Debates of June 5, 2006 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of MACA on the Chipsealing Program. Could the Minister of MACA tell me if the plans for the Chipsealing Program in the Sahtu region is still as per schedule? We had some discussion last year on this issue. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, yes, they are.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Thank you. Can the Minister then tell me whether the plans are for communities in the region in terms of the Chipsealing Program? I may have to get a little more specific in saying Fort Good Hope. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the plans haven’t changed from last year, so I will repeat the answer I gave last year. Mr. Speaker, we had done design and drainage studies. We have embarked on doing the changing of the culverts and also providing the solid base for the community. I believe that is going to be upgraded and some of the areas that were not completed during that year will be finished off this year. We intend to move forward with the Chipsealing Program, providing the budgets are still sufficient to do all the communities that we had intended to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Chipsealing Program in Fort Good Hope is the issue of the chipsealing and dust control in our communities. Does the government provide enough funding in the formula to do adequate dust control in our communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, we did some additional studies over this past fiscal year. We have done an analysis in each community. We have also looked, as part of this analysis, to see what would be the best method of applying dust suppressant, whether it is chipsealing, calcium or others. I would not be able to speak specifically regarding what would be the best mode of applying dust suppressant in Good Hope, but I would say that, with all the new dollars that are available with what is currently in the community government’s budget, I would be very comfortable in saying, yes, there are adequate resources to do dust control. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year in Tulita, they had dust control. I think they did about 100 feet of dust control because that is all the funding they had. So everybody got into 100 feet of the air so there is no dust in that area. If the Minister can come into Tulita this summer or in the Sahtu communities and see for himself the kind of funding that goes into dust control programs so that the whole main streets in each of the Sahtu communities are adequately funded and to have proper dust control measures in there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 55-15(5): Update On The Chipseal Program For The Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of new money that is flowing into the communities. Up to now the money that was earmarked for dust control was part of the formula that was calculated for community governments. The community had to set dust control as a priority. Since we have new funding this coming fiscal year, we have the community capacity fund that can be used for dust control, the gas tax, the definition in the agreement allows for greater flexibility, there’s allowance for this money to be used for chipseal or dust control. So there’s a lot of different things. There’s also the new capital formula that’s being unveiled and that will be able to have the flexibility of using those dollars for chipseal if that’s a requirement. So there are a number of initiatives, a number of new pots of money there. I think there’s more than enough to deal with the issue in the communities regarding dust. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.