Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up with the Minister of Transportation. I know he said that the community has met with his staff to meet there, but this is an Aboriginal community, it's First Nations in government and it's part of the mandate, so will the Minister commit to actually meet the leadership to have this discussion about transportation in their riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho to the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, we are in a riding that understands the importance of verbal commitments. Can the Minister confirm that he will honour the verbal commitments made by the department or the senior public servants to this community?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today you heard about what is happening in Wrigley with their negotiated contract for the highways. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please provide the House with the department's definition of capacity building as it pertains to contracts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to speak as a Member for the Nahendeh riding. It is about representing all six communities. Mr. Speaker, Wrigley is facing job losses after being passed over for a highway maintenance contract. Pehdzeh Ki Contractors bid on a contract to do the maintenance on part of Highway No. 1. Unfortunately, they were not successful with their bid on this contract.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately this is not the end of the story as they say. Mr. Speaker, Wrigley was the last community of the Nahendeh tour with the three Ministers in October of this year. As we headed into a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It will be a similar question that I asked the Lands Minister, but with the parks officer patrol maintenance vehicle, will the maintenance be done regionally, i.e. in the Community of Fort Simpson or will it be done outside the community? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know it's not on here, but I'm trying to figure out where that lab is in Fort Simpson and what the status of the lab is? Is it still a building or a shell out there without any siding or anything on it? So if we can get the status on that capital project. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell us do they have a maintenance plan and has it been implemented? I know it is known over there, but I want the Minister to answer the question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe we can educate the Minister on actually face-to-face that gives them that opportunity. Again, it's not about having a conversation over the phone; it's actually going in and meeting with the people. We're not talking about this one contract; we're talking about transportation issues in that community. So will the Minister please go into the community and meet with them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I thank the Minister for sort of kind of answering. I understand that he's had his staff go in and talk to the community. I understand he sent a letter, now he's offering a phone call. Actually, the community would like to have a face-to-face meeting with the Minister. So will the Minister make the commitment to actually meet them face-to-face, not by a phone, not by a letter, so they can actually deal with some of the issues of transportation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. It's very disappointing that we heard very loud and clear at the meeting that there was a verbal commitment, but will the Minister commit to meet with the chief and council to discuss this and other important transportation issues with this community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.