Sahtu

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

We certainly look forward to the department’s initiatives with the community; safety initiatives they could also implement from the community in terms of what safety initiatives could be undertaken. The community has some fairly good ideas about what should be done and what can be done. Some of the signs on the Mackenzie Valley road up in my region are on trees. Sometimes those signs fall down for whatever reason. We want to look at some of those signs in terms of safety measures.

The deputy minister alluded to the bridge program, and we certainly appreciate the bridge program coming to our...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly have some thoughts about this motion. I thought about the highways in all the Mackenzie Valley in the north, and I’m going to not support this motion.

I think this motion should look at other highways. I also mentioned before that the Dempster Highway up in Inuvik certainly needs some work, especially with dust control. I have seen it. That’s a whole region that has been in the dust for a long time in terms of the use of that highway. I certainly understand Mr. Menicoche’s concerns about this situation. I’ve been made aware of it.

However, for myself, I look...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Just before the question, Mr. Chair, I guess I’m looking at, in terms of this motion here, the fairness. There are some processes, certain ways of getting to the capital. You have to wait for the usual process of going through a business plan and getting the support. There are several projects that seem to have gone out of the usual process to get into the capital budget. I don’t mind. That’s the way things are dealt with in here. We have certain projects in Yellowknife here that got on the books, and they’re spending money here and certainly in the Inuvik region also.

I’ve been to Inuvik; I’ve...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

That’s where I’m having some difficulty: buying now in terms of supporting our own government in supporting the private business people by having assets in our community. We support the local people. We support the businesses, so I guess that’s my difficulty: shutting out the businesses in the community. I guess I’m having difficulty with that type of policy in terms of…. I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around this concept. Do we support the local business only when we think it’s to our benefit in terms of ownership and leasing, or do we work with the community? I’m having some difficulty...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Mr. Chair, a question to the Minister. I’m trying to catch up to the issue here. In terms of the facility in Inuvik, the facility you’re proposing, have there been discussions with private businesspeople to say, “Can you build the building for us? We’ll lease it, and then nobody’s short on cash”? Has that discussion happened?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

In my understanding of the contaminated areas, releasing the lands to our government or to the aboriginal governments is going to be quite a contentious issue with DIAND because of the amount of garbage that was left on the trail by the U.S. government and the federal government when they built that road to the Yukon. That’s going to cost a lot of money for somebody to clean up, just like the Giant Mine here. Somebody’s got to take ownership and do it.

Does the territorial government want to hold the liability for the millions of dollars that’s going to clean up the CANOL Trail? The Minister’s...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister’s response in terms of likely having Bear River implemented in the life of this government because of the funding source…. I’m really disheartened to hear from the government in terms of the people of Sahtu that the Bear River Bridge project is on again, off again, on again.

The government thought they could build a bridge for $25 million at the time. When they came in, they came in at over $40 million. I think $25 million was not a very accurate number. Then they looked at de-scoping the project to get it off the bridge funding agreement. They went through...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Mr. Chair, the question I have is on the follow-up to Mr. Krutko’s question to the Minister in terms of the Building Canada Fund. I have a little file here that I have on the Great Bear River Bridge project being delayed, deferred, cancelled, postponed until further funding.

I’d just like to ask the Minister: when can the people in the Sahtu look at a bridge like this? They don’t know what to think, since this bridge has been on the books for a long time. They’re anxious to hear what the government is planning to do in terms of putting this bridge in place. If it does get in place, for us it...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

We’ve been hearing “very shortly” for a bit here. I’m not too sure what the definition of the deputy’s “very shortly” is in terms of the time frame. Can we look at something in terms of having the commitment that this bridge will be done and finished? It’s sitting high and dry with no approaches. My people want to know when this bridge will be completed. It’s sitting there. It’s an embarrassment for the government. When will this bridge be done? You have the dollars. I’d like to ask the deputy to expand a little more on this “very shortly” answer.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask several questions about the department here. The first has to do with the safety of the winter roads in terms of the region I represent, Sahtu region.

The winter roads have seen an increase in traffic and activity. We also have seen a number of projects happen that would improve and enhance the quality of our roads. I would like to see if there are going to be continued road safety signs; realigning the roads from the curbs, from the hills; and what this department proposes to do with the amount of traffic. We saw last year in Sahtu heavy equipment passing...