Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, one of the highlights of work in our communities is celebrating success. Today I want to acknowledge Annah Hanthorn from Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories.

Nineteen-year-old Annah has captured gold in the 7.5 kilometre cross-country skiing at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George.

Annah has trained in the Yukon for the past few years and is at the Canada Winter Games representing Team Yukon; however, we share in her accomplishments as her roots are in the Northwest Territories.

Her younger brother is competing for Team NWT. Judah Hanthorn is at the Games for cross-country...

I know last year the community was very interested in negotiating this, so is the Minister willing to either sole source it to the community or negotiate with the community to ensure this is in place before this spring season? Thank you.

Many times we always hear that we don’t have funds, but when an emergency arises, all of a sudden, whether its $2 million, $10 million or $60 million it just seems to pop out of nowhere. I think it’s very important we set aside… You know, it’s not a large amount of money. Fifty to 100 thousand dollars is a small price to pay to have these communities up to speed and prepared. That’s the main thing that we have to be for this coming season. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under community protection research, last year one of the communities wanted to do some fire protection in the community and put a fireguard around the community, which is Fort McPherson, but because the season got so busy here, they never did get around to that work. Also, Tsiigehtchic is really at risk because we live right close to the forest there. If we ever had a large fire in these areas with a big south wind, these communities would be at risk.

I’d like to know if the department is going to be working with these communities here over the spring to make sure we have...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just really briefly under the timber permits and licences. I know it’s starting to be a concern here in my riding with people having to go to their renewable resource officers for timber permits for driftwood. I recall when this item came to the RRCs quite a while back here, that it was supposed to be just on a volunteer basis, but now it seems they’re turning this over to mandatory. You know, it’s more or less to see what volume of driftwood was taken just for needs was what they were telling us at the time. It’s starting to be an issue that now it’s mandatory for people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too stand here in support of the Deline Got’ine people.

Back in 2008 as I worked with the Gwich’in on their self-government agreement, I recall the negotiators saying that the Deline people have decided to have a stand-alone agreement. That is the first agreement in this territory, much like the people in the Yukon who have this style of community government. It is working in the Yukon. I see a great opportunity for the Deline people.

I believe that this process that they have set up was the right decision for their community and I look forward to the progress that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement earlier today, social passing is a huge issue in my riding. Many parents would like to see their children having more homework, more projects that they have to do and trying harder. Right now it seems that their children don’t have to try and yet they’re put up one grade higher every year even though they’re not at that level.

So, I’d like to ask the Minister, why did the department move towards social passing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we are having a theme day on education. One of the challenges our students are facing today has to do with social passing.

A few of my constituents, as of late, have brought up the concerns of their children dealing with social passing. Many times our students, even though they are not prepared for the grade, are put in. They are just very concerned that we are setting up our students for failure.

They look back on when they used to go to school and how they had to work hard, study hard in order to pass the grades. If they didn’t do that work, then they were held...

I will be willing to work with the Minister and also the community. I know they have shown interest in getting this work and making sure that it’s done and in place, whether it’s early June. If the department is willing, we’ll make sure that happens. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just one more thing there. The lookout tower at Shiltee Rock, is the department going to work with the community to ensure that it’s built and in place before the fire season?