Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments to the opening remarks and the budget for housing as a whole.

I’m glad to see they’re planning to actually replace some new stock in the communities. This year I believe there 19 older public units that are going to be replaced. I hope that one of those units is Bennett Apartments in Aklavik. I believe that is older than I am. I recall in the ‘80s when I went there for the Northern Games, that building was there and I believe it is time to make changes to that.

Also, as I’ve explained, there are a lot of people moving back in the riding that I represent...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From what I understand, the policy doesn’t actually affect the licenced practical nurse as it does a full-time nurse. So will the Minister ensure that we make adjustments to the policy to make sure that communities like Tsiigehtchic have a proper nurse? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just have a few comments to our budget. Overall I think the budget is living up to the priorities that we set as the 17th Legislative Assembly. We’re addressing our housing needs in our territory. Housing is one of the major hurdles, I believe, in living in this territory, whether it’s in Yellowknife or our smaller communities. The price people pay for housing is really outrageous. Just from what I’ve seen in the capital here and also in the smaller communities, there are a lot of challenges that our residents face. I think that’s one of the reasons that we’ve seen...

Until a parking lot is in place for the school in Aklavik, will the Minister work with the stakeholders in the Beaufort-Delta Education Council and the Aklavik District Education Authority to enhance safety measures for students at Moose Kerr School as an interim measure? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, a follow-up from my Member’s statement.

I’d like to ask the Minister, is the Minister in support of preventative safety measures to protect school children from dangerous situations? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is nothing more heartbreaking than a preventable accident in which a child is harmed or even killed. Wherever children gather, it is the responsibility of parents, teachers and government officials to keep them safe.

Students at Moose Kerr School in Aklavik are mixing with street traffic and it’s a dangerous situation. The hamlet council in Aklavik has received concerns from parents and observers who fear an accident is waiting to happen.

Over the past couple of years, clientele at the local store near the school has increased. Patrons have nowhere to park except...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My final question for the Minister is: When can the residents of Aklavik see a parking lot built for the school in Aklavik? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Minister answered the first part of my two-part question. Will the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment commit to reviewing this unsafe situation at Moose Kerr School and will he ensure that a parking lot gets built? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Are we doing enough territory-wide to keep our children safe from traffic? Is traffic safety being rigorously incorporated into safe school plans across the NWT?

Going forward, I call on the Minister and other officials to enhance traffic safety measures around Moose Kerr School and to promptly resolve this unsafe situation by building a parking lot. Thank you.

I realize the Yukon is a party system, but I’d like to ask the Premier, what options does our government have to persuade the Yukon to protect more of the Peel Watershed upstream from our border? Thank you, Madam Speaker.