Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding the contract to complete a planning study on the Fort Simpson Health Centre was awarded in March 2015. In October of 2015, the previous Member for Nahendeh requested an update. During that update the then Minister for Public Works and Services estimated the first phase of the plan he said would be finished in February 2016, and then the second phase would be in the fall of 2016. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that this facility is needed to be replaced due to age, quality control and maintenance costs.

A new health centre helps...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take this opportunity to speak about an organization in Fort Simpson that has a huge impact in the arts, culture, and entertainment community across the North. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this organization grow from its first breath some 16 years ago to where it is today. Open Sky Society has a long history in Fort Simpson in Nahendeh. Open Sky will be hosting its 16th Annual Open Sky Festival this July. This event brings multiple benefits to the village of Fort Simpson and the businesses in the region. The festival is a tourist draw and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the extended operating hours for MV Lafferty ferry. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 153 handwritten signatures of Northwest Territories residents and three electronic signatures of Northwest Territories and Canadian residents. Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Department of Transportation extend the operating hours of the MV Lafferty ferry to 6:00 a.m. to midnight daily without creating a service break in the afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I won’t try to ask you the question this time. I’ll ask the question to the Minister responsible for ENR. I thank the Minister for that answer and I’m very happy to hear that there is a committee. Can the Minister actually advise the committee that there is some of these issues out there that people are looking at, the electronics that has, you know, getting a refund, so we can get all the electronics out of our dumps and into a proper recycling process? This will be my final question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the NWTAC 50th Annual General Meeting, the staff of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources did a presentation and a question and answer session. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise the House if they are encountering any challenges in implanting the GNWT’s Electronics Recycling Program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again I thank the Minister for his answer. They’ll be a lot of stuff coming from his office or his department in the future I hope, and I thank him for that. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding as part of the BIP process, southern companies make commitments to have a certain percentage of northern content. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please explain how the department ensures that that percentage of the bid is adhered to?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we heard the Minister of Transportation speak about saving $2 million on a contract in my riding. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please tell us if he actually spoke to the two companies about the cost of them operating this contract as a negotiated contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, further to the petition I delivered to this House earlier this afternoon, I wish to table correspondence from the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce regarding extended hours of service for the MV Lafferty Ferry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a written question to the Minister of Transportation.

Would the Minister provide the following information?

What is the total amount spent on capital projects on Highway No. 1 since 2011-2012, including the winter road section?

Which company, both northern and southern owned have been awarded capital contracts on Highway No. 1 since 2011-2012, including the winter road section and what was the process for selecting them?

How many companies requested negotiated contracts from the Department of Transportation between November 2015 and June 2016? and;

How...

I thank the Minister for that answer and it’s good to hear that. Mr. Speaker, in speaking with some of the residents and youths that recycle bottles because they receive a refund from the deposit they make during the purchase of the items, can the Speaker advise if the department has any plans in the future to provide any refunds for recycling electronics?