Frederick Blake Jr.

The other concern was the condition of the actual landing in the community of Inuvik. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to the budget for Transportation, a few things that I’m concerned that aren’t in the budget. One of the big issues for the people of Aklavik is the access road to Willow River. I was hoping to see that in this budget but, hopefully, within the fall, during business plans next time, we could try to find some sort of funds to allocate to the community to proceed with that project.

Also, one thing that’s not in the budget this year is the funds to allocate to maintain the receiver on the Rat Pass. That’s only $10,000 that we’re talking about. Many people in the Mackenzie...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to begin, I have one of the communities in my riding, which is Tsiigehtchic, who I’m sure would really enjoy having an airport. They’re one of the very few communities in the Northwest Territories that don’t have that luxury. Hopefully, within the next couple of years we could see that in the budget.

We do have the community of Aklavik who is hoping to, in the near future, have an extension on the airport, on the airstrip there. I know it was planned, I think, a year or two ago. I’m not sure what happened there, but I’m hoping that we could get that into the budget...

As I mentioned earlier, the community has set aside housing for a nurse. Will the Minister work with the community leaders to find a way to put a nurse in that house? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow up to my Member’s statement, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Why is there still no nurse in Tsiigehtchic? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No further questions.

Thank you. What are Health and Social Services and the regional health authority doing to remedy this situation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For many years the community of Tsiigehtchic has been asking for a full-time nurse to be permanently stationed there. It is not just the community’s leadership asking for a nurse. Three years ago satisfaction surveys of the regional health services identified the people’s desire for a local nurse. Freeze-up and breakup of the Mackenzie River always disrupts some services, but health care is actually better in Tsiigehtchic at this time. That is because it is the only time there is a full-time nurse in the community. If it can be done during freeze-up and breakup, surely...

Will the Minister go to Aklavik and see the situation at Moose Kerr School for himself?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a follow-up to my Member’s statement. I have questions for the Minister of Education. How does the number of students with special needs figure into the way the department funds teaching positions in their schools? Thank you.