Roger Allen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We quite often talk amongst ourselves about the importance of supporting the renewable resource sector, but I haven’t seen any dialogue to date on the level of discussions. Is the Minister continuing to dialogue with the aboriginal corporation on the Gwich’in Tribal Council to try to enhance some of their motions that were presented during their board of directors meetings to facilitate and promote the renewable resource sector? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement, I made reference to seasonal and healthy lifestyles enjoyed by the people of the Mackenzie Delta and elsewhere across the Territories. I want to ask the Minister of RWED if he would assess the priority of his department, so that we can have a designated renewable resource economist assigned to the Inuvik region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the context of the Minister’s reply, I want to commend the department for their continued support of the fur harvesters’ program, fur pricing program. I think it’s important as well to make the Minister aware that even though there is some renewed interest in how they are going to address the renewable resource sector, I still think it’s important that they consider the fact that we need to have the same level of investment in the renewable resource sector to mitigate some of the socioeconomic impacts that the pipeline proposal would bring, so we can continue to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the course of our time, we spend a huge amount of time trying to deal with the major social problems and the costs associated with those problems and very seldom finding corrective methods to deal with them.

There is one aspect of our lifestyle in the Northwest Territories that is very important to indigenous northerners, and those who understand the value of a renewable resource lifestyle would understand my statement today.

Mr. Speaker, in the history of the Mackenzie Delta, we have over 25,000 lakes, approximately 125,000 kilometres of waterways, and I have been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am certainly glad to see that the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation has made a fine statement in the context of housing demands in the Northwest Territories. I am going to preamble my Member’s statement by reading a Minister’s statement by saying, “Housing continues to be in high demand, especially in the growing and developing economy. This presents us with many challenges and to meet these challenges, the corporation will work closely with residents at the community level, Members of this House and the business community.” And, second to that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to speak to the motion that I put forward. Mr. Speaker, the bill of intent is an alternative to devolution. The Premier has clearly advocated to the northern leaders and in his travels, and I want to state some of his replies to a number of questions back in the early part of the session. I am just going to paraphrase a number of statements he made. He is clear about…(inaudible)…”We are looking for arrangements similar to what the provinces have where the people of the North are responsible for the land, the resources of the North and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are certain legal instruments that are required under the covenants of any agreement. I won’t go into any detail, but I just want to ask the Minister if he feels that a MIC is more applicable to the economic reforms than a social policy reform? So if he can make comment to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then would the Minister kindly advise this House if $18.3 million in new program monies will be made available to the developers and other people in pursuit of housing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few positive steps this government should consider in the overall strategy to improve the programs in the system of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. It should take a script from the Norwegian State Housing Bank which administers housing allowances that allocate the families with children and retired people with low incomes and who endure hardships and other areas of economic ability to pay for, such as high power rates.

Mr. Speaker, I hope this helpful advice will be taken seriously by the Minister...

WHEREAS discussions on devolution and constitutional reform have been ongoing for several years with little or no change resulting;

AND WHEREAS the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada continues to have authority and control over many aspects of the Northwest Territories and the operations of the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories deserves a seat at the Confederation table on an equal basis with provincial governments;

AND WHEREAS there is an urgent need for the Northwest Territories to gain control over its resources and a share of the...