Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, thank you to the Minister for the overall report. I’m asking again if the Minister would look at a secretariat that would have a little more weight than what we have right now. I know you have to work with other departments, other Ministers, and the different programs in other departments. For the seniors back in our small and most isolated communities, they have to go to different departments, different agencies and organizations to explain what their issue is. I’m looking for a secretariat where they could come to one place. We owe that to them and not let them run around the...

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Seniors. In my Member’s statement I spoke of some of the elders I had the opportunity to host this past weekend in Yellowknife. I spoke with elders from Colville Lake, Délînê, Fort Good Hope, and I also spoke to some of the seniors and elders in Norman Wells.

I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Seniors: in terms of seniors’ care in the Sahtu as well as the other communities is there a discussion paper being examined or looked at in terms of coordinating all the seniors’ programs under one secretariat or department?

With our assessment in putting forward a business case, it is the department’s view that if we can do it as soon as possible without other types of amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, we will certainly do it. We’ll look at our existing legislation and look at how soon we can implement this program. I believe we can do it as soon as possible.

Certainly, we’d get back to the Member in terms of putting this program in place right away so that we will discourage drinking and driving and keep our roads safe.

Mr. Speaker, the Member has raised a very good point. The Member has also spoken very strongly in terms of this issue.

Certainly, safety is our number one concern. I want to say that we’re working on a program called the problem drivers program. We are looking at implementing this program, building the business case for it, and one of the components is the ignition interlock device. We’re coming to the point now where we’d like to see if this program could be implemented in the Northwest Territories.

I have driven the Dempster; I know what the Member is talking about. I certainly made the deputy and the regional office aware. We have set aside a certain amount of money in each of the regional operations. They forward their requests and know that the regional office in Inuvik has indicated it’s very high on the list in terms of the issue of improving the dust-control budget.

We have increased the budget based on his recommendations — not to the amount I know the Member would like us to. However, I made it clear to the deputy that I would like to see the Dempster Highway receive more of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding the issue of dust control and some of the issues on the highway transportation systems, certainly the regional offices have some say in terms of moving projects forward. They certainly come up to the headquarters level. At the headquarters level we have discussions in terms of funding allocations and priorities in the areas where we have to look at reconstruction. From there we make decisions, and we provide that back to the regional office in terms of the projects that go forward.

I’d be happy to work with all the MLAs. Certainly, Mr. Menicoche has raised a very important issue regarding our safety and transportation, and it helps us with this issue. I will certainly work with him in terms of this constituent in the Nahendeh riding and this issue. We also offer training for drivers in terms of safety on the road. I will continue working with the Member in terms of providing safety to our travelling public.

The ignition interlock device — we certainly want to implement it as soon as possible. Our department right now is building a business case in terms of federal regulations and our Motor Vehicles Act amendments. We’re looking at all of this. Hopefully, we’ll have this together, and hopefully, we can implement this program as soon as possible.

Certainly, we’ll notify and work with all the Members in terms of how soon we can get this device on the road. We look forward to discouraging drinking and driving on public roads for the safety of our people.

Mr. Speaker, I share the concern with the Member, because as I’ve said, I have driven the Dempster Highway. I know what the people there are faced with.

We certainly monitor our dust control in terms of the Dempster Highway. We’ve continued to increase the budget. I would like to see the budget increased to satisfy the people who drive the Dempster Highway. I’ve again asked the department…. If we were to find some additional dollars, I’d certainly like to have the Dempster Highway looked at as one possibility in terms of putting money into it to deal with the dust control.

Just for your...

Mr. Speaker, the Member is right. The regional offices submit certain projects to go forward. When it comes to the headquarters level, we certainly have some discussion and forward that to the regional office for approval of certain projects based on funding requirements and priorities in our transportation system across the North.