David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise once again begging for an access road to the Aklavik gravel source. I believe that’s what it’s going to take to get this done.

A motion was passed unanimously in this House. Yet, Mr. Speaker, after meetings with the community and the Minister of MACA, along with the Minister of Finance, in the community of Aklavik where they discussed this issue last spring…. The community has done everything that we were asked to do: formulate a planning committee with people representing the hamlet, the band and the community; work with the departments of MACA, Transportation...

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. I have two items for consideration of Committee of the Whole: Minister’s Statement 80-16(2), Sessional Statement, and Tabled Document 93-16(2), Capital Estimates. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, this issue has come up by way of the Beaufort leaders meeting. It has come up through motions and resolutions and meeting with the Divisional Board of Education. Again, as a government we do have to have some means of accommodating those areas in the Northwest Territories where we don’t have the private sector involved. I think if that means getting back into staff housing, I guess that’s what we’re probably going to have to do.

I’d like to ask the Minister: do you have a universal plan for looking at housing to accommodate professionals in the northern part of the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question to the Minister of Education is in regard to the housing crisis we have in Aklavik by way of staff housing. I received a letter from one of the teachers in Aklavik who was given notice that they’re being evicted from their existing residence, which was being provided through a local company.

I’d like to ask the Minister: what is the Department of Education doing to remedy the situation to find alternative accommodations for teachers in Aklavik?

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress.

I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the urgency of this matter I’d like to ask the Minister if he can keep me, the Divisional Board of Education and the principal of Aklavik informed on any progress that’s being made on this matter. Like I say, I am getting calls from the teachers, and they feel that they are basically having to not only deal with the stress of teaching but now have to worry about where they’re going to sleep at night.

I’d like to ask the Minister if he can speed this thing up and try to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is not new to this House; I have brought it up several times. This issue has been out there. Those units that are in our communities are old government staff housing units. They’re almost 40 years old. The government sold those units, and the companies that did take them on continue to retain them as staff housing. As we all know, the costs of operating and maintaining old facilities continue to escalate, and the costs of heating and providing power to these units is not being recouped.

I’d like to ask the Minister: has he looked at working with the Northwest Territories...

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize a constituent of mine from Tsiigehtchic, Roger Mazon. Roger is a well known artist in preserving a lot of our traditional art. I’d like to welcome Roger here and also spend a moment to recognize my partner in crime, Mr. Lee Selleck, in the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 13. Does the committee agreed to detail?

With that, we’ll take a short break.

The Committee of the Whole took a short recess.