Kevin A. Menicoche

Certainly, it’s a concern for the residents. One of the unique things that a resident had brought to my attention was that he had visited his neighbours down in BC, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and they have managed to curtail a lot of damages to private property by harvesting some of the bison there. Is that something that the department can consider?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Constituents of Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte and Lindberg Landing have had a summer of discontent with the Nahanni bison herd in that area. The bison have been ruining property, digging up gardens, ruining plants and trees and being a significant hazard to the residents. In fact, one resident was literally trapped in her car as a large single male rested against her car door, damaging it and also trapping her inside. She is elderly. Her family and friends fear that she may be injured if this happens again.

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just a chance to address some of the capital issues regarding… Maybe I can begin in Fort Simpson. I think it was last year I remember the Fort Simpson health budget was actually on the capital plan. I had thought it was in the capital plan, but it certainly is a red flag now. I know that they’ve done the initial work. I think they’ve done a peer review of the project and now they’re looking at doing an RFP for the planning study. I just want to get some details on that. I know that the community is anxious. There has been a lot of discussion in the community and...

Thank you very much. Like I said, the community wants to be engaged, particularly with that site. That site has been under some discussion, but as long as they engage the community and the residents, I’m sure that a significant capital project of this kind should involve the whole community, not only the land but the type of structure that’s going to be built.

I’ve mentioned it on several occasions. I think other communities like Hay River were missing some long-term beds. It was actually picked out after the building got constructed. The same thing in Fort Providence. After the building...

Thank you very much. So I guess the main thing is to indicate to the leadership of Fort Simpson, the village, the band and the Metis Council there about their intent to engage them as they move forward with the planning study. I think that’s important. As well, I know there was some preliminary work done as well. I guess what’s important to the community is exactly where the new facility may or will be located. So a bird’s eye view, has the department had any overview of potential locations? Thanks.

Yes, okay, a further response, yes.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. We have an ambitious plan here for delivery into our small communities, and I just wanted to commend the Minister and the staff that working with the committee and trying to find an equal balance here. The biggest thing was about addressing devolution, or decentralization, getting jobs out to the community, and I think that the plan somewhat addresses that.

I don’t have too much to say specifically on the capital, but I’m more interested, if you’ll give me the leeway there, Mr. Chair, on the release of the latest housing needs survey and when that will be done.

A...

While the policy may be there, I don’t believe that it is being followed out, because in our Health department, which is also a stand-alone department, they involved Human Resources right throughout the selection committee and to the hiring committees as well. But there’s no such thing that happens with our education authorities. Human Resources is not involved, nor are they with the selection committee and our interview committee and I think that’s an issue and that’s what I’d like to see our education authorities do. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the difficulties of our Aboriginal teachers and new northern teachers in getting into our education authorities.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to advise me how is the current hiring process set up with our district education authorities. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. That’s important information because I’m not too sure how the land is designated. I think currently it’s designated as an educational reserve. What processes would be undertaken here to transfer it to regular GNWT as it were I guess? Is there any difficulties with accessing that land, would be the overall question.