All the Dene governments should be benefitting from the Devolution Agreement and they should be part of the decision-making...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister then work with the Department of Health to sort of look at what we would refer to as best practices maybe across the country, maybe across the territory, and look at the whole issue around traditional healing and allow traditional healers to be a part of the system when people are seeking an alternative healing method?

Can the Minister tell me if there is a plan to add traditional healing to recoverable expenses for GNWT employees when seeking alternative medicines for healing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about support for traditional healing practices.

Mr. Speaker, traditional healing practices have been part of the Dene culture practices going back decades. There was no such thing as doctors, nurses or western medical practices in the early 1900s when the Dene people lived nomadic lives.

Mr. Speaker, some of the Dene people have special gifts for working with and using traditional medicines to heal certain illnesses. They are called traditional healers, and Dene naidi k’orel?a in Chipewyan.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the GNWT should seriously...

I’d like to ask the Minister if in the early childhood development work that the department’s engaging in, if there has been some discussions with the teachers and the principals of the schools where there are preschools available and in schools where there are no preschools available. Thank you.

Along with the extra four hours a day they spend on travel to get their children to and from preschool, they would even pay up to $1,200 a month to have their children attend preschool.

I believe this government has made a commitment to increase high school graduates. Let’s start at preschool and I’m sure the benefits will be there in the future.