Promises for winter trails, improved medical travel and school bus

Promises from cabinet ministers helped to quell persistent questions from MLAs on several issues in the legislative assembly.

“I will see what I can do on this issue of building a more permanent trail or road in between communities… we’ll look into it and see what we can do to make it a reality,” Environment minister Olayuk Akesuk told Arviat MLA David Alagalak, who wants to see better winter ice roads in the Kivalliq.

Akesuk, who is also the minister responsible for transportation, told Hudson Bay MLA Peter Kattuk that he would look into alleged breaches of security in medical travel from Sanikiluaq on Kivalliq Air flights to Winnipeg.

“I will be writing to the airlines that operate in Nunavut asking them to make sure that they are following the rules and procedures, also to get an explanation as to why they do that, and reinforce that they follow the rules,” Akesuk promised Kattuk. “If my staff is listening, then I’m asking them to start writing the letter. So I will try and do that immediately.”

And Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq promised Kattuk she would make sure all medical flights from Sanikiluaq to Winnipeg are equipped with a bathroom.

Kattuk also wrested a promise from Ed Picco, the education minister, to look for money for a new school bus in Sanikiluaq. The community now has only an aging bus capable of seating about 20 kids.

“I would agree with the member that there is a need for a new bus in Sanikiluaq,” Picco told him.

Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley got Picco, as minister responsible for Nunavut’s power corporation, to review the senior’s fuel subsidy for homeowners over 65.

“What I will do… as per the member’s question, is to review the senior’s fuel subsidy and other programs this government has in place, to make sure that, in cases where there is hardship, that our elders are taken care of.”