Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no further questions at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I mentioned many times my constituents step up and take responsibility in emergency situations, many of which do not have training in first aid. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, will the Minister provide emergency response training in Fort McPherson, Aklavik and Tsiigehtchic? Thank you.

As I mentioned earlier, there are more than 300 elders over the age of 60 in my riding. Thankfully, not all of them need long-term care, but many will. What is the Health department’s plan for them?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been almost two years since this government closed the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik to elders who cannot live independently. Now there’s a lineup of elders waiting to get into the facility in Inuvik, which serves the entire Beaufort-Delta.

My final question to the Minister is: If the Minister is unwilling to renovate the Joe Greenland Centre up to proper standards, will he start planning for a new facility in the Mackenzie Delta riding?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions from my Member’s statement for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like to ask the Minister what the waiting time is for elders to get into the long-term care facility in Inuvik.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just under the marine, I would like to thank the Minister for adding to the expansion of the shop on the Hay River ferry camp, and also stress the need for replacing the ferry at the Mackenzie River.

The bridge is open this coming fall here. It has been brought to my attention that this ferry would better be suited in the Mackenzie River at Tsiigehtchic. This would actually bring down the cost, I believe, to residents in Inuvik, especially in the crisis we are at right now with the fuel situation. I strongly believe that this would bring the cost of living down up in the...

My final question to the Minister is: What level of support is the Government of the Northwest Territories receiving from the federal government?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d first like to start by congratulating the Department of Transportation on winning the Silver Award from the Institute of Public Administrators of Canada for the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project. With that, I have a few questions on the project itself. I know a decision has been made formally approving the Inuvik-Tuk highway, which is the first step of the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project.

Thank you. I do realize that it does cost more to operate the Merv Hardie because it actually runs longer than the Louis Cardinal does. So I’m not sure if the Minister is aware of that. Two hours every day over the duration of the summer adds up. I strongly believe that that’s the reason that it costs more to operate. Also, that ferry is open a lot longer than the Louis Cardinal. I know we are getting close to the end of October and there is no ice on the river yet, on the Mackenzie. The main thing is to keep the cost of living down for the Mackenzie Delta, and I strongly believe that having...