David Krutko

With that, we will take a short break and begin with Committee Report 3-16(5).

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I call the Committee of the Whole to order. We have tabled documents 4, 30, 38, 62, 66, 75, 98 to 101, Bill 4, Committee Report 3-16(5) and Minister’s Statement 65-16(5). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to speak in regard to the revitalization of languages and the language groups that aren’t classified as critically endangered, like the Gwich’in language and Inuvialuktun. I think we do have to take immediate action. I think we have to take giant steps to get there. I think one of the immediate things that we can establish is an action plan to deal with the Gwich’in Revitalization Program. I’d like to ask the Minister what we are doing to work with those groups that find themselves in the situation that their language is classified as critical or...

Mr. Speaker, this again has become a political issue for the community of Aklavik. I would like to ask the Minister if he can accommodate myself in going to the community and have a debate on this issue with the community. I think it is critical that the community formulate these partnerships with communities like they are in Fort Good Hope where they are extending the airport for another 500 feet with a joint submission by both the community corporation and the Department of Transportation. Knowing that these things are happening in other communities, why is the government not open to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to talk about airports, but the real airports that are important to the people in the North and have the ability to medevac people out of our communities so that we can medevac them to Edmonton where, basically, those requirements are essential.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is improving the access to communities by extending airports up to 4,000 feet in Fort Good Hope, Tulita, Fort McPherson and also in other communities that have been identified. Mr. Speaker, the whole reason for that is to mitigate aircraft weight consistency imposed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Minister’s Statement 65-16(5) be moved into Committee of the Whole.

---Carried

So when can I see it in the... Is the cheque in the mail or when do I get to see it?

My question is more around the activity description of forest management on page 11-8. I think as a department we seem to put a lot of focus on the managing or the forest response or forest repression aspect of the business. We’re not doing anything to really look at using the forest resources and the trees before we have to respond to a fire. To having more of a management plan with regard to managing the forest products and developing forest inventories, looking at the different forest species. I’d like to ask the department if, as he comes forward to forest management, we could look at more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I would like to formally invite the Minister in. We can do our arm twisting in the community of Aklavik with the community members in a public forum and at that time we can have that discussion.

I have been getting calls from the media on this issue which they are being... This issue did come up at the meeting in Aklavik. I would just like to put that request to the Minister so that way we can basically allow the community to raise the issue with us formally and basically deal with the options going forward. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my understanding of the regulation is that because of the specific types of aircraft that are used in the communities for different reasons, regardless if it is for medevacs or basically moving goods and services, such as DC-3s, Beech aircraft and, more importantly, the ability to reduce the costs of our communities so that they can bring in larger aircraft into those communities. Right now, the majority of the aircraft that does serve the community of Aklavik is basically the 207, which is a Cessna single engine aircraft. Again, the community would like to see an improvement on...