Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Slow-pitch Association in the Town of Inuvik knows how important a new school is and the Slow-pitch Association had no problems giving up their ball field. Who would have the authority to enter into an agreement with the Slow-pitch Association to replace their existing ball field? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a little while, the construction of a new school is going to be starting up in Inuvik. On the proposed site where this new school is going to be built, there is a ball field, Mr. Speaker. That is what I would like to speak to today.

The Slow-pitch Association put a lot of money into this new ball field. My understanding is they raised close to $150,000 and put it into this field. That is not including the in-kind donations they had for equipment and manpower. They have been told that, when they start building the school, they will build them a new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. It just surprises me that we hear so much talk about cost and you do one stretch that is $5,000 per kilometre. What happens if an accident happens on another stretch on another kilometre where it wasn’t dust controlled? Are those people worth more than $5,000? I would think so. We have been fortunate that we have not had as many accidents as we could have had on that highway. The Inuvik to Fort McPherson section of it is very bad. I would like to ask the Minister to be the Transportation Minister. He has to know all the highways....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister -- he said they would be able to enter into a signed agreement with the Town and the Slow-pitch Association -- who would have the authority to sign this agreement on their behalf so that it is a binding agreement five years down the road when all the players change? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke to the concerns of the Slow-pitch Association in Inuvik. I would like to direct my questions today to the Minister of Public Works and Services. I would like to ask him what his department is doing to consult with stakeholders in Inuvik just to ensure that all their issues are taken care of. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a number of representatives that come to the table to discuss this plan and that includes the governments that the Member has mentioned: the Lutselk’e council and the Akaitcho territory and Deninu Kue First Nations. There’s other jurisdictions in Saskatchewan and there’s also the NWT Metis that have indicated they want to speak to this issue. So there are a number of things that we’re looking at so that before we can vote on it, we need to make sure we have all the information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Thelon Management Plan is something that has been supported by this government. There’s been a lot of work that’s been done, as the Member has indicated. There’s been consultations with many parties, many governments that are impacted by this plan and that support it or, in some cases, there’s governments that are requesting to have a seat at the table for discussion. Some requests have come forward recently that we’re considering and we’re having those discussions and we’ll decide how to move forward following that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, during the winter session of the 15th Legislative Assembly this year, the issue of water took a very prominent role and some direction was provided to play a more prominent role in the whole area of water issues and transboundary issues. Up to now, we have had half a PY, half a policy analyst position that was assuming all the water management activities. The issue of water has certainly been cranked up the last while and there is a need now to work with other Government of the Northwest Territories departments to deal with the drinking water strategy and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again I’d like to say we have to listen to the people that live it front line and deal with it, and those are the people we should be listening to. The Gwich’in and the Nihtat Gwich’in have been putting together a camp to identify and deal with the problem. I’d like to ask the Minister, what would they have to do to secure some program dollars from the government? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I notice under the Health Services Program, Dialysis Program in the Stanton Territorial Hospital for $96,000. Are there any plans to bring the Dialysis Program up to the Beaufort-Delta? We don’t have it right now. My understanding is that we may need it soon. Are there any plans to start investing some money into the Dialysis Program for the Beaufort-Delta?