Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a comment and a couple of questions. It’s been said before by a number of Members, but I have to say it again, since we are now in the Health and Social Services department, and that is the lack of focus on the renewal project for the Stanton Hospital.

I know that there’s money in this budget, but it’s not going to lead to any significant construction in the near future. I want to reiterate again how important it is that this government find a way to finance this project and that we do it sooner rather than later.

I’m following with interest the back and forth...

Yes, Mr. Speaker. It’s too bad you can’t say that to the Ministers. My last question, Mr. Speaker, has to do with the comment, well, the statement by CFIB about the shortage of qualified labour. Their suggestion is for a training tax credit for small business, and I’d appreciate the Minister’s comment on the feasibility of that for our NWT small businesses.

Thanks to the Minister for answering my second question and ignoring the first, I think. I did ask the Minister what this government has done to help to reduce taxes for small business. Red tape is also an issue, but I’d like to ask him again, is there any intention of this government to help small business by reducing taxes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to welcome a constituent from Frame Lake who is a Lifeguard for Lodune, and Violca Memedi is here and I would like to specifically welcome all the Lifeguards for Lodune and thank you for your service.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is Small Business Week across Canada and specifically I want to acknowledge Small Business Day tomorrow, October 25th. Small business in Canada is defined as having from five to 100 employees, but small business owners represent the best of the Canadian spirit. They are entrepreneurs, innovators, job creators and an integral part of our communities, large and small. From coast to coast to coast, Canadian small businesses help drive local economies and keep our communities strong.

Small businesses with less than 50 employees, including businesses with no employees...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would like to consider Bills 13, 14, 15 and 16.

That’s great. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I’m not quite sure where to start here. With the long-term care, in two months’ time, once you have done your work, you have looked at the work from Avens and you make sure they jive, so to speak. What is the intention? What is the department going to do with the numbers you get in two months’ time? Avens has put out that we need 600-some beds for long-term beds over the next I don’t remember how many years. When the department has numbers that say basically the same thing, what is the intention of the department with regard to long-term care facilities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to continue with Tabled Document 107-17(4), NWT Capital Estimates 2014-2015, with a continuation of the Department of Health and Social Services, then Justice; Industry, Tourism and Investment; Environment and Natural Resources; and Legislative Assembly. If we get through all those, then we will go through a few bills, perhaps.

Thanks to the Minister. I realize it’s a double-edged sword. I totally understand if we cut taxes, we’re also going to be cutting our own revenue. I thank the Minister for that response.

With regard to the red tape, it is something which CFIB is on about, not just in the North but I think right across the country, and I appreciate the Minister’s explanation of all the things we do provide. But I believe it was over a year ago that this government, I think, through the Premier, made a statement that we were going to do something about cutting red tape. I didn’t hear from the Minister that we...