Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier mentioned that this morning we had a number of awards here at the Legislative Assembly today. Of those recognized of the single window service centres, I have three constituents out of those 22 people. Ms. Shandel McLeod, Ms. Diane Koe and Mrs. Maureen Cardinal-Clark were the three GSOs who we have in our communities.

They do a lot of work on our behalf, going visiting elders and people who cannot come out to the offices. They’re a great help to our communities and I hope that as we move forward that this program continues. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member’s statement, as well, I would like to ask the Minister, will the department open up the requests from communities to have the Department of ITI travel to the communities on the regulations for horizontal hydraulic fracturing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of years back there was a big concern on caribou in the Northwest Territories and the department at the time, I believe it was ENR, held a caribou summit.

I would like to ask the Minister, will the Minister hold a hydraulic fracturing summit here in the capital and invite all the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Out of all eight communities in the Beaufort-Delta region, they only travelled to Inuvik, so I welcome and invite the Minister to all three of my communities if that’s possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many of my constituents are very concerned with our government moving forward with regulations to allow horizontal hydraulic fracturing. My constituents are thinking of the future. They are concerned that we may pollute our lakes and rivers. Many of my constituents live a traditional way of life and harvest wildlife and fish from the land.

Many of my constituents are also thinking of our future generations. They also want their children and grandchildren to have the same opportunities we have today to live off the land. Mr. Speaker, we need to do a better job to consult...

As I mentioned, hydraulic fracturing is very new to this territory. I would like to ask the Minister, is the department open to having workshops in our communities on horizontal hydraulic fracturing as well? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, I will move that Bill 66, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, the request for tenders closed on April 1, 2015, for the widening of the Dempster Highway. I’d like to ask the Minister, why is this contract not awarded yet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I mentioned, with the weather we have in August and September, it’s really important that we begin this work in June and July.

Will the Minister ensure that future contracts be awarded at least by the end of May in the years to come? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents are very happy on upcoming work on the Dempster Highway this summer.

Last year we felt the impact of no construction on the Dempster Highway due to the end of the 10-year Building Canada Plan. This year we begin another 10 years of work on the Dempster and many other projects throughout the Northwest Territories.

I am concerned that this work has not been awarded at this time. From what I understand, we are awaiting the Treasury Board. It is very important we take advantage of the weather we get in June and July, as we usually get a lot of rain in August...