Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am not getting a sense of priority or urgency on this matter from the Minister. Of course, the Office of the Auditor General report was released about six months ago, and the department was well aware of the items that were in the report before it was released. I am looking for a concrete answer as to when the department is going to invest in additional firefighting capacity into the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it is my understanding that the Office of the Auditor General found that the investment was not adequate to the need, and so there is a need for increased investment. How is the Minister planning to respond to that recommendation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a couple of questions about when we are likely to see investments in two areas that we have discussed previously. The first is whether there is a requirement for capital investment in the 911 service and, if so, when we will expect to see that in the capital estimates. Thank you.

I wonder if the Minister could tell us when these improvements that were part of the RFP will be completed, when the inmates will be able to use that larger yard again.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. During the last Capital Estimates, Members approved funds for an enhanced perimeter fence and security upgrades for the North Slave Correctional Centre. I'd like to know whether the work on this fence has been completed. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week is Literacy Week here in the Northwest Territories. While most of us think first about reading, the NWT Literacy Council is exploring a different dimension of literacy.

The theme for this year's annual event is Physical Literacy Life in Motion. Physical literacy is a new term that encompasses the basic knowledge, skills, and motivation we all need to be physically active for life. We can look at physical literacy in a variety of ways. Each of us needs to know our body and its needs so that we can keep that body working for a long time, get things done...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the answer. The money ultimately has to come from somewhere, and as the deputy minister has already pointed out, there is a significant underfunding of the communities, which has been quantified and it is well understood. In addition to the strategy being developed and produced this fall, when might we see the investment to close that gap? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure what strategy the Minister has in mind here, but the Office of the Auditor General was clear that the firefighting capacity in the communities was inadequate. At what point will investments be made in improving firefighting, that is to say residential or commercial firefighting, in the communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Office of the Auditor General reviewed the MACA operations and released a report earlier this year, and there were some recommendations that seemed to indicate increased investment, especially in fire safety. Could the Minister tell us whether there are any investments in this capital plan that address the recommendations in that report and, if not, when we are going to see them? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Anti-Poverty Strategy. As I have frequently pointed out, along with the NGOs, the first step in eliminating poverty is to measure it. We need to identify a set of indicators to measure income and the effects of poverty, such as use of emergency housing, food banks, and so on. Will the Minister commit to begin the formal collection and assembly of this kind of data in partnership with the Bureau of Statistics? Mahsi.