Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address the issue of the North Slave regional office. Most of these offices and especially the offices with the decision-making powers are located at the headquarters in Yellowknife, instead of in the region, Mr. Speaker. Services provided from those offices for Tlicho have been a concern for some time now. Mr. Speaker, the Tlicho region has been accorded regional status by virtue of land claims and self-government agreement with the recent TCSA, Tlicho Community Services Agency, silver medal award for innovative management. That is a great achievement, Mr. Speaker. So far, the GNWT has ignored the fact that in terms of how it organizes its services.
Most North Slave regional offices are still located in the headquarters in Yellowknife. Decision-makers and managers still sit in Yellowknife ignoring Behchoko as a regional centre and as the largest aboriginal community in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. It is time for this Government of the Northwest Territories to acknowledge the importance of Behchoko as a capital of the Tlicho Government. Basically, such recognition will mean that Tlicho becomes a stand-alone region. It must come with the transfer of positions, Mr. Speaker, that are authorized to make decisions.
Mr. Speaker, presently the Tlicho residents are being disadvantaged. Responses to questions or requests take a long time. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.