Steve Norn

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I'm just listening to the Minister's comments and Mr. Koe's comments for this being a financial patch, and the lending rate of prime plus one. From what I'm hearing, of this $135 million, we're not entirely sure how much is going to be used or if it's all going to be used for this fiscal cycle.

I would like to thank the Minister for his response. I think it is important, too, that visibility for your department is important in my riding. There are four schools in my riding. The one in Ndilo and one in Detah, those are easy places to do a tour. That would be really good. I would like to see that, but, if I could get a commitment from the Minister to see if he could visit our schools in Lutselk'e and Deninu Kue, I think it is important. It helps boost morale for the teachers and the kids, and I think it is important that they see the head of our education department.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of the Pages as well, Jaida Charlo, from my riding. I am happy to see her today. Mahsi cho.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Appointments to the Standing Committee on Government Operations.

WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations:

Ms. Lesa Semmler, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes;

Ms. Caitlin Cleveland, the Member for Kam Lake;

Ms. Frieda Martselos, the Member for Thebacha;

Ms. Julie Green, the Member for Yellowknife Centre; and

Mr. Rylund Johnson, the Member for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Appointments to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment.

WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment:

Mr. Ronald Bonnetrouge, the Member for Deh Cho;

Mr. Kevin O'Reilly, the Member for Frame Lake;

Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput;

Mrs. Frieda Martselos, the Member for Thebacha; and

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've got one more, here. I give notice that, on Thursday, December 12, 2019, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations:

Mrs. Lesa Semmler, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes;

Ms. Caitlin Cleveland, the Member for Kam Lake;

Mrs. Frieda Martselos, the Member for Thebacha;

Ms. Julie Green, the Member for Yellowknife Centre; and

Mr. Rylund Johnson, the Member for Yellowknife North.

And further, that the following Members...

One last question, and I don't expect a response right away on this, but, just from what you're telling me, it would be nice to know what some other key indicators would be. My last question is: I would like to ask for some stats on the number of applications and the number of denials in terms of program requests, housing program requests, by community. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In October, when we did a roundtable in this House, I mentioned briefly about how a lot of our people in the North face obstacles and barriers when it comes to accessing government programs, specifically housing programs. I firmly believe there are too many barriers for our vulnerable populations, our elders, low-income, disabled, and what I have been noticing during my campaign and even during the last few weeks is that a lot of language that is used is "too complicated" and that it needs to be simpler.

I have heard countless accounts of denied program applications for...

Mahsi cho, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.