Tom Beaulieu

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to acknowledge the newly elected chief of Deninu K’ue of First Nations, Louis Balsillie.

Last night the DKFN held an election to elect a new chief and council. Louis Balsillie, who was acting chief for the last two years, was elected in a very, very close race.

Recently there had been some issues and uncertainty with respect to the leadership, so it is good to see this issue behind them.

With that, I would like to congratulate Chief Balsillie and the newly elected council. I look forward to working with him. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier commit to giving direction to departments through the Minister to take a serious look at what functions can be delegated to the smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Premier tell me if this government has a strategy to close the employment rate gap that exists between larger communities and smaller communities? Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I’ll use my Member’s statement to talk about the decentralization of territorial government positions to smaller communities such as Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the majority of the GNWT positions are staffed here in Yellowknife and the decentralization and delegation of authorities is something we need to look at. We should do so within the regime of this government, the 16th Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I recommend that this government start the process of negotiating a transfer of positions to the smaller...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I have very few words to say about this motion. I represent the people of Tu Nedhe and the people of Tu Nedhe do have mixed feelings on what has occurred and what this Legislative Assembly should have done. I have given the people of Tu Nedhe opportunity to speak to me on the matter, and over the last year I have taken 12 trips into two of the communities that I do represent.

The majority of the people in Tu Nedhe didn’t care to discuss this or had not given me the opportunity or taken the opportunity to discuss the conflict of interest inquiry with me. A few people...

Speaking specifically about decentralization, would the Premier commit to having discussions with the departments, through the Ministers, of course, to discuss, examine and develop some sort of strategy for transferring GNWT positions into the smaller communities? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member’s statement I spoke about the need to look at placing some GNWT positions into smaller communities to address the employment rates in these communities. I have questions for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I understand a committee was formed in either the 13th or the 14th Assembly to look at decentralization. Can the Premier tell me what the mandate of that committee was and if there was any final report from that committee?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about Highway No. 6. I have raised the issue previously with the department, and the department has responded. I would like to thank the Minister for putting infrastructure dollars into the reconstruction of Highway No. 6 to a chipseal state from kilometre 67 to kilometre 90.

Mr. Speaker, the current allocation of capital is sufficient to complete that portion of the highway. The department has completed the work that many residents consider the most dangerous part of the highway.

Mr. Speaker, my contention is that the government must complete...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 1-16(4), NWT Capital Estimates 2010-2011, for the departments of Finance, Human Resources and Legislative Assembly.

Beyond the three years that is currently in the infrastructure plan, is there a further timeline for reconstruction activities of Highway No. 6? Is there something planned beyond three years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.