Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few general comments. We are glad to have some spending in my riding in the budget, but we are always hoping for more projects, large-scale projects like a new school, for example. I am a bit disappointed that, after six years of hearing Moose Kerr was going to be up for a major retrofit or replacement, all we have is a few repairs to the existing facility, hazmat portables removed, site planning for crush work and landscaping, and a new playground. That did really shock me when I saw this.
There is also a huge need, too: while our children are out playing during recess, there is no fencing around the school. Our children are playing in the streets, Mr. Chair. It is really unsafe. It is an accident waiting to happen. I am not sure if it is too late to add something in there for fencing, but it has always been a challenge, especially with parking on the streets around the school. We have people, our teachers and visitors, who park right on the street, and it has always been a hazard. You never know when a child is in between those vehicles and could run out into the street into oncoming traffic. It is really unsafe and needs to be addressed.
It was supposed to be, as I mentioned, all the time that I have been here, in the six years, it has been flagged in the red flag list and it has been up for capital assessment. I am hoping next year that we could at least squeeze it in. To me, I am not sure if it is part of their reduction plan or what is going on, but, as I mentioned, I was disappointed.
Also, we have a new facility that will be coming in at James Creek, and I am glad to see that. Hopefully, we could negotiate with the Gwich'in. You know, it has always been common practice that our government usually provides a list to the Gwich'in Tribal Council let them know what is available in the coming year to possibly negotiate. You know, it has always been common practice in all my time sitting on the board of directors. Hopefully, that continues.
Also, all the work to the Dempster, even the Minister was telling me he is getting a lot of compliments about the Dempster. Compared to the Yukon section of the highway, it is like night and day. As I always mention, we have really good crews that maintain our road, even though it is a gravel road.
I thought about it this summer; I know there has been a lot of concern about the highway here, and how much it has changed over the years. It is the same as the section between Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik. If you look at the Dempster with a set of binoculars, you could see the same slumpage we have on this highway coming out of Yellowknife, but you just do not notice it because you are on gravel. I do know that, coming next year, we will have the widening starting from Tsiigehtchic towards Inuvik, so I am sure in the next few years we will straighten that road out, as well.
Just comparing each riding to another, we are always here for the best interests of our constituents and the territory as a whole. I am looking forward to the day that we announce full construction of the Mackenzie Valley highway. It has always been brought up at my constituency meetings that we need to be connected, as well, from Inuvik. I know a few years back the focus was more to Norman Wells, but we have to start thinking ahead of here and connecting up to Inuvik.
I always compare our territory to other territories and provinces. A good example is in the Yukon. Almost all of their communities are connected. It is great for tourism. They even have hydro right from Dawson to Whitehorse, which is over 500 kilometres. Those are the possibilities that we have here in the territory, and we have to start taking advantage of that. Bringing down the cost of living as well. We will not see all the positive things once that investment is made, because right now, you might not realize it in the South, but living out in our region, and because I am in Tsiigehtchic, I see all the traffic that goes to Whitehorse, especially during Christmas and during the summer when people go on holidays. All that money that is going to the Yukon, it could be staying here in our territory. We have people, whether it is buying boats, skidoos, and trucks; all that is going to a different territory, here.
I think it is time that we hopefully secure that funding through the federal government, and start that road as soon as possible here. It will only bring good things to the territory and open up our other resources that we have throughout the territories, as well.
That is some of the comments that I had here. I could write a book here, but I will just leave it at that. Thank you.