2011 ~ 2010 ~ 2009 ~ 2008 ~ 2007
News Releases - 2010

1. MLA for Nahendeh Pleased to See Completion of Joint Review Panel Report - January 8, 2010
2. Review of the Child and Family Services Act Underway - January 11, 2010
3. New Members Appointed to the Independent Commission to Review Members' Compensation and Benefits - February 9, 2010
4. Elders Parliament - February 12, 2010
5. Legislative Assembly Reconvenes in March - March 8, 2010
6. GNWT's NEB Comments Don't Reflect Assembly's Views - Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley - April 22, 2010
7. Legislative Assembly Welcomes Elder Parliamentarians - April 29, 2010
8. Elders Parliament Motions - May 5, 2010
9. MLA for Nahendeh Pleased to Announce Response from Health Minister on Dentistry Petition - May 14, 2010
10. MLA for Nahendeh Pleased with Announcement on Electricity Rates - May 17, 2010
11. Sahtu MLA Applauds GNWT for Withdrawing Caribou Reference - May 20, 2010 
12. Great Slave MLA Presents Discussion Paper to Joint Working Group on Supplementary Health Benefits- July 9, 2010
13. Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre meets with Edmonton Mayor regarding the closing of the Edmonton Municipal Airport - October 8, 2010
14. New Chief Electoral Officer appointed by the Legislative Assembly of the NWT- October 14, 2010
15. Major Changes Recommended for the Child and Family Services Act- October 21, 2010
16. Online ePetitions Now Available on the Legislative Assembly Website - October 27, 2010
17. Frame Lake MLA Dissatisfied with the Supplementary Health Benefits Joint Working Group Report- October 29, 2010
18. Legislative Assembly Unveils Wood Pellet Boiler - October 29, 2010
19. Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley Maintains Focus on Ministerial Post-Term Restrictions - November 5, 2010
20.  Call for Public Consultation on Lands and Resources Managements- November 5, 2010
21.  Nunakput MLA Supports Aklak Air in Aftermath of Hangar Fire- November 5, 2010 
22. Education in the NWT - November 16, 2010
23. Sahtu MLA suffers minor heart attack - November 29, 2010
24. Sahtu MLA Recovering After Minor Heart Attack - December 6, 2010
25. Nahendeh MLA Pleased with Changes to NWT Electricity System - December 8, 2010
26. Sahtu MLA Concerned About Southern Company Arranging Medical Travel - January 12, 2011

January 12, 2011

Sahtu MLA Concerned About Southern Company Arranging Medical Travel

(YELLOWKNIFE) January 12, 2011 – Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya, has deep concerns about the fact that a southern company won the bid to provide medical travel for northerners.

Mr. Yakeleya says, “I am appalled that the Stanton Territorial Health Authority would contract with a southern company to make travel arrangements for northerners traveling for medical reasons. The savings will be $20,000 per year over the lowest, BIP adjusted northern bid. That works out to fifty cents per resident for the year.”

Staff at the Health Authority have explained that they are simply following the GNWT’s guidelines.

Mr. Yakeleya has recent personal experience with medical travel and says, “This is such an important part of life for northerners: why would the government want to put extra stress on ill citizens by forcing them to deal with someone in Toronto? Those folks may be good at booking travel for the 90% of Canadians who live within 100 miles of the US border but I have to wonder how effective they will be when they are booking travel out of our small remote communities. A lot of our elders, the people who tend to travel the most for medical reasons, speak very little or no English. We see it all the time here: southerners often just don’t understand the north. Some southern airlines that have been operating in the north for the last couple of years don’t even have airplanes that can fly at 40 below.”
Mr. Yakeleya says, “If ever there was a time when the government ought to step in and exercise discretion to go with the best northern supplier, this has to be it.”

For more information, contact:
Norman Yakeleya, MLA Sahtu
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-920-7856 or 867-446-2366
Email: norman_yakeleya@gov.nt.ca

December 8, 2010

Nahendeh MLA Pleased with Changes to NWT Electricity System

(YELLOWKNIFE) December 8, 2010 – Nahendeh MLA, Kevin Menicoche, is happy with the recent changes to the NWT electricity rates. The Public Utilities Board recently decided to re-balance the NWT Power Corporations electricity rates and implement other changes to the electricity system.

“My focus has always been a one-rate zone, but these new changes, and lower rates, has four zones which is a definite step in the right direction,” says Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Menicoche says, “The commercial rate changes downwards are huge. This is what businesses in my constituency have been asking for. Businesses will pass savings onto consumers. I am pleased with these changes as it will lower the cost of living for all Northerners.”

For more information, please contact:

Kevin Menicoche, MLA Nahendeh
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2294
Email: kevin_menicoche@gov.nt.ca

December 6, 2010

Sahtu MLA Recovering After Minor Heart Attack
 
YELLOWKNIFE (December 6, 2010) – Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya is resting comfortably at his Yellowknife residence after having a minor heart attack a little over a week ago.

Mr. Yakeleya was med-evaced to Edmonton, and doctors at the Royal Alexandra Hospital installed a stint using non-invasive surgery. Mr. Yakeleya arrived at his Yellowknife residence on Friday where he will be resting for the next few weeks.

Mr. Yakeleya said, “The doctors have given me good instructions on how to make a full recovery. They gave me tips on how to exercise safely and eat better. Being sick made me realise that we all need to take good care of ourselves as we get older, and to be careful about our health.”

Mr. Yakeleya also said, “I want to thank everyone who has been so supportive for the past week. My family and I are grateful for the many kind words and actions to help us out. We have heard from so many people from all over the NWT who have told us that we are in their prayers. We gained a lot of strength from knowing that. Several of my fellow MLAs have been in touch with my staff to offer their services to assist constituents if needed. I have the best job and the best group of co-workers that anyone could ask for.”

Members of the media and the public are asked to respect Mr. Yakeleya’s privacy during this time, and to contact his constituency assistant with any questions or concerns.

For more information, contact:
Garth Wallbridge
Constituency Assistant to Norman Yakeleya
Phone: 867-446-3000
Email: garthwallbridge@gmail.com  

November 29, 2010

Sahtu MLA suffers minor heart attack

YELLOWKNIFE (November 29, 2010) – Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya is in good condition at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton after having what his doctors are calling a minor heart attack.

Last Thursday evening, Mr. Yakeleya experienced some chest pain and his wife Cheryl drove him to the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. The following day Mr. Yakeleya was sent to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton where he had a stint put in.

Mr. Yakeleya says, “The medical care I have received at both hospitals has been first-class. Today, I am getting some instruction on diet and exercise. I feel pretty good.”

Mr. Yakeleya is now resting comfortably and expects to be released from hospital shortly.

For more information, contact:
Garth Wallbridge
Constituency Assistant to Norman Yakeleya
Phone: 867-446-3000
Email: garthwallbridge@gmail.com  

November 16, 2010

Education in the NWT

YELLOWKNIFE (November 16, 2010) - "Education in Fort Good Hope took a big step forward today with the opening of the new Chief T'Selehye School," said Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya. "The old school was just worn out and I am glad to be a part of a government that sees the need to build new schools to serve the needs of our young population."

The 20 million dollar project took three years to build. "I know the people in Fort Good Hope have been looking forward to this day for quite a while,” said Yakeleya.

He went on to say, "Although we should all be proud of this achievement, and I tip my hat to Education Minister Jackson Lafferty on this important day, we all have to work hard every day to improve educational outcomes for all the people of the NWT. We have accomplished a lot but we still have a long road ahead to realize the goal of a well educated population."

Yakeleya was born and raised in Tulita and attended residential school in Inuvik. He has been the MLA for the Sahtu for two terms, first being elected in 2003 after having served as a municipal councillor and Chief of the Tulita Dene Band. In 2007, he was acclaimed for a second term as the MLA for the Sahtu, which is comprised of five communities including Fort Good Hope.

For more information, contact:
Norman Yakeleya, MLA Sahtu
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2270 or toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: norman_yakeleya@gov.nt.ca  

November 5, 2010

Nunakput MLA Supports Aklak Air in Aftermath of Hangar Fire

(Yellowknife, NT) November 5, 2010 - Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson reports that communities in his riding will not be severely impacted by the terrible fire at Aklak Air’s hangar in Inuvik last night.

Three twin-engine planes were destroyed, accounting for half of the company’s fleet. It is the main carrier for Nunakput communities, which all depend exclusively on air service at this time of year.

This morning, Jacobson spoke with James Thorburne, President of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, which owns Aklak Air. “Another plane is on the way north to help maintain service levels after the fire,” Jacobson says. “I’m told that passenger flights and cargo service will not be disrupted.”

The company has already announced that it will rebuild its Inuvik hangar. “This is a great example of an Inuvialuit-owned company moving quickly to serve people in our communities, despite the losses caused by this terrible fire,” Jacobson says. “More importantly, no one was hurt. The firefighters deserve a lot of credit for containing the fire, and doing it safely.”


For more information, contact:
Jackie Jacobson, MLA Nunakput
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-977-2181
Cell: 867-445-2680
Email: jackie_jacobson@gov.nt.ca  



November 5, 2010

Call for Public Consultation on Lands and Resources Management

YELLOWKNIFE (November 5, 2010): Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya’s motion calling for public consultation on the management of northern lands and resources was passed without opposition yesterday by Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

“There has to be public input into the system of managing land and resources if we take this over from the federal government,” Yakeleya says. “This consultation could also be an important step toward constitutional development, which has been largely forgotten for almost twenty years now.”

The motion called for recommendations on implementing a land and resources management regime to be made to the 17th Legislative Assembly, to be elected next fall.

“If the government now acts on this motion, it could lay the groundwork for reaching a final agreement on land and resource management,” Yakeleya says. “That’s important, because right now, the draft devolution agreement-in-principle (AIP) is in trouble. The Premier and this Government have not worked hard enough on their relationships with aboriginal governments.”

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins seconded the motion, and Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley spoke in support. “We need a comprehensive process, a process that is of the people, for the people and by the people, and that shows how they will be incorporated into our management regimes in the future,” Bromley said in the Assembly.

Yakeleya says both the GNWT and aboriginal governments have to put their goals and aspirations on the table for all to see. “The draft AIP is a back door to constitutional development, and province-like powers,” he says. “That is not transparent, it is not open, and it is not a fair way to look at constitutional development in the Northwest Territories.”

For more information, contact:
Norman Yakeleya, MLA Sahtu
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2270 or toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: norman_yakeleya@gov.nt.ca
A full text copy of the motion can be found at:
http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/documents/content/10-11-02Motion27-16(5).pdf  


November 5, 2010

Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley Maintains Focus on Ministerial Post-Term Restrictions

(Yellowknife, NT) November 5, 2010 — Tightening up the rules controlling former Ministers' employment and contracting with the GNWT is an important piece of business remaining for the 16th Legislative Assembly, says Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley.

Recommendations to prevent former Ministers from being employed by, receiving contracts from or working for firms under contract to the GNWT for one year after leaving office are contained in the Report of the Independent Commission to Review Members' Compensation and Benefits. One of the Report’s recommendations also calls for a two-year ban on granting sole-source contracts to former Ministers. Exceptions to the restrictions could be made after review by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

Under current law, restrictions only apply if the former MLA was Minister of the department offering employment or contracts, many of which have been sole-sourced.

“I support improved restrictions, to further prevent any hint of undue preference for former ministers,” Mr. Bromley says. “Former MLAs already receive a generous transition allowance after leaving the Assembly to compensate them for lost opportunities as a result of holding public office.”

“GNWT hiring and contracting must meet the highest standards of transparency and accountability. I look forward to participating in a thorough debate on these and other key recommendations in the coming sitting.”

The Report on Member’s Compensation and Benefits was tabled in the Assembly on May 11, 2010. Its recommendations will be considered during the winter sitting of the Legislative Assembly.


For more information, contact:

Bob Bromley, MLA Weledeh
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2272 or toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: Bob_bromley@gov.nt.ca


October 29, 2010

Legislative Assembly Unveils Wood Pellet Boiler

YELLOWKNIFE (October 29, 2010) – The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Paul Delorey, has announced that the Legislative Assembly’s wood pellet boiler is now fully functional.

The wood pellet boiler was installed at the Legislative Assembly in June by a Yellowknife company called Arctic Green Energy. Arctic Green Energy has installed a number of wood pellet boilers within Yellowknife.

“In the past few years, the Legislative Assembly has been working on some green initiatives. We’ve dropped the pop, we’ve reduced the amount of paper consumed by the Assembly, we use low voltage lighting in the legislature and we’ve purchased a hybrid vehicle. Now we’re working on reducing our fuel consumption and our carbon footprint,” says Speaker Delorey.

The wood pellet boiler system will offset 90% of the annual fuel consumption in the Legislative Assembly building and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 240 tonnes per year. It will also be able to handle 50% of the building’s maximum winter heating load.

For further information on the wood pellet boiler, please contact:

Paul Delorey, Speaker
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2234 or toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: paul_delorey@gov.nt.ca  

Brian Thagard, Sergeant-at-Arms
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2228
Email: brian_thagard@gov.nt.ca  

October 29, 2010

Frame Lake MLA Dissatisfied with the Supplementary Health Benefits Joint Working Group Report

(YELLOWKNIFE) October 29, 2010 – Wendy Bisaro, MLA Frame Lake, is part of the Supplementary Health Benefits Joint Working Group that was established in May 2010. The working group was created to consider three main aspects of the proposed changes to the Supplementary Health Benefits Program:
• Personal third party coverage responsibility;
• Approaches to limit employer and/or individuals from dropping third party insurance; and
• The issue of accumulated high costs and a capped threshold.

The Joint Working Group (JWG), which consists of Minister Sandy Lee, Minister Michael Miltenberger, Minister Michael McLeod, MLA Jane Groenewegen, MLA Norman Yakeleya and MLA Wendy Bisaro, released its report today but Bisaro does not believe the recently released report is as in-depth as it could have been, or that it accurately represents her views.

“The report frequently states ‘…Members agreed…’ but it must be pointed out that agreement was not always unanimous and I cannot stand by everything that is recommended in this report.” says Ms. Bisaro.

During their meetings, the JWG identified a number of potential actions which will result in efficiencies and savings well beyond those expected from the government’s proposed program. “There is no need to implement an income-based or income-tested co-payment model to fund the proposed changes. Throughout the working group discussions, I did not and still cannot support using an income-based model to cover a portion of NWT residents’ supplementary health benefits costs,” says Ms. Bisaro.

Ms. Bisaro adds that, “The working group covered a lot of material and had some far-reaching discussions, but the recommendations made in this report are vague; the report does not indicate how the recommended changes will be implemented, and those details are of paramount importance to NWT residents.”

Prior to the public release the Joint Working Group shared its report with Cabinet and the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning for their consideration.

For more information, please contact:

Wendy Bisaro, MLA Frame Lake
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2274
F: 867-873-0276
E: wendy_bisaro@gov.nt.ca

October 27, 2010

Online ePetitions Now Available on the Legislative Assembly Website

YELLOWKNIFE (October 27, 2010) – The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Paul Delorey, has announced that the Legislative Assembly’s ePetitions site is now available to the public. The online ePetitions site can be found on the Legislative Assembly’s website under the ePetitions link.

A motion was adopted by the Legislative Assembly in May 2010 to implement an online ePetitions pilot project to begin during the October 2010 sitting and conclude in June 2011.

The Legislative Assembly hopes to make petitions more accessible to the people of the North. Online petitions do not replace the conventional paper approach to petitions, but create greater opportunities for Northerners to add and sign petitions. If Northerners wish to petition the Legislative Assembly on issues, they will still need the support of a Member of the Legislative Assembly for their petition to be presented in the House.

To view the ePetitions site, to add a petition or to sign a petition, visit www.assembly.gov.nt.ca and click on the ePetitions link.

For further information on ePetitions, please contact:

Paul Delorey, Speaker
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2234 or toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: paul_delorey@gov.nt.ca  

Danielle Mager, Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2230
Email: danielle_mager@gov.nt.ca  

October 21, 2010

Major Changes Recommended for Child and Family Services Act

(YELLOWKNIFE) October 21, 2010 – The Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Social Programs, chaired by MLA Tom Beaulieu, today presented its “Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act: Building Stronger Families”, to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Beaulieu says, “Basically, the Committee found that many objectives of the Act are simply not being met. However, Members also heard that there is hope, that the communities want to take responsibility for their children and that a new relationship can be built with the Department of Health and Social Services. It is in this spirit that the Committee offers its recommendations for change. The Committee hopes to continue the work that this report begins. We look forward to working with the Minister of Health and Social Services to build stronger families and stronger communities.”

Some of the recommendations that can be found in the report include:
• Focus on prevention and early intervention, helping families stay together and heal;
• Provide alcohol and drug treatment, which is readily accessible and convenient to all communities;
• Extend child and family services to youth aged 16-19, with provisions to assist young adults to age 23;
• Take the least intrusive measures possible to deliver child welfare services, with increased emphasis on collaborative processes to solve family problems; and
• Improve the administration of Child and Family Services Committees in every community, as set out in the Act and provide resources to communities to take more responsibility for child welfare.

“Although we are fully aware that some of these recommendations are quite large and will take time, the Committee believes that the recommendations are fully feasible and we think that we will see most of these changes take effect in the near future,” says Mr. Beaulieu.

The overview of the report was today presented in the House and the full report can be viewed on the Legislative Assembly website at www.assembly.gov.nt.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Tom Beaulieu, Chair
Standing Committee on Social Programs
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2287
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: tom_beaulieu@gov.nt.ca

Gail Bennett, Principal Clerk of Operations
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2343
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
Email: gail_bennett@gov.nt.ca

October 8, 2010

Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre meets with Edmonton Mayor regarding the closing of the Edmonton Municipal Airport

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8th, 2010) – MLA Robert Hawkins has met with Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel to discuss Northern concerns regarding the closing of the Edmonton Municipal Airport.

With the pending closure of the Edmonton Municipal Airport, MLA Robert Hawkins took the occasion to reach out and discuss the importance of this issue, which could potentially affect the quality of emergency healthcare that our Northern residents deserve. “The most important issue at hand is that our residents continue to receive the highest quality of healthcare services possible especially when considering the nature of a Medevac to Edmonton during an emergency. The fear is quite simple, could a person’s care be compromised? That’s what’s at stake and certainly that is what we need to ensure is protected,” says YK Centre MLA Hawkins.

“I explained to the Edmonton Mayor that even though as Northern residents we are not Edmonton constituents, we are at the very least stakeholders considering the long standing relationship we have with his City,” said MLA Hawkins.

With many serious issues at stake, MLA Robert Hawkins took the occasion to invite Mayor Mandel to Yellowknife to discuss this issue with Northerners, which he had accepted. “I’m very pleased that Mayor Mandel has pledged that he would come north before the end of the year and meet with our Northern residents to discuss the plans the City of Edmonton has for the future along with the potential options that they see as solutions to ensure Northerner’s are kept safe,” said MLA Hawkins.

For more information, please contact:

Robert Hawkins, MLA Yellowknife Centre
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2264
F: 867-873-0276
E: Robert_hawkins@gov.nt.ca  

July 9, 2010

Great Slave MLA Presents Discussion Paper to Joint Working Group on Supplementary Health Benefits

(YELLOWKNIFE) July 9, 2010 - Glen Abernethy, MLA for Great Slave, presents discussion paper to Joint Working Group on Supplementary Health Benefits regarding alternatives for consideration.

Mr. Glen Abernethy delivered a presentation to the Joint Working Group on Supplementary Health Benefits on Thursday, June 17, 2010. The presentation was intended to convey what has been heard from his constituents, as well as to demonstrate that there are options worth considering beyond what the Minister is currently proposing.

"I understand that the Joint Working Group has made its final recommendation, and that the Department is preparing a document for review by Cabinet and by the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, but no timeline has been provided regarding when this document will be available for review," says Mr. Abernethy.

A copy of the presentation is available at Mr. Abernethy's website at www.glenabernethy.ca for anyone who wishes to review it. It intended as a discussion document.

For more information, please contact:

Glen Abernethy, MLA Great Slave
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2290
F: 867-873-0153
E: Glen_Abernethy@gov.nt.ca  

May 17, 2010

MLA for Nahendeh Pleased with Announcement on Electricity Rates

(Yellowknife, NT) May 17, 2010 – Kevin Menicoche, MLA for Nahendeh, is pleased with the announcement made by the Honourable Bob McLeod, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment, on the Electricity and Northwest Territories Power Corporation Review.

“I am very happy with the support of our assembly with the electricity rate initiative. Since my election in 2003, I have been working towards a one-rate zone. This announcement of a seven- rate zone as opposed to a 33-rate zone brings us so much closer to obtaining this goal,” says Mr. Menicoche.

During the announcement, Minister Bob McLeod indicated that businesses in communities across the NWT will see significant changes in their electricity bills. “Jean Marie River and Nahanni Butte will see their bills reduced by 70 to 80 percent. This is a huge accomplishment for the GNWT and a very positive step for the people in my constituency,” says Mr. Menicoche.


For more information, please contact:

Kevin Menicoche, MLA Nahendeh
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2294
Email: kevin_menicoche@gov.nt.ca  

May 14, 2010

MLA for Nahendeh Pleased to Announce Response from Health Minister on Dentistry Petition

(Yellowknife, NT) May 14, 2010 – Kevin Menicoche, MLA for Nahendeh, is pleased to announce that The Minister for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee, provided a response to a petition he tabled in the House on March 3, 2010.

The response, “Dentistry Services in Nahendeh”, details the number of visits to the Nahendeh communities in 2008/09 and explains funding sources for dental services. In it, the Minister of Health and Social Services promises to raise the issue of federal funding for dentists with Federal Minister of Health and Social Services, Leona Aglukkaq.

“Regretfully, the Federal and Territorial Government do not staff dentists in the NWT. However, there was an increase in dental service days to the Nahendeh communities and the Minister has agreed that this is worth taking a look into,” says Mr. Menicoche.

“I would like to thank all of my constituents who signed the petition. Petitions are an important tool in getting our government to listen to our concerns and issues, “says Mr. Menicoche.


For more information, please contact:

Kevin Menicoche, MLA Nahendeh
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2294
Email: kevin_menicoche@gov.nt.ca  

May 5, 2010

Elders Parliament Motions

(Yellowknife, NT) May 5, 2010 – The Legislative Assembly’s Elder Parliamentarians have chosen the five motions that they will debate during the inaugural “mock” session to be held tomorrow in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly building. The five topics were chosen during discussions in “Caucus” meetings involving all the elders.

The five motions that are scheduled to be discussed are:
1. The Establishment of an Elders Senate and Secretariat;
2. Supplementary Health Benefits Program;
3. Housing Programs and Services for Seniors;
4. Support for the Mackenzie Valley Highway;
5. Community-Based Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers.

“I am very pleased with the efforts to date of the participants in this inaugural Elders Parliament. It has brought together so many wise and knowledgeable elders from all over the territory and I am looking forward to the debate tomorrow and to continue to hear the wisdom and the vision of our elders,” says Mr. Paul Delorey, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

The media and general public are invited to watch the proceedings from the public gallery of the Legislative Assembly building beginning at 1:30 p.m. with a break in the Great Hall at approximately 3:00 p.m. The session will also be broadcast live on the Legislative Assembly broadcasting network, and will continue to be re-broadcast over the coming months. Please visit the Legislative Assembly’s website at www.assembly.gov.nt.ca for a community channel listing.


For more information, please contact:

Paul Delorey, Speaker
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2234 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
F: 867-873-0273
E: paul_delorey@gov.nt.ca  

Danielle O’Neill, Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2230 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
F: 867-873-0222
E: danielle_o’neill@gov.nt.ca  

April 29, 2010

Legislative Assembly Welcomes Elder Parliamentarians

(Yellowknife, NT) April 29, 2010 – The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Paul Delorey, will be hosting the first ever Elders Parliament the week of May 3 – 7, 2010. Through an application process, nineteen individuals over the age of 50 from across the North have been selected to take part in this exciting program. The participants will attend meetings and briefings during this week-long event in preparation for Elders Parliament session, in which they assume the role of a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Elders Parliament follows on the heels of a very successful educational outreach program, Youth Parliament, which the Legislative Assembly has hosted for the past ten years. During Elders Parliament, the participants will have three opportunities to sit in the Chamber. The first opportunity will be on Tuesday, May 4 when the participants take part in a mock ‘Territorial Leadership Committee’ (TLC). Each participant who wishes to be part of the Executive Council will have the opportunity to make a short speech about what they would do if they were a Minister in the NWT. Once all participants have had the opportunity to speak, seven names will be picked by random draw and of those names chosen, six will become Ministers on the Elders Parliament Executive Council and one will become the Premier of Elders Parliament. The second opportunity to sit in the Chamber will be on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 5. The Premier of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Floyd Roland, will address the Elders Parliament participants and will have a round table discussion on a common vision and roadmap for future political development in the NWT. On Thursday, May 6 the participants will sit in the Chamber for the Elders Parliament ‘session’ where they will read their statements and debate issues of their choice.

The participants, by constituency, are:

Deh Cho – Mrs. Margaret Field	Frame Lake – Mr. George Lessard
Great Slave – Ms. Lena Pedersen	Hay River North – Mrs. Dawna O’Brien
Hay River South – Mrs. Alvina Sibbeston	Inuvik Boot Lake – Miss Marjorie Elanik
Inuvik Twin Lakes – Mr. Tom Wright	Kam Lake – Mrs. Esther Braden
Mackenzie Delta – Mr. John Norbert	Monfwi – Mr. Ted Blondin
Nahendeh – Ms. Agnes McPherson	Nunakput – Mrs. Georgina Jacobson-Masuzumi
Range Lake – Mr. Blake Lyons	Sahtu – Mrs. Cathy Pope
Thebacha – Mr. Michel Labine	Tu Nedhe – Mrs. Therese Villeneuve
Weledeh – Mr. Philip Liske	Yellowknife Centre – Mr. Felicito Domingo
Yellowknife South – Ms. Catherine Doctor

Chamber sittings are at the following times:
• Mock ‘TLC’ - Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
• Round Table Discussion with Premier Roland – Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.
• Elders Parliament session – Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

The public is invited to come watch the Session from the Public Gallery and can also view proceedings on the Legislative Assembly’s broadcasting network. Media are encouraged to arrange interviews with the participants prior to the sitting day.

For more information, please contact:

Danielle O’Neill, Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2230 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
F: 867-873-0222
E: danielle_o’neill@gov.nt.ca