Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually the short answer is not at this time, but it’s something that we will have to do some research on, but not at this time they won’t be able to access some of the funding that is currently not being accessed by some of the other communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the uptake on this particular contribution has been quite slow, but we’re working at trying to get it out there and get it utilized to all the money that’s available. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is right; there are some factors that are taken into account when determining the needs survey. You can put houses on the ground but there is still some existing stock that needs to be taken care of: the suitability factor, there’s the adequacy factor and affordability. These are all taken into consideration. With the investments, as I stated earlier, that are being made now, we’re quite confident that all these numbers will go down when we do the next survey. Thank you.

We’re not denying anyone access to Commissioner’s land. We just haven’t, as I stated before, had much of an appetite from the public to do it. I’m sure that as we go forward with biomass, be it wood and agriculture, I’m sure if the demand is there, then we will have to take steps to address it because we could see this becoming quite an issue in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The use of the Rangers, I mean, is not something that has been considered for when you just go on the road, because they’re usually on the land rescue type service or search and rescue. This ambulance money, I mean, we have $200,000 budgeted and it goes to the seven communities that try to provide an ambulance service. The uptake on it, we don’t have all communities because there’s a huge liability factor to it, and so I think communities are looking to try to get their capacity upgraded before they think they can take on or feel that they can take on the ground ambulance...

I kind of figured this question would be coming up. It’s a good question because it does seem like there is youth money all over the place here. But we have different criteria for each of these different pots of money and I suppose if we put it all into one pot and whoever comes forward with their applications for or puts together the best applications and they might be getting more than their share. As I said before, as I was doing my comments to the opening remarks, we are confident with the new website that’s being launched, that would answer a lot of these questions. It would be a good map...

We have significant investment in the Nahendeh riding for 2009-2010. Some of those projects are just being completed. There’s approximately $10 million being invested in the Nahendeh riding and then when we go to the 2010-2011 budget there’s an additional $5.2 million being invested into housing. That’s actually one of the lower investments across the Northwest Territories, but we’re believing that will go a long way towards addressing some of the Member’s concerns about adequate housing in Nahendeh. I think this will go a long way in determining and improving the condition and having more...

No, we haven’t.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, out of this $390,000, I think $50,000 is for the Arctic Energy Alliance, but we also have an additional $150,000 that we still contribute to the Arctic Energy Alliance to do their work required. We’re starting to see, I think they’re trying to put some people in the regions now. I know for a fact that there might be one in Inuvik and they did some work for the NWT Housing Corporation. So they’re very much still funded by MACA and by the different partners and they’re just continuing to carry on their work.

Mr. Chair, this has been a stable source of funding for a few years. We have not really had any indication from any of the sport and rec partners that they are underfunded. I am sure if they felt they were underfunded and came forward with requests, then we would have to have a look at it, but at this point they seem to be... I shouldn’t be speaking for them, but until you hear from them, you assume they are quite satisfied with the funds that they’re getting. Thank you.