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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Crucial Fact

Historical Information Michael McLeod is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly October 2011, as MLA for Deh Cho

Lost his last election, in 2011, with 36% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Affirmative Action Policy June 21st, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today concerns affirmative action. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories identifies three groups of people for preference in employment, training and promotion under the Affirmative Action Policy. Aboriginal persons are priority one.

Mr. Speaker, the current Affirmative Action Policy was implemented in 1989 when it replaced the Northern Hiring Policy. Yet today, 11 years later, the aboriginal people occupy only 15 percent of the management positions and overall 31 percent. Since 1991, there has been only a two percent increase in aboriginal representation within the Government of the Northwest Territories' workforce.

When the decision was made to dissolve the Department of Personnel, the onus was placed on each department to achieve results. This did not seem to work as we have only seen minimal results to-date.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member representing a riding of mostly aboriginal people, this is of great concern to me. It seems this government would like us to believe that there are few qualified aboriginals out there and there is stiff competition from diamond and oil companies. I also hear that there are very few Northerners with proper credentials. I cannot accept those arguments. I personally know of many people here in Yellowknife and in the communities with degrees and college diplomas who cannot get jobs in the GNWT.

Mr. Speaker, when we look at the results of the Affirmative Action Policy, we all have to agree that it has not done what it was supposed to. Is it because the program is not being implemented properly? Is it because there is no one department overseeing this program? Mr. Speaker, there are probably many reasons why this program is not working. However, I do not believe that the policy in itself is the problem.

This government has to take a serious look at the barriers to allowing this program to work. We also have to look at ways to complement this program. In other jurisdictions, they have actively gone out and selected individuals for management positions. By targeting individuals to take job training and instruction, they have helped them move into management positions. These may be possible solutions.

In any case, Mr. Speaker, improvement in the area of increasing the representation of target groups in the public service is something that cannot come soon enough. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Question 8-14(3): Medical Travel Assistance June 20th, 2000

Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister for that. I would like to know if the Minister would commit to providing a staff person to travel into the community of Kakisa and explain the process. There seems to be little information on it. It might be in order to have a person travel to all the small communities and explain the system that is in place. Thank you.

Question 8-14(3): Medical Travel Assistance June 20th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services. Recently, I had a round of constituent meetings in my riding and the concern arose from the meeting in Kakisa regarding medical travel. I was informed that there is no form of compensation for medical travel when any patient travels through the communities of Yellowknife or Hay River for medical attention. The only time there is compensation is when there is a referral. Mr. Speaker, there are no physicians, doctors, or nurses in the community of Kakisa and if you have to see a dentist, doctor, or a nurse, you have to travel to a larger centre. Most of the community members in Kakisa are seniors and most do not have vehicles. So, they have to rely on family members or taxis from outside the community to travel. There seems to be no form of reimbursement or any financial compensation for their travel. It can be very costly.

I would like to ask the Minister if there are any services or programs available to the people in the smaller communities to assist with medical travel costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Deh Cho Proposal June 20th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this is National Aboriginal Day, I would like to make some comments on an issue that has been facing the Dene and Metis of the Deh Cho for many years. My statement today is on the Deh Cho proposal.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho proposal is not a land claim in the accepted sense of the word. Instead, it proposes that government institutions be based on Dene laws and values for the benefit of all of the residents of the Deh Cho region, including the non-aboriginal people of the Deh Cho.

The establishment of such governing institutions will fulfill the legitimate aspirations and rights of both aboriginal and non-aboriginal people of the Deh Cho. It is proposed that these community-driven institutions will have extensive powers, which will include, but not be limited to, those more commonly associated with traditional land claim agreements.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho process needs active support and promotion by the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is essential that the Government of the Northwest Territories keep an open mind and adopt a flexible, creative approach to the Deh Cho process as it unfolds.

Mr. Speaker, it is also very important that the Government of the Northwest Territories concentrates less on its own potential loss of powers and more on the legitimate interest of the Deh Cho people under consideration of the Deh Cho proposal.

The Government of the Northwest Territories shall not take a rigid approach. On the contrary, it should be as flexible and as accommodating as possible. Why is it, Mr. Speaker, that in separate negotiations between Canada and the Akaitcho, Canada and the Dogrib, and between Canada and the Deh Cho, it is the Government of the Northwest Territories that comes to be seen as the stumbling block to a speedy settlement of outstanding issues.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories should be playing a more supportive role in these negotiations or none at all. With regard to the Deh Cho, it is important that the federal government and the Deh Cho be given as much breathing room as possible in negotiations. It is important that this clear message comes from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho sees mixed messages coming from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Indeed, it would appear that the GNWT has difficulty in defining its own interests. To add to the confusion, the bureaucrats are not saying the same things as the politicians.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Cabinet and the honourable Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to immediately adopt a more flexible and creative approach to the Deh Cho proposal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Appreciation To Ministers And Members June 19th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to show my appreciation to the Ministers and Members who attended my riding. Mr. Speaker, once Session and committee meetings end, it gives us an opportunity to visit our constituents in the communities. It is a chance to hear people's concerns, catch up on the latest news and hold meetings. The pace we have to set at times can be very overwhelming and exhausting.

Mr. Speaker, in my short time as an MLA, I believe I have encountered all of the difficulties that go along with setting up meetings with the Ministers and other senior government officials.

The first major hurdle is always to coordinate everybody's schedule so all the players can be in attendance. Then there is the booking of halls, boardrooms, hiring of translators, coordinating and receiving all required forms and making sure we get approval from corporate services.

We also have to remember that our meetings cannot compete with other activities in the communities or other meetings that are happening. I am sure other Members have experienced the same challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I feel the time and effort that goes into these meetings and visits often goes unrecognized. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the Ministers and other Members who have visited the communities in my riding.

First of all, I would like to thank the Premier, Mr. Kakfwi, who is probably the only Premier to have officially visited the community of Enterprise in the Deh Cho. Mr. Allen, the Minister of Housing, and his staff who visited every community in my riding. Thank you. To Mr. Antoine and Mr. Ootes for taking the time to participate in official school openings in Kakisa, I would like to thank both of them.

Mr. Speaker, thanks must also be extended to all the government staff who work very hard organizing and setting the travel schedule for these meetings. To the people in the community who set up the halls, made coffee, put up posters and came out and participated. I would also like to acknowledge the Member for North Slave, who took part in some of the meetings on the reserve in Enterprise. Judging from the response in the communities, Mr. Speaker, it makes all of the planning and organizing worthwhile. I look forward to many more meetings in the next four years with the Members of this House in the communities of the Deh Cho. Thank you.

-- Applause

Question 179-14(2): Road Conditions Near Fort Providence River Crossings March 30th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he can foresee any potential to chip seal the road in the next few years?

Question 179-14(2): Road Conditions Near Fort Providence River Crossings March 30th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was glad to hear the comments from the Minister responsible for Transportation the other day. They based their budget on traffic volume, which forces me to add to the growing list for chip seal. Mr. Speaker, my constituents have voiced their concerns regarding the condition of the road from the Fort Providence ferry crossing to the Fort Providence winter road crossing. Concern regarding the dust that is raised now, not only from the spring and summer seasons, but also during the winter due to the fact that we have an increase in traffic volume. So much so, that in the last couple of years, it has become a hazard for the drivers and also for the people that utilize the area. We have approximately 20 families that have cabins along that stretch of road and activity in the area increases during the spring months as the weather warms up.

When the ferry becomes operational, we have an increase of traffic flow from the tourists and from the fishermen from the south. We can all relate to the dust and the hazards that can be created from it. We can also relate to the unattractive appearance the landscape along the road can take. I understand that several years ago, this was a budget item, to chip seal this stretch of road. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Transportation if he can inform me if there are any plans in the future to chip seal this road? Thank you.

Recognition Of Fort Providence Pages March 30th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is the fifth and final day for the pages that are here from Fort Providence. I want to thank them for coming here and working for us. They have all worked very hard, been polite, patient and able to maintain their sense of humour.

We were off to a difficult start, this being the first time since I have been elected that we have brought pages from Fort Providence. We had problems with accommodations, our food arrangements, and yesterday our chaperone had food poisoning. It has been quite an ordeal. I am scared to check how much homework was done. But overall, the pages have been very patient, and I want to thank them for that. They have been very good company for me.

I want to say thank you to Robyn, Ashley, Victoria and Julie, and also to the chaperone, Tamara. Most of all, I want to say thank you to the staff of the Legislative Assembly who made this all possible. Thank you.

Question 164-14(2): Consultation On Timber Permits March 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development tell me how much time is usually given for communities, aboriginal groups, and other stakeholders to consider initiatives brought forth by his department? Thank you.

Question 164-14(2): Consultation On Timber Permits March 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Consultation with the stakeholders has to be a required component of the final approval process for significant government initiatives.

There have been occasions where the government has granted land-use permits in areas where the negotiation process is still going on. Mr. Speaker, how do the government's development policies ensure that the interest of other stakeholders, especially communities and aboriginal groups, are respected and protected? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.