Kevin A. Menicoche

I guess the most important question for the constituents is: will we be involved in another lengthy tendering process and awarding the contract where it will take us into late summer or fall to complete these projects, or can we get out of the gate early and complete these projects in the springtime?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Mr. John Kearney, president of Canadian Zinc and frequent visitor to the community of Fort Simpson. Welcome to the gallery. Mahsi.

I’m still not convinced that we will not lapse any money in this coming fiscal year and I’m not too sure what mechanisms the Minister speaks about ensuring that it doesn’t happen in the future. Of course, the amount of emphasis and efforts and concern that we as MLAs have with regard to our aboriginal languages is something that we have to ensure that we’re doing our best to get those resources out to the communities. At the same time, my concern is that we’re saying no to grassroots proposals that are out there saying all the money is spent, but I’m still not convinced that’s the case. I don...

I’m pleased to see the amount of resources that are going towards the John Tsetso Memorial Library. However, the fact remains that I’ve been asking about additional resources. The issue is the lack of suitable space to have the storage of library books, et cetera. I’d just like to know what current efforts to date has the department been working towards resolving this issue in Fort Simpson in assisting it to re-establish a library. Earlier I spoke about one of the ways that I saw to fully resource that library was, of course, to declare it a regional library. In all fairness, it is a region...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a very good opportunity to comment on some of the current directions of Education, Culture and Employment at this time when we are reviewing line-by-line budget items. Perhaps I will just follow up on my Member’s statement earlier today on aboriginal language dollars being lapsed in 2007-08 and 2008-09. I know we are in the 2009-10 fiscal year. We are debating 2010-11, but my concern is that I do not wish to see this happen again for this coming fiscal year. I know that some departments strive very hard at the end of the fiscal year to spend their budgeting but...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps I should commend the French language groups, because their funding does not lapse, Mr. Speaker, but aboriginal funding does. I’ve got unique proposals that don’t want to be supported by this government or even given a second chance to say there is money that may be lapsed, we’ll use that. Can the Minister commit to look at potential lapsed funding and look at the unique community ground-based proposals such as this? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last week I spoke in this House about the lapse of aboriginal funding for ‘07-08 and ‘08-09 to the tune of hundreds and thousands of dollars. And, at the same time, this year I supported a proposal by the Deh Cho Friendship Centre for, I believe, it was a $40,000 proposal to create an aboriginal South Slavey CD-Rom to help the community and help the region to work on our language. That proposal was refused, Mr. Speaker, saying the money was spent. I find it hard to believe that lapsing almost $1.4 million the last two years and now we are saying we don’t have...

That’s the kind of discussion that we’d certainly like to see for Trout Lake. We’ve taken care of big schools throughout our North up to date, Mr. Speaker, and I think it’s time to start concentrating on our small and remote communities and providing facilities for them. Once again, when will the capital planning discussions begin with the education council and the Minister of Education towards planning of the school in Trout Lake? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with regard to the Trout Lake school and the need for expansion; in fact, for creating a new one. I had this debate with the Minister of Education last year in the fall session and I just want to, of course, continue the support to the community of Trout Lake and ask the Minister about, will the Minister recognize the needs of the students in the community of Trout Lake to ensure that the budget for a new school is on our capital plan? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to follow up on official languages and talk about the importance of it. It’s just interesting to note, Mr. Chair, a colleague of mine pointed out there’s actually a reduction of funding to this year, from over the revised estimates of last year, of almost $400,000. If the Minister can explain what got reduced or what is reduced for this coming fiscal year.