Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the Standing Committee on Government Operations tabled its report 5-16(4)...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m ahead of myself here, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much for recognizing me. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If I can get the Minister to continue with his commitment that he update Regular Members on this side of the House. I don’t want to get into a situation where we’re micromanaging government projects, be it the Deh Cho Bridge or anything like that, but the residents are concerned and I’m concerned, colleagues are concerned. So will the Minister continue with his commitment that he will update this side of the House on a regular basis and try to make the information as public as possible that we can share with our constituents? Thank you.

A complete toll system is something that constituents raised. There are, of course, good examples throughout Canada in other jurisdictions like B.C., the Coquihalla Highway, and in eastern Canada, that as you drive you pay your toll, you actually see the repairs happening, you see the bridge, the public infrastructure being built, so you don’t mind paying that extra cost. I really think that the Minister of Transportation should seriously look at this idea that, yes, you know, we are going to need some extra revenue to cover off these costs. I’m telling you, our taxpayers don’t want to be...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to voice my opinion on the Deh Cho Bridge. On Monday of this week I had the opportunity to speak to Fort Simpson constituents about the Deh Cho Bridge issues. This was forefront on their minds, as I’m sure with many Northerners. I advise that myself, I am in general support of moving forward with the construction. Opinions were very much split whether we should continue with the bridge or not. People against the bridge are very concerned that as taxpayers they will pay the increased costs of the bridge whether they agree to it or not...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the Standing Committee on Government Operations tabled its report 5-16(4) on the Review of the Human Rights Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report, which includes two recommendations. It was read into the record by members of the standing committee and a motion was passed that moved the report into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You may have heard a report on the radio this morning about how there will be no nurse in the community of Wrigley this year. I had spoken earlier saying that there would be a return of the service to Wrigley and it gave me no pleasure to correct this publicly.

The road to returning nursing service to Wrigley is a challenging one. When I was first elected I was told that there would be no nurse for Wrigley until there is policing. So I worked hard in the last term to ensure the return of policing to Wrigley. The Minister of Justice then, Cabinet, and our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarification, did the Minister say there was going to be a dedicated position for Wrigley in Fort Simpson? Can she answer that? As well, again, I would like to get a commitment that services, nursing services will be enhanced at least in 2010 as we work towards this dedicated position? Thank you.

I’m not entirely convinced with the Minister’s answer. Once again, one of the tools at my disposal while we’re sitting here during debate of the budget is to delay the budget, Mr. Speaker, and I am prepared to go that far in order to get answers for my constituents. I want the Minister of Health and Social Services to have the same confidence as the Minister of Justice did today and say that nursing is a priority for Wrigley and Tsiigehtchic out loud, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7 on the Order Paper today. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted.