Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the same Minister if there is a strategy to address the affirmative action numbers in the government. We know that the affirmative action numbers are low; they're far below what the goal is. I'd like to know from this Minister if there's a government-wide strategy to address the issue of members of the public service not having…priority one candidates not having many numbers or high numbers as we wish to achieve in the government's goal. I'd like to know if there's a strategy in place to increase those numbers. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, although I recognize that direct appointment is a Cabinet program, I'd like to ask the Minister if he can indicate to the House in direct appointments being done by Cabinet, if there are as many direct appointments now as there were the previous six months.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am happy with that response. Can the Minister provide me a timeframe as to when the department can start working with the community? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, within those action plans, I would like to ask the Minister: which particular preventive measures does the department see as a priority within the Cancer Strategy?

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, I had advised everyone that we were going to try to keep it to two and a half minutes but I spoke in the Aboriginal language and I assumed that I was getting an extra 30 seconds. Mr. Speaker, it appears that health professionals cannot make a connection between the cancer rates and Fort Resolution and the Pine Point Mine. However, local people have always said the two must be linked. Health experts continue to blame lifestyle choices in Fort Resolution. Local people say there is something in the water that diminishes their abilities to fight cancer. The people of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Considering the federal government has yet to approve bundle number two, then the opportunity is still there for the Minister to look at actually replacing the bridges. These are very old bridges that have been in place obviously since the highway was built between Hay River and Pine Point; those two bridges were put in. Those are the two bridges I'm most keenly interested in. Will the Minister consider taking another look at it to replace the bridges, looking maybe at the length of time which a new bridge will be in place and usable as opposed to a rehabilitation of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question was to ask if the federal government had approved it yet, obviously, they haven't. If the Minister is anticipating that the federal government will do approval soon then there was a plan in February to bring a supplementary appropriation forward during the session. Is the Minister still on target to do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, Pierre was born at Taltheilei Narrows, September 8, 1929, to Alexis and Josephine Fatt. He lived a traditional lifestyle, hunting, fishing, trapping, went to various jobs. He met his wife Mary Adele Nitah in Lutselk’e and they raised seven children. Pete is survived by his children Larry, Ron, Maggie, Irene, Susie, and siblings Jim, Maryrose and Emily. Pierre was predeceased by his wife Mary. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to finally pass my condolences on to the Beck family of Fort Resolution for the passing of the late Doris Beck...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as has become customary for me, I would like to read some eulogies that people have passed away in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh between the last sitting and today. I would like to send my condolences to the Abel family, if it's okay, for the late Herman Abel who passed away on March 31, 2016 at age 40. Herman was born in Lutselk’e August 23, 1975, the youngest of Alizette and Louis Abel's children. Herman loved his family very much, enjoyed playing guitar, singing, and always made people laugh, was great at fixing things. Herman is survived by his children, Melanie...

Mr. Speaker, we are asked to pay 25 cent dollars on the Building Canada Plan. It is an opportunity that we may not see again, especially not on that bridge or those bridges, in any event, or any part of those projects I suppose. An opportunity to pay only 25 per cent of the capital cost of a project like this, the department goes to a consultant, the consultant indicates that it would be better to rehab the bridge and extend the life for 35 years as opposed to putting a new one in for 75 years. Again, my question is: was that decision made because it was too cost prohibitive to replace the...