David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we have an obligation to ensure that all the information is on the table, that we maximize the opportunities for local involvement in projects, and I want to assure the Member that no decision has been made on how this realignment project will be delivered. It isn’t being fast-tracked. I think I heard the Member say it was being fast-tracked during his Member’s statement. This project has been in the works for several years. It isn’t being fast-tracked, nor will the procurement delivery model that will ultimately be decided upon by Cabinet be quickly or fast...

Again I appreciate the Member’s concerns. Specific to municipalities, I will consult with my colleague, the Minister of MACA, to see how exactly communities are dealt with when it does come to a situation where communities are faced with the need for extraordinary funding because of a blizzard or costs that they didn’t anticipate. I will get that response back to the Member once I consult with my colleague, the Minister of MACA. Thank you.

You don’t develop a program and get it off the ground without seeking the input of the stakeholders involved, and that would include, obviously, the artists in the territory. Again, it’s not something that is going to magically appear in all the small communities out there. I think we have to be strategic in how it’s done and try to at least get something started. Again, I do look forward to doing that. I’ve had some initial discussions with the department and we have to find a way forward. I thank the Member for raising those concerns in the House today. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I certainly share the Member’s enthusiasm that’s taking place in the Sahtu and in his riding. It is very nice to see equipment moving, people working and people happy. I think that’s a direct result of the investment there by the companies across the river from Norman Wells that will continue for the foreseeable future.

When you have that type and level of activity in a region, I think it only stands to reason that you see the benefits, not just the jobs and the employment but in the transportation infrastructure. If projections are correct and there is a substantial...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to the election campaign in the fall, in my election material I had specifically stated in there support for the northern jewellery manufacturing industry. I think, going forward, we have to try to find a way to create jobs in the small communities. In my mind, jewellery manufacturing is one way to accomplish that. They’ve met with a great deal of success in looking at jewellery manufacturing in northern Russia, in small communities. I think, you know, if we put our minds to it, we can come up with a program that’s going to allow us to move forward with a...

Again, we’ve had to identify some funding to allow that type of activity to be carried out. It’s not saying that it couldn’t happen. Maybe working with the Yellowknives Dene, Deton’Cho, there could be a possibility over the next season to do something. I don’t want to say no. I think if we can identify some dollars, we may be able to do a little more work out there, but... I’ll just leave it at that, Madam Chair. Thanks.

ITI has been working on promotion and support of commercial harvesting, processing, and marketing of fish and meat program that we have here in the Northwest Territories. It’s designed to increase the availability of locally produced healthy food in NWT communities. We’ve done some of that work such as a holding facility and processing facility in Kakisa. We’ve also renovated a building at Wool Bay and are looking at mobile processing facilities in the Sahtu. Any opportunity that we get to enhance the ability for people that are harvesting fish in the Northwest Territories to get it to not...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr. Yakeleya on his concerns.

Starting at the beginning, I think what we are seeing in the Sahtu – and I know the Member is aware of this – is when there is resource activity and development in that region, some of the benefits come in improved infrastructure. We saw the capital involvement of industry there and what it has done for an ice road in the Sahtu. We need to be looking at opportunities to work with industry to get more of that happening in the Sahtu. Given the activity that is happening in the Sahtu, not just this...

I think as we move forward there will be ample opportunity for Cabinet to work with the Regular Members to do just that and I look forward to the Regular Members’ participation in that policy review that will take place. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I appreciate the Member’s concerns about Highway No. 7 and the condition they’re in. Also, the condition as it relates to tourism in the Deh Cho, in his riding, it’s a situation where we have approved a capital plan. We are having some difficulty trying to come up with a long-term plan, which will be required for Highway No. 7, but we are going to need to do that. It needs to be reconstructed. Most of that highway will need some substantial reconstruction in the neighbourhood of $250 million. Those dollars we just do not have today. I think going forward we...