This is page numbers 1 - 34 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

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Supplementary To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I definitely would like to see a new building that serves five communities. That is including Edzo, Behchoko, Gameti, Whati, and Wekweeti. Our population is growing. We are losing a lot of elders in the region. I talked about one of the highly respected elders that passed on two days ago. It is happening today. We have to take those into consideration that we are losing elders in not just my region, but other regions. So, Mr. Speaker, when can we see this in the works, an action plan to have this addressed to replace the building in Behchoko, the seniors' home? Mahsi.

Supplementary To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't tell exactly when it will be, but I can assure the Member that we are aiming at no later than June to have a report done that will tell us whether we continue with repairs to the existing facility or we go to a new building.

Mr. Speaker, I have a real concern; I think the Housing Corporation does, as well, of why buildings can't last more than 20 years. This building is not that old. In the scheme of things, we should have buildings that last 40, 50 or 60 years before they start to rot and fall apart and so on. So there is something wrong with the way we have been building these buildings. That is a serious concern. I don't want to build another building that is just going to last 20 years. This has to be thought through carefully and is something that we get our money's worth and the elders have a good, safe place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 16

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister recognizing that there is a need for a new building in the community, the seniors' home facility that can serve the five communities. I would like to ask the Minister, based on the study that has been done, how soon can the Minister and his department meet with the Tlicho Community Services Agency to devolve a plan to move forward? We have been waiting for a long time now. I think now is the time to act on it. Mahsi.

Supplementary To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 16

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I will speak to the Housing Corporation about that. I am, as the Member knows, travelling with him in some of the Tlicho communities in early April. I expect to have more information by the time we get together at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Question 6-15(6): Renovations Required At The Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, several days ago, I was in the Legislative Assembly here. I was in the foyer with Members of this House witnessing an historical signing of a document with the federal government and the Deline First Nation and, of course, our government here. I was sitting in that chair just dreaming, Mr. Speaker, in terms of wouldn't it be nice to have this government, people from Deline and the federal government, sit down and talk about the original birthplace of ice hockey in Canada?

Some Hon. Members

Hear! Hear!

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

I want to ask the Premier in terms of his discussion recently with the Prime Minister, himself being an historian buff in terms of hockey, what can the Premier tell me and the good people of the Sahtu, Northwest Territories? Is the Premier working with the Prime Minister to recognize Deline as the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Prime Minister is a man who has a tremendous interest in the history of hockey. Whenever I have an opportunity, I do raise this issue with him. I have to say, quite honestly though, that the Prime Minister has never said to me let's work together on making this known across Canada. So what he is doing may appear in a book he is writing. I don't know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was hoping the Prime Minister would tell the Premier let's have a friendly hockey game up in Bear Lake and just settle the score once and for all. Mr. Speaker, I would ask this government and the Premier, what is his government doing in terms of showing that we support that motion that was passed in 2006? I believe it was February 23rd. We

passed the motion recognizing Deline as the birthplace of ice hockey and getting CBC to get their facts straight in terms of broadcasting the program that was broadcast across Canada. What is the Premier doing to support this motion and to support the people in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have said, every opportunity I get to remind people at the appropriate time that the birthplace of hockey is in Deline in the Northwest Territories, I take advantage of that opportunity. Mr. Speaker, we had a very good meeting and a celebration in Deline last fall. I enjoyed it. The community enjoyed it. In fact, even though I lost at the hand games, it was a good event.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure I want to challenge the Prime Minister to a hockey game. He probably is bigger than me and can skate better. That may not be a good bet. Mr. Speaker, when we were in Deline last year, we did make an offer to the community to give us a proposal of how we could advance this and we put it in their hands to bring something forward. We certainly look forward to receiving something, whether it is bringing professional hockey players to Deline or doing a training camp or whatever it may be. We said to the community give us a proposal of what we might do next. We are certainly waiting for the proposal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we have some good hockey players in this House. I can certainly coach the Premier in terms of some moves that he can do on the Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier what is his government doing in terms of promoting the birthplace of ice hockey in the Northwest Territories? We have lots of ambassadors that go outside of the Northwest Territories that probably can say we are from the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada in the Northwest Territories or in Deline. What is his department doing with the other Ministers to promote this? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We want to put a lot of emphasis on sport. I think, through MACA, there has been a lot of good work done on healthy lifestyles and sports and so on. As we approach and now participated, and I think very successfully, in the Canada Winter Games, that we get ready for the 2010 games. There is an opportunity for us as a government to not only promote hockey, but to promote promotion of healthy living, sports generally and so on. Mr. Speaker, our strategy in this area includes hockey, but is going to be much broader than just hockey because there are a lot of areas that our young people can excel in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I asked the Premier about what he is doing to promote Deline as the birthplace of ice hockey. I certainly agree with the Premier in terms of promoting healthy lifestyle outside the Northwest Territories. I would ask the Premier what is his government doing also to let Heritage Canada know, through CBC, that the broadcast was incorrect and they should get their facts straight and broadcast a segment that Deline is the birthplace of ice hockey? What is he doing to let CBC know and get their facts straight? This government recognizes it. The people in the Northwest Territories recognize it. I think it is about time CBC recognizes it. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Question 7-15(6): Recognition Of Deline As The Birthplace Of Hockey
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 17

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we were in Deline, what we had said to the community, we want you to own this project. This will be your project, something that the community drives from the bottom up. Mr. Speaker, at that time, we said to the community give us a proposal. I am waiting for the proposal. In the interim, we are doing a lot of work more broadly on sports. I will take up, though, every opportunity to remind people of the history of Deline and the history of hockey. Mr. Speaker, in terms of CBC, maybe the Member missed a good opportunity last night when hearings were being held by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on the role of CBC. It is one we could have said to CBC, look, get your information right on a lot of things, including the birthplace of hockey. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.