Kevin A. Menicoche

While I’ve got the microphone, I’d like to speak a little bit about future needs of Fort Simpson. Of course, due to the housing stock, there’s a need for a new eight-plex or a 10-plex type of building. I don’t know if the department has that in their forecast for future growth of Fort Simpson and their needs there.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just noticed some of these units in the smaller communities, just a general question about the concept of, in order to reduce costs, duplexes or four-plex type of schematic. Is there anything new in the works with regard to that in placing those in the smaller communities, Mr. Chair? Thank you.

Thank you very much. Also, a new issue that came up out of Fort Liard was the road tests that the community was almost too small because I think we changed our legislation that the road test had to be done in the larger communities like Fort Simpson. Even Fort Simpson was questionable at that time. So I don’t know if the department has reviewed it with regard to giving out learners’ permits, class 7s and class 6s. I know that Aurora College goes to great lengths to train up to 10 people at a time in Fort Liard. So just with that there, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much. Yes, just with the co-pay component, I’m just wondering what kind of timing does the Minister expect in looking at and reviewing that particular guideline that’s in our programming currently. Thank you.

I think the Minister was talking about some of the bridges on the winter road section which kind of leads towards the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project to the north of Wrigley. I know that when the Minister came with me and we spoke with the Wrigley delegation, that was one of their asks, was can we start doing a small, mini program of highway development past the community of Wrigley, in terms of piecemealing the eventuality of a Mackenzie Valley Highway up the Mackenzie Valley. Just with those thoughts, any work that has been done by the department with respect to that other than the geotech...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask some questions of the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Earlier today I spoke in my Member’s statement about the repair and renovation programs that are available to all residents of the NWT, but most particularly my concern is about our seniors, those on pensions, and our disabled. There’s the co-pay component on the majority of our programming, and in my experience I’ve seen that in the small and remote communities people don’t have access to $500 that they’re required to co-pay on.

I’d like to ask the Minister...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Just with the resources available for Highway No. 1, of course it includes the section between Fort Simpson and Wrigley, and most particularly, from the N’Dulee ferry towards the Willow River Bridge, that particular section never really recovered from all the trucks that were on that road when they were doing the Enbridge Pipeline’s recovery operations. I drove it a couple times this fall already and it really needs some work. I know that there was some planned work for this fall. I’m not too sure what was done, and I know that I’ve seen the engineers on that...

Certainly, even though we’re living in the North and we have small and remote communities, I always see in the news schools being locked down or severe incidents happening, so I am pleased we are moving forward with this. Perhaps the Minister could say how he’s handling the smaller communities. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That would be nice to get that kind of documentation as soon as we can. Can the Minister commit to that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The residents of Nahendeh have been asking the Department of Transportation to consider moving from a 16-hour day to an 18-hour day, which means opening up the Lafferty Ferry at the Liard crossing from 6:00 a.m. until midnight. We were very pleased that we almost had a trial period this fall, but unfortunately the residents didn’t like the two-hour break which is prime time for traveling back home and would have created some other headaches. Since that time, I have spoken with the Minister to review how the Providence work was being done for an 18-hour day. I don’t know...