Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 55, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 1, be read for the third time, and Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Recorded Vote

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. To the motion. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Next on the list, we have Mr. Vanthuyne.

Over the last couple of years here, my constituents in Tsiigehtchic are getting frustrated because we now have to wait for the water to drop, like, over a matter of two to three days, or more, in some cases. That is because we don't have the material to build these landings like we did in the past. When I used to be a heavy equipment operator, for example, on the Fort McPherson landing, I have seen it where they have built out the landing about 100 to 150 metres, and that was just to get the operations going in the spring; so I know it could be done. Will the department go back to the practice...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. As I mentioned, over the last couple of years here, we have been reusing the material in our river system to be used for our landings. I would like to ask the Minister: why is the department reusing the gravel, even though it is mostly mud and clay? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Next on the list, we have Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now I will probably have to go and deal with the communities to talk to the RRCs; I know this was one of the concerns that came up there. We realized that it is having an impact on our community residents. Will the department, if the Gwich'in Land and Water Board say that it is okay to use this material, will they go back to that practice that we have always had? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister answered my next question, so I will just move on to my third. Is the real reason why we are not using pit-run on our ferry landings because we now have to pay for this material?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents wants to know why the Department of Infrastructure keeps trying to recycle the gravel they use on the ferry landings.

A couple of days ago, my colleague was asking for dredging, and was told we don't dredge. Well, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what is happening in Tsiigehtchic with the use of a backhoe. I've seen this personally, and to have that same material being used to make the landing ramps, this mixture of gravel, mud, and clay is making a mess of our ferry landings.

Just a few short years ago, the department used to stockpile 500 to 1,000 cubic...

We know that we are going to finish the building in June. When will the department hire a caretaker? That way, that position is in place before the elders move in.