Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a former resident of Fort Simpson, Ms. Susie Tsetso. Mahsi cho.

That’s something certainly this side of the House would like to support and engage once we come down to a good policy that will protect us in the future and give us positive benefits not only for ourselves but for all Northerners. I’d like to ask the Minister what the next stage is. I think our side of the House is waiting for government’s response on what the next steps are in developing our P3 policy.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I spoke about the P3 policy that government is working with the Priorities and Planning committee to develop. I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance, we had seen it I think it was last fall and we hadn’t had any more discussion on it. I’d just like to ask the Minister where the P3 policy is right now.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The amendments to the Dog Act, I did have a constituency meeting in Fort Simpson and raised the issue. My constituency felt that the power was best left to the municipality. Now it’s before committee and introduced by government, the amendments.

It’s a very passionate subject, as I saw when I was very happy to attend the Fort Smith public hearing. Lots of people came out and shared their views and passion about it. They cited many, many examples of possible dog cruelty. It depends on your perspective too.

Our small communities, I travelled to them often, just...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise too in support of the motion for certifying elders in the school. We’re already using it there but it’s just the next level up certifying them and even providing them with some small remuneration. I believe that’s incentive enough. Just the positive experiences that the youth have when they interact with the elders bring a smile to everybody’s face.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Working with the P3 policy I think the next step is to sit down with committee. I’d just like to ask the Minister, I don’t know how much detail is in there, but what would be the size of the projects that are actually listed in there by financial value? What is the minimum for a P3 project?

As I recall, it was quite an extensive document and given the context of the Auditor General’s report on the Deh Cho Bridge Project, when establishing P3s that’s something that should be real and tangible. Does that document speak to that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I will also be talking about the Deh Cho Bridge and in reference to the...and it seems that it’s costing a lot of money and it doesn’t seem like they’re working it as well as they could be. [Translation ends]

...Deh Cho Bridge Project and ask questions every time I go home. Many were never convinced that it would be on time and on budget for the original $165 million. There did not seem to be a good plan in place. The recent Auditor General’s report and comments in the media does say that she, too, is not convinced herself that the new cost of $182 million...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the committee had gone to our small, remote communities and spoke with Aboriginal people, they would see a need for sections 4(3), 4(4) and 4(5). I would be remiss if I did not speak against this amendment and will not be supporting this motion, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to second the motion put forward by Mr. Abernethy here today to request an external and independent investigation as to what happened to Allisdair Leishman. I also support the mother, Margaret Leishman, a mother who just wants answers. I have seen her lobby efforts over the past year and I am really confounded that our system only gave her cursory answers and was unwilling to share any information with her.

I was involved in private industry for many, many years and anytime there was an incident, you always do an incident report or you do a post...