Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker, Premier and colleagues. I would like to welcome all Members back to the Assembly. It’s been a very busy summer for each of us. We’ve had time to spend with our family and time to visit our communities with our constituents. Today we are here to contribute towards making our territory a better place to live, to build relationships with governing bodies and provide positive comments to the people that we represent.

We need to be more mindful of others when making decisions that affect their territory. With that in mind, I’d like to welcome...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do believe I heard a yes there. I have no further questions at this time.

One of the reasons home boarding doesn’t always work out well is that the students just don’t fit in where they are assigned to stay. How are families chosen to board students from Tsiigehtchic, Sachs Harbour and now Fort McPherson, and how are they screened to ensure they are the appropriate choices? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two visitors from Fort McPherson: Marion Greenland and Stephanie Ross. Welcome.

Many times communities face flooding. As many may know, communities face a lot of silt, either in their houses or on the roads. I’d like to ask the Premier if it would be possible for the communities to use a lot of that funding to chipseal their roads.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not too long ago I believe we learned a lot from the province of Alberta when they were faced with forest fires. I’d like to ask the Premier, will the Premier and Cabinet set up a disaster fund for communities that are directly affected by natural disasters such as floods, forest fires and landslides.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned in my statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation a couple of questions. What progress has been made on the Inuvik-Tuk highway over the last nine months? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Many times when we have these funds available to the communities, there are a lot of barriers. I’d like to ask the Premier and Cabinet if they could please not put so much red tape on the communities that they can access this funding.

Thank you. As many of the First Nations up there and also the Inuvialuit have land claims in place which are constitutionally protected, I’d like to ask the Minister, once a project is set to begin, will the Minister be willing to enter into negotiations for 50 percent of the work of this project.