Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, our department will be working with the regional staff to try and find a suitable space in the community. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this has been an ongoing discussion and negotiation with our counterparts, the federal government. We do have an agreement in place to share the cost, so we will continue to negotiate with the federal government. At the same time, we are hoping there will be some good news out of the federal government soon enough to deal with the community policing presence and also having more detachments in the communities that don’t have any right now. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we have to be careful here how we approach things as a department, because it is not the responsibility of ECE to find alternative locations for these affected NGOs. At the same time, however, Mr. Speaker, the department has the interest in the community library, the Open Door Society that is looking for a suitable space. Then again, we are looking forward to working with the community on finding a suitable space in the community. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question on the police presence in Tsiigehtchic has an ongoing schedule planned for community visits. There are visits from the RCMP to communities. Like any other community, the communities that don’t have detachments, there are scheduled visits from our regional headquarters. So there are plans in place to continue that until such time as…The plan is to have a detachment in all communities. That’s one of the territorial goals of this territorial government and that’s a long-term plan as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Homelessness is a pressing and complex issue across the Northwest Territories. No one agency or government department can address the problem of homelessness. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working with non-government organizations and communities to alleviate homelessness.

The homelessness fund for small communities is the newest initiative. The program provides funding for application-based emergency shelter projects up to $40,000 and homelessness support projects up to $10,000 in communities outside of Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik. There...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll certainly make an effort to check with my department and be willing to share with the Member on the stats. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the tenants will be consulted and the present summaries of the surveys will be available to them mid-December. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are various parties involved. We are involved as the ECE department with local regional representatives, the communities, LHOs, local housing authorities. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will provide written documentation to the Member on the timeline of our detachment announcement, but right now it is scheduled for the spring of 2008. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to have a communication dialogue with the communities. I was there during the ceremonial event and I would be glad to go back there again. I will certainly make a commitment to visit the community. Mahsi.