Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, some of the people I talked to, in my previous meetings with them, are somewhat sceptical as to the vaccine, because there were so many different reports on it and studies on it. Is the department also going to be advising the elders if they do not want to take the vaccine, that they are encouraged to use the traditional medicines -- that’s one way also -- to see if this is an acceptable method by the health centres? I am not sure if that will be a message that this Minister wants to give. I want to make sure the elders are given this opportunity to see if they would also take...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of Health and Social Services in terms of the swine flu, the vaccine and the information. She said there was a 1-800 number to call for people who inquire for more information about it. Is this 1-800 number also being translated into the aboriginal languages for the people who want to use their language to get more information with regard to this flu?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the issue here in terms of the Deh Cho Bridge toll system, can this toll system be designed by a private company other than the GNWT? Is that the way this is being looked at? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I think if the Minister were to embark on this concept, it would be very worthwhile to look at in terms of people, I can speak for the Sahtu and, more specifically, Colville Lake, in terms of where there is still a lot of independence in the people in terms of their lifestyle. So this concept would work very well in that community. I’m not going to speak for other communities, but my region would certainly benefit. I want to ask the Minister if he would give his officials some leeway and flexibility in exploring with the people of Colville Lake or in the Sahtu region in terms of...

I am certainly pleased to hear from the Minister in terms of their plan to go ahead with the Deline realignment of the road project and certainly the people from Deline will be happy to hear that.

Another issue that I want to just touch on which Mr. Krutko, the MLA from the Delta, talked about is the bridging programs. Certainly one that we in the Sahtu are looking forward to, specifically in Norman Wells and the hamlet of Tulita was looking at the Bear River bridge. This somehow has become a challenge for this government and this department as to how you put together a package to make a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of the Housing Corporation questions regarding the investments made into the Sahtu of the Northwest Territories in terms of having some simple homes such as log homes or some sort of simple homes in the communities like Colville Lake that could be built, in terms of being supportive of the GNWT’s vision and goals for this Assembly.

The Minister is correct that the department has shifted some of its focus onto the safety of the passengers in the Sahtu region on the winter road and they certainly appreciate the winter road improvements. I would ask the Minister if he would be open to having his staff talk to some of the local contractors in terms of some of the areas that they could certainly improve on, realignment, grade improvement, there are certainly discussions. We have driven the road, we know the road and certainly the department has some of the expertise to put to use, so I wonder if we could work in collaboration...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to focus my comments on the big picture within the department here and even with the GNWT. I would look forward to looking into details of the program that the department has, the Drive Alive Program. It’s a program for the public in terms of safety issues and adults, young kids having safety programs in our schools and communities. I would like to ask some questions in that area of the safety programs and that initiative, certainly for safety for the people in my region that have about 800 kilometres of winter road from Wrigley to Colville Lake.

Safety is...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t need to go through a list of projects that have been delayed or put over for another year, because of some of the work that wasn’t done or was overlooked, maybe. I do know that there’s very competent and capable people doing these projects and I’m grateful for the amount of infrastructure dollars that are going into the North, especially into our communities in terms of transportation. You can see the priority in terms of the federal government in terms of the dollars that this department is receiving in terms of funding for much needed infrastructure in our...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for clarification, are you asking for general comments on Transportation?