Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke on the condition of Highway No. 8, also known as the "Dumpster Highway." I closed my statement by saying we deserve to drive on a nice highway. That was wrong, Mr. Speaker. We deserve a highway that's not dangerous. Some of the most beautiful country in the world you can't really look at it because you don't want to take your eyes off the road, otherwise you'll have a building named after you.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation has been on that highway. I'd like to know his honest assessment of Highway No. 8....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce that, after extensive consideration by the residents of Enterprise and their council, the Settlement of Enterprise will become a hamlet on October 29, 2007.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has been working with the Enterprise council and residents to explain the differences between a hamlet and a settlement and what the changed roles and responsibilities mean. There are many benefits to the community in becoming a hamlet, including the ability to pass legally enforceable bylaws, the authority to develop land management and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I start, I would like to extend my condolences for the family of Stella Bourque, a long-time resident of Inuvik, and also the family of Rosie Firth who always welcomed you into her home when you visited Fort McPherson.

Mr. Speaker, I take my role as MLA quite seriously. I sometimes use a little humour to get my message across but, Mr. Speaker, the condition of the Dempster Highway is no laughing matter, even though it is a joke.

---Laughter

Two hundred and seventy three kilometers from Inuvik to the border. I was pleased to see the Minister of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee recommended this motion because foster parents provide a very important service. I have had the opportunity at one time to foster a couple of boys, so I have an idea of what is required of foster parents. To see that the government put a little bit more money raising the basic rates I think is a good thing. The cost is going up. One thing I would caution the government…Right now, you have people that aren’t foster parents. A lot of these people care very deeply about children, their safety and their well-being so they, regardless of the remuneration...

Anyway, I just want to stand up, Mr. Speaker, and say I do support this motion. There is nowhere in this motion that says don’t build a bridge and it’s harder for some of the Members from outside of the region, outside of Yellowknife, to support a project like this. We are not saying we don’t want to see the bridge built. All we are saying is just show us some information. I will be happy with that. That’s all we are asking. We aren’t saying don’t build a bridge. Thank you.

In some of the marine communities, they have a four-week window to get their avocados.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was looking at this over and over; nowhere I see in here where it says stop the bridge, don’t build a bridge. I don’t see that.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the meeting, my understanding, is on Ottawa being offered equity into the project. I would like to ask the Premier if this government would be able to, if offered, take an equity share in the pipeline. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the project of the magnitude of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline continues to be a topic. Now I hear that there is a meeting going on in Ottawa. I would like to direct my questions today to Premier Handley. I would like to ask the Premier if he or the government was aware that this meeting was going on in Ottawa between the proponents and the Government of Canada. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The committee is very appreciative of the role that foster parents play in ensuring that children can grow and prosper in a caring environment. Enough cannot be said about the people that are willing to take children into their homes on a moment’s notice. They are a vital part in the delivery of social services in the Northwest Territories and need to be recognized and supported as such.

Part of Supplementary Appropriation No. 1, 2007-2008 is $1.011 million for increases to the basic maintenance rate and to increase the age of child rate. This will result in...