Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to reply to the budget address because I'm not on the Standing Committee on Finance and so this is the only time I would be given the opportunity to express my appreciation to the government and also to look at a list of things I hope I can accomplish before the next election.
Mr. Speaker, one of the principles that this Assembly must accept and practice, besides fair equity, is also the principle we demand as human beings that all communities deserve to have their physical, their mental, their spiritual well-being addressed. In doing so, we address as government, the whole aspect of community life and the basic infrastructure that comes with that development.
Mr. Speaker, during the last few years, things have been happening at a fairly slow pace in my constituency, especially in my community. It's not because of a lack of commitment from this government, nor is it because I haven't been persistent in fighting for the community. It's that a lot of other communities the size of mine still have to do catch-up work in those areas. I have been very quiet, in order for those constituencies to be able to get all of the infrastructure that is required, in order to address the three principles that I've referred to, their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
I want to thank the government for the new senior citizens' home that is now in place in Hay River and also the alcohol and drug treatment centre that was just completed this summer.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of things that are happening at the community level, we do address, but a lot of things are happening other than that. When I refer to the territorial infrastructure, I refer to the highway systems -- the transportation system. One of them is the Mackenzie River. Mr. Speaker, this summer I had the opportunity to spend about a month on the river and look at different sites, including historical sites. In a lot of cases along the Mackenzie, there are a number of sites that probably could be restored. Boats could also be restored and put in a central location for people. There was a fair-sized wooden boat, named the Vancouver, at Axepoint. It's in fairly good shape, but this is one area in which I've looked around. I see that there are a lot of good historical things that might be able to be restored.
The other thing is, in Fort Providence itself, there is an old wooden ferry boat that I would like the government to look at seeing whether or not it could be restored.
The third thing that I'd like to talk about is the Mackenzie Highway. Mr. Whitford, in his Member's statement today talked about state-of-the-art, high-tech equipment for rescue. We don't have any kind of emergency response system on the Mackenzie River itself, Mr. Speaker. Most of the equipment that is in storage to address this is in the major centres. Any time there is an emergency situation on the river, we really don't have the equipment nor the manpower to address them. I would hope that, in the years to come, this government will look at the long-forecast plan so that we do have the emergency response team, as well as equipment, in place so that any time there is a situation, we would be able to respond as fast as we can and refer to places like Fort Providence, Fort Good Hope and Inuvik as areas in which those teams could be established.
The other thing, Mr. Speaker, that I also want to touch on is -- I wrote to the Government Leader, she is aware of this, but again, due to the lack of money, the commitment isn't there to do anything. Just as any highway system has campgrounds and parks, I would hope that we would be able to establish those kinds of facilities along the Mackenzie River, too. In my travels, I've also found that a lot of the sites to which people go are usually those that are accessible. You can land with comfort on the shores and be able to set up camp and have enough wood around. Anywhere that you have those kinds of sites, normally people will target them as areas to camp. What I find, too, is that you don't have to look far in the backs of those places to find garbage laying all over the place. Most of the people that go along the river will look for the most easily-accessible way of setting up camp and getting wood.
One of the things that happened this summer, Mr. Speaker, is that we have a tourist facility at Lady Evelyn Falls. I understand that Economic Development is going to be taking on tourism and parks. I'd like to ask the Minister if, during next summer's tourist season, he will target Kakisa for maintaining and getting the personnel from the community to maintain that facility at Lady Evelyn Falls.
Mr. Speaker, one area in which I have run into some problems in the communities, but which could be addressed, is with regard to the basic infrastructure in the communities. I understand that in the community of Fort Providence, there is a fire hall that's going to be built. Digaa Enterprises in Providence was very interested in taking on that project, on the understanding that they would build the project and lease it back to the government on a 20 year basis. This was not quite acceptable to this government, at this point in time. I don't know what the reasons are behind it, except to say that we do have 20 year leases with this government in other areas. Residential accommodation is one area in which this government has been willing to move.
But, with regard to fire halls, nursing stations and that, this government hasn't been very supportive. I would like to look at why I think, Mr. Speaker, it is in the best interests of this government to consider this arrangement. I think the situation right now is -- where we do have money problems -- that it is in the government's best interest to look at communities and the banks building these facilities.
As long as they see a 20 year lease, we'll be able to finance any kind of infrastructure in the communities. Mr. Speaker, it will perhaps save this government $500,000 next summer if we look at arranging 20 year leases. It also comes to the questions of ownership. Regardless of whether or not the hamlet is responsible for those buildings, the government still owns those buildings until the 20 years are up. There is nothing wrong with having an arrangement where such agreements can be reached. If, during that 20 year period, the Digaa says, we've cancelled your lease, or something to that effect, there is nothing wrong with having a clause in those agreements so that we allow those 20 year leases to happen.
The other problem I have, with regard to basic infrastructure, is that I don't know what the basic percentage is for the communities, in terms of putting in their own money for recreation facilities, for example. In 1983, an arena was built which also included a community hall, after I made the point that it is better to build two structures in one. What happened was, the community paid $250,000. They raised that much money to cover their percentage of the cost. But, if you look at the budget and the recoveries, there doesn't seem to be that much happening in other areas.
I don't know whether it is an oversight on my part, but I think a lot of communities are treated differently depending on where they are. In all fairness, I would perhaps like to see some percentage of recoveries that reflects how much the communities have put into basic infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, most of the communities have what is known as walk-in freezers. When I got re-elected two years ago, I made a motion in this House that the government support the community of Kakisa for walk- in freezers. But there was a delay because there was a policy being developed between Municipal and Community Affairs and Renewable Resources. To this day, Mr. Speaker, I don't know what the result of that policy is. There seems to have been very little done with regard to this policy. I'm asking that the government consider either establishing a walk-in freezer or the other alternative that was suggested, buying freezers for those families that are still heavily into hunting and trapping.
Another problem that I have, Mr. Speaker, is with regard to regional consultation and regional responsibilities. Fort Providence is one community where we seem to be dealing with both Fort Simpson and Fort Smith. One of the biggest problems is that, for the economic development tourism area, we deal with Fort Smith. They don't have a representative on the tourism board, nor do they have a representative when it comes to funding proposals and such. The community has been experiencing a lot of problems with the south Slave economic development board in that area.
The other thing is, we have students that go to school in Fort Simpson. I have no problem with that. I think one of the closest communities is Hay River. I understand that the students that are going to school from Fort Resolution and Hay River are doing excellently. In fact, they like that arrangement. For the purposes of the parents though, I would like to ask this government to look at the possibility -- since Fort Providence is in sort of a limbo situation with regard to responsibility and I would prefer this myself, as a parent -- of having children going to school in Hay River as opposed to Fort Simpson. I'm only saying that because Jim is not here.
Mr. Speaker, the other thing I have a problem with is the closure of Akaitcho Hall. Most of the students who went to school since the student residence was built, went here. It goes back as far as 1960, when Akaitcho Hall was first built. A lot of people from all over the north went to Akaitcho Hall for their first residence. Naturally, most of them came out fairly good. A lot of them are in fairly good positions. I think the closure of Akaitcho Hall would really limit the students in their choices.
My main point is that I don't know if the students were ever consulted about the closure of Akaitcho Hall. The students I have spoken with don't seem to think that they mattered that much. Whatever decisions are made really aren't with their consultation. Just because they aren't of age, doesn't mean we shouldn't consult with them, especially students who are moving away from home, as adults. Perhaps they aren't adults as far as the voting age goes, but they are certainly adults with regard to making decisions. Once they start being independent, going away from their parents to go to school, I think they should be given the opportunity to make choices.
I haven't heard anything said about students being consulted. I would have preferred if the choice was made by the students to say that it is time we concentrated on regional high schools as opposed to centralized high schools. I think the centralized locations do have a lot more to offer to communities. In Fort Providence, if the choice for the students was to choose between Fort Simpson and Yellowknife, I do not know what their choice would be. But, certainly, I would encourage my own children to look at Yellowknife or Hay River as the option.
Mr. Speaker, I have nothing else further to say, except I would like to make a short statement on my church in Fort Providence. The church in Fort Providence is just about completed. The last time I talked with the Father was two Sundays ago.