Alfred Moses

I know here in Yellowknife we always see a really high increase of tourism and a lot of the dollars, as the Minister mentioned, some of the new restaurants and hotels going up here in Yellowknife. However, when you take it to the regions, you see there are a lot of vacancies in some of the hotels, and the hotels not doing as good a business as the capital here.

I know we did give funding and marketing dollars out to all the ITI regional offices. Can I ask the Minister, did all the regional offices use up all those extra funds? I think it was in the amount of maybe about $50,000 extra for each...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I’d just like to welcome everybody back to the House. I hope everybody had a good summer. I can tell everyone is really eager to get right into the issues that affect the Northwest Territories here and our Northerners.

Earlier today we heard in our Premier’s sessional statement that we do have a very slow economic growth, and now in order to be effective we need to acquire effective partnerships with everybody.

I think this is a great time for this government to embrace, focus and support other types of industry that we’ve ignored or haven’t given them...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 56, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015; Bill 62, An Act to Amend the Coroners Act; Bill 63, An Act to Amend the Victims of Crime Act; Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act, and wishes to report that Bills 56, 62, 63 and 64 are now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

Further, Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 59, Estate Administration Law Amendment Act, and would like to report that Bill 59...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a committee motion. I move that this committee again recommend that as part of the standard reporting process, the comptroller general include a list of agencies in the consolidated public accounts that did not meet the deadline for completion of their audits. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker A big thing is the Transportation Strategy. You know, we heard from the Mineral Association of Canada when we had NWT Days and they said that in order to ship resources out, we need infrastructure and I think that questions I had earlier today for the Minister of Transportation show that we need that infrastructure in place so we can start creating jobs. Even if it’s not directly related to the oil industry, at least we’re creating jobs.

All you’ve got to look at is what’s happening up in our region: the Inuvik Tuk Highway; a decrease in income assistance; you’ve got more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I attended a strategy meeting up in the Beaufort-Delta and it was a really good presentation; however, what it lacked was what other big projects are going throughout the Northwest Territories. It just focused on the Inuvik region, specifically the Inuvik Tuk Highway, and that’s great.

On page 55 of this new strategy, there’s a big blue arrow up there on the map. It’s the all-weather road to the Slave Geological Corridor. Things like that could have been presented to the community of Inuvik, Sahtu, the Deh Cho.

Knowing that this is going to become a priority of...

The Minister alluded to the Building Canada Plan and the fund that he’s looking at in terms of building some of these new infrastructures but also putting money towards our existing infrastructure.

Can I ask the Minister for an update on where this government is in negotiations about the Building Canada Fund that’s going to improve our highway systems and also start building on these new infrastructure projects? Can I get an update on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to recognize two of our hardworking Pages who are from the Inuvik Boot Lake riding: Mr. Tanner Gillis and Ms. Kristen Harder. They’re not in the House at the moment, but I know they’ve been doing a lot of great work over the week, and I hope they really enjoyed their experience here at the Legislative Assembly. To all other Pages, as Members, we really appreciate the work that you did for us over the last couple of weeks.

I’d also like to recognize Ms. Lillian Elias, who has been interpreting this past week. Good job. I know she’s getting out the message...

I did speak to Mr. Brewster, and he just wanted to acknowledge that Inuvik and the Northwest Territories has been his home for the past 31 years and still is. When people ask where he’s from, Inuvik is what he answers, not Nova Scotia. I think that Mr. Brewster might have only put me in the corner just once in his whole time teaching.

I would like to wish both Ms. Kaye and Mr. Brewster and their families the best of luck on their retirement and that they will truly be missed at East Three Elementary by students and staff. Combined, the two have been providing guidance, leadership, developing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Beverly Esau, who’s up in the gallery today. She stepped up to the plate and brought two of our Pages from Inuvik to chaperone. I just want to thank her for taking the time and watching over some of our youth during this very long sitting. I appreciate your patience.