Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just some brief comments. I’m really pleased to see these funds finally making it through the budget here. Specifically, on Highway No. 8, the Dempster Highway, as mentioned last year, we had a lot of people unemployed over the summer because this highway, the funds ran out, and I’m glad to see that these funds are now in place for the next 10 years here. A lot of people are going to be happy this summer with a lot of work up in my riding along the Dempster.

Also, as I mentioned, big improvements on this stretch of highway compared to the Yukon. We get a lot of compliments...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just looking at the projections for the next couple years here, I see next year we have scheduled only $4,000. The reason is that lease is coming to an end. What are the department’s plans to move forward for the next 20 years? Is it going to work with the community for another lease on possibly a new building?

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?

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?

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.