Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of ITI. Earlier this fall there was a forecast that the fur prices would drop this year. It’s been a little over a week now since the February auction. I’d like to ask the Minister, were the fur prices as low as expected this winter?

I should have identified which community I was talking about. Also, under the same item, under Fort McPherson, that payment, as well, it’s come to its end. What are the plans for that agreement as well?

I’d like to ask the Minister, what affected the fur prices this year? As the Minister may recall, last year we had some of the highest prices for marten and other furs.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few opening comments here. It’s been brought to my attention that the communities that I represent, specifically Aklavik and Tsiigehtchic and even McPherson, would like to see a lot of the contracts that are through Public Works, whether it’s for maintenance or work that needs to be done in the community. In many cases, I see a clause under the contracts that state that it has to be within 50 kilometres of the community, and that’s what the communities would like to see on a lot of these contracts specifically for maintenance. A lot of this can be done...

Just on another issue. Under the Aboriginal languages broadcasting, a couple Members mentioned last week they had a huge storm up in our region, and while we had that, wind took out the antenna at the Tsiigehtchic radio station. Is there funding available for cases like this to get the local radio station up and running to help out the community in a case like this?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems like every time we bring up issues related to what’s needed in the communities we get the same answer, “We need to hear what the communities need in the community.” Well, the communities are telling us as their representatives what is needed in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you. Is the Minister willing to work with the community of Tsiigehtchic to identify a shelter for women and violence? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the new year I met with the leadership in Tsiigehtchic and they expressed the need for a women’s shelter in Tsiigehtchic. Like many small communities in the Northwest Territories, this facility is needed. There is no safe place for women to go when they are faced with violence, yet in the regional centres we have these facilities.

It’s time we start working in the small communities to ensure that women in violence have a safe place to go.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today.

Just one more thing. The garage and office space in Fort McPherson. It’s been in the same location for over 20 years now that I remember. It’s possibly even longer. What are the plans to replace that building and have a new up-to-date office space and workshop for the employees?

I’d like to ask the Minister, do they have a list of who accesses this funding? Does it all go to just one station or how is it set up? Is it based on communities, regional centres? How is this set up?