Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for those answers. I just wanted to indicate to the Minister, it says there is a process there and it concerns me that it doesn’t appear to be working, I guess not at this stage. Maybe I have to be here a little bit longer to see something moving, I guess, Mr. Chair. In terms of that, I just want to make the government aware that that is something that is concerning me. I don’t know if it needs reviewing or anything like that, but I know that the government does have a heart. They do see that need that I have been addressing for quite...

That’s what I would like to say for the people and the youth of Nahanni Butte. Will the Minister look at changing his mind and address these needs in the immediate future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We heard today about the Tlicho having a reason to tea dance and what I would like to do is give Nahanni a place to tea dance, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what options they are looking at to develop a gymnasium for Nahanni Butte in the near future? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of MACA. I would just like to quote from the Finance Minister’s budget speech. His last line, Mr. Speaker, states: “It is up to the leaders of the Northwest Territories to light the path and lead the way.” Lead the way!

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister announced earlier today about the ski program being a high priority. That’s something Nahanni Butte has been doing for a long time and we would like some other choices, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

My question for the Minister, Mr. Speaker, is the gymnasium a high priority for this government today? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware of some of the limitations that the Minister is faced with, but if anything can be classified as green infrastructure, it would be the gymnasium in Nahanni Butte, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I, too, when the Minister was giving his budget address, was flagging things that kind of concerned me. It was interesting as I went through what concerns me. What stood out the most, of course, is infrastructure for the communities, and it’s not so much Nahanni Butte lacking infrastructure, of course, it’s the whole hamlet/village issue Madam Chair, that concerns me as well, because here we have a community that’s struggling to meet it’s O and M and because of its taxation label, we’re unable to get any new infrastructure money or our community cannot grow...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the 15th Assembly was youth, parents and adults who see wellness as a preferred alternative and who make healthy and productive lifestyle choices for themselves and their families. We regularly hear our Health and Social Services Minister and now our MACA Minister, lecturing to all the smokers and the drinkers and the couch potatoes of the Northwest Territories to change their unhealthy ways.

That is why, Mr. Speaker, it is so difficult for the people of Nahanni Butte and for me to understand why...

Mr. Speaker, I have in my hand a letter from the Minister of MACA to the principal stating he’s not in a position to develop the school gymnasium in the capital budgeting process in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 9-15(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for Monday, February 14, 2005. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.