Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to speak to this motion today. Mr. Speaker, I was perplexed when I both -- I guess from a political perspective and from an operational perspective when the GNWT flatly just rejected this recommendation.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know what the exact answer is. I do know that given the amount of hours we put in as Regular Members and Cabinet on determining how to go about this review, how to move it from an inquiry to an after-action, we collaborated on it, Mr. Speaker, we all had representatives to give us information back as this process went on. So, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you. And I appreciate that. And since the Minister brought it up, I will point out that the 1900 obviously has a larger capacity than the Twin Otter. As well, the Twin Otters don't run as much in the fall and wintertimes. They're typically used more for charter work than they are for passenger and cargo work. So that Twin Otter is not always available to get in there, and the 1900 is the preferred route to go in there and/or the King Air. And the King Air as well as the medivac aircraft, which is required to land in there. So that's another factor to consider on that runway. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, and, again, and I appreciate that and the work that's being done up there. My only concern -- other concern, around that is, as you know, it's being done by a local contractor in partnership with the Indigenous government up there. And to do projects of this nature, obviously it requires staffing up, it requires training and, you know, given that it is a -- I understand the project has been reduced this year to allow that runway to settle, though there's always a fear that you lose some of that expertise and lose some of that workforce given that the project is on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my first questions are around the Mike Zubko air terminal building and -- sorry, the extension of Inuvik airport, the runway extension, we know that's being funded through the feds, through DND. It's been an amazing project thus far, and I look forward to that continuing.

My question is around the plan for the funding in this capital budget around paving, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister give an update on if, indeed, they do intend on paving the runway in 2026? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

I may have missed that, Mr. Chair. Was that a yes, or was that a hopefully, or was that a --

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I note in the long-term facility plans that there is a construction of a 38-bed long-term care facility in Hay River. I think that's great. I congratulate the residents of Hay River. But as I know, Mr. Chair, as the Minister knows, we do have a location in Inuvik that's had some geotechnical work done, the area's been cleared. I know the Minister likely has -- may even have a copy of a presentation and/or a design and an operations facility plan for such a facility in Inuvik. But what I don't see is it on this list this year for this year's capital...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will speak a little today on the economy as well.

Mr. Speaker, we're coming into our fall session, concluding our fall session going into winter where we'll be getting into our budget negotiations again. And we've heard loud and clear from all my colleagues in this house, both on Cabinet and both on the Regular MLAs, I'm sure, that we need infrastructure, we need programs. You know, but what we need, Mr. Speaker, to do this, to accomplish this is revenue, and revenue is what we don't have. I empathize with the Minister of Finance. I know her job is -- must...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And as they say, if you want a guarantee buy a microwave, right? But I appreciate the answer. I think it's very positive, and I have no further questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.