Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs reviewed Bill 19, the Donation of Food Act, at a public meeting held Thursday, October 16, 2008. At the public meeting we heard from the sponsor of the bill, Ms. Bisaro, on the need to protect businesses that donate food for charity from liability concerns. We heard that many more restaurants and grocery outlets would donate food if the liability issues were dealt with.

The committee heard from Hon. Sandy Lee, Minister of Health and Social Services, on the government’s support for this legislation and the actions that her...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At one time the Department of Public Works maintained an office and staff in Lutselk’e and also had mechanics in Fort Resolution who looked after the maintenance of all heavy equipment in the community. This was discontinued eight years ago. Would the Minister look at working with the Department of Public Works to assist the communities in maintaining their equipment, in addition to what MACA is doing?

I don’t believe the money allocated to the communities for this activity takes into consideration hiring qualified mechanics from outside the community or extra travel and accommodation costs for mechanics and, if parts are needed, expensive freight costs. Will the department look at increasing community budgets to allow them to properly maintain their equipment?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Brian Kardash, a schoolteacher from Fort Resolution from last year and Patricia’s husband, as you indicated. I never met his father, but I understand that’s Dan Kardash.

Mr. Chair, I’d just ask the department if I could get that information provided to me.

So as a result of technical assessment, the Deninu probably got scheduled for some deferred maintenance in ’09–10. Has Public Works completed a technical assessment of Lutselk’e school in this go-round? I know the deputy minister advised me just now that there has been some major work done, but I’m just wondering if there was a technical assessment done on that school as well.

Tu Nedhe.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is all I have.

I thank the deputy minister for the answer. Just for more information on the chipseal overlay on Highway No. 6, there are only about 15 kilometres that are chipsealed. The department did add an additional five or six kilometres of chipseal beyond what used to be the community of Pine Point. If those are areas that would be considered under this program, then it does leave the rest of the highway for the budget that’s scheduled for Highway No. 6. I’m happy with that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I was wondering if the government or the Department of Public Works has done a technical evaluation on the GNWT-owned office space that would be vacated to move into the new office space.