Sahtu

Statements in Debates

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

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honour to recognize from the NWT Seniors’ Society board of directors Leon Peterson from Fort Smith, Bea Campbell from Fort Smith, Eileen Collins from Hay River, Terry Villeneuve from Fort Resolution-Deninu Ku’e, Florence Barnaby from Radilih Koe’-Fort Good Hope, Lillian Elias from Inuvik, Jean Gruben from Tuktoyaktuk, Blake Lyons from Yellowknife, and Barb Hood, of course, the executive director.

I’d also like to recognize Norm Snowshoe. When we were going to school, we really did study hard.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to let the Members know that when the department looks at major refits of our ferries or operations, we do very meticulous planning in terms of things that are happening and what needs to happen.

I took on the job in October. I had to look at what things had to get done. I asked these serious questions. The department has looked at this type of operation that needs to happen. Safety is number one. I do sympathize with the people in Wrigley and other communities. I have faced similar situations, and we’re doing everything within our means to make sure that the ferry is in...

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

Mahsi. Mr. Speaker, the N’Dulee ferry has undergone some major refits. I’d advise the Member and the good people of Wrigley that our department has put a lot of resources into this issue. We’re keeping the community of Wrigley and also the Member updated on the status of when we can get the ferry into the water to deal with the issue of their children going to Hay River for the track and field event.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 15)

[Translation.]

Sister Celeste Goulet was recognized for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education for running the Child Development Centre in Tulita. She was recognized for embracing the community’s history and traditions to put children in a learning environment that will be a strong foundation to build their education and learning. She started the Tulita preschool program back in 1981 and has since helped start the drop-in centre in 1983. Today the preschool cares for several children. Her doors are always open for the community, the coffee’s always hot and...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 14)

Again I say to the Members, through our research and development fund and the Building Canada Fund, we will look at the gravel source request from Aklavik in terms of an all-weather road.

We’ll do a cost-benefit analysis. We’ll look across the Northwest Territories and see if it makes any sense to put money where we think it’s needed in terms of our infrastructure, or new infrastructure. Some of the communities don’t even have roads into the community. Some of them have other requests. We’ve got to look at them and prioritize them and see that they fit within our goals of connecting communities...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 14)

Mr. Speaker, we have to go through a process. The other projects have gone through a process.

The community of Aklavik is again asking for an issue that.... This project in Aklavik is something that we have to look at very seriously. We have to do some engineering; we have to do some studies. We do it every year, as we go through our lists.

The project we identified is somewhere in the Building Canada Fund, in terms of our research and development initiatives, but we have to do some work there.

So we are continuing to work with the community of Aklavik, going forward on a yearly basis. We’ll have...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 14)

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize an aboriginal filmmaker who made it in the world in the film business: my brother Raymond Yakeleya.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 14)

Mr. Speaker, let’s be very clear. We had the list, which we put together. We met with the committees. We’ve talked about the review on a yearly basis. We’ll come back again to have some further discussions.

I have mentioned to the Member that under research and development and the Building Canada Fund — the portion that we will take from the funding there — we will look at the Aklavik gravel source and other projects. We have to look at investment right down the Mackenzie Valley for people in the Beaufort-Delta or the Gwich’in area.

The department has invested heavily into the Member’s riding...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since 1995–1996 and 2004–2005, this department has been working with the community of Aklavik on the ATV community access road project. In 2001 the community of Aklavik requested that the department relook at the ATV trail and convert it into an all-weather road to the source that Mr. Krutko made reference to, at Willow River.

This department has been listening to the community of Aklavik and the communities down the Mackenzie Valley. We have spent $309,000 on this access road now that’s been determined.

We are committed to building partnerships with industry at the level...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 13)

When we put in our operation system, the number of years we tested it — the old system.... Now we’re confident we have a new system that will be installed, that will be tested and that will ensure the public will be quite satisfied in terms of ensuring our revenues collected at the Yellowknife Airport will be satisfactory to the department. I will keep the Members informed and the House also informed as to the operation of the new system.