Michael Nadli

Just a final question to the Minister, perhaps just again to see if there’s any formal commitment to consider small communities in terms of their access to cellular service. We all know that once they expand communication infrastructure to all communities, then obviously there’s also a business interest for small communities and give them an equal opportunity equal to all communities in the North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I made a statement on the CRTC loosening up its regulations here in the Northwest Territories to allow more infrastructure communication. My question is directed at the Minister of Finance. As part of the extension of the Mackenzie Highway to the north, is the Minister committed to assist in ways of expanding cell services to Fort Providence and other small communities?

I just wanted to see if the Minister could provide perhaps just a vision in terms of where he sees this relationship building with First Nations going.

Just a final question. Has the Department of Finance or any other department considered perhaps a report or an analysis of the possibility of expanding cell service to the smaller communities such as Fort Providence? We all know and recognize that the bridge becoming a reality perhaps within a year or so there will be an increase in public traffic and more likely an increased need for public safety to ensure that communication infrastructure is properly set in place, especially for a community like Fort Providence.

I think the Minister has clearly indicated a clear commitment for ensuring that the fibre optics line is completed and becomes a reality. At the same time we’re faced with increasing competition, which is, overall, good for the Northwest Territories. I want to ask the Minister again if there has been any preliminary analysis or any kind of studies to indicate that there is a need for perhaps expansion of cellular service in small communities including Fort Providence for the general public safety.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An important decision has been made about phone services in the Northwest Territories. The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission has decided to allow local competition. I hope this will result in better and more services in our smaller communities.

For example, Fort Providence is in a pivotal location on our highway system but we have no cell phone service. Apparently it would not make a huge investment. A couple of years ago there was an estimate that it would cost $6 million to erect cell towers in all 25 communities lacking cell phone service.

Expanding cell...

I just wanted to ask maybe my final question to see if perhaps there will be some form of a forum. I understand there will be perhaps another forum such as Detah, which was fairly significant. Perhaps the Minister will look at convening another session of a forum that could have a venue of maybe a semblance of perhaps a protocol agreement of some sort with First Nations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think my final question is just on the lifestyle that we all live. I think it’s fair to say that we have high rates of alcoholism and drug abuse, and also at the same time, smoking rates are high. What is the department doing to try to maybe perhaps focus on preventative steps so that our people here in the North are living a more healthy lifestyle?

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. Is there also an effort to maybe try to describe some of the trans-weather… I know there’s always the possibility of epidemics and I think we recently saw it in southern Canada. Whether the department is looking at, perhaps, trends or just some target areas, we have to be fairly concerned in terms of this new strain of tuberculosis and how it could probably affect the general health.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As residents of the Northwest Territories, we take pride in saying to our southern neighbours, and in the world, for that matter, that the North is situated on top of the world. We also explain that we are rich in natural resources and that we could potentially create billions of dollars in wealth.

The North’s brief history is founded on tradition such as caring for each other and closely knit families and communities. During this festive time, being with families and reflecting upon our community, we remember the values of caring and sharing. We want all of our people...