Frederick Blake Jr.

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. 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?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a quick question here under the education authority contributions. It’s been brought up a number of times in the past, the home boarding issue in Tsiigehtchic. We’re constantly finding ways for parents to find people in Inuvik that their children could stay with when they reach Grade 10 level for three years. What is the department doing to make sure that we have good homes for these students to stay in while they’re going to school in Inuvik?

I mentioned in my Member’s statement that we only have one in each regional centre and that’s the five he referred to, but it’s time that we start working with the communities to ensure that we have this type of facility in our smaller communities. So if there’s no space available, is the Minister willing to work with the Minister of Housing to identify a unit if needed in Tsiigehtchic? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services following up on my Member’s statement. I’d like to ask the Minister, what is the department doing to meet the needs of women’s shelters in small communities like Tsiigehtchic? Thank you.

So, if you will get that information for me, is that what he’s saying?