LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
An earlier start for the Liard River ferry, devolution-related jobs for Fort Simpson, highway chip seal and literacy rates were some of the issues raised during a recent constituency meeting.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche held a constituency meeting in Fort Simpson on Oct. 9 to hear residents concerns ahead of the fall session of the territorial legislature. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche asked for residents' feedback during the Oct. 9 meeting in Fort Simpson and provided an update on issues he is working on for the fall assembly.

The fourth session of the territorial legislative assembly starts Oct. 17.

Transportation was one of the topics discussed, with Menicoche saying a nine-kilometre section of Highway 1 to Enterprise will be chip sealed next year, then another 10-kilometre stretch in 2015.

"The plan there is that it might be, in our lifetime, that we will see chip seal all the way to Hay River," he said.

A citizen at the meeting made the suggestion that the M.V. Lafferty ferry across the Liard River should start at six in the morning.

Emphasis on communities

Fort Simpson resident Wendy Groat, one of eight members of the public who attended the constituency meeting, said the territorial legislature has to put more emphasis on the communities.

"We've got a road that's been impassible for the better part of two years and they're talking about doing nine kilometres of chip repair every year. And they said it's going to happen in our lifetime," he said. "I am trying to figure out whose lifetime that's going to happen."

As for opening the ferry at 6 a.m., Groat said that is something the territorial government should have done years ago.

"We're so far from the major centres that leaving at eight o'clock in the morning, we're forced to stop overnight between here and Edmonton," she said. "It increases cost. It's time consuming."

Another issue raised was the proposed changes to the Education Act, which would see more punishments for bullying and handing more responsibilities to teachers – Menicoche said teachers in small communities are busy enough as it is.

"That's concerning," he said. "I am not too sure how I am going to address it, but I will certainly raise it in the legislature that passing the onus on to the teachers is probably a quick fix as opposed to working with parents and families. I think education awareness is a better route to go."

Literacy rates among children is a topic Menicoche said he is concerned about, noting territorial students tested in Grade 3 are at a Grade 2 level.

"By the time they get to Grade 12, they are functioning at a Grade 9 level, but we're still passing and we're calling them graduates," he said. "I don't think that's entirely fair either."

With devolution coming soon, Menicoche said he would like to see 10 to 12 positions set up in Fort Simpson -- positions that would add more than $1 million to the local economy. He added it's really important the whole North benefits from devolution, but a lack of office space, housing and infrastructure will make this more difficult.

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