Sandy Lee

Thank you. I understand the breakdown of other expenses have been stated already. A large part of that is on travel. Could I ask for information on what the remaining portion of that $1.6 million is?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. May I have the breakdown for $463,000 in other expenses, please? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I get a further breakdown then on what else is included in that fees and payments, and the contract services for $331,000, and other expenses under other expenses for $200,000? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know the Minister is before us to review the DPW budget, but he does wear other hats. Is it safe to say then that because of the way the budget is budgeted and spent, and the fact that utilities are dispensed as expenses under each division, is it safe to say that we don't really have a good clear picture on how much the GNWT spends on utility bills and as a customer? Thank you.

Where would that come out of under the itemized account that I just got? Thank you.

Thank you. May I ask what the dollar value of this contract would be for and, also, why is it that the Aurora College was not given the mandate to provide the whole program? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was going to save any additional comments on this early childhood funding that is being proposed for a cut, but seeing that there has been some tremendous passion and momentum being built here on this issue, I wanted to perhaps put an exclamation mark on the point we are raising here and enforcing. I think many Members have raised the fact that it doesn’t make sense to be evaluating a project as the project is being finished. I know, having been here long enough, if we pass this budget and go away, all the requests will be made to the Minister and the department to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under this item on page 9-20, NWT Arts Council, I want to just raise a concern that has been brought to many Members here from the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre for some assistance with their core funding. I just wanted to lay out the situation here where currently the northern arts centre, I think a lot of Members are aware that this facility was set up by community volunteers. They raised a lot of money to set this up and it is a very important institution in our city. I think arts and cultural activities and performances are a very integral part of any...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister indicate whether or not he has had an audience with the people involved with this project, to see what it is they're doing and what it is that they're looking for? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I ask the Minister whether this reduction in his budget would decrease the funding that has in the past gone to the NWT Literacy Council, who has benefited from getting money from the GNWT as well as some of the federal programs to introduce a lot of literacy initiatives, and ones that have made some headway. I don’t know if they will have a direct impact there, but I would like to have confirmation on that from the Minister.

Another comment that I want to add, which I think is important, is that what he has been hearing about this program is that in the last...