Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability

The committee assessed departmental documents, independent research, and public submissions, and is persuaded that the quality of instruction is generally more important than the number of instructional hours delivered, "quality over quantity." The committee is also persuaded that, to achieve quality instruction, schools must be adequately resourced and teachers assured of time to perform non-instructional duties such as class preparation, marking, report cards, the implementation of student support plans, and assessment, without...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mr. Speaker, with the fire season upon us, I would like to ask the Minister: when does the Minister expect our fire crews in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta to start up for the season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all over the country, we are seeing Canadians get ready to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in a little over one month. People are booking campsites, planning parades, and learning more about the country's history. Mr. Speaker, in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta, our Canada 150 celebrations will feature our own amazing race, the Race the Peel canoeing challenge. The Hamlet of Aklavik is organizing the race between that community and Fort McPherson, and the race will include cultural games and activities and games on the banks of the Peel. It's not only...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister does specialize in signs and, you know, we could have put signs up in this area. Also, put a berm on half of the road. That could have helped in this area here. So what lessons could be learned from this year's closure of the Aklavik ice road that could be applied in the future especially as winter conditions become more variable? Thank you, Ms. Speaker.

What plans were put in place to finish bringing in supplies that were supposed to come in on the ice road?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Aklavik ice road closed about one week earlier than normal this year. This raises major concerns about how supplies would get into the community, and also about the lack of consultation with residents.

Mr. Speaker, Aklavik's 85 kilometre winter road is a vital link for the community, connecting people, goods, and services to the region. Goods and services are very expensive in Aklavik, like they are in all our remote communities. The ice road is used to transport things like heavy equipment and fuel that cannot be brought in during the rest of the year...

You know, it is different every year, as the Minister just explained, but usually as early as the 1st or 2nd of June, the ferry is usually ready. As soon as we have no ice on the river, they usually launch the ferry and build up the landings, start operations. We have a graduation this coming weekend. Does the Minister think that the ferry will be operating by then?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also have questions for the Minister responsible for Infrastructure. In follow-up to my questions last week, I would like to ask the Minister: are the ferries in Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson ready for launch? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The ice road conditions are no different than they were last year. Just this year, the department seemed to get a little too -- I don't know, they just got a little carried away this year, but how does a department incorporate traditional knowledge into ice road construction and other infrastructure planning?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, how was the community of Aklavik advised when the open water and the ice road was first discovered and the weight restriction was lowered? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.