George Nerysoo

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will support this motion based on the concerns during the election. Many constituents brought forth concerns about the health care within the Northwest Territories, within the smaller communities with lack of staff. We put up with these concerns every day. Every day when I'm back home, even when I'm here, I'm getting calls with the concerns saying that, you know, why is this happening? Why is that happening in our -- in this time of the day when we should be advocating and looking after our residents of our communities. Our smaller communities are ones that are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's good news to hear that they've been communicating with the Indigenous governments. Can the Minister say whether MACA and its staff have held any other public meetings to engage the public prior to implementing their new funding policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The municipal funding gap has been an issue for our communities for quite some time. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs conducted a review of its policies in 2014 which reveals significant disparity between funding levels across community governments. Mr. Speaker, ten years later, they are now working to fix this.

The department is rolling out a three-year phase plan, and the changes in allocation are expected to be implemented in the next fiscal year. But I'm worried the government's plan will not work. By their own admission, our smallest communities...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In order to be productive in our society today, we have to be healthy. In order to be healthy, we have to have homes. And right now, I don't feel that this government is reaching out to the people of the Northwest Territories saying that we are going to prioritize what you wanted. During our elections, I've heard numerous times, every house I went to, you know, they showed me the condition of their houses. Some people were walking around because they didn't have houses. And that's what they wanted. They have children that's walking with them, they're going to a friend's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question, can the Minister identify which communities were overfunded using the old funding model? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of MACA explain how MACA is communicating with community governments and Indigenous governments through regional superintendents?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are there any indicators from recent activities, or lack of activities, where you feel the government should take back the responsibility of the infrastructure throughout the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What contingency plans, if any, have been put in place to address similar situations in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to address the condition of the Dempster Highway during the summer and fall season. The portion of the highway that I am referring to is between Wrangling River and Inuvik. This portion of highway has never been this bad before. I have been receiving calls, text messages, on a daily basis from concerned residents from all over the Beaufort Delta region.

Mr. Speaker, I've driven the Dempster Highway for many years, and I can attest the concerns of the residents of the Beaufort Delta when they state that they have never seen this highway in such bad...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past, I suggested that major maintenance be conducted during the seasonal closure of the highway when there's less traffic and all maintenance can be completed, including dust control. Has this option ever been considered? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.