David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, as we heard here in the House yesterday, the Premier clearly stated that the information for the existing contracts this government has out there has not even been sent to the Gwich’in or to the local business community so they can see what contracts are available. Mr. Speaker, we have a policy in the government by way of a Market Disruption Policy so that if the government is giving out any contracts that have an effect on a community, is that taken into consideration when contracts are being given by way of the cost to maintain a business in the small communities? If anything...

This project’s been on the books as long as I’ve been here. We’ve been spending dollars over there on the community access road funding of $250,000 a year. I think we have two kilometres of road built. It’s not as if this is something that this government isn’t aware of. You can go all the way back to, I think, former Members of this House with regard to Richard Nerysoo. He brought that issue up to this House going back before the 13th Assembly. For the Minister to make the comment that it hasn’t really been a priority of this House or an issue of this House, what does it take to get a project...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine from Aklavik who runs a plumbing and gas fitting business is having a tough time sustaining his business in Aklavik because of competition from Inuvik by way of contracts. Mr. Speaker, I received an e-mail from this individual this morning, which basically is a tender for the community of Aklavik is being put out in regards to a gas fitting service in Aklavik, with no consideration for local businesses that can basically provide the service and not have competition come from...

I thought that question was going to get referred to the Minister of Transportation, who seemed to know where the capital dollars are coming from.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, we talked about unconventional ways of building capital. That is what the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation Act is. It is an unconventional way of building a bridge for $165 million. All I ask from the Minister is to allow other organizations or bridges to be considered for replacement or being built under public infrastructure that we consider having that option on the table similar to what was in place with the Deh Cho Bridge in light of what is being considered for the Peel River Bridge.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you know, this project is a community access road project. There was also a motion passed in the House regarding the Aklavik access road to their gravel source. I’d like to ask the Minister if there is going to be any capital dollars available for that project to go forward in the next fiscal year.

That’s exactly my point. Under the conventional system of putting this into the GNWT capital planning process, it ain’t going to see the light of day. Yet the Deh Cho Bridge was billed for $165 million by simply passing an act in this House. Will the Minister bring forward a Peel River Bridge Act so that we can do it under the same circumstances as the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation?

Last question. In regard to this project coming forward by way of a supp, why was it not built into the capital planning process you’re talking about developing the Energy Plan, looking at the different plans that have been put in place by the government so you actually have a plan of how we’re going to lay out this infrastructure and not just pick out a couple projects at a time? I still feel this government has to make more investment in the northern part of the Territories. All the projects to date have been south of Yellowknife, around Yellowknife and Hay River and Fort Smith. I’d just...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow, March 11th, snowmobilers from Fort McPherson will be skidooing to the headwaters of their traditional territory, the Peel River watershed. The Tetlit Gwich’in Council and Na-Cho Nyak Dun have spent many months planning this snowmobile trip, originally planning to leave Fort McPherson and ending in Mayo. Due to unforeseen circumstances and time shortage, the trip will see that both parties meet halfway between Fort McPherson and Mayo at the headwaters of the Peel River watershed.

The purpose of this trip is to revisit the traditional trails that were once...

Maybe the Minister can elaborate on the Aklavik project, since you mentioned it. What project is it?