Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s apparent that the Minister is well aware of our needs throughout the North, including the small communities. Does the Minister have a focus group to help him roll out the programs or design the programs for the smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I realize this is the preliminary consultation period involving several components and stakeholders, and that other consultations, meetings will be scheduled in the community this spring.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister will keep me updated and will inform me of any potential problems through the developmental stage of this project. I support the much-needed airstrip in Trout Lake and would like to see it go through successfully. This is important to the community of Trout Lake and a long time coming.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Minister and his officials on listening...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, my language is a passionate language and in my introductory remarks I spoke about how government keeps our people’s money but has a hard time hearing the people. I am reminded of residential schools where our allowance was given out to us.

At any rate, I will also speak of one of my communities that will remain nameless at this point…

---Laughter

…but it’s very important for them to have a community gymnasium. The government talks about how broke they are and how communities have to wait. Mr. Speaker, when and how will the government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister foresee any plans, let’s say for a small community like Jean Marie that has about 50 residents? How does the Minister see this program working in a community like that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to the national initiative of childcare and early learning. That’s exactly what the intent is, Mr. Speaker. It’s a national program. I assume it will include the small communities that exist in my riding, Mr. Speaker. Our small communities have single, working parents and double-income families who are anxious to see how this national program will be rolled out. Will the Minister, Mr. Speaker, tell this House the plans to roll out this program into the communities?...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate the Department of Transportation on their efforts to build an airport in Trout Lake. During the week of February 7th to 11th, the department’s senior officials visited the community to discuss the possibility of this great opportunity. It is well known that the current location of the airstrip does not align with the prevailing winds. As it stands, many trips are cancelled because pilots are unable to manoeuvre with the crosswinds. It is dangerous for everybody, Mr. Speaker, when pilots -- on the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. One of the things I’m starting to hear back in my riding is that as I talk to the elders, they’re saying, okay, listen, you guys are helping me subsidize my fuel and I still need assistance with my cost of living. Can the government subsidize the power for elders, those over the age of 65 and on pension? Is that something this review could look at, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. Chairman, I have a motion. I move that this committee recommends that the chairman of the Financial Management Board work diligently with the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to deal proactively with the growing financial and human resource liability and that the Sirius Diamond receivership issue be resolved in the public interest no later than April 1, 2005;

And further, the committee recommends that the GNWT establish a firm position for dealing with diamond mines and resolve the issues affecting the viability of the secondary diamond processing industry in the NWT...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just some general comments from me, as well. I spoke about it yesterday to the Minister of Finance; however, it was more appropriate under the Financial Management Board, just with respect to our capital planning process.

I’m not entirely convinced that the capital planning process is working for us. It’s outside of us now and we don’t really see it. The only feedback that I can get is from the communities, hamlets and settlements that tell me that people are flying into the communities, asking them their needs and then flying out again. I am not too sure...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, as well as Bill 19, Appropriation Act, 2005-2006, specifically the main estimates for the Financial Management Board Secretariat.