Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments on the capital, starting with education here. The Moose Kerr School is not going to be on the plans here until 2019, but just from what’s happened here with our capital process with Moose Kerr School, it is up for major retrofit or replacement, and that’s the same case we had here with the Stanton Territorial Hospital. I hope in 2019 that we follow the same practice as we did and replace Moose Kerr School when the time comes. I’m sure we’ll see the cost savings there.
Also under health, the health centre in Tsiigehtchic was built in the mid-
‘80s. It still has the same
linoleum as it did when they built it, many of the same features. It clearly doesn’t look like very much has been done to that except blocking the unit. The 35 years is almost up, so when the time comes I hope that they do replace that building as well.
Just a couple other things with housing. I’m glad to see we are doing a lot of retrofits within my riding and replacing a few units in Fort McPherson. But as I mentioned quite a few times, we are doing a good job retrofitting and replacing units, but there’s a big demand for housing, and even the Finance Minister has been pleading for people to move back to our territory. But where are many of these people going to live with some people on a waiting list for up to three or four years? Are we going to build tents for them? What’s this government’s plan? I mean, we need to build more units. That’s the bottom line.
The other thing was under airports. For many years the community of Tsiigehtchic has been wanting an airport in the community, especially for freeze-up. We are doing a better service now with the ferry and building ice crossings, but for emergency purposes it would be great to have an airport, plus it creates employment.
Residents in my riding are very happy with the recent Building Canada Plan putting money back into the Dempster Highway, Highway No. 8. As we all know, the community of Aklavik would also like to have their road to Willow River put in place. We’re doing a great job there and I commend the Department of Transportation for providing funds to the community to actually purchase a bridge, and we’re hoping that that bridge can be put in place this winter when the time comes. We can’t wait until April as, you know, new year funding. They have to make sure that the community has those funds in place in February to make the most of our winter season.
I see under Transportation, as well, under the marine division, the Louis Cardinal hull upgrade. Many of my constituents want to know when are we going to receive a new ferry. Even a couple of years back the engineers felt that the hull was due for replacement. I’d like to know when we’re going to get a new ferry.
Those are the comments that I have for now.