Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Members It is my pleasure this afternoon to present for your consideration the Department of Transportation’s main estimates for 2005-06. The department’s proposed budget for 2005-06 contains an operations and maintenance budget, excluding amortization, of $54 million. This is an increase of .8 percent over last year’s main estimates. The department’s proposed 2005-06 capital program is $51.4 million. This is an increase of 7.6 percent over last year’s main estimates. I would note that almost half of the capital program, $21.3 million, consists of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share with my colleagues details of recent commitments by the federal government that will support community governments and their infrastructure needs. The signing of the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement between our government and the federal government, along with announcements regarding the allocation of $5 billion in federal gas tax revenue funding under Canada’s new deal for cities and communities, are welcome news in the Northwest Territories.

The municipal rural infrastructure fund will provide an investment of $16...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to recognize two Pages from Fort Providence who were with us for the duration of this week, Murina Sabourin and Rebecca Landry. I want to thank them for coming over to help us out. Thank you.

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Let’s keep the new mandate simple so people can understand the programs and services that fall out of the mandate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As some of you know, in another life I had quite a bit to do with the provision of maintenance of housing in the Beaufort-Delta, so I am comfortable in providing my thoughts on what we need to do to provide public housing and affordable housing for those who can afford it.

As I see it, Mr. Speaker, the mandate of the NWT Housing Corporation is very simple: Make sure that there is an adequate amount of public housing for people who need it, and have programs and services available to make housing affordable to northerners. We have enough to do in the Northwest...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple of comments and maybe a quick question. I like the fact that the Apprenticeship Program has not been reduced. In fact, it’s been increased and I think that’s a good thing. The Social Work Program that was offered at Aurora College, I understand, was cancelled because there were only six applicants. I was wondering if any of these applicants were maybe given another opportunity to go to school somewhere else, even if it means south. There is a lack of social workers in the Northwest Territories. We have six people who want to be social workers I think we...

The NWT Housing Corporation should not be in business. I am also not in favour of the market housing initiatives, as I believe that local housing authorities do not have the manpower to take on additional duties. They spend too much time right now trying to extend the life of social housing units. I believe we could save money by replacing these old units and then there might be time to take on additional work.

There are some simple truths in government, Mr. Speaker. Too much administration costs take away from program delivery. Decisions made in the interest of the people, from the safety...

Mr. Speaker, that’s a very, in my opinion, hypothetical question. There is no detail provided to the Member, I don’t believe, on any plans for a housing development. Right now, the request has come to us to do some seismic work. There is an interest potentially for housing. We have not gone as far as deciding who will pay for what and deciding what our responsibilities are going to be in that area. If it is something the city approves, there will be a requirement for services. They will have to work with the city on that issue. Right now, there are costs for providing services in the...

Mr. Speaker, it’s certainly a legitimate question, but I think I’ve answered it three times. There are no plans for an access road at this point. There is discussion. We’re going to do an assessment. The access road concept is not in the area that Deton'Cho has shown interest. It’s an area where their airport development plan has been identified and applied for. So it’s a different area. I don’t know how many times I’m going to say that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I think the Member has indicated that this road would go through the area that the Deton'Cho has applied for. Again, I have not seen an application from Deton'Cho Corporation or the Yellowknives Dene. Our plans are for an access road to the west side of the airport. The city has indicated their interest in the bypass road. We are having discussions and we have just recently seen the city’s development plan. We have recently concluded our development plan. We’re looking at combining and comparing them right now and this road does not -- once again -- does not go through the...