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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
On Oct. 5 regular MLAs banded together to push the issue of addictions.

All members spoke of concerns and asked questions regarding alcoholism.

Many of them questioned Health and Social Services Minister Tom Beaulieu's current Minister's Addictions Forum that held its first meeting in Yellowknife on Nov. 2.

"How many reports, how many discussions do we have to do?" asked Alfred Moses, MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake. "The people of the NWT want action and they want it now."

Beaulieu stood firm, saying that the idea for this forum, where members will travel to each community in the coming months and ask residents about how they think addictions should be dealt with, came from the communities.

The forum will focus on alcohol but touch on other addictions issues, he said. Findings are expected to be handed over to the GNWT next March.

Give trappers fuel subsidy: Yakeleya

Trappers in the NWT should receive more help from the GNWT, Norman Yakeleya, MLA for the Sahtu, said in the legislative assembly on Nov. 2.

He said many trappers need up to $1,000 in fuel to check their trap lines, and the high price of gas in many communities puts pressure on trappers. He asked Minister of Public Works and Services Glen Abernethy about what could be done to subsidize fuel for trappers.

For example, in Tulita gas costs $1.76 per litre, however government customers pay a special rate of $1.61 per litre.

Abernethy said he would look into why some customers receive a discount and committed to looking into a fuel subsidy for trappers.

More care forchildren withdisabilities: Bisaro

Outside of larger centres, it is very hard for families to find respite care, or extra help caring for disabled children, said Wendy Bisaro, MLA for Frame Lake, in the legislative assembly on Nov. 6. In 2010, the government created a Territorial Respite Care Committee to develop a plan to expand respite care services across the territory.

"What is so desperately needed now is the implementation of that plan," said Bisaro. "In 29 of our communities, families with disabled children currently have no respite care services."

Health and Social Services Minister Tom Beaulieu said the territory-wide respite care program will cost between $2 million and $3 million, and that funding needs to be found before the program can move ahead.

Energy plan discussion paper released

The first physical step in developing the 2013 energy plan for the NWT was tabled by Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay on Nov. 2 in the form of a discussion paper that asks for public input.

"As part of the feedback process, we are asking the public to fill out a brief survey on what government should prioritize in the maintenance and future development of our energy systems," he said.

A series of roundtable discussions will be held in Yellowknife on Nov. 20 in the form of the NWT Energy Charrette.

The discussion paper is also available on the department's website. Those who want to provide feedback for consideration during the discussions in Yellowknife should do so before Nov. 20. Comments submitted on or before Dec. 15 will be considered when drafting the energy plan.

Caribou targetnumbers needed: Hawkins

Target numbers should be established for barren ground caribou herds to determine when harvest can and cannot be open to aboriginal, resident and commercial harvests, Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, said on Nov. 6.

"If nobody knows what they're working towards, nobody knows what the government is doing on this particular issue and they assume it's nothing - that they will never get to hunt again," Hawkins said during question period.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger agreed that target numbers would be helpful.

The Porcupine Caribou Management Board came to an agreement for target numbers for that herd and now, when the population falls or grows to a certain number, the hunt is either closed or opened.

This is definitely something that should be looked at for all herds as it makes the harvest less political and more about what's best for the caribou, Miltenberger said.

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