Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Parks are an integral part of the Tourism Development Strategy in the NWT. In my riding the Alexandra Falls was recently recognized and gained notoriety in that there was a magazine that listed it as one of the top 10 sites in Canada to visit. It’s got a rich history of First Nations and Dene people, so they figure prominently in the operation of the parks. My questions are for the Environment and Natural Resources Minister.

How will the Department of Environment and Natural Resources promote this area this year? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The roadside parks are the responsibility of ITI. We work closely with ITI, and as the Member has indicated, ITI clearly has done a very fine job in advertising and promoting and maintaining and building up the park. As a government, we have every expectation that we’re going to maintain that level of service. Thank you.

I’d like to thank the Minister for his reply. These parks, particularly the area that is situated in Alexandra Falls is a geological gem.

What plans can ENR report for development…(inaudible)…outdoor crews or other new projects involving the Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park? Mahsi.

I will commit to get the response to that question from ITI and make sure that it’s shared with the Member. I just want to reiterate once again, the strong commitment demonstrated, high level of practice and investment in the parks by ITI is going to continue. Thank you.

Part of the distinctive attraction of the area is the fossils, and the Minister’s department is responsible for at least the management and the protection of fossils.

Are any paleontology projects planned for this region in the near future? Mahsi.

Not that I’m aware of. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.

How are paleontology and archeology recognized in tourism planning for this region? Mahsi.

Clearly, that’s one of the attributes that draw people to that particular location. I listened, as well, how he pointed out the young ladies that found a fossil and brought it back. It’s part of the ability to see that just by following the walking trails and that type of thing. So, it’s a critical selling point of those particular sites. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up my questions and my statement with the Minister of Public Works and Services. I know Public Works and Services doesn’t control the current facility, and my first question to that Minister is: Why is Public Works and Services so interested in the new facility now, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was direction given back in 2010. Any GNWT buildings coming on would be looked at under the consolidated maintenance program which is run by Public Works. This is a new building coming on

stream so Public Works will be maintaining it. Thank you.

I’d like to ask this Minister why we haven’t seen a plan going forward, how this maintenance is going to roll out, what his department is going to take over and what the Department of Health is going to take over. Why is it taking so long to get this plan completed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. One of the key factors is that the staff at Hay River Health and Social Services is under a different union agreement than the GNWT staff. Although the buildings have been transferred under that consolidated program, all the buildings that were at one time ownership of the Health and Social Services Authority in Hay River are now GNWT buildings. So, what has happened is that we need to be able to have a discussion not only with Health and Social Services and Public Works that would be providing the maintenance but also with HR labour relations to ensure that we’re going into an area where there’s another union agreement in place for people providing current services that we do this in a phased approach. For now we’re talking about the hospital; in the future we’ll be phasing in the rest of the buildings that are with Hay River Health and Social Services. Thank you.

I guess that’s to my point; the complexity of this and the fact that we need a plan of this is what Public Works and Services is going to do, this is what Health is going to do, and then we can bring that to the union and see how this is going to roll out. Right now we don’t have a plan.

When will the two departments get together, have a plan and bring it to the MLAs and the union?

The Department of Public Works and Services, Department of Health and Social Services, HR and the Hay River Health and Social Services will have a plan on the disposition of the employees, whether they’re coming over to work for Public Works and maintain the hospital, or if they’re going to remain there for a period of time. Overall, we will have a plan in place before the new hospital is open. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.

As I indicated, these are people’s jobs, people’s lives that are on the line, so they would like to hear this sooner than later.

My question is: Can we get this resolved as soon as possible? Not a set date, not when it opens, but as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We’ll have this done. The intention, of course, is to have the building open this summer, so within the next several months. We will have a plan prior to then, so we can talk to the

departments. I will talk to HR and Public Works. The Minister of Health and Social Services is going to have a discussion with his staff, and we’ll put a plan together as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.