Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much. I’d like to ask the Minister of ITI a few questions. On our last visit to Nahanni Butte they spoke about establishing a nice park area on the other side of where the access road enters Nahanni Butte. I’d just like to ask the Minister what are the next steps that the community has to take in order to make this a reality for them. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their support. As well, I’d like to appreciate the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation for being proactive on this issue, but certainly there’s a gap in our programming. There’s a need here or else a motion like this would never have been discussed in our committee system and with other colleagues.

For instance, I’ve got a senior that exhausted all the programs the Minister spoke about, so how do we address his concerns? We’re going to have to come up with some kind of new program or a targeted program and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS seniors are valued and respected members of our communities who have contributed throughout their lives and deserve our support to live independently as long as they are able;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is currently undertaking a review of its programs and services;

AND WHEREAS most communities in the Northwest Territories do not have independent housing units specially designed for seniors;

AND WHEREAS many seniors are on fixed incomes and, therefore, especially vulnerable to increases in the cost of living;

AND WHEREAS seniors are...

Mr. Speaker, I think another thing that the community of Trout Lake needs, in order to get on the capital plan, is a full assessment and needs of that community. Is the Minister willing to at least work towards that in this fiscal year in the operating and maintenance funding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During this Education Week I just want to raise one of the things that I have been consistent about for the community of Sambaa Ke, which is Trout Lake. They have always impressed upon me about the need to have a brand new school for the community. I raise it once again with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. How much planning has been done? Has he heard the community in working towards building a new school for Trout Lake? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This is Education Week and I hear that Education, Culture and Employment is challenging residents to take part in the Thumbs Up contest to identify ways people can support the education system. Well, I have thumbs up for two Fort Simpson men who are doing a great job encouraging our students to think about their future. I am speaking about Bob Norwegian and Wilbert Antoine who are excellent role models. These two cousins have 75 years of trades experience. They left the North and made careers and now they have returned to Fort Simpson and want to make a difference and...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to make a few comments with regard to Public Works and Services, especially the settlement maintainer position. When I did my last tour of Wrigley in January, that position had still not been staffed. I see that almost 90 percent have been staffed, so if the Minister could let me know if the one in Wrigley was successful in being staffed. It’s something important to the community of Wrigley -- it always has been -- and I’m glad the department has returned that position to Wrigley. The importance of it, as the Members have already explained, is...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Over the course of the last three or four years when the NWT Housing Corporation amalgamated its programs and services into four distinct packages, they had some real nice acronyms: HELP, CARE, et cetera. What it didn’t address was the need for seniors in those programming packages. Previously we had a strong seniors package within the NWT Housing Corporation. There was the Elders on the Land Program, some repairs programs, some maintenance programs. They were all distinct to help seniors in our communities and regions.

The last couple of years I have found...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have always advised the Minister that the school in Trout Lake has never been replaced. They are currently existing in the community hall and the community has been promised by this government that they will replace the school. I look forward to the Minister to work with his Cabinet colleagues to make that a priority and make that dream come true for the community of Trout Lake. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, over the course of seven years we spent hundreds of millions of dollars in our larger communities building new schools. I think it is time to start concentrating on our small and remote communities, in Trout Lake. I think the capital planning process and the priorities of this government should start concentrating on the small, remote communities. Will the Minister work with his Cabinet colleagues and start investing in the small, remote communities and public infrastructure? Mahsi cho.