Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Speaker, I wish to talk about the Highway No. 1 emergency road closure on May 4 and 5, 2008. There were a couple of washouts that caused great inconvenience and distress to Nahendeh travellers. I do want to say that I do recognize the travelling public and safety of transportation infrastructure is key. But what happened in this instance is that information to the travelling public was very lacking. I don’t believe there was any strategy in place for this road closure, for this emergency.

Many constituents called my office repeatedly, stating that they had no answers. They had no knowledge...

Absolutely that’s the content of the petition. The schoolchildren are very concerned about making the track and field event, which is one of the best attended events in our North, and with our gracious host.

Once again, the communities still don’t understand why the department waited until springtime to conduct these repairs when they should have been done before and not interrupt the travelling public, not to mention the residents of Wrigley who want to get out, too, for their grocery shopping, et cetera.

I’d like to recognize in the gallery a constituent, Mrs. Candy Brown, from Fort Simpson.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Just with respect to general comments on the Department of Human Resources. It was when we were sitting with the Minister in the briefings that we tried to convey from the Regular Members’ side that we had some grave concerns over some of the plans for proposed cost reductions. Particularly for me, I come from one of the regional ridings and am conveying that if there are going to be cost reductions that they be proportional to the regions.

One of the things is that because I’ve got a small riding of people in my community, I thought and I still feel to this...

Call for a break.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the review of the Draft Main Estimates for 2008–2009.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 5-16(2) be received by Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Motion carried; Committee Report 5-16(2) received and referred to Committee of the Whole.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the Wrigley ferry crossing.

The petition contains 66 signatures of Nahendeh residents. The petitioners request that the Department of Transportation work to have the Wrigley ferry in service at the end of May so that the students of the Chief Julian Yendo School can participate in the track and field event in Hay River from June 4 to 6, 2008.

Well, the next logical question. They’ve been telling me: “Our trip’s been interrupted. We’ve done our planning; the department didn’t. Is the department willing to contribute to some of the costs of getting us across the river, getting us to our sporting event?” Indeed, constituents are also asking for assistance to get out, because it’s not their fault, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Transportation. I’ve been getting numerous phone calls from the community of Wrigley. As well, I’ve received a petition with regard to the N’Dulee ferry not being operated, and they’re very concerned about it being delayed a week already. They do not know how much longer it’ll be delayed. If the Minister can answer that question. Mahsi.

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Mr. Speaker, I'd like to speak to you today about the shortage of housing for our teachers in our small and remote communities.

On two occasions this year and every fall in my riding I have at least one or two teachers who are affected by the shortage of housing, by issues with housing.

Our North, our communities really do welcome the professionals willing to come up to our small, remote communities and into the North. I know government has been working on solutions, and they have indicated there's a program to assist businesses to build and provide these homes...