Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick question on the housing for staff. I see it’s not going to be funded this year. I know there’s a huge need in the communities of Aklavik and Fort McPherson and I’m sure many other communities. I just wanted to know why that wasn’t being funded this year.

I’d also like to ask the Minister if there are plans – it’s along the same lines – I know a lot of trappers have noticed that there are a lot of otters which is somewhat of a new species in the Mackenzie Delta. A lot of people would like to see more trapping workshops that show trappers how to handle the species of the otter.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’d like to recognize a former Member for Mackenzie Delta, David Krutko. Welcome.

We’re running out of time here. NorthwesTel needs to have an answer right away. Also, we have many people, contractors who maintain the highways who depend on the Rat Pass channel as well. My next question is: What is the alternative the department is planning to replace the Rat Pass channel with? Thank you.

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

It doesn’t seem fair that the maximum amount of assistance available through the CARE program is the same everywhere. You will get a lot more done for $3,000 in Yellowknife than in Aklavik. Will the Minister take local costs into account and adjust the CARE program? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have many problems of housing within our communities. In my region, in 2009 the NWT Housing Corporation considered 40 percent of the homes to be in core need. We are always talking about public housing, but we have lots of homeowners in the Mackenzie Delta. In Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic, almost half of the homes are privately owned. In Aklavik it is about one-third, but that is still about 80 houses.

Many homeowners have a hard time keeping their houses in good shape. Upkeep in Fort McPherson or Aklavik is a far cry from a situation in Yellowknife. If you want...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a few comments on the CARE program. I see it’s mostly geared towards low-income homeowners. Up in the riding of the Mackenzie Delta, I mentioned earlier today we have many people, especially in the community of Aklavik – which is isolated a good portion of the year – that pay almost double the prices of food and gas compared to other areas of the territory. We have a number of people in the community who would like to access funding, whether it’s for replacing a roof or doing major repairs to their homes. They aren’t eligible for the funding that’s available...

Madam Speaker, $10,000 is a small price to pay for emergency services in the Mackenzie Delta. Will the department confirm today that they will continue paying that $10,000 for the safety of our residents? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a couple of questions for the Minister of Transportation.

As I mentioned earlier in the session here, many people in the Mackenzie Delta depend on the Rat Pass channel. We have many elders in the Mackenzie Delta who live in their bush camps year round. Some of them are in their 70s and 80s and they depend on the Rat Pass receiver to communicate with their loved ones in the communities. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, will the Department of Transportation continue paying the $10,000 for maintaining the receiver on the Rat Pass channel. Thank you.