Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I realize this is a federal funding for the program, but would the Minister have any idea why the three workers that are in Fort McPherson, for example, have a three-month contract for Head Start? Is that just some of the guidelines that they follow? If the Minister could answer that, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you, Ms. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Fort McPherson was buzzing with excitement on September 25th as the Gwich'in Tribal Council's Department of Cultural Heritage hosted the first screening of the film, "The Sun at Midnight". This 90-minute film was shot entirely in the Northwest Territories, in and around Fort McPherson, the Dempster Highway, the Richardson Mountains, Yellowknife, and Behchoko. This film is about a young girl raised in the south who, following the death of her mother, went north to stay with family. The story goes on that the young girl tries to escape and ends up at the...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the Legislative Assembly recommends the appointment of Ms. Deborah McLeod of Yellowknife as Director of Human Rights during good behaviour for a term of four years as recommended by the Board of Management, and further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to send my condolences to the families that have lost loved ones within the past few months.

Mr. Speaker, our communities are rich with elders. They have the vast knowledge of memories, stories and culture. We treasure our elders and we make an effort to visit them, care for them, and love them. It's never easy when a loved one passes. However, it does help when the community comes together to help the family with funeral arrangements.

I would like to take this time to acknowledge a few elders from my constituency who have passed away:

Caroline Snowshoe, 86 years old from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, over the summer we've received the modular home in Tsiigehtchic for the RCMP and the nurse or social workers in the community. Mr. Speaker, you know, everything has all been set up here, but what hasn't been set up so far is that this modular home is not connected to power yet. The community is concerned that with the ferry going out shortly, within the next week, that the unit is still not connected to power. So I'd like to ask the Minister, will the department ensure that this unit is...

Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the department has kept track of all the closures on the highway, but you know I live right on the crossing at the Mackenzie River and the amount of vehicles that I see on a daily basis, Mr. Speaker, just doesn't line up. You know, we have truckers constantly on that highway and people coming from Fort McPherson to Inuvik travelling to Whitehorse, Mr. Speaker.

My next question I'd like to ask the Minister is: will the Minister ensure my constituents in the Beaufort Delta communities that ferry service will continue until the ice road is in operation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a follow-up to my Member's statement, some questions for the Minister of Transportation. As I mentioned in my Member's statement, Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents and people of the Beaufort Delta rely on the ferry services leading up to the opening of the ice road. Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is what is the government's backup plan to stabilize costs and maintain fuel supply if ferry service is suspended or reduced? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ferry services are a key piece of northern infrastructure. They connect communities, secure energy and food supply and other employment opportunities in some of the most remote locations in Canada. As a territory, we can be proud of our marine infrastructure and all we've accomplished with ferries and ice crossings.

The Abraham Francis ferry at the Peel River and the Louis Cardinal ferry in Tsiigehtchic is part of this infrastructure. It must be maintained until the ice crossing is safe for travel. Reliable ferry service stabilizes the cost of living in Delta communities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that wasn't so hard there, Minister. On behalf of my constituents I'd like to thank the department for following through on keeping the operations ongoing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, what led up to the ferry operating until the ice bridge was open was in fact, LNG in Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, there is worry that the community would run out of LNG. I haven't seen any infrastructure in the community that proves that they will be ready and have proper storage facilities in place, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to ask the Minister what is the estimated cost of building a bridge at the Peel River and Mackenzie River crossings and how does that compare to maintaining existing ferry services? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.