Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Overall I feel that the infrastructure and capital planning of the GNWT has improved over the last few years. I’ve started to see some changes to infrastructure in smaller communities. I still feel that there is a huge infrastructure deficit in small communities. Recognizing that through the New Deal that capital planning for a lot of the infrastructure upgrades in the small communities are now the responsibilities of those communities, I also have to say that I feel that the money given to the small communities for capital through MACA and directly to the municipalities should have been kept in pace with at least the CPR inflation or whatever number that is necessary to use, to
ensure that they weren’t seeing eroding dollars every year by the inflation amount. I would like to have seen the capital infrastructure into the communities sitting probably at around $32 million as opposed to $28 million at this time.
The support and infrastructure into the small communities would have a positive impact on the entire NWT. We have positive impacts in larger communities due to the fact that there would be less government supports such as need for programs in the area of wellness and addictions and so on if the employment was increased in small communities. We have a couple of ridings in the small communities that are completely, that employment rates are... Every community in a couple of ridings, including Tu Nedhe, have employment rates below 40 percent. That has a very negative impact on the community. There’s no work, so one thing leads to another and aside from the fact that this government is paying huge amounts of money to income support programs, it does have other impacts as well, such as people quit getting up day after day after day with no prospects of work. Eventually that has an impact on the kids attending school and so on. It ultimately has ripple effects impacting education down the road.
Specific to the capital plan, I think that for Tu Nedhe I was pleased that this government looked at putting together a Rural and Remote Communities committee that had an opportunity to increase things such as the Access Road Program. I’d like to see any money coming into the Rural and Remote Communities committee, some of which I guess is capital and some is going into the base. I think access road may be something as an example of going into the base.
I think that a winter road is a capital item, because I see winter roads appearing as capital items in here. I think that winter road to Lutselk’e is something that would be, recognizing that that community sits between 350 to 400 people and there’s a lot of need for people to at least haul some of their own freight in the winter months. If the road is only open for a month or two months, I think anytime you allow a community such as Lutselk’e to have an opportunity to drive out in their own vehicles and be able to pick up products and furniture or equipment, whatever is needed, even right to building supplies if need be in order to support themselves. As the current system lies, a person cannot really afford, no matter what type of income they have and especially compounded with low employment rates, could never really afford to build something. As an example, the cost of getting lumber in, the freight of getting lumber into a place like Lutselk’e without government assistance would be astronomical.
Again, under the community programs, I think that because of infrastructure deficits you’ll find the
communities are building youth centres in Tu Nedhe or trying to switch various buildings around. I’d like to have the government in general, because in Lutselk’e as an example, where there’s a possibility that maybe the youth centre may already be a building that exists and that building could be used for that. Replace that building and use the new replacement building. As an example, building a new community hall and converting the community hall into a youth centre. That’s just an example. I’m not sure that that’s a reality, but that’s the type of thinking that has to go into the capital plan. I know I’ve been requested by both communities to have washrooms in the water treatment plant. An extra $20,000 would be needed to add a washroom in Lutselk’e. That’s a deficit in Fort Resolution that the water treatment plant doesn’t have a washroom. I know there’s a regulation that as long as somebody is not on site more than three consecutive hours, continuous hours, there’s not a requirement for a washroom on site, but it’s still needed regardless of what it says in the policy. So little things like that.
I think that Deferred Maintenance is a good program, important program. It’s a program introduced by Public Works. It’s been very good for schools, for the most part. Both the schools in Tu Nedhe have benefited from the Deferred Maintenance Program to the tune of well over $1 million in Fort Resolution Deninoo School and $300,000 spent. Although the money wasn’t spent in Lutselk’e, the money is there. So with the deferred maintenance being added this year, it should be a nice project for the community.
I think that there’s a need for daycare space. Whether it be added into the school or a separate new building, I think both communities need daycare space, good proper daycare space. I think that’s something we deal with and a lot of this stuff that I’m referring to, you know, are things recognizing that the budgets are tight as we all discuss, but I’m looking at three-year plans. If we are going to put three-year plans together, this is the type of thing I would like to see.
Inside the three-year plan also, the completion of Highway No. 6 to chipseal all of Highway No. 6 and not just a portion of it. I think we are, as a government, headed in the right direction, as far as that highway goes. I think I’d like to see more certainty by having some of that money put into a three-year plan.
ITI is also responsible for parks. I think that in Fort Resolution it was scheduled for a park. Because the community was unable to make a decision on where exactly they would like to see that, that money was pulled out and the Minister advised me it would be put back. I don’t see that in here at all.
I think we’re letting a policy or regulations, rules, increase costs to our projects. I find that to be a bit
of a problem. For example, a simple renovation to somebody’s home, a lot of seniors can’t afford the materials, but the Housing Corporation will buy the materials. There’s not enough money there, but they are asked to put... Without liability insurance and so on, it’s difficult for the people to do their projects. I think the government should look at some of the requirements, loosening the requirements on some of the simple projects and allow people to hire their own carpenter, for example. I think I’m out of time, Mr. Chair.