Kevin A. Menicoche

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.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my Member’s statement with respect to the John Tetso Memorial Library closing in Fort Simpson. I sent numerous e-mails and memorandums to the government and particularly to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to assist the community in this matter. I would just like to ask the Minister: what stage or how far has this department gone in successfully dealing with the community organizations in addressing this very important matter for residents of Fort Simpson? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak about the current closing of the Deh Cho Hall in Fort Simpson. This building will soon be decommissioned. Government offices have been relocated to a new building. The last remaining tenant is the John Tetso Memorial Library and they have yet to find a new home.

This is cause of concern among community residents. The library is an important part of the community that provides a range of popular programs and services that promote literacy and ensures the community members have access to quality reading materials and information sources that...

I would like to reiterate that the Department of ECE is responsible for library services throughout the Northwest Territories and they have made provision to assist other communities. Once again, this issue has been...We really felt it was on the backburner for awhile; they knew it was coming. I think the important thing here, Mr. Speaker, is where is the Minister looking at providing any resources in the community in the short-term to provide for library space?

The Minister mentioned the capital planning process, so there’s indication there that he’s willing to help the community with the long-term space needs of the library. I’m really pleased to hear that. When does that capital planning process begin?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my Member’s statement with respect to the John Tetso Memorial Library closing in Fort Simpson. I sent numerous e-mails and memorandums to the government and particularly to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to assist the community in this matter. I would just like to ask the Minister: what stage or how far has this department gone in successfully dealing with the community organizations in addressing this very important matter for residents of Fort Simpson? Thank you.

The issues are twofold with the closing of the library. One, of course, is short-term space and a long-term solution which is providing resources to do renovations to a school and an additional building that can house a library. I’d just like to know, once again, how far has the department been successful in looking at short-term solutions and maybe even using the new government office building that’s in Fort Simpson. Have they looked at any engineering plans? Can that building sustain library services, and include, as well, resources to upgrade the current existing Village of Fort Simpson...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak about the current closing of the Deh Cho Hall in Fort Simpson. This building will soon be decommissioned. Government offices have been relocated to a new building. The last remaining tenant is the John Tetso Memorial Library and they have yet to find a new home.

This is cause of concern among community residents. The library is an important part of the community that provides a range of popular programs and services that promote literacy and ensures the community members have access to quality reading materials and information sources that...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to welcome Mr. Tom Wilson, a Nahendeh resident of Fort Simpson and, for the third time today. It’s a pleasure to see him in the gallery.

The Minister mentioned the capital planning process, so there’s indication there that he’s willing to help the community with the long-term space needs of the library. I’m really pleased to hear that. When does that capital planning process begin?