Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to recognize my wife, Melody McLeod, and Auntie Germaine Michel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I should point out that a fair and reasonable resolution process is still underway involving the Department of Transportation and Rowe’s Construction. We still don’t have any evidence of any formal contracts. We also know that there are deficiencies in some of the work that was done that we have to reach agreement on, so there is still ongoing work to be done. I expect that it will continue into the 18th Assembly in order to look for a resolution.

Between myself and the Minister of Transportation, I’m sure that we can find a way to meet with the principals. The problem is going to be finding a legal way if there is going to have to be some financial restitution because of the fact that we’re in an election process. That’s why I’m saying it would have to be looked at as part of the 18th Assembly. But we are quite prepared to meet with Rowe’s Construction. We have said that, and as I said, there is still an ongoing process.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a bit of a drawn out story, but as everybody knows, Rowe’s was working as a subcontractor to ATCON, who was the contractor to the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, and when ATCON went into bankruptcy, Rowe’s submitted five claims to the receiver and also to the Department of Transportation. The receiver who was looking after ATCON’s bankruptcy action did not evaluate Rowe’s Construction claims as there was no evidence of a formal contract between ATCON and Rowe’s. The legal review by DOT and our legal division concluded that the Government of the Northwest Territories...

After all, we are a responsible, transparent government, so we would be very pleased to do that.

We first became aware of this issue in the summer of 2014 when the hamlet raised concerns with potential public safety issues. When ECE met with the DEA in February of 2015, the hamlet indicated that they would use signage to restrict parking in the area around the school, and they put up appropriate signage to that effect. But to fix the problem longer term, the hamlet has advised that they need to do some drainage improvements, so we see the solution as being part of that, and certainly, we will follow up with them to see if we can get the work done this year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Ted Blondin, the chair of the Tlicho Community Services Agency. Welcome to the Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an important milestone in Canada’s history. The release of their report, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling the Future, this past June has moved the national discussion to reconciliation and provided tangible actions that need to be taken.

It has compelled Canadians to recognize and accept the history of our young nation. The discussion is no longer about whether the residential school experience happened or not. What it is about is this: Aboriginal people in Canada have suffered from and continue to suffer from the direct impacts of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Meeting the Challenge of Reconciliation: The Government of the Northwest Territories Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.” Thank you.

The hamlet advised us that they needed to make some drainage improvements along one of the streets near the school, and they see it as an opportunity to make some further enhancements to allow for some off-street parking. The total cost for the drainage improvements including creating a leveled area for parking is in the order of $32,000. This work will be done by the hamlet, and the hamlet has infrastructure money to do that. Our Public Works and Services will contribute surplus gravel for the angled parking area and they will contribute something in the neighbourhood of $3,000 worth of...