Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There’s an opportunity because the community of Fort Liard does want to do some chipsealing in their community to save some money should the department go out and put out a bid for chipsealing, to work with the community of Fort Liard thereby reducing costs. It would be a win-win situation. Can the Minister do that? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’m very pleased to see that some investment is going into Highway No. 7 this coming fiscal year in the capital budget. Is there some of our O and M dollars, will that also be invested into Highway No. 7? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. While we had an exceptional day yesterday with our much touted hold-the-line budget, it is still not faring well for my constituency. We continue to focus on huge projects that take away our financial resources and ability to take care of our other regions and communities. We must ensure a balance.

I have stood up here time and time again to let government know we need to replace schools in our small communities like Trout Lake, and fix our Highway No. 7, which will only help our North with tourism and industry. Our budgets are often painted as a great thing...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, this year’s plan which didn’t happen, there was a plan to chipseal from the BC border 20 kilometres towards Fort Liard. Is that still being planned in the ‘13-14 capital season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation some questions on Highway No. 7. I’d like to know for this coming fiscal year the investment plan and strategy for reconstructing Highway No. 7. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to see the expenditure in the budget to support the Sahtu. The impact of oil and gas development in the Sahtu is being felt throughout the Mackenzie Valley. Businesses in Fort Simpson and Wrigley have benefitted, but they are impacted, and local resources are stretched to the limit.

Recent weather conditions shut down the ice road into the Sahtu, and trucks were backed up all the way to Hay River. It was impossible to find a room in Fort Simpson until the road reopened. This is just one example of how the impacts on Nahendeh communities are noticeable.

B...

My questions are for the Minister of Human Resources.

How many GNWT employment opportunities were advertised in 2011 and 2012?

How many of these positions were filled by Priority 1 candidates as identified under the Affirmative Action Policy?

How many of these positions were filled by Priority 2 candidates?

What was the total number of applicants in 2011 and 2012 and how many of the applicants were Priority 1 or Priority 2 candidates?

Thank you.

Certainly, the other regions are getting their special projects, and it’s time now to use the momentum of the Sahtu play to develop the highways in the Nahendeh system and the Sahtu. Just with that focus, it’s not about taking away from other regions but about our government identifying that it is important, and to work with the federal government to identify a strategy for impact funding. Can the Minister work with his Cabinet colleagues to continue that momentum?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement as well. Basically, it’s a new and emerging issue the impact that is happening in the Sahtu and my riding of Nahendeh and the need for expenditures on the road north of Wrigley. I just wanted to take a different angle though.

We mentioned here several times about the Voisey’s Bay template, about spending money in the special development zones and the federal government did it for Voisey’s Bay. We actually did it for Highway No. 4 and the Ingraham Trail. I would like to ask the Minister of ITI if he could look at...