Kevin A. Menicoche

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.

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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.

Well, I am very pleased to hear that the Minister has a heart, Mr. Speaker. In all seriousness, that’s what I would like to see. The plan for a gymnasium in Nahanni Butte is so far off in the future, it’s just unrealistic because the need for the gymnasium is for today, Mr. Speaker. I would like to get the Minister’s commitment that he will work hard and try to get a facility for that particular community in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, that’s the tone of a letter the Minister wrote to the principal in Nahanni Butte; that the department is not in a position to support the development of a gymnasium through their capital budgeting process in the immediate future, and that’s very disheartening, Mr. Speaker. Have a heart, Mr. Speaker.

For me, what that means, Mr. Speaker, is if we identify a need, we must address it. Here is a need that needs addressing. I would like the Minister to address it and tell me what he’s going to do about fulfilling this need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am surprised the Minister brings up population as one of the mitigating factors in determining which communities get a gymnasium. We all know that’s not true today. I would like the Minister to stand away from that argument and say as an identifying need this community doesn’t have this facility. In our budget, we are talking about second schools and second gymnasiums in the larger centres. I think before they get theirs, Mr. Speaker, that communities without should get those facilities and I would like the Minister to commit to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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