Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. It gives me a very clear picture of where he’s going because there is always that debate over more houses for our money or fewer houses, but now adding all these other things onto it. What I want to ask the Minister, is it conceivably compatible that we could deliver more affordable housing while at the same time creating northern economy through it? I think of the market housing initiative, bringing in units from the South. Can we accomplish that here in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Agreed. Thank you. Pages 9-22 and 9-23, information item, education and culture, active positions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, then I would ask the Minister if that is consistent with any other type of post-secondary education here in the North. I think of programs like the Nursing Program, the Social Work Program, programs that offer the students the ability to take their training and graduate here in the Northwest Territories. That is a type of post-secondary training. Could you want to be a nurse and decide, at your own discretion, to take your training someplace outside of the Northwest Territories, even though it’s available here? Thank you.

Thank you. It’s good to see in our Chambers again, Mr. Speaker, Lydia Bardak who was gone for a while and she’s back and she’s a renowned social activist. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Dent.

Agreed. Thank you. Page 9-19, education and culture, grants and contributions, grants, total grants, $52,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The other thing I wanted to question the Minister about is the formula funding that has been established for schools on a per-student basis and other things that are taken into account. Mr. Chairman, I’d like to ask the Minister when the formula funding was established. What year was it established in? When is the last time it was reviewed? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we are attempting to shed some light on the challenges of affordable and accessible housing for northerners. Mr. Speaker, shelter is a basic necessity in life common to every person. In some circumstances, it is necessary for governments to become involved in meeting the needs of our people for adequate housing. As with everything we attempt to do, we are confined by fiscal realities. It is incumbent on us as legislators when developing programs, policies and investing in capital infrastructure, to ensure we balance the need for accountability with...

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Dent.