David Krutko

I call the Committee of the Whole to order. We have three items: Committee Report 1-16(4), Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Annual Reports; Committee Report 2-16(4), Report on the Review of the Auditor General on Contracting for Goods and Services in the Northwest Territories; and Committee Report 4-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2007-2008 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Does the committee agree that Committee Report 1-16(4) is concluded?

Again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister touched on it, the whole area of Vulcan Communications and SSI Micro. I believe that proposal is on thin ice. I think that this government has to do everything it can to ensure that we don’t lose $14 million of federal infrastructure funding. This government has to step up to the plate to ensure that that system of having high speed Internet, take it up to the next level where it is going to be high speed Internet so we actually see improvement in regards to the systems in the North in our communities.

Again, the onus has to be on this government to ensure we...

The motion is in order. To the motion.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I think the private sector has identified those lucrative markets out there and that is why they are in those seven communities mentioned that do have cell phone service, but I don’t think their intention is to go to the communities that don’t have that capacity in regards to the other 24 communities. I think this government has to take this issue on in regards to what the Yukon government has done. They made a political decision. They invested $2 million to ensuring that all communities in the Yukon are going to receive cell phone services. I would like to ask the Minister...

Motion is in order. To the motion.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it’s essential as government that we do formulate these partnerships and, more importantly, we work for the benefit of 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. So at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs questions on this matter. Thank you.