Frederick Blake Jr.

No further questions.

Thank you. My next question is, as everyone is well aware, we have an employment rate of 35 percent. So we have 65 percent of unemployment in our communities. How will this project impact the unemployment rate in our small communities? Thank you.

My final question is coming to training. How soon can we see the training begin in the communities of the Beaufort-Delta? Also, a few years back when industry was in Inuvik, they did a lot of training over the summer. They actual speeded things up in instances where we had young people there without a licence. Within two to three weeks, they had their actual Class 1 licence, and I’ve seen them move on to become a lot of good equipment operators. Whether it’s the Minister of Transportation or the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, will he commit to offering those same types of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. As to the $5 million, I am in support of that. It seems that we’ve actually gone beyond the $5 million and started talking about the total project, so I guess I’ll follow the same lines. I’d like to ask the Minister how many projects similar to the Inuvik-Tuk highway – people are referencing the Deh Cho Bridge, whether it’s realignment of Highway No. 3, the Ingraham Trail – has the federal government committed to an investment as a percentage as we did on the Inuvik-Tuk highway? Thank you.

WHEREAS the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly will be absent from the Legislative Assembly for the period August 15, 2013, to August 14, 2014;

AND WHEREAS Section 54. (1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Clerk shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories on the recommendation of the Board of Management approved by motion of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management has recommended the appointment of an acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I’d like to ask the Minister if there are any plans to offer wellness programs at the Gwich’in wellness centre this year.

In the past few years, we’ve had great success at the Gwich’in wellness camp offering programs to elders and other people who needed help dealing with everything that’s come out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There is a growing demand for wellness in all regions but especially up in the Mackenzie Delta where we don’t have facilities available. I’d like to ask the Minister if he will work with the Gwich’in Tribal Council to offer programs that people could take advantage of.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to do my statement today on the Inuvik-Tuk highway. I’d like to thank the leaders of the Mackenzie Delta for their lobby efforts to build the road from Inuvik to Tuk. I’d also like to thank the Conservative government for their commitment to build the Inuvik to Tuk highway. I would also like to thank the 17th Legislative Assembly and my colleagues here today for making the Inuvik to Tuk highway our number one priority for this government

Mr. Speaker, let’s get ‘er done.

Mr. Speaker, if the project does get approval, what will this government do to ensure that Gwich’in contractors get a fair share of the work building the Inuvik-Tuk highway? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up from my Member’s statement, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation a question. The cost estimate of the Inuvik-Tuk highway is about $300 million. How much of that is expected to stay in the Northwest Territories economy through businesses and job opportunities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.