Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I thought I had seen a larger number of increases over last year, but its $50,000. While I’m asking, maybe I can ask the Minister why there’s an increase of $50,000 over last year.

Also, seeing an increase of two positions to Yellowknife headquarters, maybe they can detail what those positions are.

There will definitely be an increase in the workload for Human Resources staff and headquarters, I guess. Why is there not an increase in the workload in the regions? Why are they all posted here? Also, because of increasing the workload for the need for devolution, are these positions being paid for from the devolution funds or are they all just new money from the government?

Thank you very much. Okay, so out of the six positions, do they need to be filled and where exactly is the department, what jobs are they and does the department need those six or have they been flagged anywhere where they may be not needed? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps if the Minister can check firstly on the capital and then what specifically is in the O and M budget for the Jean Marie access road and get that back to me there.

Thank you very much. I’m really glad to hear that and maybe the Minister can specifically tell me what strategy that’s in, because it is a seasonal access road right now, meaning it does get soggy and people do get stuck. So the community would like assurance that they will get it upgraded to a highway status, passable year-round. Once again, would the Minister confirm that?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use that momentum and improve the Jean Marie access road. We can do more.

Residents of Jean Marie and the leadership have long wished to see the upgrade to a highway. Currently, it is listed as a seasonal access road in Jean Marie. It is truly a seasonal road. During the spring runoff and summer rain storms, the road gets soggy and muddy and almost impossible and impassable at times.

I urge the Department of Transportation to review funding and include the upgrading of this access road in the upcoming multi-model strategy that the department is...

I think the Minister meant Yellowknife standards where it’s chipsealed, as well, all their access roads. Just with that, it’s a priority of the community. It’s always been. I’ve been in this Legislature raising it time and time again.

Is the Minister aware of any other capital dollars aside from this operations and maintenance budget that is going towards the Jean Marie access road?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I touched on the Jean Marie access road earlier in my Member’s statement, so I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation some questions about the access road at Jean Marie.

Are there any plans in this fiscal year in the maintenance budget to do some specific work on that access road to Jean Marie? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’m glad they are going to do some work towards that. Just on another note, too, my constituents and also people throughout the Northwest Territories are frustrated that they’re P1 applicants and are screened out. They actually qualify. They showed me their qualifications. “Mr. Menicoche, why am I being screened out when I’ve got the qualifications?”

What will the Minister do about those scenarios that I’ve raised in the House before? Thank you.