Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Nick Sibbeston, senator, lawyer, MLA and former Premier of the GNWT Legislative Assembly, and also a former member of the Sacred Heart Residential School, a survivor from Fort Providence. I would like to welcome him to the House. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this motion as well. In August 2016 I was honoured to be present to see students graduate from Deh Gah Elementary and Secondary High School and the Minister was there too and witnessed three students that began their lifelong education quests at the start of the Aboriginal Head Start program, and I wanted to emphasize that.

The Aboriginal Head Start program has been in existence for a long time; it is community-based and it involves the community, parents and elders who incorporate the knowledge, at the same time prepare kids that are...

I'd like to thank the Minister for her reply. The unfortunate reality is we have an empty unit in Fort Providence. Who has been paying for fuel, utilities, and other maintenance in the empty modular unit in Fort Providence since it was brought into the community in January 2016?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I made my statement on Market Housing in Small Communities, so my question is to the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. The disruption of existing local markets are a fact to consider when the Housing Corporation is considering bringing new units into a non-market community. Mahsi.

Through its Market Housing Program, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is mandated to provide housing units at market rent to "critical staff" in non-market communities. This includes the community of Fort Providence. Here in the House, on March 3rd, we heard that the Housing Corporation currently has 133 market rentals across most non-market communities, and that the corporation plans to increase their stock to 205 units within the next year. But I'm hearing from my constituents, and observing in the communities in my riding, that this program is not working in our small...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has stated indeed that the department is doing a review in terms of trying to standardize the licensing of drivers in communities, and not just large communities. Would the Minister perhaps outline this in general, just the scope of the changes that he anticipates, at the same time whether he can commit to this House that, whenever that report and review is available, that he will make it available to this side of the House? Mahsi.

Can the Minister provide examples of how other jurisdictions manage licensing for drivers from rural and remote communities so that applicants can get a valid, nationally recognized license without incurring major costs?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a driver's license is considered an essential part of the modern lifestyle. It is required for many types of employment and viewed as an important rite of passage for youth. But, Mr. Speaker, not all NWT driver's licenses are created equal. If you get your license in a community of under 500 people, you can only drive within 100 km of your home address. In a community of up to 2,000 people, you can only drive within the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the reasoning behind these restrictions is that small communities have limited traffic and rural-grade...

I would like to thank the Minister for his reply. Would the Minister be willing to look at ways to extend the opportunity to get a full driver's license to all residents and communities and working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, for example?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Transportation. I was pleased to learn that the Department of Transportation is reviewing the restrictions on drivers in very small communities, so that someone from Tulita or Deline, for example, could use regional ice roads to legally travel throughout the region, not just 100 km from their driveway. When will the department's review of restrictions for drivers in very small communities be complete? Mahsi.