This is page numbers 1355 - 1396 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was tlicho.

Topics

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1368

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the former chief of Dettah and former team mate with the Dettah Chiefs, Chief Richard Edjericon.

---Applause

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1368

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1368

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It's not too often I have members of my family here. I would like to recognize my son Denezeh, who works for the Native Communications Society. He works on CKLB. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1368

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Colleagues, I would also like to welcome my brother, Mark.

---Applause

Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, we got some great news in terms of funding that we weren't expecting from the federal government dealing with infrastructure in our communities. The Minister is involved with the Minister of the Department of Transportation on main street paving. Do you have a schedule? In light of the new funding that we see, are we going to see an accelerated pace of main street paving to control the dust in our non-tax-based communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the summer, I had meetings with the Secretary of State for Rural Development and infrastructure, Andy Mitchell, and one of the things we asked for consideration of was for main street paving in communities as a form of dust control. It was believed that it was one of the programs that would be funded under this program. So although we haven't decided yet and we haven't really met formally with Indian Affairs, who I understand are going to be administering the funding and we also haven't met formally with all the communities on this, we believe that this is one of the high priorities for this funding. Thank you.

Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad the government feels this is a high priority because it certainly is a high priority for people in the communities who have to breathe in the dust day after day during the summer months. They are having a hard time keeping their houses clean. I would like to ask the Minister when they will meet with the federal government to determine if this is a priority for them as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any scheduled meeting dates with the department and Indian Affairs at this point in time, so I can't respond to the Member, but I can assure him that it is one of the things the department has put on high priority, so that we have some kind of agreement on what can be funded this year and how much money is available this year, so we can start to see where this fits into the business plans.

Further Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that during the current Assembly we will not be going through another business plan session, I would like to ask the Minister if he would put it as part of his transition document for the next government to review to make sure the next government and the bureaucracy of the next government clearly understands the urgency of this matter for the people in the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Nitah. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1368

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has a good suggestion and we will certainly take that forward.

Further Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Fort Resolution is currently doing road upgrades so they can see chip sealing done next summer, but the community of Lutselk'e has not been contacted at all. One of the greatest concerns that was brought to my attention as their MLA is the dust levels of the community. Would the Minister ensure that Lutselk'e is mentioned in that transition document? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes I look forward to the day when I won't have to be the one considering this anymore and the project is complete, but I will certainly take note of the Member's concerns. There is no doubt he's been speaking loudly and clearly to this particular issue and I will continue to pass it on to my department as a high priority.

Further Return To Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Question 412-14(6): Main Street Paving For Dust Control
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my presentation, there's some 810 jobs that are going to be available in the pre-preparation stage that is prior to the construction of the pipeline. Mr. Speaker, that's a lot of jobs, especially for people in our small communities who may be unemployed or looking for an opportunity to get out of the government handouts, which is income support. I think this is a perfect opportunity for this government to change the lives of people in our communities and make our communities a better place to live with people really having some opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, since the mandate of his department is to access quality programs and services and make them available so people who want to make positive choices and their families are able to get education, training, careers, employment opportunities, child development, language, culture and heritage. One of the fundamental points that the Minister and his department are responsible for is assisting individuals to meet their basic financial needs. What is your department doing to ensure we take advantage of the opportunities in our regions right now by way of training programs?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member brings forward a very good point that's been on our table for the past three years to look at opportunities for our residents and they are extensive, Mr. Speaker. So for the past three years, Mr. Speaker, we have been working diligently and with the support of the Members from the other side, we have been able to identify programs where we can access further funding. Mr. Speaker, as an example in 2002-2003, some 600 people accessed support to do training in the oil and gas sector. We are spending approximately $1 million a year in that particular end amongst many other programs that are available, Mr. Speaker, our human resource development plans for involving our northern people in the oil and gas sector. Thank you.

Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, a lot of these opportunities require a trade and as we all know, in order to get into the trades, you have to commit yourself to three or four years of education to take the courses you need to be a plumber, mechanic, a pipe-fitter. Those are the jobs that are really going to be needed when the construction of the pipeline takes place. I would like to ask the Minister exactly where are we going in the trades area to ensure people in our communities have the education and the quality of education so that they can meet the practical requirements to get into the trades area?