Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much. Of course, the weather and time permitting, I’d like to extend that offer, as well, so that we can meet with the residents that were brave enough to remain in the community, meet with them to see what their needs are and see how we can be helpful. As well, I’m willing to prepare and organize a meeting for the residents that are in Fort Simpson. Perhaps we can meet with them to see their needs, because now it’s actually a long-term issue. So if they’re willing to meet with the residents at both places, I’d be happy. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Given the seriousness of the situation in Nahanni Butte and the residents, I’d like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, who is also in charge of emergency measures, I believe, given the seriousness of the situation, what is the government’s plan moving forward to get the community up and running again? Thank you.

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

---Carried

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the community and myself, I have certainly brought any deficiencies or inappropriate potential conflicts of outside contractors to the Minister and I will continue to do that. Is there such a policy that will guarantee that communities like Trout Lake, with huge infrastructure projects, will benefit? If we can’t involve the local development corporation because of unforeseen circumstances, that at least they be included in the management team.

I’m pleased that there is progress with the construction. The concern from the community, and myself as MLA, has been that when the Department of Transportation management team was previously wanting to do the contract, they were trying to get outside contractors, from outside the community, from outside the region. I want assurance and commitment from the Minister that they will not be doing this again.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In the 1990s a survey of runway issues across the North identified Trout Lake as being one of the 11 airports that needs major upgrades to ensure safe operations. It was later determined that the runway itself needed to be relocated.

Trout Lake is a community without an all-weather road access. Its airport is a community lifeline. The Trout Lake Airport Relocation Project is still unfinished and still on our books. The community wants to see this project completed in spite of the difficulties it has experienced. Right now the Department of Transportation is in charge of...

That’s the kind of assurance I’m looking for. It would be nice to get that in writing. I think the most important thing is, when I say work with the community, is that when they’re talking about contracting and opportunities, that there is some type of management team set up with the community members so that they are involved in the project. Currently, the way it’s set up now is that they’re being consulted, but they would like to be actively involved. This is a $7 million contract. How can we continue to involve the community so that we don’t even look outside our region for any contractors...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement and my concern about the construction of the Trout Lake airport. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, what work is being planned for construction this summer.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the section of Highway No. 1 that goes up to Wrigley. Residents of Wrigley have always brought it to my attention that the maintenance cycle is not what they think it should be. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation what level of attention they pay to this section of the road. Residents often say that they do not maintain it as often as regular, and they do not pay too much attention to that road. I’d like to ask that to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister can also provide to me the amount of the operations budget that is going towards that section and a bit of a plan for maintenance for this coming summer and fall.