Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to honour one of my constituents, Mr. Wilbert Antoine, who works at Canadian Zinc Mining Corporation. He indicated to me that this month he’s celebrating 40 years in the mining industry.

He began his career in mining in 1971. He didn’t realize he was getting into mining; he thought he would take a short job. He ended up working for Cardinal River Coals in Alberta for 31 years. Upon completing that, he did move back to Yellowknife in July 2002 and spent six years with BHP Ekati Diamond Mine and he thought he was going to retire there. He made a trip...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What’s critical here is that if the Finance Minister is going to mention four or five projects and then not mention Highway No. 7, is that when and if we do get some debt relief that it’s not going to make this list. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation once again, will he push and will he get his Cabinet colleagues to ensure that Highway No. 7 funding infrastructure will be done, should we have the opportunity. Mahsi cho.

I’d like to highlight it as a priority of this government. I think far before we invest in the fibre optic line, we should invest in Highway No. 7. I don’t believe that the Finance Minister, I don’t know if they made a mistake, but he should be mentioning Highway No. 7 as a priority. Should we run into some additional funding or we relieve our debt limit, I believe that Highway No. 7 should be critical enough that it should make this initial list of investment, should we have the opportunity. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation if he can work with his Cabinet colleagues, work with...

I just want to make a note that I’ve been speaking with Mr. Wilbert Antoine. He also indicates that Canadian Zinc received environmental approval from the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. I just wanted to say to all the youth and young people out there, and those looking for careers in the mining sector, that there’s a huge potential in and around Fort Simpson in future years and we can look to the example of Mr. Wilbert Antoine, who had a successful career. This is an important sector that can be looked at for a long-time career.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to rise and note the whole intent of our points of order is to bring order to the House and I believe that further discussion is not really helping our Assembly and our government as a whole. Mahsi cho.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I move we report progress.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to speak about investment into Highway No. 7 or the lack thereof. My residents and constituents are disappointed that Highway No. 7 is nowhere on the GNWT’s fiscal roadmap this coming year. Residents know that the highway infrastructure is key to economic development in the Nahendeh region. Recently re-elected Chief Deneron heard this very clearly during his campaign. The road conditions isolate the people of Fort Liard. It is easier to drive to B.C. for goods and services than to Fort Simpson. By leaving Highway No. 7 out of its plans, dollars flow out of the...

I am certainly glad that the department is assessing the communities and monitoring them, but I would like to know, are these schools at least on the 20-year needs assessment capital plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up on my constituency need for a couple of schools in Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake. I would like to ask the Minister of Education a couple of questions. I have been raising this issue for several years.

First of all, perhaps I should ask about Trout Lake. I always made the case because the community has always made the case that it is not an actual school. It is a recreational centre where they are being educated. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, are they looking at Trout Lake of building their own stand-alone school? Thank you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] …things I will be talking about and I would like to talk to you in regard to education and about wondering how you might be able to assist us in coming up with a new school. [Translation ends]

…and I also know that money is going to be very tight, as Mr. Premier had said. But that is no excuse for planning for the needs of the people in Nahendeh, and particularly the young people of Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake who need new schools.

It seems we can spend more than $100 million on a super school in Inuvik and more than $180 million on the Deh Cho Bridge...