Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 74(2) and have Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That sounds great. I'd like to ask the Minister if he knows how often will programs be available, and will there be a schedule available to my constituents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my last constituency tour I held in the communities, one of my constituents wanted me to bring forward the need for more on-the-land healing programs in our region. I know a couple years back there was some programs held in Beaufort-Delta, but my constituents would like to see more happening within our riding. With the report that was done, I believe it was about a year and a half ago, under the Mental Health Act, our residents wanted more on-the-land healing programs. I know the department has been working with the Gwich’in Tribal Council. He gave...

Thank You, Mr. Chair. With me today is usually my right-hand man, but today he's my left-hand man. Here is Mr. Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr. Ken Chutskoff, legislative counsel.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. This act currently provides for an automatic cost-of-living increase to MLAs' salaries on April 1 of each year. This increase is based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Canada over the preceding two years.

If Bill 1 is not enacted, MLA salaries will increase by 1.1 per cent on April 1, 2016. This amounts to $30,000, including salaries paid to MLAs who hold additional responsibilities, such as Speaker, Premier, Ministers, and...

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my earlier questions on the crusher for Aklavik, it's quite clear there's a lack of representation of small communities on the Cabinet side. Otherwise, they would know the challenges we have in our small communities. Just to say, “Oh, just go to the private sector.” It's not that easy for these communities. From what I understand these crushers are in the department for communities such as this, so I'd like to ask the Minister: Will the Minister be willing to work with the community, which is trying to come up with a training plan for...

That’s what I wanted to get at. Will the Minister be willing to work with the community of Aklavik to start the process, and to ship the unit to Aklavik hopefully over the summer, not too late because the water usually drops quite a bit by the second barge, from what I understand, and start preparations for the next year, next budget, so the community could build up the roads, as I mentioned earlier. A lot of challenges with the roads in our community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation. I'd like to ask the Minister: can the Minister confirm the number of crushers available in the Northwest Territories through his department at this time?

That sounds promising. My last question for today is: Will the Minister be willing to come to Aklavik to see first-hand the challenges, and also to meet with the community?