Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two Pages that have come from the small community of Jean Marie River. Miss Alisha Grossetete and Miss Kyla Norwegian are in Grade 9. Thank you for your hard work this week.

Also to the chaperone, my cousin Ms. Yvonne Norwegian, who was here helping them throughout the week.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank Mr. Yakeleya for his motion. Last term, when I was chair of Government Operations, we reviewed the Official Languages Act. I was very pleased to hear about the languages secretariat at that time. What happened is it stimulated and supported our Aboriginal languages throughout the Northwest Territories. There was a significant decline in support for our Aboriginal languages once that department was disbanded. It was also said, even to this day, that the best support for languages are those employees who are in other departments to this day. I’m with Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are allowed to speak to this motion. I don’t think the intent was to have the motion speeded up in the House today, because of the seriousness of the issue that is before not only the NWT but all residents of Canada.

I know that the federal government had intended to change our Old Age Security system. Canadians want decent pensions, not more years of working. I know that the federal government said that it made plans for this budget, but they had indicated that now the changes will be in future years to come.

With that, I think our GNWT has to get on the right side of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I indicated earlier Ms. Yvonne Norwegian was a chaperone from Jean Marie, and she’s in the gallery. I’d like to welcome her to the proceedings of the House. Good to see you here.

I’d like to ask the Minister what strategy he is developing, in that previous administrations have created documents, such as Connecting Canada and other documents. I’d like to know what the Minister’s strategy is when he’s meeting with the federal government, because the development of our northern roads, particularly Highway No. 7, is critical to the economic development of my region and the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last week I made great efforts to represent Fort Liard, the Nahendeh constituents, with Highway No. 7. I would like to continue and ask the Minister of Transportation about Highway No. 7 once again.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The small business sector is one of the most critical to the health of the economy, especially in the Nahendeh riding. Small businesses make great contributions to Nahendeh communities. Although the population is small, these communities are the scene of a surprising amount of activity.

The Liard River crossing is the second busiest river crossing in the Northwest Territories. The Nahanni National Park, with the NWT’s highest mountains and largest glaciers, attracts close to 1,000 visitors every year. The oil and gas and mineral development is becoming increasingly...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation some questions. I was reading the Deh Cho Drum today, and the Trout Lake residents, of course, are concerned that the new airport construction is being delayed. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation how much of a delay in the construction is anticipated.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can I ask the Minister to provide me with a brief project update before I return back to my constituency so I can provide it to the community so they can expect the work timelines?

Certainly Trout Lake has been looking forward to the completion of this project and to have it delayed by another year…. What date was the anticipated completion date for the project?