Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be supporting this motion, as a lot of my constituents in my riding would like to pay the same prices as the people in the southern part of the territory. My residents pay anywhere from $1.65 per litre in Fort McPherson to $1.80 in Tsiigehtchic. We need to have the same prices as they do here in the south.

I’d like to ask the Minister, will the department build a facility like the Joe Greenland Centre in Fort McPherson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the residents of Aklavik in the Mackenzie Delta, I’d like to thank the Minister of Housing and also the Department of Housing for the announcement of the new Joe Greenland Centre which is planned for this year.

It is much needed in the community in my riding and I’d just like to thank the Minister and the department, and also Cabinet. Mahsi cho.

I thank the Minister. I have no further questions at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up from my statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, will the Minister transfer the Merv Hardie from Fort Providence to Tsiigehtchic.

I believe that this government needs to try to avoid the crisis that almost happened in Norman Wells, and the best way to do that in the Mackenzie Delta is to transfer the Merv Hardie ferry to the Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing this summer to commence operation as soon as possible. Will the Minister commit to that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation is going to mothball the Merv Hardie ferry. With the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge, the ferry service is no longer required at Fort Providence. Although the department has no intentions of selling the ferry or disposing of it, there are no plans to use it, either.

We need that ferry at the crossing in Tsiigehtchic. The Merv Hardie is a bigger vessel than the Louis Cardinal that currently services the river crossing in the Delta. Its bigger size allows it to transport more goods in a single trip.

That ferry supplied the entire city of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to raise a couple issues that we have in the Mackenzie Delta. One thing that is not in the budget this year, but was somewhat committed to, is licenced practical nurses in Tsiigehtchic. I hope there could be revisions made to that.

Also, it was brought up by another colleague, is medical travel. It has improved since the fall, but we do have many escorts who are needed for elders. Many elders were brought up in a time when school was not available to everyone. Not all of our elders know how to read. This is a big challenge coming into a large town this size...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two constituents from Mackenzie Delta, Mr. James Ross and Mr. Charlie Furlong. Also the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Mr. Albert Alexie Jr.; and Fred Koe.

I was assured that the letter was sent, but I will double check and make sure of that. Thank you.