Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister just mentioned that the water level is too high at this time. I'm not sure who the Minister is getting his information from because I get this from the people that live in Fort McPherson that have traditional knowledge in that area. There's nothing wrong with the water level right now. Right now the landing should be in and you know if the inspections are complete there's no reason why the ferry is not in. I'd like to ask the Minister, when will the service begin on the Peel River ferry?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, since April many scientists predicted an early spring and also a number of elders, so we've had a lot of time to prepare for an early spring. With the early spring we’ve had why did the service begin this past Sunday afternoon in Tsiigehtchic and not any sooner? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that leads me to my next question. When can we expect to see this new plan to be rolled out? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd also like to ask the Minister: what are we doing to ensure communities won't be negatively impacted by changes to the formula funding?

I know the Minister will be up in the region next month, in the middle of the month. Will the Minister be open to travelling the Dempster with me for a trip so he could see for himself the challenges up there?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement earlier, I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation. As I mentioned, many times travelling the Dempster Highway, we have whiteout conditions, high-blowing snow, high winds. It's challenging. Many times, travelling the Dempster, there are no delineators along the highway. I’d like to ask the Minister: will the Minister ensure that we begin work on replacing delineators along the Dempster from kilometre 0 to kilometre 30, which has the majority of high winds?

How will the new formula funding take into account the rising cost of living?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year MACA reviewed the funding model to community governments and is look at moving to a needs-based funding formula. I'd like to ask the Minister: what kind of feedback has the Minister received from community governments on this funding model? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am sure the Minister will know first-hand the importance of signage and delineators along our highways. Does the Minster know exactly which sections will be worked on this summer? Is it kilometres 0 to 30, as I mentioned, or is it further down the highway?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the new year I had an opportunity to go hunting up in my riding, and while hunting in the Yukon side of the territory, on our way back traveling with some of my constituents we had whiteout conditions on the Northwest Territories side of the border. At that time, one of my constituents brought it to my attention that it's very difficult to see the delineators alongside the highway.

Many times in this House, I've commended the Department of Transportation with the widening efforts that's on the highway, but now we need to ensure that we put those...