Frederick Blake Jr.

Earlier this summer the ferry in Tsiigehtchic started waiting on each side for 10 minutes, and the explanation that was given to my constituents was that the department was trying to save on fuel.

Will the Minister direct his department to ensure the Louis Cardinal Ferry is not waiting on each landing for 10 minutes to save on fuel?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation a few questions. The one thing I forgot to mention was not only do we have issues with the hours of operation in Tsiigehtchic but also the waiting time. Many constituents have to wait 10 minutes on each side, not to mention the actual other 10 to 15 minutes.

With that, my first question for the Minister is: When will the department develop and construct a permanent landing that can be used on both the Peel River and the Mackenzie River crossings?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been receiving many concerns on the ferry services in my riding on the ferry landings to the Peel River, which are very soft from weeks of rain and high waters. Earlier this summer a fuel tanker had a puncture in its tank and thousands of litres spilled into the Peel River. This was due to the landings, soft landings, the gravel there, because of the high water and rain we’ve been receiving. For about three weeks solid we’ve had rain every day.

My constituents would like this government to construct something, whether it’s solid landings made of concrete, rig mats...

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 66, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This will come into effect immediately at assent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Kelly McLaughlin, director, legislation division, Department of Justice; and my right-hand man, Mr. Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act currently provides survivor benefits to a Member or a former Member’s dependent children if they are less than the age of majority or if they are under the age of 25, unmarried and attending school or university on a full-time basis.

The amendments to the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act will broaden the definition of a child to include an adult child who is dependent on a Member or a former Member for the necessities of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m privileged to second this motion here today. I know my views have changed over the last year and a half here, but there’s a lot of concern out there, especially in my riding. All the water in this territory comes to the Mackenzie Delta. It comes right down the Mackenzie River from the Sahtu. My constituents are very concerned about what kinds of pollutants will come down in the future. They’re not thinking about today.

We may make a few million in this territory over the next couple of years, but what is that going to cost in the future, to have our waterways...

By the fall, I believe, is too late because by then we’ll have freeze-up. Just this week the ferry just went in in the community.

Why can’t we have this portable trailer in the community starting this summer?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been over a year and a half since the commitment to have RCMP overnight in Tsiigehtchic, and to this day not once has the RCMP spent the night in the community.

People in the community would like to see a better presence from the RCMP. This has been an ongoing issue. When are we going to see positive changes from the department and the RCMP?

I’ll have questions for the Minister later today.