Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My last question is, you know, I live in Fort Providence. The ice goes out about May 12th or thereabouts, and then it follows, maybe, from there, north to Inuvik within a two-week period. The river is pretty well open within that period of time, but unfortunately, Great Slave Lake ice persists to keep the lake frozen, and MTS, their operations have to stand still during that time, while the river is flowing freely.

The point that I am making is that there have been changes in river breakups. We are seeing changes in terms of the sea ice flow up in the High Arctic, and my...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Minister for providing that insight as to why the base has to be in Hay River. The Minister speaks very confidently in terms of how decisions were made to ensure that the base continues to exist in Hay River, and he makes reference to, you know, the volume of trucking and the costs of, perhaps, the railroad.

If there have been studies, could he make, perhaps, those studies and analysis to committee level in this House? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to working with MACA to review community plans and zoning bylaws together to ensure smoother land transfer to communities by eliminating additional process layers? Mahsi.

I'm very optimistic, but I'd like to see at least some action play out maybe by this spring. I'll ask the questions that most Members have on their mind: when will the Department of Infrastructure repair the access road onto the reserve?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every day the Minister gets up, has his coffee, and looks across the river. Has the Minister of Infrastructure ever driven the access road to the Hay River reserve? If not, I invite him to do so, so that he can see for himself what my constituents have to endure on a daily basis. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are the typical replies and answers that I have received from the Minister of Infrastructure. He's basically deflecting any kind of answers in the hope that he could give to people from the K'atlodeeche Reserve. I've referenced the capital estimates. There's no specific reference to K'atlodeeche Reserve access road. Does the Minister of Infrastructure care about the Dene and the reserve? Mahsi.

I, myself, recently made a trip to the Hay River Reserve, and I have noticed, and I think everybody noticed that the ditches, parts of the road have been dug up, and piles have been on the side of the road for some time. In response to my questions from March 12th, the Minister committed to sending engineers to the road this past spring to do an assessment. Has this assessment been done, and what were the outcomes?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the K'atlodeeche Reserve Access Road starts at the junction of Highway No. 5, just by the bridge over the Hay River, running along the east side of the river into the Hay River Reserve. As our only access point to the community when the Hay River is flowing in the summer months, our people rely heavily on the road. The road is our lifeline for seven months and is the only access from the community into the town of Hay River and the rest of the highway system. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided.]

As early as March 12th of this year, I made a statement...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.] Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in small northern communities, having each other is all we have, and helping each other in a time of need is essential. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided.] Case in point: at the beginning of the month, there was a family in Fort Providence who were at their fall fish camp, and they attempted to walk back to the community. After two days of walking and three quarters of the way into town, an elderly couple had to be rescued as nighttime temperatures dipped to minus seven.

Mr. Speaker, elders Antoine Canadien and Celine Lesage are both active...