Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize Chief Jim Antoine – welcome to the gallery – and my assistant, Ms. Pearl Norwegian, who is here for this week. Great to see them travelling.

I believe it’s easier to put them in the speeches. It’s just two little words that I’ve been asking for for nine years. If it’s not a priority of this government, then those words do not end up in any of our documentation. I’d like to ask the Minister to fight for my people, my constituency and the highways that I represent. There has got to be some government documentation to make it a priority and to recognize to my people that it is a priority to have a safe transportation infrastructure.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Once again the lone voice will be crying out about Highway No. 7 here. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation some questions. I raised it in the House upon my re-election about making Highway No. 7 a priority within our government. He’s had time to meet with the federal Transportation Ministers and God knows how many Cabinet meetings. I’d like to know when it is going to become a priority of this government and when can I get those two words in a throne speech.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I was thrilled to be part of a small change in our government wherein the Commissioner delivered a throne speech, and this is symbolic because it sets the tone and direction of our government for the future years to come. However, I was dismayed that the address failed to mention two words important to me, my people and my constituency: Highway No. 7.

So it means to me that it is not a priority of this government and I see it as a failure to take care of my people and their needs. I have been trying very hard to get the attention of this government for...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. How is this Minister keeping Highway No. 7 a priority with his deliberations with his Cabinet colleagues and the federal Ministers?

I certainly look forward to that business planning session and to see if indeed this government will provide resources for Highway No. 7. My point is that this government hasn’t identified it as a priority in the government and it is in none of their documentations. The Ministers just got a mandate letter from the Premier and Highway No. 7 doesn’t even appear in there. I’d like to ask the Minister how and when Highway No. 7 will become a priority for him and our government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank Mr. Yakeleya for his motion. Last term, when I was chair of Government Operations, we reviewed the Official Languages Act. I was very pleased to hear about the languages secretariat at that time. What happened is it stimulated and supported our Aboriginal languages throughout the Northwest Territories. There was a significant decline in support for our Aboriginal languages once that department was disbanded. It was also said, even to this day, that the best support for languages are those employees who are in other departments to this day. I’m with Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are allowed to speak to this motion. I don’t think the intent was to have the motion speeded up in the House today, because of the seriousness of the issue that is before not only the NWT but all residents of Canada.

I know that the federal government had intended to change our Old Age Security system. Canadians want decent pensions, not more years of working. I know that the federal government said that it made plans for this budget, but they had indicated that now the changes will be in future years to come.

With that, I think our GNWT has to get on the right side of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I indicated earlier Ms. Yvonne Norwegian was a chaperone from Jean Marie, and she’s in the gallery. I’d like to welcome her to the proceedings of the House. Good to see you here.

I’d like to ask the Minister what strategy he is developing, in that previous administrations have created documents, such as Connecting Canada and other documents. I’d like to know what the Minister’s strategy is when he’s meeting with the federal government, because the development of our northern roads, particularly Highway No. 7, is critical to the economic development of my region and the Northwest Territories. Thank you.