Debates of February 11, 2005 (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of MACA. I would just like to quote from the Finance Minister’s budget speech. His last line, Mr. Speaker, states: “It is up to the leaders of the Northwest Territories to light the path and lead the way.” Lead the way!

Lead the way!

For me, what that means, Mr. Speaker, is if we identify a need, we must address it. Here is a need that needs addressing. I would like the Minister to address it and tell me what he’s going to do about fulfilling this need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am assuming the need he’s talking about is the gymnasium in Nahanni Butte.

----Laughter

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of need across the board. We have to recognize that there is still considerable demand for investment in our water and sewer programs. We have had, in the last while, guidelines set with the federal government as to how we are going to deal with water, how we are going to deal with waste water. We have to make sure we can invest in those things. Some of the dollars that are flowing forward from the federal government come with criteria attached to where we can spend them. We have some flexibility in our budget for building a baseline for communities to decide where they want to invest in the communities. I want to be able to hear from the communities. I want to be able to have some consultation before I decide, and that will light the way for us to move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We heard today about the Tlicho having a reason to tea dance and what I would like to do is give Nahanni a place to tea dance, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what options they are looking at to develop a gymnasium for Nahanni Butte in the near future? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Mr. Speaker, we are currently, and will be over the next while, having discussions with the communities as to their needs. We want them to be able to bring those forward. We want to be able to have a good discussion around that. We still have a commitment that I have made and our department has been honouring; to deal with the NWT Association of Communities, to deal with LGANT, the Local Governors Association of the Northwest Territories, and consider their input. We recognize there is a need in the small communities for recreation infrastructure. There is recreation infrastructure in larger and medium-sized communities. There are infrastructure needs in the tax-based communities also. We need to be able to accommodate all those things.

I am not in a position to commit, as the Member is asking, to stand up here and say yes, we are going to do this. I don’t think it would be fair to all the other communities. We want to be able to consider all the priorities in terms of communities. We want to be able to hear from them. We have made a commitment as part of the new deal that communities will be able to decide where they want to go. Right now, it has been difficult because of our limited budget, but we have now created a base and will be looking at deciding how we will spend that money in the next while. I need the opportunity to have more discussion on it. I am not in a position right now to commit to one project. Once that is all decided, we will certainly share it with all the Members here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The time for question period has expired, however, I will allow you a supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, that’s the tone of a letter the Minister wrote to the principal in Nahanni Butte; that the department is not in a position to support the development of a gymnasium through their capital budgeting process in the immediate future, and that’s very disheartening, Mr. Speaker. Have a heart, Mr. Speaker.

Have a heart!

That’s what I would like to say for the people and the youth of Nahanni Butte. Will the Minister look at changing his mind and address these needs in the immediate future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to reassure the Member that I do have a heart.

---Laughter

I also want to point out that the letter that was drafted to the community of Nahanni Butte was drafted before we had approval for additional dollars to put towards our capital plan. So now that circumstances have changed, we have to look at our criteria and we have to be able to consult with the community. So I would like to request that the Members bear with us until we develop a plan of how we are going to expend that money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Well, I am very pleased to hear that the Minister has a heart, Mr. Speaker. In all seriousness, that’s what I would like to see. The plan for a gymnasium in Nahanni Butte is so far off in the future, it’s just unrealistic because the need for the gymnasium is for today, Mr. Speaker. I would like to get the Minister’s commitment that he will work hard and try to get a facility for that particular community in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 371-15(3): Gymnasium Needed In Nahanni Butte

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has asked if I would work hard. I think we work hard every day.

Hear! Hear!

I will take the request to consider the recreational facilities in the small communities. It’s an issue that has generated a lot of discussion over the last while and it has been something that has been put on the back burner for a considerable amount of time as our budget for capital has been reduced. Over the next while, we may have an opportunity to do something about it. We would like to be able to have a good, thorough discussion over it. I will commit to making sure that Nahanni Butte, Gameti, Enterprise, Kakisa and Detah and all these communities are all part of the discussion.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Time for question period has expired. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.