Wendy Bisaro

My last question here has to do with the proposed move of the NGO Stabilization Fund from the Executive to MACA. I have to say strongly again that this is a bad move. I think this particular fund reaches across many departments, as does the Department of Executive. Not that I have any qualms about the ability of MACA to handle this, but I just don’t think that the focus in MACA is as broad as it needs to be. The NGOs that access this fund provide very basic services on behalf of the GNWT, emergency shelters, housing, it’s quite varied and it’s not the focus that MACA has. I know the Premier...

Thanks to Mr. Schauerte. If there’s a capacity issue at this point, and we’re talking the ’15-16 budget, so obviously there’s nothing in this budget that’s going to allow for the legislation beyond the Emergency Measures and maybe the Fire Prevention Act. In the 18th, with the budget for the ’16-17 year, are you looking at increasing your capacity and getting more staff so that you can do some of this legislation which has been talked about for quite some years now? PATA, I think we’ve been talking about it for three or four years. Is there a plan to increase the budget so that you can get...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the deputy minister for the explanation.

My other question here, I have two other questions actually. The second one is the amount for volunteer recognition which is $30,000. This is a large change from the last year when there was money, which was ’13-14 when it was $3,000. Nothing in ’14-15 and then $30,000 in ’15-16. If I read the description it tells me that this is to promote and encourage community volunteers and through planned community recognition events.

I guess I’m struggling with the rationale that giving money to a community for a volunteer recognition...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would like to deal with Tabled Document 188-17(5) today, the NWT Main Estimates for 2015-2016. We’d like to continue with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and, time permitting, the Department of Lands. Thank you.

Now, I’m really confused. So, we’ve gone down $100,000 and you said it’s for a position that’s within the School of Community Government and I thought that what we were looking at was the School of Community Government. So, I’m lost. Or has it gone from contributions to compensation? Is that what you’re trying to tell me? Thank you. The light just went on. Thanks.

Thanks to the Minister. So, we’re going to have some work done, and I appreciate it’s going to take longer to roll it out, but when can committee expect to see a report or a draft, some kind of concrete progress on a pharmaceutical strategy? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have no further questions.

So, where does that money show up then? Is it staying within MACA or where is it? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I’d like to ask him some questions around a strategy which has been under development for quite some time. We all know that our health costs are very high. It’s the largest department that we have within this government. We also know that within that department that drug costs are probably the highest or it’s a very large percentage of that total budget. Both nationally and provincially people are looking to try and reduce those costs.

Members have been hearing since January of 2013 about the...

Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate that commitment and look forward to some more info.

Lastly, it’s my understanding from the conversations that Yellowknife MLAs have with City Council – we do that fairly regularly – the city has asked for a number of parcels in and around the city and that some of them, in negotiating with the GNWT, are going to be not turned over to fee simple but are going to be turned over as leases. I wonder if I can get some kind of an explanation. That makes me frown. As an ex city councillor I don’t understand why we would want to force the city to take over a piece...