David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s in regard to these type of projects I think that we have to seriously start implementing these type of projects in high cost communities. No offence to Fort Smith; we’ve made a major capital investment last year in regard to electric heat, putting electric heat in a bunch of public facilities and a lot of infrastructure dollars went into that, and also into the heating systems we see here in Yellowknife, now Hay River, Fort Smith. But I think we have to do something in regard to the high cost communities in the northern part. I mean, the northern part, north of...

I will try to rephrase my question. My question was, can the government consider putting into its business plan an estimate for gravel road source to 177 costs about $1 million a kilometre where to Nahanni Butte we are spending $500,000 a year to build that road to that community? I would like to know exactly using that ball park number, would the government consider putting forward in its business plans that it is going to cost $1 million a kilometre to build roads to gravel sources in our communities?

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, this is a joint appointment. I believe the last time it was advertised in the papers here. Would it also be advertised in the Nunavut papers? Also, would interested groups be able to take part by way of aboriginal organizations being notified about this appointment?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If we are talking about access road 177 which I believe is 20-odd kilometres, same as the road to Aklavik’s gravel source -- I think it was 22 kilometres -- can we use a rough ball estimate for these access roads? Are we talking $1 million a kilometre? If that is the case, could that be the basis of building a road from Aklavik to the gravel source in regards to the gravel source based on that estimate of $18 million for 20 kilometres?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister can also assist me by way of the community businesses and also finding ways of why they are not being considered when it comes to tenders, which could be either sole sourced or basically as and when tenders, where these businesses are already existing. You don’t need somebody driving from Inuvik or flying from Inuvik to provide a plumbing job where you have a plumber in the community. Why is it that you are not considering local tenders? If you are not doing that, I would like to ask the Minister, can he talk to the people in the Inuvik office? Why are they...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to an all-weather access road, basically it’s a capital project of this government to gravel sources. Every community should have access to their gravel sources. I’d like to point out that in regard to the $6 million here, why is it that communities who are trying to get dollars to get to their access for gravel are having such a tough time, yet we’re able to approve this budget here? How many communities are out there that have built roads to their gravel sources and used other capital projects, regardless of if it’s a community access road project or in...

Mr. Speaker, if the government was following the MOU, the contractor would have had an opportunity to see what tenders are available and have an opportunity to either consider negotiating contract, sole-source contracting or as and when services. I would like to ask the Minister, why is it that you are not using contractors who are established businessmen in our communities by way of as and when contracts than simply having people walk into your office in Inuvik?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The point I’m trying to make is we have supported two capital projects in this House, yet one’s going ahead and the other one they’re doing a study right now. After the study is done there is going to be capital dollars needed to do the project. I’d like to know if there are any plans regarding our business planning process where there will be an opportunity for capital dollars to be approved either through a supp or the basic capital planning process for the Aklavik access road.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to Item 7.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I mentioned, there was a motion passed in this House supporting both the Tuk access road project and the Aklavik access road project. I’d like to know if there are any capital dollars allocated in next year’s budget for the Aklavik access road.