Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for Minister McLeod, Minister Michael McLeod. I just wanted to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Transportation with regard to some of the contracting opportunities that can be missed when they’re out in our regions and communities. These are huge opportunities. They’re big contracts. There’s the Blackwater Bridge contract near the community of Wrigley. Residents have been advising myself, and probably the Minister’s office as well, that they’re missing opportunities. Some of it can be unfair practice, I believe. I would just like...

So from our exchange, I’m given to understand that all the deficiencies should be completed within the next couple of months, by December. Is that the time frame that the Minister is giving me? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask some questions with regard to my Member’s statement and the deficiencies at the Nahanni Butte gymnasium. I would like to ask questions of the Minister of Public Works and Services.

The deficiencies came to light some time in about May or March. Just after the spring thaw, the building started experiencing problems, Mr. Speaker. The community actually waited throughout the summer for the contractor to return and they had not. So on my most recent visit about three weeks ago to Nahanni Butte, they were wondering when the deficiencies were going to...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly like to see that done by that time, because the community is certainly looking forward to having a full opening ceremony for the building. If we can do it by December, I’d be pleased to see that; even January, Mr. Speaker. But I think the whole thing is our government has to take the time to correct the deficiencies in that building. So once again, I’d like to ask the Minister that we must get the contractor to complete these deficiencies. Thank you.

One of the other issues that the community had raised, of course, is their concern that the warranty period is coming soon for the Nahanni Butte gymnasium. Has there been a final inspection or is there going to be a warranty inspection for deficiencies done on the Nahanni Butte gym? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On my most recent visit to Nahanni Butte I had the opportunity to tour the new gymnasium once again. The community is quite pleased with the building as it provides students and the community with a gymnasium for physical education and all community activities.

Regretfully, we have not yet had the official opening. Unfortunately, there are serious outstanding construction deficiencies that prevent full use of the gymnasium and negatively affect the comfort of the users.

One of the major problems is the gymnasium floor. Its installation was done by rolling out...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is interesting my Member’s statement is on transportation.

---Laughter

I certainly hope he listens. Mr. Speaker. I have spoken many times in the past about the need to improve the Deh Cho Trail and the improvements this would mean to the safety of residents, truck drivers and tourists. It would also be beneficial to the economy. The Deh Cho Trail, Highway No. 1 from the Providence cut-off to Checkpoint and all the way down Highway No. 7 to the B.C. border is a route that the residents of the Deh Cho travel regularly for work, to attend appointments and to visit family...

Absolutely, the Minister is correct; we do have a very good education system and that’s exactly why this young lady wanted to continue the education in Fort Simpson. But then again, the rule was so inflexible. The parents left, not the student, Mr. Speaker. In fact, she was left here under the guardianship of her auntie. At the same time, education also means the provision of services to have that education, especially for people from small and remote communities such as was in this case. I would like to ask the Minister again: what exact rule was it? Was it a rule because her parents didn’t...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think it was two weeks ago I brought up an issue with the Minister Education, Culture and Employment in this House with regard to trying to get some resolution about guidelines for a young student from Trout Lake. I just want to inform the Minister, as well, that I was just informed today that the young student had to quit school. So I think that we failed this student. This student was a resident of the Northwest Territories and is a band member of the Trout Lake band. So I would just like to ask the Minister, how can we prevent a situation like this in the...

I’m pleased that certainly the department is making great strides and hopefully we can accomplish a lot of this work in 2010. In terms of Highway No. 7, Fort Liard residents have seen the B.C. side. They actually chipsealed their road up to the B.C. border, and they’re asking me continuously when are we going to re-chipseal the road from Fort Liard back to the B.C. border once again. They’re also looking to see the completion of the reconstruction that’s occurring there. Thank you.