Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Madam Chair. Obviously, this has been a critical issue since we first discussed it, a university of the North, a polytech university. We have existing challenges in our communities, I know Mr. Bonnetrouge alluded to on several occasions. He is passionate about it. Our own students are struggling in secondary schools, and here, we are talking about a university in the North. We have three existing campuses and 32 community learning centres. When you look at the three campuses, most of the programs are fairly empty, and it is been a real challenge over the years.

My view is that we should...

This is a very important project, and my understanding is that a proposal has not really been submitted yet, unfortunately. I want to ask the Minister: what discussion has this Minister of Infrastructure had with her federal counterparts regarding the funding for this very important project, the Frank Channel Bridge?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] There is a major bridge on our lands. It is called Frank Channel Bridge. Without that bridge, we know that we won't be able to transport a lot of things, and it is really old. I have questions for Infrastructure. [End of translation]

[Microphone not on] ...part of the North Slave highway lifeline to the rest of the territory, and also to the south. It is 50-plus years old and badly aging. A question to the Minister of Infrastructure: where does a new Frank Channel Bridge rank in the capital plan of the Minister's infrastructure department? Mahsi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I have a point of privilege. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on my point of privilege. When we look at the position of the Premier, it is a big position. It is a huge job, and also the president of Aurora College has its own rules and regulations in place. The decision the Premier has made, we want to know exactly what happened. The way we have these recorded information, I will read it in English because I want it properly recorded. We do have a really good interpreter, but I will say this one in English. [Translation ends]

Mr. Speaker, I have...

Masi, Madam Chair. We have had tremendously successful programs over the years, and we continue to still see them. Great work has been done in the past. We are continuing to carry that forward. With this particular area, I obviously would like to know if there has been an actual survey of the students across the Northwest Territories on this initiative, if there is a favourable response from the public. I am not just talking about organizations; I am talking about the people of the North, if they are in favour of creating a university in Yellowknife.

We have three campuses. The Minister alluded...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to see more action-oriented, instead of talking about this particular project. Our MP also asked me where the proposal was and has it been submitted. At that point in time, that was a few months ago, I said, "I imagine it has been, with a new government." Unfortunately, it is not there at this point. I am afraid we are going to miss the opportunity again, because we still had the funding criteria last time. This is through the National Trade Corridors Fund, I believe, and I would highly encourage the Minister to get hold of our MP and also their federal...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I made a statement last week about the Tlicho Whati all-season road, and the amount of contracts, the hiring. I would like to touch on the percentage and ask questions pertaining to that. According to the numbers I shared in my previous statements, out of 137 workers onsite up to date, Tlicho were 36 percent of labour, 13 percent were northern hires, and a whopping 51 percent non-NWT hires; 49 percent of the labour force contracted to work on the Tlicho All-Season Road were NWT hires, and 51 percent outsiders.

Mr. Speaker, this should be totally opposite. We should be having...

That is the fear that I have right now, where we are not being proactive as the GNWT, reaching out to those organizations and assisting them in submitting the proposal, so we don't raise that issue in the House here. It should have been dealt with a long time ago. I am more concerned about those 42 homeless people today who do not have a place to go to. We are sitting around the table here, talking about the process. This is what we need to do. What is the Minister doing today that will benefit those individuals who are out there hopeless, no shelter, no food? What is happening today from the...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Along the same lines as the Member for Kam Lake, Arnica Inn has been on our radar since the election. September, October, we've heard it. Members, these women here, have supported it going forward, so it's surprising that we are still talking about the process itself.

Mr. Speaker, the territory's 25 percent share of capital cost spread over the project, 42 self-contained apartments, also lists $17,000 per unit. For the sake of people sleeping in apartment building stairways in Yellowknife or, even worse, outside, why did the Minister not jump on the chance to help provide...

I understand where the Minister is coming from. She was not part of the process, but she is the Minister today who can deal with this matter. There is an American firm operating at site. The money is going south. We are not benefitting from that in the Northwest Territories, the tax implications and so forth. Mr. Speaker, this is a very crucial issue that we need to deal with. We have experienced Stanton hospital. We have experienced major projects, Deh Cho Bridge and other places. We are still dealing with that in this House in 2020, Mr. Speaker. When is that going to stop?

Since the Minister...