Michael Nadli

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...

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if the Minister is familiar with the Yukon Gold, but it's a customized-- or basically a tailored potato that was seeded in part of the Yukon. I'm kind of looking forward to maybe coming up with a unique northern spud.

---Laughter

I think the Minister outlined in general that no applications have been received in terms of providing assistance for community members at the local level. Can he explain how can residents and communities access funding for greenhouse projects and other local initiatives under the Northern Food Development Program?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, northern agriculture is a success story waiting to happen, and residents of the Deh Cho want to be part of the localfood movement that is enhancing the health and sustainability of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided].

Mr. Speaker, an enterprising resident of Fort Providence wants to put locally produced food on the shelves at northern grocery stores. He is trying to spearhead an initiative that would eventually see locally grown produce in our stores all year. With support from the Northern Farm Training Institute and community...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the deputy minister for providing an explanation. If those decisions were merited on those two points, where would the community within this part of the NWT, say a community that's just off the road on the main transportation road from Enterprise to Yellowknife at the same time serviced by Northland Utilities, how could they be part of that initiative to try to get off diesel and perhaps consider a solar project? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

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.