Question, Mr. Speaker.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, you have the opportunity to conclude debate.

Question is being called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed with my motion today regarding northern hiring policy.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Nerysoo, the seconder is not in the House. Do you have another seconder, Mr. Nerysoo.

Yes, the honourable Member for Thebacha.

Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I might make a few comments encouraging Members to support the motion. It is not my intention to in any way challenge the ability of this government to recruit from the South. However, I do figure it is important that we encourage our government to get on with promoting the northern labour force, especially those that are qualified to be placed in positions in our government. I think if we are to promote the education of our young people, and if we are to encourage our adult population to upgrade their formal education so that they can qualify even for further education, I think it is incumbent upon us in this Assembly to give some hope to our population that they will be employed at the end of the efforts of the people of the North.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This policy, I believe, would no doubt encourage and assist northern students that are currently looking for work. I would view this policy somewhat similar to our buy north policy, where this government makes every effort to hire north for the students in respect to recruitment. So I fully support the intention of this motion.

To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. Mr. Nerysoo, would you like to conclude debate?

Question, Mr. Speaker.

Question is being called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to address my motion today regarding Wood Buffalo National Park winter road.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed please, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that this Legislative Assembly requests the cabinet to negotiate with Wood Buffalo National Park to keep open and maintain the winter road between Fort Smith and Fort Chipewyan throughout the winter.

The motion is in order. To the motion, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was very disappointed at the fact that Parks Canada had told the community of Fort Smith that they no longer will be providing funding to maintain the winter road. My view in respect to transportation linkage into the Territories and in the Territories and throughout Canada is very, very critical, particularly in the North. This winter road has been open for many, many years. It has enabled the many relatives that live in Fort Smith to communicate with Fort Chipewyan on a frequent basis and, in the last couple of years, allowed Fort Smith residents to enjoy being able to travel on this winter road as far as McMurray and even down to Edmonton.

Mr. Speaker, the cost to maintain this road is in the vicinity of $40,000, and I certainly would like to see that every effort is made to ensure that this winter road continues as a winter road for the years to come. I would support the effort by cabinet, and I would appreciate the support from my colleagues in advising Wood Buffalo National Park that in order for their park to be successful in the North, every linkage or infrastructure of transportation has to be maintained.

Seconder of the motion. Mr. Zoe.