Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the opportunity to comment on some of the initiatives of Public Works and Services. I know that when it comes to the community of Fort Simpson and the riding of Nahendeh, one of the biggest driving things, of course, was our Deh Cho Hall. Even though it’s closed up now, it still seems to be an item of concern for the community.
I thought the Minister could have been more proactive in assisting with our library needs as opposed to just not having the ability to extend the hall. At the same time, we do still need assistance
with our library. There are some short-term solutions, but in the long term I call upon the Minister to work with his colleagues and maybe his assistants in providing resources or working with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment as one way that I look at his assistance.
I understand that there is a pressing need to close down the hall and I think that’s what they’ve done. I think a lot of issues stem from the issue of the Deh Cho Hall. Now there’s the disposal idea of what’s the best way to divest it from the government, if that’s what they want, or to decommission it totally. Just decommissioning it and finding a way of how to dispose of it has created some other concerns there, as well, Mr. Chair, that I just want to raise with the Minister. In terms of when I asked the Minister on behalf of the LKFN of disposal methods -- and I think there are guidelines and policies the government uses -- and the response we got, the LKFN took it, I think, very negatively only because the disposal guidelines say that first they’ll, I think, offer it to government department, second they’ll offer it to any businesses out there and/or organizations. Sorry, and/or local government organizations. The third one was they listed the LKFN as a society and the chief and the leadership took exception to that only because in terms of recognizing local governments and working with our aboriginal leadership, LKFN and many, many band organizations have taken great care and great attention to be an alternative government, especially the Dehcho. They are working towards that. They are using their Dehcho process to provide this. Then to have our government call them a society as opposed to a local government organization is something that I think we should stay away from. In fact, if it is a clause here or a guideline, Mr. Chairman, I believe that is something that should be addressed maybe with his Cabinet colleagues as well.
The other one was another issue stemming from our Deh Cho Hall in Fort Simpson. Of course, it is the whole initiative around this central heating and the providing of additional boiler systems for the community. I am not too sure where the department is heading with that. Maybe on the appropriate page I will ask that, Mr. Chairman. It is something that the community is interested in. I would sure like to get some answers as we deliberate this department.
I notice that, in the opening statements too, I have to commend the ministry as well for saving $200 in fuel costs and the ability to pass that on to our residents. It is a big thing. Primarily the big costs, of course, were up in the High Arctic. At the same time, there is still the ability to pass on some savings to the remote communities that are in my riding, Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake as well as Wrigley. Even though it is small change of a
downward nature, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that. I would like to see more of the costs passed on again. I know that we are doing another winter haul here, which may or may not be completed, but passing on any costs in terms of petroleum products would sure go a long way. Just with that, Mr. Chairman, I will conclude my remarks to the department. Thank you.