Kevin A. Menicoche

I’m kind of saddened to hear the short-sightedness of that response here. But I believe our government can do better for our small communities and look at a solution for the interim to help reduce those prices in the communities because it is just so shameful. They are sitting there while the rest of the world’s gas prices, and heating fuel for that matter, that effects cost of living and poverty in our small communities.

I’d like this government and Mr. Premier to seriously consider the effects of gasoline and heating fuel prices in the small communities for this coming year. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about how gasoline prices are, on average, being reduced across Canada. I am well aware that Public Works and Services runs our fuel delivery program. However, in general, I’d like to ask the Premier of the NWT some questions regarding this.

More specifically, I would like to ask the Premier, how can he address this inequity where fixed gasoline prices are in our small communities and will remain there until next year when the fuel is delivered this winter but prices will be fixed.

How can our government be involved to address the needs in the...

Thank you very much. I know those are technical details that the Minister of Public Works and Services can certainly answer, but I’m asking, I know that the Stabilization Fund was used already and I’d like to ask Mr. Premier when can this government review that and also review a further reduction using this Stabilization Fund for this coming year, given that gasoline prices will continue to decline at this quarter. Mahsi.

Well, gasoline prices in Yellowknife are a whole different matter, and I challenge the leadership of Yellowknife to address that with those companies that keep them there. But in the small communities, it’s the government that keeps the prices there. So I’d like to ask the Premier again, will he consider the special exceptional circumstances of world prices declining and people benefiting from it?

How can this government affect change in the small communities, so that communities like Nahanni Butte aren’t paying $1.79 for the rest of the year, Tsiigehtchic paying $2.01 per litre for gasoline...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. News media in Canada and the world are talking about the decline in gasoline prices. The reason is because of the international glut of oil, which is causing the decline of global oil prices. The southern media reports that in New Brunswick a gas pump buyer said it’s just like winning the lottery, he was so happy gassing up.

The average price of gas across Canada has declined about 23 cents since the end of June. The decline is forecasted to continue well into Christmas, giving people an early Christmas present, so to speak. But closer to home in our small and remote...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to welcome Mr. Ken Stewart of Fort Simpson to the gallery. It’s great to see you in the gallery, and hopefully you enjoyed the Members’ statements and Ministers’ statements. Thank you very much. Mahsi.

Something was missed and they weren’t aware of the type and extent of the renovations and I think there’s even an addition. The chief and council weren’t informed. I’m not too sure why, but when I informed them that renovations were being done, they were saying we saw some people over there making assessments and that kind of stuff.

The Minister also spoke about a planning study. Is this part and parcel? Was there a team in there to look at the renovations and a separate team actually doing the planning study? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in the House I was speaking about the need for the community of Trout Lake and the growing student population about working towards getting a new stand-alone school. The plan now is to renovate the existing community hall.

I would like to ask the Minister exactly what renovations are being planned to the facility in Trout Lake. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake simply has to be a stand-alone school. I’ve been speaking about this with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, with my colleagues and in committee meetings. I would like to see it in our capital budget.

During my last visit to Trout Lake this fall, the chief and leadership were not happy to hear that a renovation was planned rather than the GNWT building a new school. The community’s wishes have been well known to the Minister and to this government for many years. Trout Lake has grown in recent years. In fact, Stats...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to hear about moving forward and towards getting a new stand-alone school into the capital projects.

I’d just like to know about the planning study, one that came up, back in Trout Lake and to involve the community and even the whole community, because the community is a close-knit community and they all like to make decisions together. Thank you.