Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Speaker, I think one of the things that constituents hear, and also Northerners hear, is that as the days go on, the point of where the medevacs end up are getting further and further away. Now in the news they are talking about Calgary. I would just like to know how is our government getting involved to ensure that... I was going to say their wise and infinite...

How are they getting information from us on a daily basis? That is not something at least my constituents want to see going further and further away. In fact, I think for my constituents, the better alternative is to stay at the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up with the Minister of Health and Social Services on my Member’s statement that I raised about the closure of the Edmonton City Centre Airport, or the imminent closure. There was a recent city election in Edmonton and, unfortunately, the city supports the closure of the airport, but with that, Mr. Speaker, I know that when they get re-elected that there are a bunch of procedures that have to happen.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, does she have a plan to engage the new mayor and councillors and indicate how...

Mr. Speaker, certainly the residents of Trout Lake are looking forward to the Minister’s visits to see the concerns and hear the concerns from the community. They have many young children and the chief has indicated that we have to fulfill their future needs. Once again, based on the baseline work that the department is going to do, how soon can they provide an assessment to look at including a school in Trout Lake in the capital planning process, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker... [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I raise the issue of a stand-alone school for the community of Trout Lake. During my recent visit in August, this item was a priority for the community. The education for children of Trout Lake is needed.

Over the past seven years as the MLA for Nahendeh, I have supported capital projects for schools and superschools. I believe now it is time to invest in our small communities and their educational needs. The old Charles Tetcho School burnt down many years ago. Currently, the existing Charles Tetcho School is...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I see that you’re looking at improvement, renovating, replacing some health centres here. I just wanted to raise, of course, the concern of the facilities in Fort Simpson, as well as Nahanni Butte. The health centre did need some work. I don’t really see it here, but what are the plans of Health and Social Services in regard to those two facilities, Mr. Chair?

Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke about we build a lot, and many large schools and superschools here in the North. It’s time to concentrate on our small communities. In fact, there was a previous commitment by our government to replace the Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake. I make it a point, and I will make it again, that it is currently in the recreation centre, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister and the planners take that into account, that this existing location is not a school, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with regard to pursuing a new school for the community of Trout Lake. I raised this in the House before and we worked with the Minister and they did do some upgrades to the existing facility that is there. I would like to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, about what plans are in place currently with his department to look at replacing the school in Trout Lake. Thank you very much.

I’m pleased to see that at least the facilities will be addressed and looked at. What is the timeline to begin this work for the Fort Simpson Health Centre?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the important thing here is -- if I can ask the Minister to raise it with his colleagues in Cabinet -- we have to start looking at our small communities and provide for their educational needs and start working towards that as a strategy at the next capital planning process, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

I’ve got nothing further to add. I just urge the Minister and our government to continue to press the matter. I don’t know, the Minister sounds like there’s a meeting in November. I’d be pleased to be given notice about that.

The other one is, I don’t know if and when we do our NWT Day it might be another opportunity to raise that issue as well.