Kevin A. Menicoche

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it possible to write those in the…I think that we do bid offers or request for proposal. Is it possible to advertise it in those requests for proposals and/or bids to let it be known to all the bidders out there that proximity communities and their businesses and their workers should be a priority? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of the BIP program, but I think the concern is that should our northern companies and local companies lose those bids, they are at risk of laying off local people and at risk of having a negative effect on our community. What I am asking, Mr. Speaker, is how can we protect our local workforce? If a southern bidder gets it, and opportunity to save money for government is fine, but can we ensure that our local businesses and people get employment and opportunities? Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, the residents of Fort Simpson are concerned because with the closure of the old Deh Cho Hall, the John Tsetso Memorial Library is gone. Over the years, with one full-time staff member, the community library has been a place to browse, to pick up reading material for youth and adults. As well, the library has offered literacy programs and various activities including movie night, opportunities for adults to purchase books, to read to children, readings by visiting authors and access to computers and Internet.

I would also...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I am really pleased that we have this huge opportunity with our government to revisit some of the capital investment expenditures for 2009-10 and some of the investments from the federal government dollars.

I just wanted to continue to reiterate some of the transportation concerns from the Nahendeh region. Something that I have been trying to get on the books, at least the long-term capital plan were several…(inaudible)…that is going to be addressed, one of them, of course, is the Trout Lake relocation. And we can see that it is under discussion here.

As well...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess what I’m after again is the worst-case scenario. A community loses an opportunity for a bid and it appears that the southern contractor will come in with their own sources and their own resources and not leave any benefits behind. That is what I would like our government to look at and see if anything can be done with that regard. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to raise the issue with the Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, there’s a disturbing trend that’s happening in the Northwest Territories with regard to contracting and I believe that the time to raise the issue is now. What’s happening there, Mr. Speaker, is that we’re getting a lot of southern bidders, they’re coming in with low bids. Mr. Premier mentioned in his sessional statement that it’s an opportunity for government to save money but at the same time the missed opportunity for our local businesses and local employment. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The communities in my constituency are very interested in creating sustainable businesses that will employ community members now and in the future. One business like this is the harvesting of logs and operating a sawmill. One example is Jean Marie River.

I spoke earlier this session about Jean Marie River’s desire to operate a biomass co-generation unit using sawdust and scrap from a sawmill to produce wood pellets. The problem in communities may be getting financial assistance for logging and sawmill operations, let alone establishing an innovative and carbon neutral...