Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Chairman, I am glad to see that we agree that Fort Simpson doesn’t have a library, so they should be able to access these funds. However, I will just leave that alone. Still, like I said, it is still high on my agenda and the agenda of the community of Fort Simpson to find a resolution around this and how to best fill our public library. I have always thought that establishing Fort Simpson as a regional library service makes it and that becomes a legislative library. It has to be funded is the way to go, if there is any way this line item can help and we will see the next movement from the...

If the Minister has got the detail of which communities are being focused for increasing their library service, I would certainly like to hear that, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. There’s certainly lots of activity under this description here, but I think where I’ll begin first is in the opening comments. I didn’t have a chance to raise with the Minister that the access to a public library is still high on the agenda for residents of Fort Simpson, and I will continue to pursue it and find a resolution about how to house the one in Fort Simpson to make it more than a resource centre and re-establish it as a full library. I do see an increase in the public library service line item by about $500,000. Maybe if I can get the Minister to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just with the regional area offices positions, I know that legislatively the Minister did have to increase some positions, but I don’t know if I heard an adequate response why the positions went down in the regions though.

I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker. I did not realize the exchange was completed. I just want to raise the issue that the ice is being constructed by local companies employing local people. It’s been a source of income for seasonal workers for many, many years. I certainly support the continuation of contracting that ice crossing out. I’d like to ask the Minister, I’m not too sure if the contract is up this year, but it’s certainly something I’d like to see continue.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On January 20th to 23rd it was an exciting time to be in Fort Simpson as the town became the Village of Champions.

---Applause

The Village of Champions event celebrated hockey, but more importantly the achievements of many individuals and organizations, coaches, volunteers, parents and supporters. The event attracted approximately 500 people from Fort Simpson and other communities, including five hockey teams who participated in the weekend-long tournament.

This day was also recognized on Hockey Day in Canada on CBC North on Friday, February 11th.

To kick off...

Mr. Chairman, I just have one more line item that had a little bit of an increase of about $300,000, which is culture and heritage. I am just interested, once again, if some of that expenditure is for Aboriginal languages, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I also see that under the line item Aboriginal language and culture-based education there is an increase of about $300,000 over last year. Can the Minister explain how that will enhance and encourage Aboriginal language in the communities, if that is one of the activity areas in the department that will assist in developing our Aboriginal languages, Mr. Chairman?

Just with that, knowing that even though the district education authority in Fort Simpson is still deliberating on their library services, is this a possible pool of funds they can access to further their need to develop a library in Fort Simpson? Thank you.

Maybe I can get further details on where the library coordinator is going to be and which five communities are getting libraries, Mr. Chair. Thank you.