Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. This is something that the community wants and this is something that I’ll champion all the way. It’s not some whimsical airy project that just come out of nowhere and I would just like to remind Members that we always said we’ll bend over backwards for the will of the community and this is one of their wills, is to see the continuation of this building and Members want to say well, Kevin, you’ll get a better building. Yes, okay, let’s put $20 million on the books and I’ll be happy to go home to Simpson with a $20...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just this whole issue is we have an opportunity to go over it again at length and we went over it yesterday and as a MLA for Nahendeh that represents Fort Simpson and the issue where this building stands is that I have to tell committee again is, it’s not something that’s been thrown on the books on this supp here two weeks ago, it’s something that I’ve been working with the community, all levels of the community. Everyone is concerned about the building and the infrastructure and what to do with it and what’s the best way we could plan around it. A lot of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak on our justice system and offer one suggestion as to why our jailhouses are full. We have all heard the phrase: “If you do the hard time, you will do the tough time.” In Nahendeh, there is another phrase: “If you do petty crime, you will do a long time.”

Mr. Speaker, what I am referring to is the growing number of constituents who are expressing their concern that they are being advised to plead guilty or accept sentencing conditions without adequate legal advice or other proceedings. I have constituents who are being advised...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. My comments and questions are also with the continuation of the operation of the Deh Cho Hall. I just want to advise my honourable colleagues that this is not a new project, nor is it something that came out of the blue. It’s something that myself as MLA for Nahendeh and Fort Simpson that I’ve been working with the people on, on how to address the office needs. In 2002, when the fire marshal came out with his report, he’s saying that in 2006 the building is going to have to be shut down or renovated. Everybody said that’s great, let’s just renovate this...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know that the Housing Corporation has been having lots of problems delivering programs to the regions. I know that this is one of the ways that they want to address it. I know they have been asking for positions time and time again and there is just no support for it then. But now that the federal government is contributing some $50 million and we have a chance to get housing on the move beginning immediately, I am going to vote against this motion.

Often when I am travelling to the regions and communities and talking about their frustrations about getting their...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It’s still not clear to me whether…I think it’s $1.6 million annually after that. Is that all our own-source funds then, Madam Chair?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4 and Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Miss Virginia Sabourin, the CHR for the Nahendeh region in Fort Simpson.

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I believe with her is her daughter, Joselyn Kierstad, who is a graduate this year, and as well as her sister, Miss Judy Sabourin.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. That’s something that kind of weighed a lot on the community decision as it went along. They’re like myself and anything that government does, why does it cost so much even a simple estimate for office space? As we discussed earlier in the day, it’s like $320,000. I’m not too sure why it is, but in the construction field the cost of labour and materials are just astronomical. A new project such as this, we’re looking at $3 million. If Members of this side of the House had the power to get the government to spend money, I would certainly champion the motion to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that in accordance with the Rule 6(2) that we extend sitting hours to conclude the item under consideration.