Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s good news. There are a lot of elders in the communities who are awaiting these new facilities here. It also gives us an opportunity for other people who are on the waiting list for up to three years. That’s really good to hear, and I’m sure they’re really waiting for this availability. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That’s good to hear. How soon can we have our elders moving into that facility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents are patiently waiting the opening of the new elders facility in Aklavik and also the start of construction of the new elders home in Fort McPherson.

Elders are looking forward to their new homes, which will also help keep our elders in the community with home support. This will also give an opportunity for people who have been on a waiting list for housing.

I will have questions for the Minister later today to ensure we are on schedule. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, after the approval of the appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner essential to exercise the powers and perform the duties under the act;

AND WHEREAS the term of the Information and Privacy Commissioner expires on October 30, 2015;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the opinion...

We also have plans for a new facility in Fort McPherson. I’d like to ask the Minister, how soon can we expect the construction of this building and has it be awarded yet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Housing.

As I mentioned, there are elders who are patiently awaiting the opening of a new elders home in Aklavik, and I would like to ask the Minister if they are on schedule. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This program that I’m referring to, the Community Access Program, has roughly a million dollars in that fund. We have 32 communities that make use of these funds and it’s very limited to the amount that you can put in for.

Will the Minister recommend that this fund be increased?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to thank the Minister and the Department of Transportation on their ongoing efforts for a bridge at Willow River near Aklavik.

Last year the bridge was purchased and this year the bridge was hauled to Willow River and is now on site. We are hopeful that with sufficient funds the bridge will be completed next year.

One of the biggest challenges that we have, as you know, is we don’t work during winter months, which is about two and a half months. By the time we get our new funding, it’s April 1st, so we only have the window of two to three weeks to get...

We’re getting our transition protocol here to recommend to our next government what to carry on with, and I thank the Minister for doing that with this program here, but I’d like to also recommend that this fund be increased. Even by $200,000, it helps the communities a lot with programs that create employment in the communities and I hope that happens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement about the bridge at Willow River, the community is very thankful for the support from the Minister and department, but moving forward in the next Assembly, the community would like some assurance that this Community Access Program will continue in the 18th Assembly.

I’d like to ask the Minister, will they recommend that the Community Access Program continue in the 18th Legislative Assembly?