Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am not going to talk about the numbers as much because, when it comes to youth, we have got to put money to support them through sports and recreation and that. However, I would like to know, when we talk about youth in this, what are we talking about in terms of age group? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This issue, it's been ongoing and especially for Hay River. Hay River, we have Highways No. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 in close vicinity, so we have got a good length of the highways to look after. In the Northwest Territories, you have got 2,200 kilometres of all-season and 1,400 kilometres of winter roads. I look at the $185,000, that is $84 per kilometre for the all-season. If you take them all, it's $51 per kilometre, which is really not a lot of money, so I am just wondering: we have been talking about it, and I listen to the questions from the MLA from Yellowknife North...

Since I tried to sneak in that extra question, I will just ask one more. The NWT Power Corporation has a series of aging infrastructure along with potential major projects on the books. I would ask for a commitment from the Minister to initiate the process for replacing the current board of directors with persons who have the interests, experience, and time to ensure we properly position NTPC to take advantage of new technology and cost-saving measures as we move forward.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and the questions are just a formality because I am sure that she is going to agree with me. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the Minister and her department, can the Minister explain how the NWT Power Corporation is expected to be arm's length and provide oversight when we are using senior bureaucrats as a board of directors to oversee management and strategic direction? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Thank you for that answer. That is some clarification. It's that at-risk group that concerns me because, if you have families that have money, they usually ensure that their children are looked after. It's that at-risk that really concerns me because they are out there and they do not have the support, so I am just glad to hear that you are working with ECE and with health on this. I will pursue the matter further. Thank you, Madam Chair. That is all.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I ask that because I look at the numbers, I look at the programs, and I am just wondering who is actually accessing those programs. It seems to me that it's probably a specific or maybe a limited number of youth because, in talking to some of the constituents in Hay River, just as an example, one person there, her son graduated from school and is at home now. He has got a lot of friends, and they come over because they have got nowhere to go and nothing to do. They stay at his house, partly because maybe the parents are drinking and a number of things. I am just...

Thank you, Madam Chair. That is all fine and dandy, but at the end of the day, the reality is that we have been waiting and waiting and waiting. We do not seem to be making a lot of headway. In Hay River, again, like I say, there is no way that the Town of Hay River is going to say, "No, we are not going to go out on an emergency call." You just do it because it's the right thing. It does not matter what the cost. Until you have actually had somebody that required, on the highway, that service, and I have for one of my children. It's so valuable, but we seem to fight or we seem to look at the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just looking at ground ambulance and highway rescue, can the Minister tell me: are they two separate things? Ground ambulance, is that one category and highway rescue something different? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Can the Minister confirm, during the number of reviews, as to the effectiveness of the board that is made up of bureaucrats versus independent directors, and if so, what were the criteria used?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a number of Crown and quasi-Crown corporations that utilize board of directors appointed by this government. This House has debated and voiced concern over the need to replace those current boards made up of senior bureaucrats with persons from the private sector or the general public. Mr. Speaker, we cannot expect and should not expect our senior bureaucrats to accept additional obligations and responsibilities that take away from their departmental responsibilities. If this government does not see that, then it is not fulfilling its responsibility to the...