Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to that information. You know, as I mentioned, these three workers have recently all just got their certificates for Early Childhood and, you know, they're looking at hopefully a career and you know ongoing, you know, and to be cut short by this, we cannot allow this to happen, and I will just look forward to that information.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, over the last, I believe, year and a half, junior kindergarten has raised a lot of concerns either through the Aboriginal Head Start program, daycare programs throughout the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I did ask the Minister this question last month during our business plans, but I'd like to ask them again. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister how will junior kindergarten affect the funding of the Aboriginal Head Start program? If it does, can the...

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 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, 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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Small things, like repairs on public housing units or getting a service man who lives in Inuvik to do work on your property, can turn into a big deal if they don't get it done on time because you're waiting for the ice to freeze. Our ferry operators have an important job. They rely on employment for the ferry in a region where there is very little economic activity at the moment and jobs are few. We want to avoid forcing these people out of work. We see the real cost of unemployment when we look at the strain on our social safety nets.

Mr. Speaker...

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.