Mr. Speaker, as I listened yesterday to the territorial government budget address, I was very sad to hear that our region in terms of programs and services hadn’t been mentioned. A case in point: the hydro initiatives. I understand that Lutselk’e and Whati were mentioned but Deline has been working for many years on the mini-hydro project and they see no support on Deline being mentioned in terms of this project.
That is why I am very frustrated with this government in terms of things that are very high for us in the Sahtu region and other areas, the cost of living, energy, infrastructure… I can name so many things that we do not seem to get the attention as other areas are getting millions in terms of improving their standard of living, reducing their cost of living, that our community seems to be overlooked because our infrastructure is not put in place. We have been asking for so many things in our region. Number one, again, to me is the hydro project. Believe in the people in Deline when they say they have a solution that could work. It may not work for this government or by the board of directors of NTPC and the staff at NTPC, but the people in Deline believe it and I believe in my people. This will help the community. This will help the region. That is where I have issues with this budget here. My people need infrastructure desperately.
I look forward to the details in this budget in terms of what type of health care can my people expect in terms of a regional wellness centre or some sort of hospital. There is no indication from this government that they’re even going to look at it. They have good answers in terms of why we don’t have it right now today but planning for it. But right away we get $15 million for the Territorial Dementia Centre in Yellowknife over the years. My people are sick and tired of jumping on small aircraft with 2010 rules and regulations coming from Transport Canada to come to a larger centre for health care. They want to stay home...
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
