Michael McLeod

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I would like to extend my congratulations to the athletes from all over the North who have gathered in Hay River to compete in the 15th Annual Territorial Track and Field Championships. It was my pleasure to attend the opening ceremonies last night, along with a number of Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Madam Speaker, many sport and recreation partners, including Municipal and Community Affairs, community governments, Sport North and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to speak today about the important role of community firefighters and fire departments. Not only are firefighters our friends and neighbours, they are also essential volunteers who contribute to the public health and safety of our communities.

Firefighters are held in high esteem for the dangerous work they do on our behalf. Because of recent events in Yellowknife, where two community firefighters lost their lives, we all have an increased awareness of the risks firefighters take to protect us and our loved ones.

To recognize the essential...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the positions identified were the four different positions under MACA for a two-year term.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I certainly can’t agree with the Member’s comments that we haven’t done anything on dust control. The responsibility for dust control is built into the community government formula allocation. That’s part of their responsibilities for operations. Dust control is factored in. So each community has included in their budget some dollars for dust suppression. We’ve also undertaken to provide a main street chipsealing program that has been in the works for several years now. We have a long list of communities. I don’t have it in front of me, but I...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the document is completed. We have not had an opportunity to sit down and review the findings. As soon as we have that opportunity, I will be pleased to share that with the Members of this House. I’m anticipating that to be sometime next week. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, we are in the process of updating our long-term strategy. The document Investing in Roads was put together in 2000 with consultation with all regions. It’s something we would like to update this year. As part of that, we will be talking with the community leaders and we are also hosting a conference, or we just recently hosted a get together with the contractors and some of the people who work for us and do the maintenance on it to see what we can do in terms of improvement.

As for the Department of Transportation to hold a conference, I don’t think that’s something we were...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, like the Member, we share Mr. Diefenbaker’s vision to see an all-weather road along the Mackenzie Valley.

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However, the final decision is not ours to make. We continue to seek funding to improve the road system, extend the season and put the bridge into the Mackenzie Valley winter road. However, we need the federal government onside to provide the dollars to bring it to the point where it is an all-weather road. It’s something we strive towards. We’ve used every avenue that we have to bring that message to Ottawa. We have included it in our...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Member is correct; there is no budget line that states an amount earmarked for dust control. Dust control is factored in as part of the formula and that money comes forward as a block fund. We do not tell the communities how to spend their money. If Lutselk’e wants to spend their money on dust control or a recreation officer, that’s up to them to put the priority and investment where they see fit. We don’t tell the communities how to invest their money. We want the communities to make their own decisions, and if that money is not spent, in...

Madam Speaker, it’s difficult to respond to that question. I don’t know what the options or the solutions are that the contractor is recommending at this point. The issue of dust is a serious concern in all the communities across the North. Whether it is a large centre or a small centre, it’s an issue that we need to be able to deal with. We’d like to be able to look at the findings and respond accordingly. If there’s a need for additional resources to implement some of these programs, then we’d certainly look at that and include it in our plan for next year or if there is any avenue to...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are always very interested and happy to go into the Sahtu, as we have demonstrated over this past year. Anytime we go to the community, many issues come up and the road, I am sure, will be at the top of the list. We have heard the message from the Member. We have heard the message from his communities that connecting the communities is a very important role. There are other areas in the NWT that need also to be given some attention to be able to connect and improve transportation links within the community. That is an area we will be focussing on as...