Steve Norn

Legislative Assembly photo

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was cho.
Historical Information Steve Norn is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2021, as MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Lost his last election, a byelection in 2022.

Statements in the House

Yellowknives Dene First Nation Housing Strategy March 10th, 2021

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. For the last couple of years, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation have been working on the establishment of their own housing strategy for the communities Ndilo and Dettah. To inform their work, the YKDFN has conducted their own housing survey among their membership. They have been gathering their members' inputs so they can understand the types of homes and structures that people want to see in their community. This work is being done to help them to formulate a community plan to provide home ownership opportunities for their members. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, the YKDFN are aiming to assume control of their entire housing system, including designing, construction, governance, and administration of housing within the communities. However, in order to support the re-delegation of control of housing, the NWTHC will need to realign many of their policies and practices to successfully accommodate and support this goal.

In addition, there are several other barriers that the YKDFN must overcome if they are to successfully take control of housing. First, the GNWT must continue to lobby to the federal government for more funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the CMHC. Our government must continue advocating on behalf of the YKDFN and all of the communities in the North to secure more housing funding for the long term. Secondly, the YKDFN also face the barriers of paying home insurance and home mortgages. Banks won't allow mortgages on reserves or for many First Nation communities, simply because the lands the homes sit on are not private property. First Nation lands hold a special designation, so banks cannot use homes on these lands as collateral in case payments from clients can't be met. Therefore, banks have decided to entirely exclude people in these situations from any options for mortgages. This issue is also related to the unsettled Akaitcho land claim, which is still ongoing. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, Maslow's hierarchy of needs states that the first needs that must be met for people to be satisfied in their lives are physiological needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. That is the cornerstone for healthy individuals and communities.

In closing, I commend the YKDFN on their leaders' long work on their housing strategy, and I commit to do my best to help them achieve their goals in this matter. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 85-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Environment and Natural Resources - Deferral of Department (page 69), Carried March 9th, 2021

Madam Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Committee Motion 85-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Environment and Natural Resources - Deferral of Department (page 69), Carried March 9th, 2021

Madam Chair, I move that this committee defer consideration of the estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at this time. Marsi cho, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, fair enough. I just was not too sure there. I don't have any other questions except to say, yes, to just continue to do the best we can with what we have got to support our caribou. Since time immemorial, our people lived off caribou, and I just hope that we can see future generations continue to harvest and hunt this animal. I am hoping that we keep these herds strong. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

I am just wondering about historical actual. Okay. Good. Can the Minister just elaborate what is meant by that? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry. I did not catch it. I heard a sneeze. Was that "historical actions"?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

Thank you. The other item here, too, there is a decrease, as well, not so much a sunset, for the stewardship program. Can the Minister explain why there is a decrease there, as well?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

Madam Chair, I am just concerned. We were just mentioning that caribou management, it's just important work, and I just do not want to see anything being taken away from that. I think that we need to make sure that we protect all our wildlife. I don't know. It just seems like this one-time contribution, I think this should be something that should be continuing on. That is how I feel about it. I am sure a few of my colleagues do, as well. I am going to move along here. That was just a comment. The wildlife management board, I saw it someplace else here. Maybe I am going off a little bit here. Can the Minister just explain what this is, this line item here for $118,000?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

Thank you, Madam Chair. Monitoring and range planning.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters March 9th, 2021

Thank you, Madam Chair. My colleague from Frame Lake covered a lot of the questions I was going to ask, but that is fine. There are a few questions I want to ask anyways. I am just looking at some sunsets here, the alternative harvest and the monitoring and range planning. Can the Minister explain a little bit about that, why these two line items are being sunsetted? Thank you.