David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Communities and Diamonds: 2010 Annual Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories under the BHP Billiton, Diavik and DeBeers Socio-economic Agreements.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’ve taken every opportunity to meet with industry. I’ve also met with the federal Minister of Transportation. Certainly, this is high on our list. We’re not going to do this alone. Any opportunity and every opportunity that comes our way, I think we need to take full advantage of it. We will get somewhere by working together with industry and with the federal government. That’s how I intend to move forward with this. At the earliest opportunity, I will try to get together with the Sahtu Explorers Group and start to outline some ways that we can work together collectively on the advancement of...

I’ve got the information pertaining to capital upgrades on that highway, and there is some money that we’ve got going forward. On the detail on the maintenance side of things, I will endeavour to get that level of detail for the Member.

Safety is our number one priority, so again, if the Member feels there are maintenance issues on that section of highway and he wants to bring that to my attention, I would be more than happy to look into those concerns for the Member and for the community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to echo your comments to Ms. Boullard. Thank you very much for your service, and I recognize her attendance here today. As well, Ms. McLeod, best wishes in your new position. I’d also like to recognize Sonny MacDonald. Sonny is a well-known, skilled artist from Fort Smith and he’s been a huge contributor to the arts and craft industry here in the Northwest Territories. It’s an honour to have him here in the gallery today. I also wanted to recognize Lydia Bardak, Yellowknife city counsellor. I also see Arlene Hache, I’d like to recognize. As well, a constituent...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NWT Economic Outlook Report, 2011-2012.” Thank you.

I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with the Territorial Farmers Association for a meeting, and I look forward, at the earliest opportunity, to meet with them again as we advance the Economic Development Strategy. I think we will be leaning heavily on organizations like the Territorial Farmers Association for that level of expertise and knowledge when it comes to agriculture here in the NWT and how they feel the government could help out in that regard. Certainly, they will be a part of this as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to Mr. Nadli’s questions last week, we have done a great deal. We understand the importance of locally grown food. We recognize the importance of processing fish and meat locally and getting it into the local homes. We’ve been in 29 communities in the Northwest Territories on the Community Garden Initiative and that’s through the Growing Forward Fund that the federal government had. Also, I should note, we are advancing some capital investment aimed at replacing the defunct grading station in Hay River for eggs and the production of eggs in our territory...

I will find out for the Member. We also have the 1-800 number, as well, that people can call. It’s important to us that safety is the number one concern here for the travelling public. I will get that information for the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we would look at deploying those signs where we need to, but in the advance of technology we’re also keeping our website up to date for the travelling public. Oftentimes now that’s the first place people look to for information. That is on our website and it’s updated, especially with the situation taking place in the Deh Cho and affecting those communities and our roads and our ferry system, it’s important that we’re updating that continuously. That’s one place the Member could possibly look. Thank you.