Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services about the public advisory on Ekali Lake and other lakes in the Nahendeh riding. I’d like to know the communication plans that the department has to advise the public about eating fish from these lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 2-17(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2011-2012, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 2-17(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just some general comments about how our government miraculously finds money for the Inuvik-Tuk highway and Betty House and the millions of dollars. I’ve been here seeking some certainty and funding for Highway No. 7 time and time and time again, yet the capital budget shows nothing for Highway No. 7. I don’t know how else to make the case that we have to spend money there. I am concerned that our priority of the Inuvik-Tuk highway will cost a reduction of any future capital dollars for Highway No. 7. I’m not too sure how we’re going to manage it and I just...

Thank you very much. So the next step is to raise that in the capital planning. As well, I think the key objective here is to move it from the capital needs assessment to the capital planning studies, and also I’d like to invite the Minister to do a tour of the riding so that he can see for himself the needs of these schools and the amount of children that are in them. As well, what efforts have been done to date in these two communities in looking at and assessing the schools? Thank you.

Thank you very much. I just want to follow up with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about capitalizing the needs of schools in a couple of communities in my riding, most particularly the Charles Yohin School in Fort Liard and the Charles Tetcho in Trout Lake. I’d like to ask the Minister what steps are necessary in order to move from the capital needs assessment portion of the planning of these schools and get these schools incorporated into our five-year capital plan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to make another statement on the need for new schools in Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake. I want to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for writing to me last week to advise me where the schools stand in the department’s capital needs assessments.

According to the Education, Culture and Employment assessment, work to replace the Charles Yohin School should begin in 2016-17. Work to replace the Charles Tetcho School should begin in 2018-19. While this is good news, I am well aware that identifying needs for new schools and getting them...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 2-17(2) and Tabled Document 3-17(2).

Thank you very much. I’d like to work with the department as we move towards the capital planning process in the springtime come May and June. I was just asking about getting the process on the capital plan. I know that in other departments they use planning studies. So I would like to start with that. When can we look at doing planning studies for these two schools in order to put an amount on them? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize a former MLA and colleague, Mr. David Krutko.

I guess the facilities and assets do get transferred to the community come March 31st. Is that assistance still there up until March 31st or does it end March 31st? That’s the issue that the community of Jean Marie River is talking about: that they’re not ready yet, and it’s very, very costly to bring in outside services to the community.