Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for dust control in the communities lies with the community governments. The community government formula includes responsibility for that portion. We have in the last while included in our business planning some work to do an analysis of what type of materials would be best used in terms of application for dust suppressant and I’m pleased to announce that we have an increase in our budget of $156,000 for this coming year. We are also continuing to work on our Main Street Chipsealing Program. There’s been eight communities involved in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Charles Dent. I would like to ask about the status of the student residence supposedly being built in Inuvik. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with great pleasure and pride that I rise today to recognize students from my home community of Fort Providence who are graduating from the Aurora College this year. Last month we had three students who celebrated their graduation from the Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith: Alana Krutko, Arlene Canadien, and Joyce Villeneuve. This month the students studying at the Nahecho Keh Learning Centre in the community are celebrating their graduation. I am very pleased that there are far too many of them to name here today. Forty-two students will be graduating from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that. The Public Utilities Act states that the board has the authority to rescind a decision and they may rehear a matter before deciding it. In this case, it’s hearing the matter for the first time. Where does that come from? Does the Minister have the authority to rescind a decision and then hold a hearing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for Minister McLeod, Minister of the Public Utilities Board. I would like to know from the Minister if the board is required to hold a hearing before making a decision on applications. They had a fuel rider and a pension rider and, as far as I know, there were no hearings conducted on either of those and they were both approved. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the Member means when he asks when the maintenance schedule will kick in. We have a maintenance schedule that operates year round. We have a maintenance schedule that we are operating under right now. We are providing extra attention to some of the areas that are causing us some concern. However, we have our crews out there working as many hours as we can provide and we will continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of dust control has always been the responsibility of the community government. It has been built into the community government operational funds; it’s something that’s allocated on an annual basis. The community decides their budgets. If the community decides not to spend it on dust control, that’s their decision. We have recently moved into transferring the dollars to the communities in different areas so that the communities can make their own decisions. There is more money flowing now for communities to work with on what their challenges are than there ever has...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of specialists surgical services located in Inuvik Hospital. Mr. Speaker, this petition contains 794 signatures of Beaufort-Delta residents and, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Minister of Health and Social Services confirm through a ministerial directive stating that the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority has the authority to staff specialists who are necessary for surgical service and salary and benefit level for a specialist, including general practitioners with special...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister for that. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’d communicate to the regional board the concerns of the frontline providers and the importance of having that good working relationship with these frontline workers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we will commit to doing that. We will have a discussion with Public Works and talk to the communities and see what some areas that may be requiring parts or filters that we should keep in the communities so we can avoid the situation. We will commit to doing that with all the communities in the Territories. Thank you.