Kevin A. Menicoche

Has there been support from some of the committees that the government has established to look at this issue and to carry forward? Like I said in my Member’s statement, Fort Simpson has many highways and it is a regional centre. I certainly support getting them a highway rescue vehicle.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to send condolences to the family of Ms. Susan Lafferty. Ms. Susan Lafferty was a long-time resident and educator in Fort Simpson who will be greatly missed. My condolences to her family and I regret that I am not available to be part of her funeral today. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, I rise too in support of the motion. I have had the opportunity to travel throughout my communities of Nahendeh to speak to the seniors about this particular issue. As well, many seniors from Fort Simpson attended a constituency meeting. I was very happy to have them there.

As I went to explain the program and how it works I really found myself in the position where I couldn’t make a good explanation of it. There was no analysis in the documents given. There was no costing of the initiatives. How much does it cost to provide these supplementary health benefits? How much will they...

Just at what point will the department be initiating contact and speaking with the Village of Fort Simpson in terms of coming up with a plan and a strategy to address this lack of equipment?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs about the plan to assist communities in acquiring highway rescue vehicles. What state is that and how much work has been done to date?

...(inaudible)...the village of Fort Simpson and the Fort Simpson Fire Department have told me that they need a highway rescue vehicle to respond to emergencies of travelers on highways. They need a highway rescue vehicle because it includes specialized equipment to cut and safely extract people from their vehicles after an accident. The closest vehicle with this type of lifesaving equipment is only 400 kilometres away in Hay River. We also need a highway rescue vehicle because now, when there is an emergency on the highway, the village is left without an ambulance sometimes for the greater...

Thanks to the Minister for detailing this. He’s kind of limited in all the answers. I just, once again, want to reiterate the concern of Nahendeh residents that working towards chipseal of the Deh Cho connection is a priority. First and foremost, I’d like to see that on the long-term capital plan, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister can address that. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with regard to the Dehcho Connection and Highway No. 1 and No. 7 to the Minister of Transportation. Many documents have been brought towards the work with the federal government. We’ve got the Connecting Canada document that went to the federal ministry, as well as the Dehcho Connection as part of the National Highway Strategy. I would like to ask the Minister what has been done to work with the federal transportation to find us some resources to build up Highway No. 1 and No. 7. Mahsi cho.

I’m glad he answered it that way, because that’s a goal. One of my goals in this term is to actually see the chipsealing program on the long-term capital plan. I’d like to ask the Minister again if he’ll work towards that with me. Thank you.

I know that in the federal budget when they mentioned the highway systems in the Northwest Territories, of course, they mentioned the Yellowknife bypass road, but to the discern of my constituents I think our highway system should have been mentioned. I’d just like to question the strategy that the Minister had with the federal government in that regard. Just saying there, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to know how much work has been done in this budget towards speaking with… Sorry. The resources for highways No. 1 and No. 7. In particular, I’ve been always pressing for working towards the chipseal of...