Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just leading on to the business planning process, can the Minister tell this Assembly whether the Housing Corporation will have funding for design and consultation for a new facility in the year 2008-2009 business plan? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(Translation)…in my Member’s statement, I would like to ask those questions regarding the senior home. I would like to ask the Minister the question. He did state that after five years, this facility may be replaced. I would like to ask him the question. (Translation ends)

In my Member’s statement today, I spoke of the need for short-term repairs and alternate replacement of the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors’ Centre in Behchoko. The Minister has stated that an initial plan was to do the necessary repairs to have the present facility last for the five years it would...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight conducted public hearings on Bill 15, the Liquor Act between June 6 and June 15, 2007. The committee split into northern and southern groups to seek input from as many communities as possible within this time frame. Meetings took place in Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic, Tulita, Gameti, Behchoko, Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Hay River and Fort Smith. In addition, the committee allowed for written submissions until July 13, 2007. The clause-by-clause review of the bill was held on August 14, 2007. The...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2007-2008, and Bill 15, Liquor Act. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am just curious to know when this intermediate construction will take place in Behchoko. The elders are waiting anxiously. There are places of residence that have mould and whatnot. So when is that going to occur? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us whether the plan is still to replace the facility in five years? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak on something very important. It is a seniors’ home. I want to say a few words regarding that. I had mentioned this issue many times in the past. We are talking about the old folks' home in Behchoko. It’s been in existence for over 20 years and we want that facility to be replaced. So I will question the Minister regarding this later. I have mentioned this concern many times. Many past leaders have mentioned this before. So today I want to ask that same question again. (Translation ends)

…on the most important...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the commitment that’s being made by the Minister to work with us, the Tlicho Government and also the communities. I guess the next question sort of leads to that where can the Minister tell me if he’s worked with the Tlicho Chief Executive Council, because they are the authority in our region on this project, and how he is keeping them informed of the new development? There’s a new development that’s happening in Nunavut. What’s our status? Are we moving forward expeditiously? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, maybe I have a solution for Mr. Hawkins’s request…

---Laughter

…an all-weather road via Tlicho communities. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation said in February that the department, last year, completed a Tlicho corridors options study that looked at an all-weather road and the all-weather road corridor option in the Tlicho region. The department also completed economic analysis of the benefits and costs of both realigning the Tlicho winter road through an over-land route and upgrading the seasonal route to all-weather...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move to report progress. Mahsi.