Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I talked about infrastructure needs in the Tu Nedhe riding. I talked about how there seems to be a lack of attention to the riding. As a follow-up to my statement I’d like to ask questions of the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, it’s been three years since the implementation of the New Deal. Can the Minister provide me with a detailed evaluation of how the New Deal has been working in Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to provide the detailed evaluation at a later date, as soon as I can get that from the department.
I can tell the Member that MACA is working with the community of Fort Resolution in particular. They are initially looking at changing their status from a settlement to a hamlet, which will enable them to own assets. They will be able to get a lot of money from the New Deal. They’re also planning on going into Lutselk’e later on this month to meet with the community there to see what options they can put together for them.
Will the Minister commit to reviewing the situation and working with other Ministers to see what can be done as far as the whole deferred maintenance for community infrastructure?
MACA is working with the communities to identify negative impacts of lack of maintenance. They are working with the communities to develop capital plans so that the funding will be allocated to take care of those impacts as required.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister conduct a meeting with me and each of the communities to discuss the development of the new community specific infrastructure strategy? There seems to be a vast difference between the smaller and the larger communities as far as community infrastructure goes. If the Minister could commit to that.
Certainly, I will commit to meeting with the Member and each of the communities to discuss it. In my initial briefing and meeting with the folks from MACA last night I did give them the direction that when we look at allocating infrastructure funding, I’d like to try to find the balance where all communities receive their fair share of funding.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
