Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As stated before, the surplus that they are looking at now is going to build a six-plex. The intent is to actually provide more housing supports in every community, so, yes, the intent is to keep the monies in the communities. It's not to penalize communities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It isn't the responsibility of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to pay for the rental officer. There are a lot of services. If there are not enough building contractors in the communities, does that mean we should start new businesses? If there are not enough suppliers, should we start the suppliers? Our job is to keep people in houses, and that is my priority.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have met with the Seniors' Society, who are helping us to get this information out. As well, as stated earlier, we recognize that our website needs to be changed, so we are working on that currently. We are also looking at a communications plan on a regular basis so that not only this program but all of the changes need to be out.

I have given direction, and it was followed through, to make sure every local housing organization, every Aboriginal government, every municipal government, actually had the information on our changes.

Just from the past weekend, one of the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We just have started the design work for that currently. As soon as we have got the design finished, construction will begin. It's not okay for LHOs to have $600,000 in reserves. I am not okay with that.

I do want to also state that, when we are doing the cuts across, like I said, over the two years, it has been 1 per cent last year and 1 per cent this year, some of the communities are only getting a reduction of $2,000 per year. Like Mr. Martin said, we are closely monitoring them on a case-by-case basis. If the smaller LHOs do run into a problem with that, a deficit, we...

The department supports the Aboriginal Sport Circle's annual middle school territorial games championship, which includes hand games during those games.

It is actually one of the benefits that we're going to be co-sharing the space with the Medicalert. We will be looking at sharing some of the training that they receive as well. That will give us a little bit of a heads up on some of the situations that we may be encountering when people accept 911 calls.

Of course, everyone that does work in that station will be Government of the Northwest Territories employees, and so they do qualify for the employee assistance program, where people can access services, counselling services, as needed, and then, of course, we will be looking at specialized...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission does recognize post-traumatic stress disorder as a psychological disorder if it is diagnosed by a medical professional. Both are covered within the act, and, if it is diagnosed, they will be provided the support that's provided to anyone, similar to as if it was a physical accident.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 1, Western Canada Lottery Act, be read for the third time, and Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As stated in my previous answer, yes, through the Aboriginal Sport Circle, we do fund the annual middle school traditional games championships. If the Member is thinking of other games that we should be looking at, I am more than willing to work with the Member to consider those as options, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs recognizes that preserving Aboriginal culture is important to the residents of the Northwest Territories, and hand games is part of that tradition. There are a couple of requirements though. Of course, if there's money being exchanged during the hand games, we tend not to support that as that is more promoting gambling than the actual physical activity of hand games. Then we also try to encourage that because traditionally hand games are more for male, men and boys’ sports, so we also try to encourage the applicants...