Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Chair. My final question on this is: the Minister stated that the federal government has put the pause on the initiative of the Mackenzie Valley Highway; similarly, has his department put this project on pause, too? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to get a sense in terms of the Department of Transportation's plans for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I wanted to ask the Minister: what is the status of the Mackenzie Valley Highway?
I understand with the winding down of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, and then there are other initiatives at play, too, namely just recently the announcement of the Whati road initiative, as well, but I just wanted to get at least an understanding of where is that road to the Mackenzie Valley? I think the last discussion was that there is maybe some consideration of extending the...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It seems that the department, as part of their operations, is ensuring the safety and the access to small community airports. I just wanted to make a point, Mr. Chair: there is a presumption that there is a Community Access Program that is specifically for roads only. In this instance, a project of this nature that could affect airports, would perhaps the Community Access Program be expanded to include airports? Perhaps the Minister maybe could reply in terms of the idea to ensure that it is not only roads but airports included in the initiative. Perhaps there had been...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that in 2015-16 the Department of Transportation or DOT had developed a transportation model strategy. I wanted to understand what perhaps could have been included in terms of the long-term plans for community airports, especially small communities? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I applaud the Minister for taking their leadership initiative and trying to engage other departments and trying to step away from working in silos. Has MACA considered ways it can help make life easier for people living in small communities so that they don't have to move away for jobs and also for educational reasons? Mahsi.
Recently in the work of the Auditor General's report it highlighted this department does indeed work with small communities. My question is: how will MACA's response to the Auditor General's recent recommendations improve the outlook for small communities?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the majority of the NWT is made up of small communities -- 26 small communities and seven regional centres and two of them in the capital of Yellowknife. Earlier this month, a report on CBC North stated that 2016 population statistics show a decline in small communities compared to the 2011 census. Overall growth of the NWT population remains flat. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, economic activities of small communities include traditional activities such as fishing, hunting and trapping, tourism, and seasonal jobs. Governments and First Nations...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to get a sense in terms of the priorities scale. I understand there are other initiatives, including, as I stated, the Whati road that will be in progress here fairly soon. What priority scale would be the extension of the Mackenzie Valley Highway? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.