Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, with earlier discussions with the Minister, I know that we are awaiting the audit to get things back to the way it used to be. I would like to ask the Minister what is being done to stabilize local water rates and other municipal services in the community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, residents of Fort McPherson are paying astronomical water bills as the hamlet tries to correct a difficult financial situation on the backs of homeowners. Mr. Speaker, I heard a number of concerns this week from constituents whose water services are being reduced to once a week. People were aware of the hamlet’s financial problem and how that impacts their bills, but now they are in arrears, Mr. Speaker. People who make an honest effort to make payments on time and provide clean and healthy homes for their families. Mr. Speaker, these people do not live in...

Mr. Speaker, the main area that has the highest winds is from kilometer zero to about kilometer 30. From the border to the gorge is, you know, the area that we get the high winds from the Yukon and territories. Some days it’s calm on one side and blowing on the other, and those are the areas that really need the attention for delineators along the highway, similar to the Yukon. They have them about six feet up in the air, because sometimes in high winds you can barely see. They’re spaced about maybe 30 meters apart; at times it’s difficult to see one from the other. I think similar to what...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to bring your attention back to the Premier’s Awards ceremony that took place June 15, 2016. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Mackenzie Delta as well as the Gwich’in Tribal Council were honored for various awards. Please allow me to congratulate Shirley Snowshoe from Fort McPherson, Velma lllisiak from Aklavik, Alestine Andre from Tsiigehtchic, Sarah Jerome originally from Fort McPherson, as well as Norman Snowshoe and Diane Baxter from the Gwich’in Tribal Council for the collaboration award for Gwich’in curriculum development. Also David Krutko from...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, just a couple more. Under various bridge programs, you know, I don’t see anywhere on the list here Willow River. I just wanted to double check if that’s under various bridges? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few questions here. By James Creek here, the four-bay garage, I know there is little feasibility work or some planning that was going into this project here. I just hope that was completed. Also I’d like to know when the construction will begin on the four-bay garage for the maintenance camp. Thank you.

Well, that’s about it then. Thank you.

I invite the Minister to join me on a road trip of the Dempster and I look forward to that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation. As I mentioned during our last session I had some questions on signage along the Dempster Highway, specifically up by the NWT-Yukon border. Mr. Speaker, during the winter months it’s very difficult at times to see exactly where the road is. There’s a huge need for delineators along the highway. As I mentioned last time, I’d like to know if there’s plans this coming summer to ensure we have those in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It was kind of a trick question as it’s not under any of these, but I’d like to see it under. As you know, we need a small portion just to finish the remainder of this work here, it’s very much needed. We could have had it done this winter if we had adequate funds, you know, $200,000 to $300,000 would be great. I know it’s peanuts for the department but it would mean a lot to the community. Thank you.