Tom Beaulieu

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke of the need for environment officers in Tu Nedhe. Today, along that same line, I would like to talk about the Stark Lake cleanup near Lutselk’e. Mr. Speaker, I have raised the issue before and with little progress on this, I need to again raise awareness of this important environmental issue.

Mr. Speaker, the community, particularly the elders of the community, have been asking for something to be done ever since the mine closed in the late 1950s. It is unacceptable the way the land was left. Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m happy with the Transportation budget. I had hoped that, like Mr. Krutko, there would be more money put into community access roads or the Community Access Program I suppose it is. I see that as a program for the small communities even off the highway to be able to access certain areas they need to access. I know it was used to access gravel supplies and so on and so forth. I’m not 100 percent sure about that, but I understand that from just what I’ve learned over the last couple of years. I think this Community Access Program should really be targeted to...

I thank the Minister for those responses. Will the Minister commit to working with the federal government and the communities of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e to develop some sort of a strategy to clean up the sites within Tu Nedhe?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I spoke about the Stark Lake cleanup problem near Lutselk'e. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious environmental issue and I’m talking about some radioactive contamination. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to directing his environmental staff to meet as soon as possible with the community of Lutselk'e on this issue? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, could the Minister advise me if the GNWT takes any environmental responsibility on land and water? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, areas near Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution are under constant pressure, various pressures from industry to extract non-renewable resources from the land. Mr. Speaker, I realize the responsibility for monitoring the land and water from an environmental perspective lies with the federal government; however, Mr. Speaker, the communities feel that our government should take some responsibility to ensure that the land and water is protected from environment degradation.

Currently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has responsibility for wildlife...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our pages only go to 6-40.

But there is youth core money in addition to that in sport and recreation. Am I correct?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The question on the program delivery details under youth, $1.058 million for youth development initiatives and first contact with youth issues, I was wondering if the Minister could advise specifically what type of projects were charged to this budget line.

Can the Minister tell me if once a municipality, whether they be a band government or just become incorporated or an actual settlement that has become a hamlet, which is the case in both of the communities I represent, is there the option of setting the land administration and the taxing or the leasing of land aside and still continue with the rest of the agreement of transfer?