Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Regretfully, I can’t support this motion on the addition to our budget. We all heard on this side of the House how we’ll be faced with up to a $30 million reduction in our budget and we have to work hard after we pass this budget to do it.

I’m concerned because these reductions are coming and we want to add more money to the budget. I would like to say that sometimes the MLAs’ jobs are not about what we’re getting or what we’re adding, it’s what we hang on to. That exercise is coming, Mr. Chair.

For example, the reduction of half a position, point five of a...

Thank you very much. I think the deputy minister clarified that when there’s a net change. I can appreciate that answer.

Just referencing my Member’s statement about how difficult it is for somebody new trying to get into a system, I know that a lot of these are largely professional, but we’ve still got accounting clerks, front desk personnel, et cetera. I’m also presuming that there are just as many vacancies in this department on average as anybody else, so can the Minister designate a task team and look at those entry-level positions, because I’m concerned, once again, about over-qualifying...

Thank you very much. Just with still a bit of position growth here and with the Stanton Territorial Health Authority and the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, I’m presuming all these are Yellowknife jobs. There’s an increase of 24 positions. Can the Minister explain what those are.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I stand here today and I’ll be supporting this motion. I’ve heard throughout my region about the old way of doing things and the old way of doing things was about not having enough enforcement, not having monitoring in the regions, in the communities and a lot of those old days decisions were about things were missed. Users of the land, the trappers and the hunters and the chiefs that go out there see how the land has been in disrepair. So that’s why they’ve got such a big liability when it comes to liability issues that the feds recognize. I’m really pleased...

The Minister has heard. As well, I’d like to ask the Minister if he can copy me and Mr. Yakeleya on that, and also to include that residents of the Northwest Territories aren’t being serviced, that’s why he’s writing them on behalf of his constituents.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just following up with the Minister of Transportation on roadside assistance and people that travel north to Wrigley, I did write to the Minister, I think about eight days ago, and his response was for me to tell my constituents to contact roadside assistance about their concerns. They already know their concerns. They’re stuck. They can’t get assistance. But what he’s asking me is to ask help from the Minister of Transportation to get a hold of roadside assistance and let them know that this is a public road, that this is not an ice road. Their designation is...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to provide as much information as I can to the Minister. He already contacted a couple. I’d be glad to assist the Minister with that. Thank you very much, and thank him for his question.

I don’t think the Minister heard me. People are getting stuck and they’re not getting roadside assistance. I don’t know where he’s getting his information from. What we’re asking is no cost to government. What roadside assistance need is, the perfect term for it, of course, is a letter of comfort that this is a public highway system and not an ice road.

Can the Minister do that? Can he write a letter without costing the government?

[Microphone turned off]

…peak of our season. People throughout the Northwest Territories are enjoying greater ease of travel between the communities along the winter roads, a key feature of our northern way of life and doing business. We all agree that public safety is a top priority on our winter roads. Roadside assistance is available on the public winter highway system through the Alberta Motor Association and the Ford Roadside Assistance, who contract the nearest local contractor on a driver’s behalf and within a short time help is on its way.

This service enhances public safety in a way...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to begin with some caution, I guess. I know the Minister is trying to streamline and provide quality service by having standardized levels of servicing in all our regions. I guess the concern that he heard when he traveled with me to Fort Simpson was there is still a need for some type of regional autonomy, community councils, along with some type of appointed members do want to still have their concerns at some board type level. I will just mention that to him again.

Recently, of course, I just spoke in the House about an elder being misdiagnosed...