Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The difference of opinion between Cabinet and Regular MLAs with the 201516 budget reflects some unfinished business around the mandate. Our problem is what then-vice president George Bush Sr. described as “the vision thing.” As an interesting aside, I want to provide some context for this quote. Bush was considering a run at the presidency as Ronald Reagan's second term in office came to an end. You might recall that Reagan was known as “the Great Communicator,” but up to that point in 1987, Bush hadn't been very effective in articulating what he stood for, so a friend...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, to give a specific example here, the Housing First project in Yellowknife plans to house 20 people in the next three years. Does that mean there will be a decline in the shelter capacity of 20 people?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today dealt with the issue of migration and how there will always be some need for emergency shelters in Yellowknife, but probably and hopefully not to the extent that they are available now. My question for the Minister responsible for Homelessness is: what planning is she doing with the shelters to reduce their bed nights over time? Thank you.

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal and territorial governments are set to reverse this trend by funding additional housing for people who are homeless. This is good news for the many people waiting for homes, for the City of Yellowknife, and for Yellowknife residents. This collaboration is the way forward for finding real solutions to this long-term problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chair, as I said, I asked to return to this section because I feel that this position has tremendous value, not only to this region but to the whole NWT. It is a program in which education is provided to people of all ages. It is a winner of the Premier's Award in 2010 for ontheland training, and so the purpose of this motion is to ask that this position be reinstated. I realize that we are not able to add money to the budget, but I'm asking for agreement of the whole House that this position be reinstated and that we work out how the funding for that will happen at another point. Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have a few remaining comments on the corporate management activity that we agreed to yesterday. Therefore, I seek unanimous consent to return to page 87 in the ENR estimates. Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister for that. One approach that is taken in Calgary is to make it as a goal that people who live in emergency shelters won't spend more than five days there, that they have a rapid rehousing program. Can the Minister envision setting a goal of that kind where there is a commitment that people will stay in emergency shelters for short periods of time so that they aren't stuck on the housing continuum the way they are now?

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. A dimension of my question is whether the Minister can foresee a time when funding for emergency shelters will decline because Housing First has taken effect in Yellowknife.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, hunger is a reality in the North. Caregivers can't afford to feed their children a balanced meal. They reduce the size of their kids' meals because they don't have enough food. They are going hungry themselves because they can't afford to buy food. Some lose weight as a result. These findings are part of a report by Food Banks Canada with the title, “What Will It Take to Make Real Progress on Northern Food Security?” It was published last month.

Mr. Speaker, 20 per cent of NWT households don't have enough food. Why not? Because of the high cost of store-bought...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witness for her answer. Can we get a ballpark idea of when the country food strategy might be complete? Thank you.