Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad the Minister will be advocating for the needs in the smaller communities. I am sure that there is going to be some mention of it in the federal budget. Has the Minister given some thought to what would be a fair distribution of the resources when he brings it home to the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s apparent that the Minister is well aware of our needs throughout the North, including the small communities. Does the Minister have a focus group to help him roll out the programs or design the programs for the smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I realize this is the preliminary consultation period involving several components and stakeholders, and that other consultations, meetings will be scheduled in the community this spring.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister will keep me updated and will inform me of any potential problems through the developmental stage of this project. I support the much-needed airstrip in Trout Lake and would like to see it go through successfully. This is important to the community of Trout Lake and a long time coming.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Minister and his officials on listening...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, my language is a passionate language and in my introductory remarks I spoke about how government keeps our people’s money but has a hard time hearing the people. I am reminded of residential schools where our allowance was given out to us.

At any rate, I will also speak of one of my communities that will remain nameless at this point…

---Laughter

…but it’s very important for them to have a community gymnasium. The government talks about how broke they are and how communities have to wait. Mr. Speaker, when and how will the government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister foresee any plans, let’s say for a small community like Jean Marie that has about 50 residents? How does the Minister see this program working in a community like that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to the national initiative of childcare and early learning. That’s exactly what the intent is, Mr. Speaker. It’s a national program. I assume it will include the small communities that exist in my riding, Mr. Speaker. Our small communities have single, working parents and double-income families who are anxious to see how this national program will be rolled out. Will the Minister, Mr. Speaker, tell this House the plans to roll out this program into the communities?...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear the Minister speak about it being a high priority, because it is, indeed, a high priority for the communities because deal breaking is imminent and I don’t want to see this deal fall through. It doesn’t make our government look good when you have the opportunity to create a deal and then we miss that opportunity. It already happened once, as my honourable colleagues keep speaking about, and I don’t want to see this happen in our region, particularly something of this much importance that has the backing of all the chiefs, of all the communities, of...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I wasn’t quite clear if the Minister was willing to allow it as part of the terms of reference when they’re reviewing the Territorial Power Support Program. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, it has been over a year, Mr. Speaker, since the business plan has been completed and the request has been in the department, and we’ve asked time and time again for their assistance and to keep this moving forward. It is a time sensitive issue, as one of the interested parties is willing to sell outside the region and that’s not something the community or the region wants, Mr. Speaker. So I would like to get the Minister’s assurance, Mr. Speaker, that he will continue from hereon in a time sensitive manner and secure and assure the consortium that the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about a year ago, I brought to the attention of this House a proposal for a regional airline in Fort Simpson. First Nation communities in my region have recognized an opportunity in the airline sector to capitalize on current economic and tourism development and growth to position themselves for the prospect of the Mackenzie gas project.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very exciting business opportunity for participating communities and the people in the Deh Cho. This business venture will be locally owned and controlled by the people of the region. They have...