Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, this is the third time I have raised the issue. There are two Department of Transportation crews that work on Highway No. 3. The Yellowknife crew is responsible for the section from Yellowknife to just before the Behchoko access road, the junction. The Edzo crew is responsible for the access road to Chan Lake towards Providence.

Mr. Speaker, I asked the current Minister of Transportation in February of this year if he would consider transferring the responsibility for maintaining a section of Highway No. 3 between Boundary Creek and...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have 37 letters signed by students and parents from the community of Gameti on the Gameti school addition concerns. Mahsi.

Tabled Document 40-15(6): Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowance Fund Financial Statements For The Year Ended March 31, 2007

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, 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...

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

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 11, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2007, and Bill 12, Public Health Act. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister, with respect, we have to respect our elders’ wish to have an addition to our school with a gymnasium for our children to have a healthy lifestyle and wellness in the community. So my final question to the Minister: Will the Minister do the right thing and add and support a third option to his briefing note where the GNWT will find the money to go forward with this project on this year’s winter road, 2007-08, and build the school addition and gymnasium as planned with the original plan? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to focus on the need of the community; the community of Gameti. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister tell these Members here around the table why he and his department believe that the people of Gameti do not want the same educational and recreation programs for their children that he and other Yellowknife Members take for granted for their children here in Yellowknife and other major centres? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize the Tlicho chief executive council: Grand Chief George Mackenzie, Chief Leon Lafferty, Chief Charlie Jim Nitsiza, Chief Henry Gon. I’d also like to recognize Behchoko member Jonas Lafferty. Thanks for being here. Mahsi.

---Applause