Bob Bromley

I appreciate the Minister’s commitment there very much. I’d like to again stress I read the department’s words, the Housing Corporation’s words that they’re going to work interdepartmentally. This is clearly an interdepartmental issue and I don’t think the Housing Corp should be expected to do this on their own. This should be a government-wide approach to resolve this situation and this would be a great way to do it. The Housing Corporation could provide the leadership. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t think I need to repeat all the comments I’ve heard today but I will say that this program is certainly the most successful Human Resources and Skills Development Canada program that I’m aware of.

I want to mention, though, that I did send a letter on the 4th of February to Minister Finley highlighting some of the points we’ve heard today repeatedly and the amazing amount of evidence provided in support of this program. I urge all Members to send such a letter, perhaps accompanying a copy of this debate and the motion, and I want to again say that I will be...

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly aware that the department has been working with them, but this work hasn’t resulted in any progress. That is a huge disappointment. I have a specific question.

The Minister committed to providing a secondment from GNWT some years ago now, I believe, to actually assist this important NGO to get back on their feet. Has this been done? If not, when will it be done? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A quick question here, I am just wondering what all is being covered under contract services here. I see it is 70 percent up from last year and I wonder if perhaps that has something to do with the shelter policy or something, but I would like to find out. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for his remarks there. My last question: did the Minister ensure that his legitimate expense under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act should be accounted for in the AIP negotiations, was it accounted for in the AIP negotiations to date and will he be ensuring that they are part of the final agreement? Mahsi.

Thank you. That certainly is an area that needs attention. I think these boards have been underfunded, but all of the northern boards have spoken out repeatedly, calling for participant funding, Mr. Speaker. So I understand, from interviews of Mr. Pollard recently and so on, the process of environmental review process is ongoing. So will the Minister provide that input to Mr. Pollard? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. DIAND’s recent decision to fund participation by outside groups in the environmental assessment of the Giant Mine Remediation Project is good, but late in coming. I want to congratulate DIAND for finally offering participant funding for federal environmental assessment, something that southern Canadians have enjoyed since the 1980s.

As Member’s know, DIAND is again in the conflicted position of being both the project proponent and the regulator. GNWT is a co-proponent under the 2005 cooperation agreement. To further complicate matters, other federal and territorial...

I was just under the illusion that we were all sort of one, so why would they be charging the Housing Corporation?

Given all the homegrown experts on the Standing Committee on Social Programs, I don’t understand why EDI would want to contract anything out, Mr. Minister. But seriously, though, the Minister has a lot of in-house expertise. What is contemplated here that is extra in terms of contracting out?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I named a number of suggestions and highlights of issues and frustrations in my Member’s statements and I just want to go through the Minister’s opening remarks here and point them out, and there are a good number of areas where I think things are going in the right direction or at least good now. We’re starting to take some good steps.

I want to acknowledge that in the past, prior to this year, we did get the 600 new units on the ground with some major completion of repairs. That’s a huge piece of work and curiously enough it’s presented some challenges that are unique...