Shane Thompson

I think the Minister kind of answered my second question, but I am going to ask it anyway so we can get a little bit further information. Mr. Speaker, when dealing with these tragedies, will the Minister explain what the department does to ensure that there are necessary supports that are available to the communities besides just talking to them?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the winter roads, you have heard my brief comments at the very beginning, the importance of helping the communities and especially Sambaa K'e with their winter road. Can the Minister please advise us what they have been doing to make sure this winter road is safe and efficient? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. This past year, she won an award from the Provincial Rowing Association for her commitment to this sport.

This year, she will be moving to Victoria, BC, to try out for the national team. I would like all my colleagues to give her a big round of applause and wish her all the best of luck. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. When will they know when this energy plan or these consultations are going to be done? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 234, we talk about wood stove purchases. Was this part of the low-rising money, or was this another thing that was sunsetted? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I thought I missed something, so I greatly appreciate it. I was not trying to be -- I will just leave it at that. So I understand we have the Building Canada Fund, I totally understand that, but what I am looking at is this Community Access Program, where if we increased it we would be able to give these smaller communities a better opportunity to develop the roads, or the access roads, or access to the recreational opportunities in the smaller communities. So I have heard the Minister, and again he is going to come back and say we are in...

Thank you for the non-answer, Minister. I appreciate that. The problem is, again, reality is, we live in the territories, we have small communities, not all big centres are not doing all major projects; however, if we would invest a little bit more money in this in the smaller communities we would see a better impact on the other departments such as Health and ECE through income support. So, again, since we are all here to work on this, as the Minister has said, will the Minister and the department start looking at this and putting a better percentage to these access roads, these kinds of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the answer from the deputy minister. In regard to leases, I notice there is a reduction there. Is that just amalgamation with the two departments and we are eliminating some of the spaces? Is that what it is? Or is it vehicles or stuff like that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank my colleagues for addressing some of the concerns. I guess my first one is in regard to the Minister's statement when they are talking about the various highways and winter road contracts to improve transportation infrastructure in the Deh Cho. I thank the Minister and the department for doing that. However, there have been cuts previously that have affected the reductions in this, so I appreciate the department looking forward and trying to get this addressed.

The next thing I want to talk about is the amalgamations, zero-based budgeting. To me, amalgamation, we...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually I did send an e-mail, but maybe I will have to pull that out. The community has brought it to my attention. I did forward it from the development corporation and they have asked for work to be done on this section of road. I am trying to get that message out there to the department to work with it.

It is a safety factor. Just recently, they had six elders or six individuals being shipped to Fort Simpson for medical appointments and they got stuck there for six hours. This is the section of road that they are talking about. Can the Minister look into this with the...