Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he can commit to providing the impacts on minimum wage increases, if increases were recommended, on the minimum wage earners and how that impacts our government in the area of social programs that we often extend to individuals that are at a minimum wage? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to ask the Minister if there's any plan or schedule for the minimum wage to change in the near future? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke about the deterrents that were associated with a lot of the programs NWT Housing Corporation is delivering, deterrents that make the seniors apprehensive to apply for the programs that are in place. Has the Minister had a discussion with staff or with Cabinet on features that might be added to a program that specifically looks at allowing seniors to age in place in their communities without a lot of the deterrents? Right now, those individuals are not applying for the programs for various reasons. So I'd like to see if the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to report progress at this time.

Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that, under the Regional Recruitment Program, that 32 persons would be recruited to GNWT positions. I'd like to ask the Minister if he has a target for how many regional recruitment candidates he would like to have at the end of this fiscal year, and what that target would be? Thank you.

Can the Minister advise the House if it is possible for the duration of the regional recruitment candidates to have their training extended beyond one year, like maybe two years or more, if necessary?

The Minister hasn't had discussions with colleague Members or the department. However, I would like to ask the Minister if he can commit to taking a serious look at increasing community access road program through forced growth if necessary or a new initiative or any other method that the Minister may have in his repertoire?

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member statement, there are more applications than there is budget in the program. Although there has been discussion but none on increases as the Minister indicated, has the Minister had any sort of discussions with his colleagues at Cabinet and specifically the Minister of Finance to increase this budget for the community access road program?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Today, I would like to do my Member's statement on DOT's Community Access Road program. Mr. Speaker, the Community Access Road Program currently has about $1 million for distribution to the communities. I realize that application for this program runs about $1.4 million; however, I feel that the budget should be increased to $1.5 million for the next fiscal year, then increased to $2 million the following fiscal year. The new budget for this program should be set at $2 million moving forward.

The Community Access Road Program is a very good program in our...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to review Tabled Document 143-18(2), Capital Estimates for 2017-2018.