Frederick Blake Jr.

Will the department also be repairing the Merv Hardie this year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past fall was the first time the Department of Transportation extended the ferry service in Tsiigehtchic. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, when will the work begin to repair the Louis Cardinal ferry for service in June? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There’s a lot of good discussion here on management with the wildlife. I just wanted to share a few things. I fully know what the department is working with. I had some experience with the Porcupine Caribou Management Board a few years back. I think that we need to do the same sort of procedure as what the Porcupine Caribou Management Board has done, was develop an actual plan for these herds in our area here. I know we have great success working with… There is a number of parties that work for that management plan, including the Inuvialuit Game Council, the Gwich’in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments for the Minister and the department. First off, on last year’s spending on forestry, a lot of people in my riding would like to see the forestry crews replaced with communities. I know in last season, I believe it was more than $10 million in spending. A lot of that money could be spent within our territory. I know a lot of it went south. That’s one thing we need to work on is creating more employment in the communities and stop a lot of these major fires before they get out of hand.

The other thing I wanted to comment on – and this was mentioned...

A reason a lot of the Members wanted this change in hours was a lot of people are missing their flights to Inuvik because of the delays that happen in the morning.

I’d like to ask the Minister, will these hours be in place this coming spring?

Thank you. I recall last year the Minister was saying that the ferry would be ready for replacement if an emergency was to happen, so that ferry should be operational.

I’d like to ask the Minister, will the Minister replace the Louis Cardinal vessel with the Merv Hardie? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask the Minister, what was the estimated cost of damages to the vessel this fall? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to wish one of the most respected elders in the Mackenzie Delta a very happy 99th birthday.

Gwich’in elder Mrs. Mary Kendi, from Aklavik, is to be commended for reaching a milestone on living a healthy lifestyle. Mary has singlehandedly raised her children and provided a safe home for them.

Mary, in her life, has hunted, trapped and even owned her own dog team. In her 99 years of living, I wish to acknowledge Mary for promoting the Gwich’in culture and for speaking the Gwich’in language to many of us who know her.

Mary Kendi has a huge...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this session I did a statement on nursing in Tsiigehtchic. I have questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

I would like an update on the nurse that was committed to in this Chamber last February. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That was my next question. When will the department make necessary changes to their policy to allow a nurse to be placed in a community such as Tsiigehtchic? Thank you.