Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Arnold Gargan, a constituent from Jean Marie River. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

I move that we report progress.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I’m proud to sit here today to be discussing the Tlicho Community Services Agency Act, which is one more step away from the self-reliance of the Tlicho people who are achieving significant milestones at every corner they come to. They are kind of groundbreaking in terms of the self-government model, and it’s something that people and chiefs in my riding aspire to and tend to look to the Tlicho to pave the way and be a model for us. I just wanted to say in my comment, that I’ll be speaking for the passage of this legislation in third reading, and I, too, would...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 15 and Bill 19, Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2005-2006.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that there’s a meeting coming up to discuss the life of the building and what the department plans to do. It has come up several times in constituency meetings that I’ve had in Fort Simpson, Mr. Speaker. People are concerned about maintaining the building. It’s about 10,000 square feet and it’s a future training facility; that’s what people would like to see. Can the Minister and can this government look at ways of maintaining this building? Even though government has to move out, do they have to demolish this building? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to ask a question to the Minister of Public Works and Services. Just recently the Village of Fort Simpson met and they forwarded me a concern that the department is looking at shutting down the Deh Cho Hall, formerly known as the La Pointe Hall. The village is concerned that it’s scheduled for 2006, based on an evaluation report. What is this report, Mr. Speaker, and when can we see this report? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wish to report progress.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we wish to consider Bill 15 first and then Bill 19.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think the general feeling in Fort Simpson is that, if we undertake a good comprehensive review or a good foundation analysis of this building, you’ll find that it will probably stand for another 100 years. So that’s the concern, Mr. Speaker. Will the government and will the Minister have a real good look at this building and not demolish it, because we can certainly use a facility of that size in Fort Simpson? Mahsi cho.