Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for Mackenzie Delta for the question in regard to the Aklavik gravel source.

In 1996 the community of Aklavik applied for funding under DOT’s programs in terms of a local program. They fit the funding of what they wanted, and the department responded in terms of assisting Aklavik through an ATV trail.

Since then, Aklavik has gone through many discussions with the department and has requested that the department, along with the government, look at an all-weather road to the gravel source, as the Member has indicated. They want to see where this fits in terms of the...

Mr. Speaker, I will see if I can get the question here. Mr. Speaker, I’m not too sure if the Member was making reference to my quote on the CBC, on the radio that I did with CBC.

In terms of the authority, certainly the Minister has some authority based on recommendations from the department. The department and the Minister will talk. The Minister will make the decision. Basically, this is an issue that needed to go back for re-tendering of the work here. That’s what we’re doing.

In terms of the bid bonds, the re-scoping of this tender is not stated. The original tender was for five years. This tender is now for three years, with a plus-two option.

I would have to work with the department to get the specifics on the details of the bid bonding question. And I’ll be happy to sit down with the Member and discuss it further with the department, in terms of this plus the legal question.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Members of this House and members of the public that when this department decides to cancel any government tenders, it’s based on strong merits, it’s based on a financial decision, and this decision was based on a financial position that the tender came in way too high – 2 per cent way too high. This had nothing to do with any other issues. It’s just that the prices were way too high.

Mr. Speaker, the final decision to cancel the contract was made with the deputy minister.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to say to the Member that we received the request from the community of Aklavik. We are considering it within our plans in terms of our priorities, and we’ll look at that. Again, I’m very pleased to see that the community of Aklavik has actually put a number down to contribute to this project. That deals well within the department in terms of a partnership on certain projects.

Mr. Speaker, the Nahanni Butte road program is a public access road program. The Aklavik road is a community access road program. I would work with the Members here in terms of the issue with Aklavik in terms of seeing what could be done, and I would have to take this up with my colleagues in terms of these programs. There are two different programs we’re looking at in terms of this issue.

Air transportation is a critical service in the Northwest Territories. In many N.W.T. communities, airport support is the only real mode of transportation for residents and for bringing community re-supplies. Having a runway of the appropriate length provides the opportunity for air carriers to use the most appropriate type of aircraft to serve the N.W.T. communities.

Recognizing the importance of continuing to look at means to improve air services and to ensure continued compliance with Government of Canada aviation regulations, I am pleased to advise Members that the Department of...

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated to the House and to the Member, we are looking at bridges in certain areas for communities and regions in terms of economic development, such as he mentioned. We are certainly looking at the area of Tsiigehtchic in terms of improving that crossing, in terms of having a plan, an initiative to increase the winter crossing there.

Certainly, the Peel River is high on our list in terms of looking at infrastructure to increase development into the communities such as the Bear River and other bridges that we see desperately need to be in place to support the economic...

Mr. Speaker, again I thank the Member for bringing the constituent’s concerns to my attention. I would look at the policies and reasons and be willing to work with the Member on this specific issue in terms of the new general identification cards and the policy that we have in place. I would be happy to work with the Member on this issue.