David Ramsay

As I mentioned in a previous reply, I think it’s important given our financial picture these days that we look at opportunities to partner with people to achieve our goals of supplying the transportation infrastructure that we need here in our territory. Certainly, I look forward to the discussions with the Member, and the committee and those proponents that are interested in doing work with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Working together, we’ll accomplish much more. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, and, unfortunately, last week I was supposed to meet with Deton’Cho but I got weathered in in Norman Wells. I look forward to that meeting that will happen soon. I look forward to partnerships like that down the road. Thank you.

My tenure as Minister of Transportation hasn’t been a long one and I wouldn’t be able to speak to my predecessor’s discussions with the federal government specific to the dredging in Hay River.

Going forward, when I do have the opportunity to sit down with my federal colleague Minister Lebel, it’s an issue that I certainly would like to raise with him.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for the question. Currently the responsibility of dredging in Hay River would fall with the federal government. That was discontinued in 1994. Certainly the Government of the Northwest Territories understands and appreciates the need for those channels to be cleared. There have been some concerns brought forward by commercial fishers, the Canadian Coast Guard, of the silting and the reduced availability of water within those navigation channels in the port of Hay River. It’s an issue that I think we need to keep pressing on the federal government...

I know there’s been some work done in Hay River, some analysis done on the need to dredge in Hay River. I’m not aware of any other studies that have been conducted in other ports across the Northwest Territories, but that information I’d be more than happy to get for the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The traditional economy plays a key role in diversifying our territorial economy and providing all communities and regions with opportunities and choices, a goal of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

Through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs Program, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment works in partnership with Northwest Territories trappers, the fur industry and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to support the territory’s traditional fur economy. The NWT is well known for its quality furs and I am pleased to report that the current market...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly thank the Member for raising the issue and his question this afternoon. It has been a difficult past five months in the northern aviation industry. The department hasn’t formally received a request for a memorial like the one being proposed, but we would certainly like to discuss this further with Members of this House, stakeholders around the Northwest Territories, the aviation industry, communities and families who would like to come up with a way forward on such a memorial. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of Kam Lake, Mr. Jeff Corradetti.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity today to thank the constituents of Kam Lake for all of their support over the past eight years. It certainly remains an honour and a privilege to serve as the MLA for Kam Lake in this House and I’m looking forward to being the MLA for Kam Lake in the 17th Legislative Assembly.

To my family, friends and supporters, I also thank you very much for everything that you have done in helping me get to where I am today.

Also to my colleagues who are here in this House, I want to thank you very much for putting your trust and faith in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Report of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure on Transition Matters has been concluded. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Committee Report 8-16(6) be received and adopted.