Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, the Member for Mackenzie Delta is correct in terms of the needed infrastructure across the Northwest Territories, especially the issue that he’s brought up. In the future I do see bridges across the Mackenzie, across the Liard, across the Peel, across the Great Bear. In terms of these needs, of course, we rely heavily on the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, I’m looking forward to the day when we can announce some of these bridges that are desperately needed to get across the rivers and to deal with climate change and the amount of traffic that’s coming into our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Members of this House, specifically Mr. Abernethy, that the department does have a heart. The department is working on the schedule.

I want to thank the Member for bringing this issue to my attention. I will be reviewing this issue with my staff and ensuring that when there’s specific issues such as cold weather, we have a provision there to allow people to come into our office a little earlier than the scheduled time we had posted for the public.

Mr. Speaker, is the Member saying that we use the Deh Cho model? I’m not going to make the presumption that the Deh Cho model is a good model to use.

I’ll commit to look at this request by the Member in terms of what’s been done so far to initiate the Peel River Bridge project. I’ll look at it, and I’ll be happy to sit down with the Member. I’d like to have my colleague see if we want to proceed further. I’ll ask the department to dust the information off and bring it to my attention. I’ll be happy to sit down with the Member and talk about it.

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.

It gives me great pleasure to recognize four elders from Sahtu, specifically Deline Elder Andrew-John Kenny, Mr. Baton, Mr. Modeste, Mr. Alfred Taniton — four of the wise men of the Sahtu Dene.

I’d like to recognize Mrs. Villuence at the other end and also, in the gallery, Bernadette and also to Beth.

Mr. Speaker, residents of the Sahtu were shocked to learn that on Friday, February 8, an armed stand-off was in progress in the town of Norman Wells. The incident disrupted school, business and many residents. Thankfully, the incident ended Saturday when the gunman surrendered to the police. I was in Norman Wells over the weekend and witnessed first-hand the professional approach taken by the RCMP and many others in defusing this potentially tragic situation.

I met with the released hostages and was alarmed at the trauma they had experienced during and after the ordeal. These brave citizens...

All capital projects went through the planning process. I am looking at all areas across the Northwest Territories to see about investment in our infrastructures in transportation. I would be happy to work with any Member of the House to see where we can provide safe, reliable transportation needs in terms of providing for our people to transport goods in the North.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll provide it to the Member as soon as possible.