Deh Cho

Statements in Debates

Debates of , (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now there are only certain communities that have ambulance service. Inuvik is one; the community of Fort Rae, or Behchoko as it is known now; the communities of Fort Simpson and Hay River are the communities that have ambulance service. There are varying degrees on how those communities are funded. Some are funded solely by contract through the Department of Health; others are paid on a fee for service. The responsibility for ambulance services basically falls under the Department of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Public Works and Services. We have seen newspaper reports that Samuel Hearne was going to be open later in the month. I want to ask the Minister the question that is on everyone’s mind in Inuvik: When will the school reopen so that teachers and parents can get on with their year? Thank you.

Debates of , (day 8)

Mr. Speaker, we have had and are currently having discussions with the community of Hay River on a number of issues about the fire chief's position and the ambulance's equipment requirements. We have worked with the Town of Hay River for a fire rescue vehicle. We have contributed through this government for a highway rescue vehicle and we will continue to do so. I would be pleased to be the contact person, or my department. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 8)

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of programs that MACA supports and works with through emergency preparedness to fund some fire rescue vehicles; not necessarily ambulances. Ambulances still fall under, for the most part, municipal governments. This government, through MACA, is responsible for the Fire Prevention Act, which is more an area of inspections, investigations, training. Under our capital programming we do provide fire protection equipment for non-tax-based municipalities. We do not provide it for tax-based municipalities. The responsibility for ambulances still falls under that...

Debates of , (day 7)

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Debates of , (day 7)

Madam Speaker, we already did bring a delegation to Ottawa for a day dedicated to the Northwest Territories. Part of the delegation was the Member for Sahtu. I am not sure if that’s something we have committed to or made any decisions on. I will assure the Member that if it becomes obvious that we need people from the Sahtu to come and fight those battles with us, we will do that. However, we have had these discussions with the federal Ministers. We have had visits in the communities that the Member represents. The issue has come forward as a priority in every case. We hear the message loud...

Debates of , (day 7)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It wouldn’t be question period without a question on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. Madam Speaker, I certainly can commit that we are in the process of drafting a proposal to bring forward to the federal government. Historically, we have a highway strategy that we use. It was drafted in the year 2000 and is called Investing in Roads and includes the information and dollar amounts that we, at that time, recognized as the need for infrastructure and the road system and the highway transportation system in the Northwest Territories. I will certainly commit to the...

Debates of , (day 7)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a number of northerners present here from all over the Territories, all these people who work very hard to further their education and personal development through training programs that have been offered through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. I wanted to take a few minutes here to recognize them. I hope I have everybody. I have been crossing out names and adding names as people have been coming and going. I would like to ask our guests in the gallery if they would rise when I call out their names and recognize them....

Debates of , (day 7)

Madam Speaker, of course we will consider taking a delegation from the Sahtu. Any time we can bring some allies or some of our partners forward to make the argument for us and we can demonstrate that there is a need for this, we will certainly consider that. We will have further discussion with the Member. We will have further discussions with the leadership in his communities and look at how we can move forward and set up a plan of action. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 7)

Madam Speaker, it is part of our vision to see an all-weather road. It is not within our authority to be able to commit the required resources needed to build this road. The road between Wrigley and up the Mackenzie Valley to connect to the Dempster is roughly $400 million. That is something that we need to be able to convince the federal government to do. The roads or new roads, all-weather road, is still something that falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government. We will do everything in our power. I want to give that comfort to the Member that we will make every effort to bring...