George Nerysoo

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My questions are related to highway operations. We see an increase from 2023-2024 actuals of $107 million to $109 million. How much of this is geared toward the upgrade or maintenance of the Dempster Highway between, let's say, Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the tanker in question that went off the highway at the section around Rengleng River, there's signage on both sides of the river asking vehicles to slow down, and the signage is about 50 metres from the area where it's pretty bad, and the bigger trucks require more time to slow down but these signs are too close to the area. Will the Minister advise the regional department to make changes where these signs are further away from that section to give the bigger trucks more time to slow down? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to reiterate my concerns for the Dempster Highway conditions between Rengleng River and Inuvik.

Since the fall of 2024, just before the ground was beginning to freeze, I brought up the concerns and safety of this section of the highway. I bring this concern up again because of the safety of the users. We have local traffic and semi-truck users on this section of the highway on a daily basis, and their safety, when driving that Dempster Highway, should be a priority to this government. As it is starting to warm up again, the highway conditions are...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Regional projects, there's an increase from 2023-2024 actuals to the 2025-2026 Main Estimates. There's an increase there. Mackenzie Delta -- the Mackenzie Delta region has seen very little in terms of big capital projects. Is there anything to look forward to within this area here, for any of the three communities in my riding? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Carrying on with highway operations, in the fall of 2024 they didn't have much time or they did not complete the upgrade or maintenance of the highway section between Rengleng River and Inuvik. But specifically talking about Rengleng River where there's that danger zone there, was there a carryover from last year's -- fall of last year to this year's estimates to -- so that work can be conducted this year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the regional department working with the Minister's department on daily inspections of the highway from the NWT border to Tuktoyaktuk to give updates on where work might be required for safety reasons? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, I'd like to direct my questions to the Minister of Infrastructure.

With the warmer weather upon us and the conditions of the Dempster Highway worsening there, I applaud the Minister on her infrastructure improvements project but there was no mention of Highway No. 8 in the upgrades or regular maintenance. What is the department doing at the present time to ensure the safety of the users of the Dempster Highway between Rengleng River and Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I acknowledge a very determined young man from Tetlit Zheh, Mr. Deeron Vittrekwa. While bringing up a young family with his spouse Natasha, who just completed her business management program, Mr. Vittrekwa is in his fourth year of a four-year teacher education program at Yukon University. He will serve as a great role model to the younger generation in pursuing a career path.

I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Vittrekwa on receiving an Indigenous language revitalization scholarship, and for his commitment to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. With the uncertainty of what Aurora College is going to do within the near future in terms of the community learning centres and what's going to happen with staff, if they do not decide -- if they do not come back with a plan that will meet the needs of the smaller communities, with this motion that we're going to be saying we're going to be using it for other initiatives. I think it's a little bit too early because, you know, we're having consultation with the board of governors and seeing what they say before we even know what they're going to do or they're going to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize two pages from my riding of the Mackenzie Delta. Elijah Smith and Sandy Dylan are both from Aklavik and attend Moose Kerr School. I'd like to welcome them to the Assembly and congratulate them on a job well done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.