Yellowknife (Oct 25/04) - Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya is not happy $1 million has been shaved from the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge program.

He said the oil and gas boom in the region should be justification enough to keep the funding up to the $8.4 million level established last spring.

"As a father, quite frankly it frightens me to think of my family travelling down the highway," said Yakeleya on Tuesday.

"I worry about the safety on the highway of the people in the Sahtu, as well as those who make a living driving up and down that highway."

Transportation Minister Michael McLeod said, despite the cut, his department is planning to increase its highway patrol presence, and put up more roads signs.

"We are looking at how we can accommodate that," said McLeod.

Nunakput MLA Calvin Pokiak thinks it's time the territorial government should to put a few more education dollars into Tuktoyaktuk.

Pokiak said the community's close proximity to Inuvik's Aurora College campus and already existing facilities make it an ideal location for a neighbouring facility.

"I had the chance to speak with the campus director in Inuvik earlier this month," said Pokiak.

"She showed a lot of interest in regard to a satellite office in Tuk."

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Charles Dent said opening an extended campus in Tuk would be up to the college.

He noted, however, that the government remains committed to providing training dollars directly to the outlying communities to help create more jobs.

Tu Nedhe MLA Bobby Villeneuve says the $80,000 given to Fort Resolution last year to renovate the community's now-defunct youth centre amounts to a drop in the bucket.

"$80,000 doesn't buy a youth centre in any community," said Villeneuve, Wednesday.

He said local youth have taken it upon themselves to renovate the building, but there is still not enough money to finish the project. Villeneuve said the government should put in an extra $40,000 so the community can have the centre up and running by next year.

"It's leaving the community with a little pot of money they really can't do anything with."

Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Michael McLeod said the community shouldn't count on his department alone to fund the project.

"I'm not aware where the problem is at this point," said McLeod.

"The problem is there is no money," replied Villeneuve, to laughter from other MLAs.

McLeod said if other funding partners can't be found, he would be willing to take up further discussions with community leaders.