Tom Beaulieu

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have questions for the Premier. We will develop and implement a strategy to increase employment in small communities as part of our mandate in the 18th Assembly. I'd like to ask the Premier: what has the government done to date to increase employment in small communities? I'm specifically talking about the last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to continue talking about the distribution of employment across the NWT. Canada’s employment rate is just under 62 per cent. The Yukon, at around 74 per cent, being the jurisdiction with the highest employment rate. The NWT is second at just over 70 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, we look great from a national perspective, however our employment rate is below 50 per cent in over 65 per cent of our small communities. It is good that larger centres have such high employment rates. It’s good for their families, their communities and the NWT. However, the low...

Mr. Speaker, I'm hoping this is not too technical, but I'd like to ask the Minister: aside from taking kids trapping, what other programs are delivered under this budget?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. It would be nice to know the trend of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Can the Minister tell the House if they know the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the NWT? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, that's very good news that the NWT will be taking the lead in this. Can the Minister advise the House what is available right now in the area of programming and so on for FASD?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Should be afforded to them through early childhood development. They will have a much better chance of graduating and becoming contributing members of our society. Mr. Speaker, it is clear, we should be viewing early childhood development as an investment in our children and their future. If we view this as an investment, it would be easily the highest yielding investment we could make.

Mr. Speaker, early childhood development is the responsibility of two departments, Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment. Later today, I will have questions for...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 198-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017 be now concluded and that Tabled Document 198-18(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Supplementary Appropriation No. 1, Operations, and Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, Infrastructure, both for 2016-2017, and Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, as a traditional economy, I'd like to ask the Minister what the full spectrum of supports are there for hunters and trappers?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to pick up on the Member for Nunakput's Member's statement and ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources some questions on traditional economy. I'd like to ask the Minister how much money is there in the traditional economy budgets, whether they rest in ITI or ENR? Thank you.