Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister responsible for the chief information officer of the government and the Department of Finance. My questions are directed to Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member’s statement, this government plays an integral role of improving the information systems we have in our communities regardless if it is telehealth, improving our systems into our schools, improving the technology in regards to services by way of programs being delivered by our NGOs or even by the local governments. I think this government has to step up to the plate and ensure that we are advancing in the area of electrical advances.
In the next number of months, there is talk about getting televisions off the analog system onto a digital system. We, as a government, have to move also. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for information. What is this government doing to improving the service delivery to our residents by government obligations, regardless if it is the Department of Health and the Department of Education, and government services in our communities to ensure that we have access to programs and services either on line or through telecommunication uptake, regardless if it is cell phone service or digital systems? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been a significant amount of money that was put into the digital communications network to provide the digital backbone to have computer and Internet hook-ups. We have done some work on cell phone service in terms of assessing the market and some of the challenges. At this point, cell phone services seem to be within the purview of the private sector. There are companies out there like NorthwesTel. Of course they want money to go into the small communities, but at this point we have been treating it as a private sector business opportunity. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I think the private sector has identified those lucrative markets out there and that is why they are in those seven communities mentioned that do have cell phone service, but I don’t think their intention is to go to the communities that don’t have that capacity in regards to the other 24 communities. I think this government has to take this issue on in regards to what the Yukon government has done. They made a political decision. They invested $2 million to ensuring that all communities in the Yukon are going to receive cell phone services. I would like to ask the Minister responsible, will this government take the step to improve the services in 24 communities in the Northwest Territories, regardless if it is cell phone service or uplink systems, so that we can improve our telecommunications throughout the Northwest Territories?
We have done work on cell phone service and looking at what we are doing, what the potential costs and challenges are in looking at other communities. I would be pleased to share that information with the Member. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is critical that we move on this matter. I would like to see the information the Minister talks about. Again, it is more important that we, as government, find ways of improving programs and services. I know there have been questions in the House about the quality of education in our schools, the quality of programs in regards to our health care system. Improving services to our community by technology will improve the delivery system of this government. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what we are doing to improving the service delivery by way of technological advances to improve the service provided by government to communities.
While we are not directly involved, there is a significant project with Industry Canada in Vulcan in terms of delivery of broadband high speed services to the communities. It is a very important project. There is phase one that is in the works to be completed and there are significant dollars for phase two. We are working very closely with all the partners in that arrangement to make sure that, hopefully, will get done. That will give the service that the Member is talking about.
We already invested heavily in the digital communication network. Our schools, our health centres all have that capacity in all through NorthwesTel and those communities. There are Internet services as well. We have spent tens of millions of dollars in this division trying to improve these services. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister touched on it, the whole area of Vulcan Communications and SSI Micro. I believe that proposal is on thin ice. I think that this government has to do everything it can to ensure that we don’t lose $14 million of federal infrastructure funding. This government has to step up to the plate to ensure that that system of having high speed Internet, take it up to the next level where it is going to be high speed Internet so we actually see improvement in regards to the systems in the North in our communities.
Again, the onus has to be on this government to ensure we improve telecommunications in the Northwest Territories by improving our system. Again, I would like to ask the Minister exactly where is this government going to provide the leadership to our communities and make sure we are advancing into the 21st Century when it comes to technology.
I believe we are well established into the 21st Century. I have indicated to the Member some of the things we are doing directly. Indirectly we are paying very close attention and working very closely with the folks involved in the broadband initiative. It involves Industry Canada and Vulcan. We are very committed to making sure that this is a successful endeavour. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
