Kevin A. Menicoche

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, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to thank my colleagues for their support as well as the Minister of Transportation for addressing my concerns with regard to improvements to the Liard Highway No. 7.

I am satisfied with the written commitment that the operation and maintenance concerns will be addressed and some of the carry-over capital funding to be expended with that. I’ve got no further questions or comments on this line item. Mahsi cho.

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, Madam Chair. I just want to follow up on Highway No. 7 here. I know the Minister had indicated in his last response to me that he would look at expending monies early, but I think I’m looking for a firm commitment that the department be serious about Highway No. 7 and spend the money early in the new year.

I’ll probably take the opportunity to comment on the $1.3 million of capital carry-overs and also I’d like the Minister to confirm that those projects will go ahead early in the new year. Like I said, I’m not happy with commitments anymore. I want this in writing. The Minister has...