Again, we have been working very closely with a group which Mr. Pope has certainly been spokesperson for and of course with the MP for Western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, on this initiative. Discussions are still under way. Given the current fiscal restraint and Mr. Young's desire to cut 75 per cent of his department -- I believe he said that this morning when I was watching him on TV -- I am not that optimistic. However, what I have instructed the department to do is to try to look as creatively as possible at a hire-north concept that we had years ago. That's still under discussion at this time.
Debates of March 1st, 1995
Topics
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John Todd Keewatin Central
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Fred Koe Inuvik
That makes sense, especially with the income support program initiatives. If there are jobs there and you can put people to work cutting line and doing whatever has to be done to prepare the ground for a highway, you can work almost out of every community going north and going south. There are good opportunities with the new initiatives that this government is working on.
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John Todd Keewatin Central
As I said, there are discussions under way. There are some changes taking place, as Mr. Koe said, with some of the government programs. It's an important initiative. At this time, no decisions have been made, but there are discussions. Social Services, Education, ourselves, the communities and the MP for the area -- I had discussions with her some months ago -- all would like to see something of this nature take place.
However, in fairness, there is no money at this time and we're struggling to maintain what we have. While we're bursting with enthusiasm and are trying to put a package together, we have to find a way to do it within our existing means. Hopefully, we could get some assistance from the federal government and move forward on it. I think some of the changes that Mr. Koe referred to may be what we need to move this forward from a theoretical exercise to a practical one. Thank you.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The
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Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The
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Fred Koe Inuvik
On page 09-8, the revenues for the revised forecast went from $128,000 to $8,000. Does the Minister know the reason for the decrease in the projections?
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Oh dear. Just give me a moment, Mr. Chairman. I must apologize to the Member, I don't have that information in front of me. I will get it post-haste, and advise the Member. Sorry.
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Fred Koe Inuvik
We have to approve this and I'm curious about the major decrease.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Transportation Engineering
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The
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February 28th, 1995
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The Chair Tony Whitford
Transportation engineering. Operations and maintenance, total O and M, $3.098 million. The chair recognizes the Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.
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Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is this the one that deals with design and construction? I'm curious about the bridge that is supposed to go in at Poplar River. I would like to ask the Minister how the design and engineering of this bridge is coming along. Thank you.
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you. I think I should make it clear to Mr. Antoine, because he was disappointed last year when we took that away, this Poplar River bridge is proceeding. The design work is under way and, God willing, it will be built this year across the river.
If I may, Mr. Chairman, I would like to go back to Mr. Koe's comments because I did determine what it was. The $110,000 was the federal government's contribution to assist us in negotiating the Arctic A airports. I apologize for not having that at my fingertips. Thank you.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The
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The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Todd. I think you answered two questions at the same time. Mr. Antoine.
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Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you. I have made some comments in the past about the need for the department to improve the road in the Fort Simpson area where you get off the island and travel towards the airport. The community has been requesting that this road be hard-topped. It is a very widely used section of the highway. At one point, I asked that some sort of study be done to determine the costs for that section. The engineering section of the department has a tendency to be very generous in their estimates. In talking to private people, they have said it wouldn't cost that much to pave that section of the road or to chip seal it so that we don't have to have graders on it every time it rains. It deteriorates very quickly and it's hard on vehicles. I was wondering if the department has done any work in this regard. Thank you.
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Yes. Of course, this would be under capital, but at this time we're looking at the request of the Member to look at a long-term plan to chip seal the road in question.
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The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Todd. Transportation engineering. The chair recognizes Mr. Zoe.
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Henry Zoe North Slave
Mr. Chairman, I wonder if I could ask the department about bridges, in particular the Frank's Channel bridge. Has the department done a study with regard to that bridge?
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Mr. Gamble has advised me that we haven't done a study on that bridge lately, no.