David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know this question was raised earlier on this page, but in regard to emergency management and response for territorial and community emergency management and planning, including search and rescue, again, I think a lot of communities who have had situations using Aklavik, for instance, with their floods and whatnot, every time there’s a flood they pull together and they respond to emergency measures. There’s recommendations made so that you can learn from those experiences, but more importantly, that you find ways to not only prepare for those types of situations but...

Mr. Speaker, again, I just spoke to the president of the Aklavik Community Corporation in regards to the Aklavik proposal which went forward to the Minister and myself in which it clearly stipulated a contract that they were looking at has gone to an Inuvik company. Again, all we are going to see are headlights coming from Inuvik and driving back to Inuvik at five o’clock. Again, the companies that are benefitting from these contracts in our communities are Inuvik companies. I would like to know, is there a guarantee that those contract dollars will remain in the community and how they benefit...

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Next I have Mr. Beaulieu.

I noted that your last year mains you requested $2,000 and you ended up spending $12,000. I’d like to know what was the additional $10,000 for.

Mr. Chairman, in regards to the district program officer staff, I would like to know, are the district staff aware of existing government programs and services in regards to policies, procedures in regards to such things as local tenders or basically negotiated contracting guidelines to ensure that they are aware of it. Because I have had some discussions with them; it seems like they are not in full support of it. Regardless if they support it or not, it is a government policy. I would like to know, are they aware that they have to follow government policies and procedures?

Mr. Chairman, again, it would be good to get that information, and more importantly, illustrating exactly how those expenditures are going to be spent what we can do to enhance and support our volunteer firefighters in our communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, there are high pockets of unemployment in the Northwest Territories, especially in rural and remote communities. For a housing unit, the cost of $300,000 to $400,000 can go a long way to generate jobs and employment opportunities in our communities. This government has government policies and procedures to deal with that type of opportunity so that those dollars remain in the communities and some of those negotiated contracts, sole-source contracts, local tenders. Mr. Speaker, the whole approach on negotiated contracts is for the local organization in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the area of Municipal and Community Affairs, I think we have to realize that some communities are still challenged by the decision to allow communities to take on more programs and responsibilities. Communities are still challenged by way of capacity issues regardless if it’s a lack of professional staff such as SAOs, financial officers, and even, in some cases, in regard to maintenance. People that they require to implement their responsibilities and obligations under the community empowerment that’s taken place by transferring those program responsibilities...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the implantation and the two whole thousand dollars you get for implementation of the...(inaudible)...land claim agreements, I’d like to know, is there also a duty to consult in regard to Municipal and Community Affairs. I know you’re presently in the process of reviewing the squatters policy and whatnot and I know this issue has come to the attention of the Minister by way of our Gwich’in leadership meeting in Inuvik in regard to the squatters at Airport Lake in Inuvik in which the Gwich’in are requesting that you have an obligation to consult, especially...

Mr. McLeod.