Kevin A. Menicoche

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

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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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Transportation and a follow-up on my Member’s statement. I know that this year we were supposed to have I think it was 70 kilometres of chipseal done from the Providence junction towards Fort Simpson. I know that it was issued later in the year. I just want to ask the Minister again, what are the current plans the department has to complete this work and how soon? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to the Government Operations committee’s Final Report on the Review of the Official Languages Act 2008-2009 within 120 days of its presentation in this House. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I believe I have provided my general comments. We’re still on general comments, Mr. Chair, so I’ll just free up the mic for any other general comments from Committee of the Whole members. Thank you very much.

I know that the cost factors are also an integral part of any capital planning process, but I would just like to say again that this is necessary public infrastructure and must be there. The safety of residents, safety for the travelling public, not only government travel, there’s a lot of other reasons people land in these communities in the evenings, et cetera. So I would like to once again, on behalf of my communities, ask the Minister to have a serious look at and support this need to install this runway lighting in each of these communities and I’d like to have the department have a good...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation follow-up questions on my Member’s statement. I’ve been working with the department and talking with them for more than a year -- for about six years -- and trying to answer the question about getting runway lighting for Jean Marie and new runway lighting for Nahanni Butte. I’d like to ask the Minister what existing plans does the department have to address the need for runway lighting in these communities. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee acknowledges the tremendous amount of time, effort and care that has gone into the Government Operations committee’s Final Report on the Review of the Official Languages Act, 2008-2009; and further, that this committee wishes to express its support in principle for the findings and recommendations identified in the final report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.