Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past summer I had to opportunity to travel on about 92 per cent of the allweather roads in the southern part of the NWT. This works out to be about 1,155 kilometers. Some of the roads were in great shape, better than others. As I traveled, I noticed a number of concerns I would like to address with the Minister for Infrastructure today.

Mr. Speaker, on Highway No. 1, from approximately kilometre 205 to 220, I noticed that the staff from Fort Providence were doing their regular maintenance this section of the chipseal. It is the last section of chipseal...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand you're going to re-evaluate and you're going to look at your 20-year plan, but the community would like to see a VIC centre in there, and a lot of the tourists who are coming through there are looking for that when they show up. I have to applaud the department for putting a pavilion there and it's greatly appreciated, but a VIC centre would have a huge impact on the community and also the region in the southern territories, if people would be going up there and have that opportunity. Will the Minister work with the community to see the feasibility of putting...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Similar to that area, Fort Liard Highway, NWT/BC border pullout pavilion there, I notice that it's not going to have a VI centre, it's just going to be a pavilion put up there. Is there a reason why the department hasn't looked at putting a VI centre at that location, considering that they have one at the NWT/Alberta border and then they have one in Dawson City as well? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister. Again, we are not asking for the tower to be built. It is more putting a cellular antenna on there, and the community is looking to do that. The next question is the CL215 water bombers. Have we sold those? Because I notice there are still a number of these airplanes still at the end of the runway by Buffalo. Have these planes been sold because they are not going to be used anymore by the government? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That is good to hear, and I thank the Minister for that answer. Can I get an update when it is done so that I can maybe get a tour of this facility? It has been long overdue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for that. I am assuming he is talking about Fort Liard when we talked about it, and not Fort Resolution. I guess my struggle, though, is so basically, until we build a new facility, the community is not going to see a morgue. Is this correct, Mr. Chair?

Thank you, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I think she was pulling on my heartstrings there, saying a library and a pool. It was like old days, with the recreation side of me coming out.

In regard to keeping these funds and putting them into reserves, I have heard in other years that some people have spent the money on other facilities, like a hotel or a store. Are these kinds of projects for this type of money, or should they be looking at other avenues to fund these types of capital projects? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. I realize that we are not building it and renting it back to you, but I want to make sure that we start the process, and I hear that. I have talked to the chief when we were looking at Sambaa K’e, and they jumped all over it. They liked this idea. It helps the community. It is not a lot of money, but it helps them towards what they are trying to do, so it helps build their capacity. I greatly appreciate it. I guess my question was: can the Minister commit to working with me, as well, to make sure we can get that going with the community...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Friday the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment delivered a Minister's statement about the Aurora College foundational review and later tabled a letter written by the Standing Committee on Social Development. Both concerned the planned review. The Minister also said, and I quote from the unedited Hansard: "I appreciate committee's advice about the timelines and have decided to extend the timeline."

I am wary of arguing who said what. Nevertheless, as a member of this committee, I must object. As the Member for Yellowknife Centre has already said, we're not...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess my next question is: are we going to change this program, instead of calling it Small Community Employment Support Program, to "job creation" or "job support program for the Northwest Territories?" Thank you, Mr. Speaker.