Herb Mathisen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 16, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - Since day one, David Krutko, MLA for Mackenzie Delta, has been pestering the transportation minister for an access road to Aklavik.

Since the first day of question period, Krutko has repeatedly asked Minister of Transportation Norman Yakeleya why an all-weather road to Aklavik, from a gravel source at Willow River, was left off a list of projects submitted to the federal government for funding under the Building Canada Fund.

Kevin Menicoche got into the gravel source debate last Monday, asking Yakeleya if he would consider building an access road to a nearby gravel source for Trout Lake.

He said in the past two winters, the community has not been able to haul gravel across the lake from the source because ice was not thick enough.

"With climate change, we clearly can no longer count on having enough ice to use the lake for the winter haul," said Menicoche.

On Monday, Krutko spoke about the deteriorating condition of the Dempster Highway. He had a unique solution. "I believe the last time a minister drove on that highway, we spotted five graders on the road system between Inuvik and the border," said Krutko, asking later, if the minister, or his superintendent, would drive the highway again.

Quote of the week

"As parents, we still see our young son or daughter taking their first steps ... riding their bike for the first time ... running across a field with a Batman cape, flapping in the wind."

Choked with emotion Premier Floyd Roland reflected on watching his son Justin growing up, culminating with his graduation from high school, last weekend.

Cost of surviving

Tom Beaulieu, MLA for Tu Nedhe, addressed premier Floyd Roland's budget speech, referencing Roland's acknowledgement of the increased cost-of-living and his "taking action to provide long-term solutions to address this reality."

Beaulieu wanted to know what was actually being done to bring down the cost of living in his riding.

Roland said the government was looking at maximum rent prices in smaller communities, as well as discussing food mail and energy issues.

On June 5, Beaulieu said he was looking for more immediate action, referencing the price of a two-litre container of milk, which is $7.89 in Fort Resolution and $7.98 in Lutsel K'e.

"Can you imagine - the impact on a single mother with three children?" asked Beaulieu.

Stay for eight days

Bill 11, an act to amend the legislative assembly and executive council act, received first reading, last Monday.

The bill would amend MLA travel reimbursements during session. Currently, costs for MLAs' travel home is covered after attending 10 days of session. The amendment would trim the required sitting down to eight days.