Shane Thompson

I understand the phone lines really work good between Yellowknife and Wrigley but, unfortunately, they would actually like to see the Minister come to the community and address the issue. Three other Ministers came there and they heard their concerns: transportation was the issue; the biggest issue there. They had concerns. They're trying to meet with the Minister face-to-face so they can address their concerns. So will the Minister make a commitment to go in and face-to-face meet with these people? Please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up with the Minister of Transportation. I know he said that the community has met with his staff to meet there, but this is an Aboriginal community, it's First Nations in government and it's part of the mandate, so will the Minister commit to actually meet the leadership to have this discussion about transportation in their riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho to the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, we are in a riding that understands the importance of verbal commitments. Can the Minister confirm that he will honour the verbal commitments made by the department or the senior public servants to this community?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today you heard about what is happening in Wrigley with their negotiated contract for the highways. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please provide the House with the department's definition of capacity building as it pertains to contracts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to speak as a Member for the Nahendeh riding. It is about representing all six communities. Mr. Speaker, Wrigley is facing job losses after being passed over for a highway maintenance contract. Pehdzeh Ki Contractors bid on a contract to do the maintenance on part of Highway No. 1. Unfortunately, they were not successful with their bid on this contract.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately this is not the end of the story as they say. Mr. Speaker, Wrigley was the last community of the Nahendeh tour with the three Ministers in October of this year. As we headed into a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It will be a similar question that I asked the Lands Minister, but with the parks officer patrol maintenance vehicle, will the maintenance be done regionally, i.e. in the Community of Fort Simpson or will it be done outside the community? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know it's not on here, but I'm trying to figure out where that lab is in Fort Simpson and what the status of the lab is? Is it still a building or a shell out there without any siding or anything on it? So if we can get the status on that capital project. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we heard the Minister of HR talk about the regional recruitment plan and he talked about a significant majority of the program participants are priority candidates under the Affirmative Action. Can he actually give us the number of the actual Affirmative Action candidates, please? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I am thankful he is actually promoting this. Can the Minister please say what type of promotion, besides just talking to him? Has there been a business study that they have presented to him or anything like that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for recognizing me here. We heard in the news that the federal government has put the Mackenzie Valley project on the backburner. Can the Minister please explain why we have to hear about this in the news and not through the normal process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.