Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 9, 2016, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that answer. What I'm wondering in particular with Nutrition North, which is a federal program, is whether the territorial government is taking a role in trying to make Nutrition North a more useful program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that response. I just want to confirm with him that in fact there is a commitment to follow through with the increases scheduled earlier to the food allowance under income assistance.

Thank you colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The territorial government has a role to play in lobbying the federal government to expand and improve the Nutrition North Canada Subsidy. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could I learn who the partners are, please? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In his opening remarks, the Minister said that one of the focuses of the department was to improve food security by encouraging local food production. Could he tell me in what segment of the budget I would find that referenced? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of just now.