Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister let the Assembly know specifically what his department does to help communities access funding from different sources, like the federal government, for their infrastructure needs?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I spoke about the fact that block funding under the New Deal does not meet infrastructure needs for smaller NWT communities. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for a community like Lutselk’e to build infrastructure, like their recently completed arena, under the New Deal. Can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs inform this Assembly how a small community could build a large piece of infrastructure, like a swimming pool, under the New Deal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Everyone here is aware there are many unforeseen factors that affect budgeting from year to year. Competing priorities relating to health and safety of residents will always trump recreation infrastructure. In better words, if the water truck breaks down before it’s supposed to, it will be replaced. Does MACA help the communities that are facing unforeseen capital costs through no fault of their own through the New Deal?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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I have been talking in my language about the need to provide recreation opportunities for the youth in the communities of Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. Youth in the larger communities have an opportunity to be involved in a number of activities. Opportunities for our youth in the communities I represent are limited. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, one of the problems that smaller communities’ councils have in meeting the needs of the population is in making those hard decisions on how to spend money that...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the youth in my constituency. During my campaign, I focused on youth. Among other things, it was one of the most important issues in Tu Nedhe. As you know, our youth represent the future. They can be a vibrant element of our communities and yet they can also be innocent victims in unfortunate situations and circumstances.

According to a census done last July, youth under the age of 19 represent almost one-third of the total population in the Northwest Territories. In my riding of Tu Nedhe, youth...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, support the Members' Conduct Guidelines. We've all come from the various communities, many of us from small communities, and with the limited resources the government has important that the words in here, hearing the voices of all our people, equality to all our people, resources fairly and justly distributed, and also best efforts to represent as accountable, honest, fair and courtesy, and to strive to be honest in the role with the people and will not act dishonestly. I’d like all of those things from the Member from Tu Nedhe. Thank you.

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Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

I’d also like to thank all the people in both communities that supported me. In Fort Resolution we had a great team. My campaign manager was Warren Delorme. Today I still work with Warren and his wife, Velma. I had a tremendous amount of support in Fort Resolution, as over 240 of the 290 people that went out to vote in Resolution voted for me. The support I received after being away from the community for so long shows that once you're from Fort Resolution, you're always from Fort Resolution.

On a sad note, five people either from Fort...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize some constituents of mine and family. Angus and Dorothy Beaulieu, Ellen and Emerence Cardinal, Mr. Robert Sayine and Mr. Phillip “Peppy” Beaulieu.

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