Robert Bouchard

I would like to welcome the court workers, as well, especially Maureen Maurice from Hay River, Shari Olsen from Fort Smith, and also I would like to recognize one of my constituents, Mr. Rick Groenewegen, in the House today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the mover and seconder for this motion. I think this is a large issue. It’s been debated throughout the country and it’s sitting in front of our Legislative Assembly here now as a federal political issue.

Over the last few months, I’ve been asked several times where I stand on the issue, often being asked what my colour is, what party do I support in this issue. It is a federal issue, I do believe. The politics are difficult in the Northwest Territories when we are dependent on the federal government for our funding, for our infrastructure money, our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to wish everybody a happy Valentine’s Day here today, as well out in the Northwest Territories. I think we all need to appreciate our family and friends out there. One of the things that’s most difficult is when we have those families and friends who have passed away, and we’ve had a few people in Hay River the last while I’d like to mention.

Vern Tordoff, a long-term town councillor who passed away during Christmas. He will be missed.

Delphine McKay, a long-term resident of Hay River who helped out lots in the school. She will definitely be missed.

Mr. Bill...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be voting in favour of this motion as well. I think it’s an initiative that puts the rubber to the road and we’re actually seeing some sort of implementation in something that has been physically shown that it’s going to save us money over the long run. I think the problem with some of the money that we’ve been studying and doing research on, we’re spending money after money and we’re not really seeing anything that’s accomplished out in the communities. I think this is something we can actually see, and put our teeth to and put our name to as far as being...

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if I can get a commitment from the department to actually investigate the costs of the subsidy and the potential of doing the subsidy to get this vital national link back into the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, my next question is: Has the Minister and his department looked at what it would take to get Greyhound back into the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize the mayor of Hay River, Andrew Cassidy, and deputy mayor of Hay River, Brad Mapes. I appreciate the Ministers also meeting with us today. I think it’s vital that we get a visit in the capital here and see what we can do to help out Hay River. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do have a couple of opening remarks and I think most of my questions will be in the detail. One of the first comments I have would be towards all the biomass initiatives that are currently in the budget. I’m pleased to see that.

I will have some questions later on about the forestry resource inventories and how much money we’re spending to do a baseline in the South Slave if we have a strong potential of a company setting up…(inaudible)…operation in the area. I’m just wondering if we’re continuing to reinvest in that to make sure that we know what the inventories in...

I understand the importance of the business concept and maybe somebody potentially doing that, but the importance is Greyhound’s national link. I’m just wondering if the Minister has been able to confirm – he indicated Manitoba – whether Yukon Territory subsidizes any Greyhound services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, the loss to Hay River and the South Slave of the Greyhound service has been detrimental to the spectacular North. My question today will be for the Minister of ITI.

Has the department looked at re-establishing this service into the North?