Kevin A. Menicoche

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.

I’m glad the Minister offered some kind of mechanism, because that is truly needed. They often bring their complaints either to the ferry operations at Ndulee and/or call the regional office. Often they don’t get adequate responses that they feel they should. If the Minister is offering a route that the community or community leadership can contact his office directly, I’d be pleased to hear about it.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Wrigley is a small community at kilometre 548 of the Mackenzie Highway in the beautiful Deh Cho region and Nahendeh riding. With its view of the Franklin Mountains, a trip between Wrigley and Fort Simpson is one of the Northwest Territories most scenic drives, yet it is another area of untapped tourism potential.

As a traveller on this highway said, this is where the Deh Cho becomes extraordinary, but this section of Highway No. 1 is also where the Deh Cho becomes extraordinarily dusty. The Department of Transportation website reports road bans in effect between...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission does deserve to be recognized for their truly incredible amount of hard work here in the Northwest Territories. There is a lot to do yet. I’m excited that we can stand in this House, have a presentation with them and to commend them for their hard work.

I know that as I travel to the communities in the North, especially to my communities in the Nahendeh, that people were excited to see them and I think the excitement was about a chance to be heard and for their stories to be heard. Their role is like ours as...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 27-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 27-17(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I think that’s the type of dialogue we’re looking for – willingness – and not to say this is the way it’s going to be done. We worked hard for the last three weeks and it’s just that kind of openness and dialogue we’re prepared to continue on. It’s just that we need on record here today that if we’re not happy with this $300,000 ministerial forum, that government won’t proceed with it.

Thank you very much. I think that if the Minister can commit to do that, then certainly going with the old guidelines and procedures it’s just probably a non-starter right now and I think the best use of this money is once we have that discussion, then we can certainly roll it out to the communities. Thanks.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to review Tabled Document 27-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was a dramatic weekend in Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard and Fort Simpson. Melting snow and rain have swollen the Liard River to flood levels. The biggest emergency was in Nahanni Butte. Rising waters were lapping at the door of the power plant when finally it had to be shut down. With the power cut off, it was decided to evacuate the residents of the community to Fort Simpson by air and ground transportation. Fifty-two people were moved to safety.

The community of Fort Simpson has really come through. People have opened their homes, volunteered to help and worked hard to...