Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available] [Translation] ...how important the cellphone service is important on this road, so that is my question towards the Minister of Finance. [Translation ends]. Five months ago, the chief of Behchoko wrote Cabinet with an urgent problem. The problem is cellphone coverage on the road to Yellowknife and Rae junction. The chief wanted help getting Northwestel to extend coverage to the busy section of the road, including 911 coverage. Minister Wawzonek promised this House in June that she would contact Northwestel regarding the lack of cell...

Masi, Madam Chair. Obviously, I will be talking about Frank Channel Bridge, as well. On the location, it says, "Various." There's only one location. That's in Frank Channel within Behchoko. I'm just curious why it's "various"? Maybe it's a simple answer?

My colleague from Nunakput, his community, it's minus 26 today. That is coming to our region, too. It's a very real issue. Obviously, I would like to see this expedited. What I am stating here is coming directly from my elders calling me, speaking to me in my Tlicho language, just the other day. They do not want to go through this process again with minus 40, minus 50 the next couple of months. I highly encourage the Minister to expedite this process, and I am hoping that we can see before next month, at least. Would that be possible for the Minister's department to pursue that?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Just recently, the weather has been changing, and we are into the winter season. There is a lot of concern coming from my communities, especially the elders. It is regarding their furnace and if it shuts down or breaks down, or the sewage line. They have concerns regarding that. I want to ask the housing Minister a question. In Behchoko, Whati, Gameti, Wekweeti, if any of their furnaces or running water breaks down, what do they do? Who can they ask help for? Masi. [Translation ends].

The Minister talks about lots of options here in the Northwest Territories. I wish we had one of those options as a treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories for people to choose whether to go to a southern institution or here in the North so they can be close to their family and so they can avoid contacting COVID-19 in southern institutions. Just leading on to my next question for the Minister is: we Dene know our people better than any southern treatment centres. Let's dedicate the necessary resources, and together, let's build a place of healing for and by Northerners, a treatment...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I spoke to after-care, addiction, and so forth for the past couple weeks now in my statement. As you know, it has been a very sensitive and delicate matter now, dealing with this in my region. We just lost a young individual who had six kids due to what we are faced with today, and that is a lack of treatment or after-care programs here in the North. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services about the actual numbers, people who have been sent South. How many of the 200 people sent South for treatment never finish that treatment? How many are unable to...

There is some feasibility or discussion has taken place now to deal with potential widening of the road to Whati. When are we expected to wrap things up so we can start planning on that? I understand Kiewit is very interested in doing that project, so just wondering when, because the ADM alluded to, as well, the current discussion happening. When are we expecting to get some results out of that? Masi.

Masi, Madam Chair. I do believe, when we toured the 72 kilometres, my official chief's leadership have also travelled the road, as well, have a tour of the road infrastructure. There's been questions asked by the Chief of Whati and of council members, too. I understand that there's been talks that Kiewit, the main contractor, they can link up the road towards the community of Whati as opposed to just access road. I believe that there's discussions taking place with the main contractor, and I'm just wondering where things are at because that was the last couple of weeks now, I believe, or the...

Masi, Madam Chair. One would assume that once a proposal is submitted, approved by feds, then this area would be targeted as Frank Channel Bridge in Behchoko. I'm not sure if I'm correct on that, but if I can be corrected? Madam Chair, the next one I have is: the proposal has been submitted the previous year, as well. Unfortunately, it was denied by the feds because of various competing proposals from across Canada. The proposal has been submitted according to the Minister's response. When do we expect a decision to be made? We should have a good idea because we've experienced that last year...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. What I am referring to is a dedicated person in the community who some elders can call directly because those elders will know the specific individual. We do not have that right now. We have somebody possibly coming from Yellowknife, and who do they call? The local housing authority. Sometimes, there is a runaround, and at times, a family member would have to come and possibly service the furnace, uncertified. What if something happens? Are we waiting till something happens here, Mr. Speaker? It's very critical that this policy change that the Minister is referring to, if...