Shane Thompson

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister for Transportation spoke about the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells, and he provided, you know, the importance of this road being granted resources and traditional lands that gives opportunity for recreation and tourism. It will create jobs, general training opportunities, and heavy equipment opportunities for training. So can the Minister please -- or yourself, Mr. Speaker -- when can we expect to see funding for other access roads projects, or is it focused entirely on the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the $700 million? Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. I could probably go on for about 20 minutes, so I will try to summarize it as quickly as possible.

They talked about jobs, that it is important, about working, whether it is them or their families, to not only get off social income but work.

Mr. Speaker, they went on to talk about housing and how some friends and family members live in houses that are not suitable, and some of the challenges that they face. They are asking about that. They talked about homelessness.

Mr. Speaker, I had individual students come talk to me afterwards, and they...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I probably have a few more questions, but I will end with this one here today: will the Minister be able to tell us, with this pilot project, will the schools be able to be compliant with the Education Act with respect to instructional hours? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. In looking at this issue here, some of the things we are talking about are senior high and how we line it up with Alberta. Can the Minister inform this House: are we able to keep the 125 hours of instructional time it requires for our students to get their fivecredit courses?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Don’t get me wrong. I think it's very important, the work that this government has been able to for the Sahtu in that one section of the road. The completion of Mackenzie Valley Highway is important for the residents of Nahendeh and Sahtu, but the whole NWT. The environment or the economic opportunities it will bring by lowering the cost of living and bringing the needed opportunities for future development is there.

I'm pleased to see that the Canyon Creek access project, as I said again, it's happened. What else is being done by...

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess the big challenge is that this whole project from the Deh Cho from Wrigley up for 100 kilometres would have a huge impact not just on my riding but in the Member from the other side's riding and the Member from Hay River North's riding, as well. My colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh and my Member from Deh Cho at least have the potential for these great things. So I understand that the Canyon Creek access road is the first step for the Sahtu segment, and it's important to get the gravel there. Is the department doing any work of similar access roads in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. That's some pretty exciting news, and safety is very important. When he talked about CanNor previously and bringing them in, and it's great, but some of the people in my riding are asking why are we bringing southern companies in to promote tourism when we could be looking at our successful tourism businesses in the North and getting these people to provide information and training that showed off their success. Could the Minister please advise this House how southern companies are brought in for tourism training and not northern...

It's great to hear what the department's doing, but can the Minister provide a breakdown per regions and what ridings with the money that's being spent in these areas?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her answer. Just for the record, she has given me this information and the houses are still there. They still haven't been demolished and that. I appreciate that we're going to be doing this sometime hopefully by the end of this term. It will help the community.

My final question is: in regard to the Fort Liard Housing Authority, are they going to have a board? Presently in other communities they have a board. In Fort Simpson they have a board. So I'm trying to figure out, with the new local housing organization, will we have a new board or...

I thought it was something new. I knew about that, so I apologize. I thought we were looking at something new. Mr. Speaker, she goes later on to talk about demolition that is happening in the community. Does the corporation have a scheduled plan, because I've been talking about three houses in Fort Liard for a number of times and they've gone for sale and that. So now does the government actually have a plan that they're actually going to be able to share with us, when we're going to see these implemented?