Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to comment on a couple of things and the Minister will probably correct some of the figures, because I don’t think it’s going to take $32 million to take down two schools, and I’ll wait for the opportunity for him to correct that.
But in terms of the Deh Cho Hall in the community of Fort Simpson, it’s an economic opportunity. That’s the way I see it. I certainly support this line item in the budget. It’s an economic development opportunity for the community. I’ve always said that we’re one of the depressed regions today. There’s work and the majority of it is government and I believe that an opportunity like demolishing the old Deh Cho Hall will create lots of employment for the community and an economic opportunity for the LKFN First Nations, who I support in seeking and negotiating a contract for this once this line item is approved.
As well, in the opening comments the Minister mentioned about the return of community maintenance persons in our regions and I think that’s something that’s much needed. I know that we cannot do all the communities. However, the ones that are listed in the budget this year is a step forward in maintaining the sustainability and the operating needs of the communities and many of the small communities do depend on somebody skilled in all areas of maintenance to assist them, because often it’s probably a benefit to government, otherwise there will be extraordinary costs in bringing in plumbers, pipefitters, welders for minor repair items. I can certainly see the case for as and when contracts sending up people to the smaller communities, but if they’re just going there to change out a doorknob or else do five minutes of welding or 10 minutes of plumbing, then I’m sure the contractor gets just as frustrated, because in our regions our contractors are spread really thin
because there’s not enough work for three or four different specialized contractors and usually enough for one in the whole region and that person gets very busy as well.
So I just wanted to make those few comments, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much.