Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am looking for further clarification on the questions I asked the Minister of Transportation earlier today. My first question trying to seek clarity is: is the Department of Transportation now asking the federal government to approve projects in the second bundle project by project as opposed to the whole bundle? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, a big part of bundle number two is to replace some bridges that need replacing; however, my understanding is that those bridges may not be replaced but rather may be retrofitted. I'm wondering if the Minister could give me some indication on which direction the department will be taking with this. Is it going to be a renovation or a replacement of the three bridges?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. During our last session on February 19th, 2016, I asked the Minister of DOT questions on the Building Canada Plan and the second bundle that was supposed to be rolled out. I'd like to ask the Minister if the Financial Management Board has approved the second bundle for the Building Canada Plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to read the last two eulogies that I have. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if I can get that information before session is completed this time. I am referring to the whole session at the end of June. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the intention is to rehab the bridge, extend the life for 35 years. Bridges are usually amortized over 75 years. I would like to ask the Minister if it was just too cost-prohibitive to replace the bridge. That is why we are going with rehabilitation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line here is that when you bring in modular homes you're not hiring local people to do construction. The communities need jobs. We're trying to bring market houses in so we can attract people into the community to work, but the communities themselves don't have jobs. When we have an opportunity to build something in the community, to allow other people to come into the community and have jobs, why would the Housing Corporation take the strong position that it has to be modular homes in order to save 30 per cent when the more important factor is...

So no consultation with the communities. The Minister is aware that the Housing Corporation has a program where they provide some money to private developers: so many dollars per unit to put market housing units on the ground. At this point, that number is too low to spur developers to construct some units. Would the Minister, in the savings of 30 per cent that she indicated, with respect to modular homes versus stick-built, consider looking at increasing the amount given to private developers to allow them to put market housing units on the ground in the communities? Increasing the subsidy to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, one of the options that may not be apparent to everyone that used to be a fairly standard process was an equity lease process, where the individual ends up owning the land. At this point, since they are renting the land, can the Minister look at something that may be just a little outside of the taxing authority, since they are renting the property and they are not taxing it, if they would look at something like rent-to-own once they have some sort of concurrence from the land claim organizations. Thank...

I'm glad the Minister mentioned the Seniors and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief program. My next question is: will the Minister consider applying that senior citizens’ property tax relief for individuals in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh that are renting their lot right now?