Kevin A. Menicoche

I think it’s very important for us to get in early and meet with the new federal government, and I would like our government to have a strategy to plan to be down there, our Ministers to be down there, our Premier to be down there, and let him know our infrastructure needs. The Conservative government had high commitment for our rural and remote communities and I would like our government to convey that as the federal government begins their process on working on their new federal budget, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Deputy Premier his strategy with regard to that, as well. Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Deputy Premier, given the results of the recent federal election that’s all over with now -- we have a majority Conservative government -- I’d just like to know how our government plans to respond to the results of the recent federal election and their budgeting process. I understand that the old budget that they released in March is now dead. We’ll be looking at some new budgeting figures.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk to you in regard to the condition of our highways in the Deh Cho. It’s a sad comment on the state of highways in the Northwest Territories. Once again, last week the Liard Highway was closed to all traffic until further notice from Kilometre 254 at Checkpoint all the way to Kilometre 38, which is the Fort Liard access road. Once again the communities of the Nahendeh region are cut off from much needed highway access. Highway No. 7 is broken and needs fixing.

Over the years I have consistently spoken on the need for work on Highway No. 1 and 7. Later...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say I’m rising to support the motion put forward by Ms. Bisaro. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister points it out correctly that, yes, I am looking for a commitment for the future year coming up, because we finished this year’s budget but I am looking forward to the next one. It is not good enough to say that because we are coming to election we can’t really plan for the future. I think we can. The people want us to. I would like to ask the Minister if he can commit to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue my debate with the honourable Minister of Transportation on Highway No. 7. That highway is a gateway to our North, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to speak about the barriers and bumps that it has. I spoke time and time again about getting it into the capital planning process. In fact, just recently, Mr. Speaker, residents of Fort Liard did hand in the petition that I will action later on in this session. It is a very important document. They are going to get lots of support from all the communities in my riding. What stage are we at in the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I too will be supporting the motion, but I do have more to add. It’s a very good motion. I know that the honourable Member for Nunakput wanted some options for housing but I really feel that we should also be, it should be the whole program. That’s the way we looked at it.

At one time we did have our housing program before it was converted to ECE and back again, and even further back it was listed at 75 percent of household income. It was a real break. Then the rent was at $600 a month. I don’t know, along the way somebody signed off to produce it up to 90...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also, I would like to get something in writing from the Minister about the work planned on Highway No. 7 and when it will begin this spring. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, in the past the work has begun late in the season and with the early fall they were unable to complete it. I would like to get the commitment from the Minister that the work on Highway No. 7 will begin as soon as possible when they can begin construction and use that operating and maintenance money and use some of the new capital dollars to fix our Highway No. 7. Thank you very much.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This week in Fort Simpson people have been participating in our ever popular Beaver Tail Jamboree. Celebrations began last Sunday. I wish to say special congratulations to the Beaver Tail Jamboree organizing committee and the sponsors and host organizations who have been making this event come alive every year for the past 34 years.

The committee members who worked so hard to make this year’s Jamboree successful are: Ms. Cindy Browning, Ms. Cheryl Sibbeston, Mr. Nathan McPherson, Mr. Gerry Antoine, Mr. Troy Bradbury, Mr. Aaron McNabb, Mr. Jonas Antoine, Mr. Mike Squirrel...