Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up with my question with regard to the seasonality of operations at Parks Canada and how they impact the operation of Nahanni National Park. I’d like to ask the Premier: Has this government been updated on the reductions and the cutbacks that will be affecting those operations? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like everybody else, and listening to the federal budget of 2012-13 where we learned that 19,689 jobs will be eliminated from the federal civil service, I have not been apprised of the specifics of where the cuts are or what departments and how we will be affected here in the Northwest Territories as of yet other than media reports that we hear occasionally.
The concern is being raised from the communities that I represent, Nahanni Butte, Fort Simpson, the leadership that’s there, only because we just recently created this new national park reserve. There were increased operation expenses. As well as they’re looking at some capital expenditures in Nahanni Butte and Fort Simpson, and the increase in jobs. I was very pleased to see that lots of local people did get hired there. But for this season alone they’re saying it’s a very limited impact. But my concern there is that our government hasn’t taken a position. Because I believe that they’re decentralizing some jobs perhaps in the future, and I don’t want to see Fort Simpson lose any jobs because we’re a have-not region and any job loss – you know the story of the marvelous bouncing buck and the impacts – for every job we lose it impacts the community. I’d like to get the government to take a position on the reductions and possible job reallocation with the Nahanni National Park Reserve office in Fort Simpson.
As a government we’re very concerned about any reductions in any kinds of jobs in the Northwest Territories. As a matter of fact, it is a priority for us to focus on getting more people to live and work in the Northwest Territories. We certainly want to make sure that we keep the jobs that we have, and as a matter of fact, even increase it.
I have already written to the Government of Canada, asking for specific information as to quantify the cuts and also how the Northwest Territories will be affected.
I’m pleased that our government is taking action on this. I believe that if the Premier can raise more specifically the Nahanni National Park Reserve, the operations, the future plans. Like I said, as far as I know right now they’re just affecting seasonal operations, but long-term plans, I’m concerned because we have lots of young people that have been hired by our parks system in Fort Simpson, and hopefully they’ll stay in that system and stay in the communities.
I might add that as soon as I read the Member’s press release we did the letter to the Government of Canada. But we will approach the Environment Minister to get some more specific information as to how the amount of cuts and also how they’re affecting the operation of the federal park system in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. The Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
