Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, June 5th is a significant day for the Inuvialuit. It was June 5, 1984, when they signed their land claims agreement and many Inuvialuit in the Inuvialuit settlement region are getting together today, enjoying a day off, but there’s three of us still working.

---Laughter

Since that day, Mr. Speaker, the Inuvialuit built their capacity and invested wisely, and many Inuvialuit have and will benefit from the investments that come from dividends they invest into the education and assisting harvesters and so on. Many Inuvialuit still continue to practice a...

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the Member means when he asks when the maintenance schedule will kick in. We have a maintenance schedule that operates year round. We have a maintenance schedule that we are operating under right now. We are providing extra attention to some of the areas that are causing us some concern. However, we have our crews out there working as many hours as we can provide and we will continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of dust control has always been the responsibility of the community government. It has been built into the community government operational funds; it’s something that’s allocated on an annual basis. The community decides their budgets. If the community decides not to spend it on dust control, that’s their decision. We have recently moved into transferring the dollars to the communities in different areas so that the communities can make their own decisions. There is more money flowing now for communities to work with on what their challenges are than there ever has...

Mr. Speaker, the study was done for the use of the communities and there is some new monies included in this year’s budget to do additional work in terms of studying what would be the appropriate dust suppression to use. However, to the actual cost of what the community may decide to move forward on, whether it’s chipsealing of the whole community or calcium, that would be the community’s responsibility, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The original tender, I believe, closed in February. Now we hear that the new RFP is going out at the end of the month. I would like to ask the Minister, what was the delay from February until now? We are looking at three or four months before they redid it and put it out. So I would like to ask the Minister what was the delay. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every year in the NWT, the government undertakes capital projects. These projects can range from construction of new schools, student residences and major renovations, to existing buildings. Mr. Speaker, I am becoming alarmed at the number of projects that go over budget, and in some cases are not awarded at all. Some of the projects, Mr. Speaker, have to be re-tendered with changes made to the design and to keep within budget.

A good example of these high costs, Mr. Speaker, would be the Deh Cho Bridge. The first figure I heard was $25 million. Then I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in April, I was pleased to launch the 2006 Get Active NWT community challenge at the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting in Norman Wells.

This campaign is a friendly challenge to NWT residents to increase their physical activity. I want to thank all Members of the Legislative Assembly for their enthusiastic participation and to recognize Mr. Miltenberger and the other Mr. McLeod for having the most steps on their pedometers.

---Applause

At the end of last year’s Get Active challenge, over 6,400 residents of the Northwest Territories participated and made a...

Mr. Speaker, the Public Utilities Board was established to serve as an expert body and an independent body to review the rate setting process in the rate setting process. It was also set up to insulate the Government of the Northwest Territories from the potential for conflict in the view of controlling the financial interests. Consumers, of course, have the right to be treated fairly. Again, Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if I have the answer the Member is asking, if I have the authority to overrule the Public Utilities Board. I would have to take that question as notice, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the board is required to review the applications on public utilities operating in the Northwest Territories regarding rates and rate structures. If it warrants hearings or whether it’s actual formal hearings in the community or through a process, what’s considered to be a proper hearing, that’s the board’s decision. I can’t confirm with any certainty whether it’s an actual requirement; depending on the level of what is requested in the application, I would assume. I would have to confirm that though, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we will have some of our senior staff go into the areas on highways No. 1 and No. 7 to see for themselves if there are some concerns being raised by some of the Member’s constituents and look into the issues. Thank you.