Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year, almost two years now, since I last asked that question and the department was going to come out with a study and then come back to this Assembly, which they are currently still working on for almost two years now. I'm not sure how long it takes to supply that information. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek another question to the department and also to the Minister. So for the third time I will ask, Mr. Speaker, has the Minister considered the option of transferring the maintenance contract from Boundary Creek to Rae access road to be...

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

Mr. Speaker, as I highlighted in my Member's statement, the importance of having a maintenance contract on the Edzo crew from Boundary Creek to the Rae access road. Mr. Speaker, we need to respect the jurisdiction, the Monfwi Gogha De Niitlee traditional territory on which Highway No. 3 is situated and operated. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation. What efforts have the Minister's department made to ensure it uses local workforce whenever possible? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 13, Change of Name Act; Bill 14, Employment Standards Act; and Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to the transferring of the contract; the sooner the better. So my next questions I guess would lead to that. Mr. Speaker, after all this time and out of courtesy to the Tlicho Government and the people of Behchoko, the Minister must make some effort to give this issue some consideration before the close of this 15th Assembly. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister agree to meet with the chief of Behchoko regarding the maintenance contract before the end of this Assembly and make a commitment to transfer the maintenance contract that is...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight met on June 6, 2007, to review Bill 11, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act. This act makes minor amendments to a number of statutes. Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 11 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 11. Individual committee members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a document from Chief Henry Gon, of the community of Gameti, expressing concern on Gameti school expansion on August 1, 2007. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the portable is just a quick fix-up and we certainly want a long-term solution here. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister. Will the Minister tell the Members why extraordinary funding was found by this government to go ahead with the construction of the school in Tulita when the project was millions of dollars over budget and the Minister will not do the same for the Gameti school? Mahsi.

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

Mr. Speaker, the original plan of the Gameti school extension involved the community, the elders, the youth; most importantly, the past elders and respected Tlicho leadership. The community leadership are begging to stick to the original plans. So, Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister explain why his department is calling for a redesign of the school project in Gameti when the higher costs are due to the marketplace, not the school design?...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is also suggesting that classroom modules made by workers in the South and shipped to the North is a solution. This too is foolishness, Mr. Speaker. Not only do we get substandard products that are not what we really want, we also make sure that there is little work, or no work, for the communities. This is not acceptable for people of Gameti, the chief of the community and the Tlicho Government Community Services Agency.

Mr. Speaker, just to conclude, I realize there is a cost factor involved here, not only the economic money...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today on the Gameti school addition. It is with regret to inform you that the GNWT offered the community of Gameti a totally different plan from its original plan. GNWT is offering two options to consider. One option would see the project redesigned to reduce costs and delay for a decision by the next Assembly. Another option would put off construction of a gymnasium for an unspecified time in the future and bringing in modular classroom units and tacking them on to an existing building. I, personally, find these proposed plans a...