Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As my colleagues know, two of my favourite words in this Legislature are Highway 7. I cannot let the 17th Assembly draw to a close without saying them for the 150th time. This time it’s a pleasure to say positive things about the work being done on the reconstruction of this highway, which is an important lifeline for the people of the communities I represent.

As I mentioned in March 2014, the renewed funding from the federal government under the new Build Canada Plan and the Department of Transportation’s Corridors for Canada III has allowed critical...

The Minister doesn’t address why they weren’t paid. He says everybody else has been paid, and that’s a well-known fact, but the referees that analyze this situation, look at all the claims – there were, I think, about seven or eight of them – and for the most part there were only two acceptable, and those are the referee’s recommendations.

I’d like to ask the Minister to seriously consider these recommendations despite keep going back to the books of a failed company, ATCON. The government took over the project and came to this House for more money. Why can’t we pay all the contractors that are...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is with dismay and frustration that I stand before you today to say there is unfinished business with the Deh Cho Bridge. Yesterday I tabled, in the House, the Referee Claim Review, the interim and phase two reports of the Deh Cho Bridge between Rowe’s, ATCON and DOT. I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation a few questions about the referee report. Most particularly, the unfinished business is Rowe’s Construction. An NWT company was the only contractor not paid when this bridge was completed. I would like to ask the Minister about that, Mr...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the much needed Fort Simpson replacement health centre. I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works a few questions on the planning study and, as a result, the capital planning process as well.

I’d just like to ask the Minister, what stage is the planning study at currently?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Myself and residents of Fort Simpson are looking forward to the completion of the planning study for the replacement of the Fort Simpson Health Centre. During this session, while we deliberated the capital plans, I was very disappointed to see the project on the books seven years from now during the budget of 2022-2023.

This is a 40-year-old building that needs to be replaced sooner than later. A new facility will improve the quality of health care delivery to Fort Simpson and region. With a new building and new modern health equipment, we can deliver better...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Referee Claim Review, Interim and Phase 2 Reports that relate to the Deh Cho Bridge contract between Rowe’s Construction and ATCON Construction, initial general contractor for the project. The referee’s reports review the issue of the non-payment of subcontractor funds on the Deh Cho Bridge contract. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to thank the Minister for that answer. I’d just like to know, well, that’s the current stage of the planning study, perhaps the Minister can explain how the planning study affects the capital planning process. The Fort Simpson Health Centre was slated for ’17-18 but it’s, like, five years further down the line. I’d like to ask the Minister, why has that been deferred so far down the line? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Jasmine Hardisty, my constituency assistant from Fort Simpson who is chaperoning the Fort Simpson Pages this week. Welcome to the gallery.

Thank you very much. That provides a little bit of clarity about how far they’re progressing with the planning study.

Is it typical for the department to go to the communities to show them the type of floor plans and the layout that they have at these facilities? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, I can say unequivocally on behalf of the residents of Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte that they’re not choosing to go there. It’s just that over time they’ve developed trust issues about service of health delivery within our own system. But aside from that, if we can develop this base, the residents have a working relationship already. I’m just asking our government, let’s formalize this, let’s work a way around it, let’s continue supporting our residents getting the proper health and close to home delivery of health care that they can.