Tom Beaulieu

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have more questions for the Minister of Education on small community employment rates. Mr. Speaker, the $3 million that the Minister spoke of earlier has the potential of decreasing or increasing employment rates in small communities by a certain percentage; it is maybe 5 or 6 per cent. Is the Minister aware of what the potential is for the $3 million? If it is spent in the small communities, what will it do for the employment rates in small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware of what the distribution of employment rates is across the NWT's small communities, regional centres, and Yellowknife?

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was listening to one of the Members talk about a Small Community Employment Program. I have questions for the Minister of Education on that. Can the Minister tell the House today what the purpose of the Small Community Employment Program is? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have one question. I would like to know if the Minister could give me the status of the Lutselk'e Health Centre. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask the Minister if he could provide us with the status of the fish plant in Hay River.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the employment rate for Indigenous people is 54 per cent in the Northwest Territories and 80 per cent for nonIndigenous people.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I talked about the layoff of GNWT staff. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance a couple of questions. In this current year of 2017-2018, have the departments of the GNWT been directed to lay off staff for reduction purposes? Thank you.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [translation not provided].

Mr. Speaker due to reductions, the layoff of staff has created real issues for people of the NWT. Several people working for the GNWT were told the GNWT no longer needs their service. Meanwhile, the GNWT continues to fill jobs. Mr. Speaker, as a hypothetical example, the GNWT places more value on hiring a young engineer from Toronto than keeping a young mother from the North in their job. This young mother serves as a key to the entire extended family. She uses her income to help her extended family. Mr. Speaker, the layoff of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, is that applicable to Aboriginal community governments as well? I recognize that this would be standard for the hamlets and others elected among the entire population, like the town councils and so on. Would that also be applicable, when you have Aboriginal governments that have an agreement with the department to have this money, for spending this money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairman, I think during this review I need to touch on a few of the projects. I think they are in the books. I think they are moving forward, and I think we have some of them on record. My objective, I think, is to give comfort to individuals in the communities that have been asking for the various items that do not appear in this year's capital plan, but there is some planning going on that advance some of these projects.

I am looking, for sure, for one of the big items that is not in the capital plan except possibly a study which does not really secure the capital...