Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it's good to know that the new changes have been taking place in terms of the operations of the highways, some operations and it's encouraging that once again I've heard the word forever, which is good. The other point that I wanted to make and to seek some clarification: is this in terms of the pullback of Enterprise in terms of whether that's temporary in terms of maybe decommissioning the operations there and getting service from Hay River. Can I get some clarification on that? Mahsi.

Thank you. I understand that with community residents RCMP local detachments are developing community policing plans. I just wanted to understand whether that will continue, especially in regard to smaller communities such as Kakisa that efforts have been made to ensure that their input will be sought and that at least their involvement -- at least lay the foundation of community policing plans. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are we looking for partnership opportunities with the universities and other northern jurisdictions to advance local food production in the NWT? Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. It's very encouraging that we're not-- we need to develop a strategy but those programs and services could be readily available for people at the local level. How is agriculture being incorporated into the GNWT science agenda?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Look, it's pretty clear in terms of agriculture, we know what we want to do, it's the question of how, and critically, of course, is when. So I understand that the draft Agriculture Strategy has gone to the appropriate standing committee, it's under review as the Minister indicated, can the Minister give us a timeline on the target implementation for some of the strategy's immediate and short-term actions? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to clarify to see if I'm understanding this correctly. The government asked that the NTPC in a community providing perhaps power. In the case of Kakisa it's serviced, of course, by Northlands Utilities so it's not considered a government asset but Kakisa needs backup power. How would a community like Kakisa be considered for perhaps a solar energy project to try to create a decent backup system? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to get an explanation from the Minister. The Minister stated that an initiative in Aklavik will be undertaken in terms of trying to move away from diesel energy and at least maybe advance forward with a solar energy project. I'm just kind of wondering if that initiative was merited on two fronts. Maybe in the first instance is because of its northerly location as a community and having transportation issues. And very similarly and recently too, there was an initiative in Colville Lake in terms of establishing solar energy to supplement the generators.

The...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, my final question is just to more -- likely I've heard it in a roundabout way, but since the operation of Deh Cho Bridge coming into stream about three years ago, has there been perhaps just an evaluation in terms of the number of traffic that goes down the highway between, say, Enterprise and Yellowknife and if there's been notable identification of the need to provide more services just to maintain the roads say during the wintertime versus the summertime. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In my riding there's at least two communities that have a highway maintenance camp and there's been a pullback of resources from the communities. I just wanted to get an understanding in terms of the scope of regionalization effort whether this is temporary or this is reposition of resources so that at least you have key personnel on the ground serving smaller communities from regions. So could the Minister provide an explanation in terms of the scope of regionalization of the highways and operations? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask the Minister if he could maybe provide an explanation in terms of I think it's been lately about three years since the bridge came into operation, and it's now, you know, the effect is that we have 24-hour traffic up and down the Mackenzie Highway that travels north and south. So I wanted to get an understanding of whether that has had a negative impact in terms of the resources of RCMP officers and detachments, either in Yellowknife, Behchoko, Fort Providence and Hay River, and whether there are designated resources for highway patrols plus at the...