Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 1-17(2), Tabled Document 3-17(2) and Bill 1-17(2).

So is it the Minister’s intent, with regard to Jean Marie River, to continue with the deal as it is, which means transferring the facilities over to the community come March 31st? They are anticipating an impact to their budget.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs some questions, some old questions on the New Deal. Under the New Deal they’re turning the facilities over to the community of, specifically, Jean Marie River. The issue was that they had committed to train people to have local resources to help maintain and upkeep the facilities. To date they’re not in a capacity situation. I’d like firstly to ask the Minister what the current status of the New Deal is, as it deals with Jean Marie River.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about Jean Marie River and MACA’s New Deal. Community capacity has been a major challenge since the Government of the Northwest Territories implemented the New Deal. For almost five years now, while some regional centres thrive, small communities struggle to take on the added responsibilities of managing infrastructure and self-governance. Jean Marie River’s population of 64 is one of these communities. The GNWT wants to transfer responsibility for local infrastructure beginning April 1st; however, the hamlet wants to defer that.

To date...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 1-17(2), Interim Appropriation 2012-2013, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 1-17(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee resume consideration of item 11, Department of Transportation, contained in Tabled Document 1-17(2), Interim Appropriation 2012-2013, Summary of Interim Appropriations found on page 3. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess one of the questions that they did ask me is: Can the transfer be delayed until the question of sustainability and ability to maintain the assets are in place?

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.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize one of the Pages who is going to school here in Yellowknife but comes from Trout Lake: Ms. Sheyenne Jumbo, daughter of Ruby Jumbo. Also of note, she is an author of a Slavey book. Welcome.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. In the previous day’s deliberations in Committee of the Whole, I was asking some questions on Highway No. 7 and the plan for the department to deal with the conditions on Highway No. 7, fixing it up. I know that some of the issues have been because of lack of capital dollars and I continue to remain frustrated that there were zero dollars allocated in the 2012-13 Capital Budget as it stands.

Another issue that I do have is that there are appropriations in the interim budget and in our budget for operations and maintenance of Highway No. 7, but myself, my...