Frieda Martselos

Thank you, Madam Chair. You have page 171 in front of us, and I am being told that I can't get clarification on where the money is going? That, to me, is very unacceptable, but I will keep on with my statement. What I am trying to point out is the disparity between health centres and community clinics compared to three designations and possibly only one designation with Stanton. I would like to see how much is spent south of the lake at the hospital designated there. I would like to make comparisons. That's the way, usually, budgets are done. Obviously, I am being told that the numbers are not...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Then there's a line there, hospital services, for $134,607,000. There's an increase in there of about $14 million. That would be the two designated hospitals, which is Inuvik and Stanton. Am I correct, Madam Chair? Just wanted clarification.

I just want clarification, I guess, on the overlapping issue with page 177 and 180 when we look at the allocation to Norman Wells and to that line with $45 million, the Yellowknife line, the $45,056,000 on page 177 and the overlapping issue with residential care on repatriation of those clients. I'm just asking that question for clarification.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just would like clarification on page 171, community clinics and health centres. That $73,936,000, an increase of probably about 2.5. I just want to see, what does that include, and then I'll ask for another line after that. Is that the health centres in all of the communities?

Madam Chair, it's really important. It's all right to assist by phone and assist by this, but when you don't have funds to assist other jurisdictions, that is not equal representation and equal access. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister admit that errors were made during the infrastructure changes to the Fort Smith airport? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Why does the Department of Infrastructure continue to proceed with the airport infrastructure changes despite the community's leadership opposing them?

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I delivered my response to the Commissioner's opening address, where I outlined my priorities for the 19th Assembly. In today's Member's statement, I am going to expand on one of these priorities, the Fort Smith Regional Airport.

In my speech yesterday, I was very clear in what I and the constituents of Thebacha want to see done with the Fort Smith Regional Airport. I will reiterate that what needs to be done is the following:

a new and improved terminal to be built;

the runway to be restored to its original width;

all LED lights to be properly reinstalled and in working...

Will the Minister admit that the community stakeholders and leadership of Fort Smith were not properly consulted, if at all, about these changes to the Fort Smith airport?

Mr. Speaker, in a letter signed by all the leadership in Fort Smith, dated June 17, 2019, the leaders were clear in their disapproval of the proposed changes of the Fort Smith airport. However, Transport Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure went ahead with them anyways. My question is: upon receiving this letter from the Fort Smith leadership, were there any attempts made by the infrastructure department to modify or delay the project to fit the community's liking? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.