Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the next couple years we have a total of 12 units coming into the Mackenzie Delta. In Aklavik, we have two duplex modular homes; Fort McPherson we have three duplex modular homes there as well; and in Tsiigehtchic, we have one duplex that we're still awaiting from last year. Mr. Speaker, that's great we're having 12 units coming into our riding, but the issue is that these are modular homes being shipped in. It's always been a practice within our riding through the Delta that we have stick-built in the communities. We have a 25-per-cent employment rate...

Well, that sounds good. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, $100,000, let's say five, six people lost their cabins, you know, it's going to be underfunded this pot here. A good example is all the cabins that were burned down around Yellowknife, for example, the last couple of years and, you know, around Providence. You know, out through this area here. You know, is that $100,000 adequate for this program? Thank you.

That's about it, Mr. Chair. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I know the biggest challenges the community faces is actually having somebody on fulltime, because in order to have them even on a parttime basis, whether it's working the afternoons or whatnot, I know the community is having those challenges. Would the department be open to other communities, like, for example, Tsiigehtchic, if they were planning to put a biomass system on the school and gymnasium, would the department be open to that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of MACA. This past spring, there was an update to the community, and I just wanted to check with the Minister to make sure that we are in fact on track as the update to the community was last given. I would like to ask the Minister: what is the status of the Hamlet of Fort McPherson? Are we in fact out of the deficit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Just going back a couple of years ago, you know, I really like the work the department has done on the area of… You know, we have a young trapper out of Hay River. His name doesn't hit me right now, but I'm sure you know who I'm referring to. He works with the fur harvesting program, and I like to see that sort of trapping highlighted. You can even get it on satellite TV. I watch it. The reason is, here in the NWT, we use Conibear traps. These are the latest codes we follow here in the NWT, and anybody who watches Yukon Men, you know, those programs in Alaska that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it just felt like that number is kind of low, there. I know one year we had over 20 camps that were underwater, so for the future I think a little more needs to be put into that area. But in another area here, under the local wildlife committees. This refers to the RRCs, HTCs, and whatnot; one thing the RRCs in my riding have noticed is that they're using a lot of their own funds to operate the RRC. I see it says band councils here, but I’m not sure if the money goes directly to the Gwichyaa Gwich’in, for example, and Tsiigehtchic. You know, they operate the RRC, and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Where to begin here?

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to ask the Minister: as we all know, we have some challenges with population of caribou herds and I want to ensure that we get developing management plans here for our wildlife. As we all know, caribou is the priority right now, and I just want to know what's the status of that? Thank you.