Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my honourable colleagues for allowing me to finish my reply today.
Mr. Speaker, I want to go on with the results of my other survey for the Government of the Northwest Territories. I do want to indicate that many of the departments have continually given support to the residents of Fort Smith; services that have been needed with respect to PYs. However, there are a few areas that we have noticed a decrease of positions in. One is in the area of Transportation; highways. The Department of Transportation has lost three positions in the last three years: one indeterminate heavy equipment operator, the person retired and the position was never filled; one seasonal heavy equipment operator; and, one seasonal light equipment operator. They resigned and these positions were never filled.
Currently, the Department of Transportation is in negotiations with the Salt River First Nations to take over highway maintenance. The maintenance on Highway 5 up to Nyarling River is done by the highway maintenance crew of the government; Department of Transportation in Fort Smith. However, the highway maintenance from Nyarling River on is done by Nuni Corporation of Fort Resolution. I think it is the intention of the Salt River First Nations to take over these highway maintenance programs. I don't know whether or not this transfer of highway maintenance will save the government money, but I would imagine it would because you don't carry your PYs into your budget, it is all rolled into your maintenance contract. The Salt River First Nations has mentioned this to me. They have asked for my support and I indicated to them that I would give them support and am attempting to do this. I believe all other highways in the Northwest Territories are contracted and it is Highway 5 that has never had the opportunity for contract maintenance. So I wish the Salt River First Nations success in the acquisition of this particular highway. I encourage the Minister and his department to support the Salt River First Nations in attempting to acquire the highway maintenance for Fort Smith.
Mr. Speaker, with regard to other areas that have lost PYs, we all know Renewable Resources has lost some PYs in the district office. I would encourage the Minister to review this to see if they have the administrative support that they need.
Aurora College apparently, out of these positions, have gained a few positions. However, I want to state that the headquarters of Aurora College is doing well, particularly taking into account the transition period they had. I want to commend Mr. Parker, the president, for getting the teamwork that he needed in headquarters and delivering the services to Thebacha Campus and other campuses across the north. I commend them for doing that. However, there is a concern that they are a bit crowded in that area. If you go into that building, they work under fairly crowded conditions. The Minister should look at finding some way of even looking for additional storage where they can have a more comfortable working environment. I would encourage the Minister to do that.
Mr. Speaker, that brings me to Aurora College, Thebacha Campus, under the direction of Mr. Holtorf. Mr. Holtorf has been there for a number of years and has been able to keep his team in place. He is delivering many of these programs through Thebacha Campus that we are proud of as residents of Fort Smith. I know my colleague from Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson, eagerly wants these trade programs we have at Thebacha Campus. He thinks just overnight he should get them, you know. But he fails to recognize that it has taken Fort Smith many years to develop the quality of programs that we are proud of. I think it is somewhat unfair that he places the demands on the Minister wanting the same programs in such a short time. He was the Minister of Education at one time and that is when he should have started planning, but he had other things he was planning for, I guess, Mr. Speaker.
I really believe that these programs have to stay with the college. That is what makes the campus a good campus and a recognized campus in our community. I know many Fort Smith people are very proud of that campus.
However, Mr. Speaker, they have had a cutback of positions and I certainly would encourage the Aurora College board of governors to ensure that this campus, in order to strive and maintain its quality of services, get the support they need with regard to positions. You can't be taking away positions and expect them to maintain the same type of quality. It is going to have some effect somewhere in the system.
With that, Mr. Speaker, when you look over the government, we have had some PY losses. When I look particularly in the area of Justice, the indeterminate positions of legal interpreters were lost due to budget cuts. That has had an effect. These cuts do have a significant ripple effect on your community because once you start losing PYs, you lose your economic base and your ability to address the important concerns.
Overall, over the past three years, there have been about 13 PYs gained, which has been the Arctic College headquarters, but there are 13 PYs lost. So even though this government felt they gave us Arctic College headquarters, they took PYs in other areas that I don't think they should have. So I don't recognize a lot of growth in the community and that is why it is critically important to look at addressing the tanker base. That will take us away from government dependency.
Mr. Speaker, I do want to acknowledge the number of people who have contributed greatly to my work as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and to the town of Fort Smith. First of all, of course, I want to mention my family, my husband has given me a tremendous amount of support and I want to take the time to thank him and my daughters: Trina, Shelley and Melanie, and my son, Quinton, for tolerance to have their mom come to work away from them and be able to support me. I want to give them a special acknowledgement, particularly my husband, for allowing me to do my work effectively.
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I also want to give thanks to my family -- whether it's my sisters or my brothers -- who at times give me advice or give me some scolding, if they feel that it's needed, or give me a different perspective on issues. I certainly want to thank many of my family members for all the support that they've given me and I know they will continue to give me. I thank them for all the support. In fact, I think one of my older sisters, Gloria, is patiently waiting for me to finish up so we can visit. I thank my family for the support that they've given me.
I want to thank Chief Jerry Paulette and the past chief, Henry Beaver, for the support that they've given me, the political support. The Metis Nation and president, George Kurszewski, who's given me the political support, when needed, and advice with regard to the concerns we've expressed in the community. I particularly want to thank the past president of the Chamber of Commerce, Freda Martselos, who's given me a lot of support, moral support and advice. I want to say that one good thing about Freda is that we can at least agree to disagree and we respect each other's viewpoints. The current president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. John Vogt, who's given me a lot of support, I want to thank him for the time and effort. I also want to take the time to thank him for always being willing to help Fort Smith and find any way to enhance our community. He's always there to support it.
I want to particularly thank two town councillors who have been very outstanding and have given me tremendous support. Councillor Kennedy who has been a councillor for many, many years and is a very well-respected individual in our community. He has given me a lot of political support and many times I will go to Councillor Kennedy and ask him for his viewpoint. I respect him and keep his views in high regard because he's known to be a very, very fair person. I want to thank the councillor for all the advice that he's given me, and I'm sure he'll continue to give me advice.
Councillor Martselos is another individual who has given me a lot of support and I want to take the time to thank him very much. I also want to commend and thank all the town councillors for the time they take to serve the town. Having been a past town councillor, I know that it takes a lot of time to serve on a community council. Sometimes, no matter what decision you make, just like at this Assembly, not everyone is happy.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank some of our elders: Mrs. Schaefer quickly comes to mind as one who lets you know her opinion on what's good and what shouldn't be. Mrs. Maria Brown, who will sit there and listen patiently and not tell you what you want to hear, but how things should be. A lot of times she will willingly extend spiritual advice or whatever advice it may be. I want to thank Mrs. Gratrix, a well-respected elder, for the advice that she's given me from time to time.
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I also want to thank Mrs. Gratrix because every year, it never fails, she sends my house a box of cookies and homemade bread that my family really enjoys. I used to kind of chuckle, Mr. Speaker, because the first few years I used to get a little box because I only had one kid but now that I have four, the box is really big. I kind of had to chuckle because I told her, you're getting older and you can't cook as much. She said, "Oh, I've got lots of time even though I'm old so don't worry about the cooking, just enjoy it." I tell her many times throughout the year that our family does enjoy it.
Mr. Speaker, the other individual who I'm very grateful to is Mr. Dube. We all know Mrs. Dube, but her husband, a very humble, grateful man, often comes to give me words of encouragement and thanks me for the work I do on behalf of the people, which I appreciate. Mr. Speaker, there are many, many people in Fort Smith and I don't want to single them out, but I did want to mention the many elders: Dora Tourangeau, Mrs. Mandeville, Mrs. Bourque; the many elders we have in our senior citizens' home: Mr. and Mrs. Bohnet and Mrs. Herron, the many people who live in the community who have made Fort Smith what it is today. It is the elders who worked hard many years ago who built our community. It saddens me when elders pass away; you know that part of the community history is going. It really makes it difficult.
I also want to take the time to thank Frank Laviolette who I'm sure many people know. Even when I was young, Frank Laviolette -- although he sometimes seemed abrasive -- advocated many points of view to the government on behalf of the native people. I know the aboriginal people of Fort Smith really appreciate what he did for them. Many times he spoke on behalf of the people and, even though people didn't want to hear him, Frank made sure they heard him. I think he served aboriginal people well.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to take the time to thank Jim Schaefer who many people know. He is an individual that I certainly appreciate and admire for his patience and his ability to think things out, even though it takes him a long time. When I go and ask him a question, he takes his time to give me an answer because he wants to think it out and make sure he's giving me good advice. I really appreciate that.
I want to take the time to commend and congratulate Jane Dragon on her recent appointment to the Arctic College board of governors. I think Jane will serve the Arctic College board of governors very well and I think the Minister made a good choice. Jane has been a committed educator, whether it be teaching traditional knowledge or whatever. She has done the community well and I know she will contribute to this board and I want to take the time to congratulate her and thank her for the periodic advice she gives me.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time to thank my constituency workers: Susan MacDonald now works for me and is doing very well; and, I also want to thank Roxanne Fraser who has done a good job in the past before she decided to go to school. Mr. Speaker, I not only want to mention the people in Fort Smith, but I think it's critically important and it would be remiss of me if I forgot to mention the Legislative Assembly staff who serve all of the Members well. Mr. Hamilton makes every effort to serve all the Members well and I know he attempts to do his job well. Sometimes I give him a rough time because I sometimes wonder about his advice, but he's got the patience and tolerance and knows how to accommodate the Members. I commend him for that and thank him for the support he's given me throughout my eight years as an MLA.
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I want to thank the interpreters for the work they do for all the people of the north. It is so important to see our different aboriginal languages being spoken across the north. Many people in the community really appreciate it. So I want to take the time to thank the interpreters; for them to have to listen to me today and have to interpret that into aboriginal language is very commendable. I want to thank them very much.
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When we talk about our Legislative Assembly staff, it is so difficult to thank them without singling anyone out in fear of forgetting someone. I want to say a thank you, particularly to two people. One is our Members' secretary, Betty Low, even though I give her a rough time sometimes about looking in the mirror too much or talking on the phone, she really does make a sincere effort in working for us to the best of her ability. She has to be very flexible in her demands, serving 15 of us. I thank her very much.
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Another staff Member who I would be remiss if I didn't thank is Dawna O'Brien. I have known Dawna for many, many years. I went to school with her in Yellowknife. I want to take the time to thank her also because I know sometimes changing our travel plans must drive her crazy, but she tolerates it with a smile. I want to thank her for all the work she has done for the Members.
Overall, Mr. Speaker, I want to state a sincere thank you to all the staff of the Legislative Assembly. I know they make an effort to serve us. The research staff is given a rough time sometimes; we make tremendous demands of them and they try to serve us to the best of their ability. They make every effort to and I want to take the time to thank them.
I also want to thank past research staff. I think of people like Darlene Jonsson. I don't know where she is now, but she served Members very well. Joan Irwin, who is now working for Mr. Ng, did a tremendous amount of work. I know she will serve Mr. Ng well, too. She does do good work, there is no doubt about. The same with Mr. Bargery, as I mentioned earlier.
It seems, Mr. Speaker, every time there is good staff in research, the government quickly tries to take them across. We have noted that there was a pattern like that. It is the same with Alan Downe. He served Members well. Mr. Todd was quick to take him when he went over to Cabinet. I want to say that he did very good work and I thank him for that.
I want to take the time to thank all the staff at the Legislative Assembly. Sometimes they work long and tireless hours, but they still produce the work we need done. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I want to wish you and all Members of the Legislative Assembly a successful and safe conclusion to the summer months. To those retiring Members, I want to state my very best wishes and sincere wishes in your future. Mr. Pudluk will be retiring and I wish him the very best. Mr. Patterson, who keeps saying he isn't going to run, I wish him all the best. I don't know what my friend from Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne, is going to do, but if he doesn't run, I wish him all the best.
I want to say that I did enjoy working with the previous Cabinet; with Mr. Ballantyne and Mr. Patterson, even though sometimes we used to have our differences, Ms. Cournoyea and Mr. Kakfwi. I want to state that I certainly enjoyed working with him, along with Mr. Butters. I wish the Members who are going to retire and who have decided not to run all the best and, to the Members who will be participating in this fall's election, I certainly hope they accept my best wishes for an energetic campaign. I'm sure your expertise and the importance of many of the things we're going through in the evolution of the Legislative Assembly will be needed in order to let constituents know how well you want to serve them.
I can certainly tell you that I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can when the 13th Legislative Assembly convenes. I won't be like Mr. Lewis and say that I will be either in this seat or up there -- I think that's the statement he made -- I intend to work hard and to run a very hard campaign. I feel fairly confident that I'll be back to serve the 13th Assembly. I intend to continue to serve my constituents to the best of my ability and I want to take this time to thank you particularly, Mr. Speaker, and the Members for listening to my long speech. I want to say, as I said in the beginning, that our replies to the Commissioner's address is the only time we can make a comment on issues that are important to our constituencies and all residents of the territories. With that, I thank you very much.
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