Wendy Bisaro

I don’t believe I heard the Minister tell me what he thinks is required. I appreciate that a letter has just recently been sent to Heritage Canada, but I am still looking to know what it is that we need to do. I have another question, though, on a bit of a different tack.

I’d like to know whether or not the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has facility standards for NWT schools and do we have facility standards that provide for a gymnasium in any school that the department builds.

Apparently, GNWT is waiting for the federal government to commit capital funds, and the federal government is waiting for the GNWT to commit the funds. The kids are caught in the middle, learning in a school without a gym to give them much-needed physical activities. Ecole Allain St-Cyr students deserve the same access to physical education activities as all other students in the city. Phase two of the expansion of Ecole Allain St-Cyr must be included in the 2011-12 Infrastructure Budget. It can’t be left until 2012-13. If the GNWT takes the lead and shows our commitment to this project by...

I will try one more time. The funding that education authorities are going to get for their inclusive schooling needs for their inclusive schooling students, is that going to go up or down in this next fiscal year? Thank you.

I just have one more and it has to do with the issue of funding for inclusive schooling. When we did the business plans, we were advised that inclusive schooling funding was being reduced from 19 percent to 18.5 percent. I think, as well, somewhere along the line since business plans and now, I have been advised that it doesn’t mean a reduction in the cost to individual education authorities. I guess if I can get an explanation as to how the reduction in the percentage of funding to schools is going to give them the same amount of money that they need to deal with their inclusive schooling...

Thank you Mr. Chairman. I have a number of comments. These are not in any particular order, but some are in reference to the budget in general and some are in reference to the Minister’s opening remarks.

I would like to start off by talking about there is a statement, I think it is in the business plan, there is a trend to a decreased use of income assistance funds, but I know over the last week or two I have heard the Minister state that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment... Income support is certainly handling more income support claims. So I am a little bit concerned that if...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that the government develop an anti-poverty strategy for the Northwest Territories; and further, that the Premier initiate discussions towards this strategy in partnership with business, organizations and those living in poverty; and further, that the government and partners start by developing a definition of poverty; and further, that the anti-poverty strategy identify specific, measureable targets...

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the end of that answer. I know that the Minister recognizes that any aboriginal has the right to hunt, and I know that he also feels that the ban that was put in place is justified, but I’d like to ask what he and the department are doing to provide opportunities for hunters within the Wekeezhii Renewable Resources Board area to get the caribou that they need for their communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are addressed to the Minister of ENR as well. I have some questions for him with regard to my Member’s statement and the situation in regard to the ban on hunting caribou. I have to say, at the outset, I need to admire the Minister’s dress today. It’s a very flashy vest.

I know that we’ve discussed last week, and the Minister answered many questions, about consultation and consultation ongoing, and plans to come to an agreement and so on. I don’t believe I heard an answer in his answer to Mr. Yakeleya. I’d like to ask the Minister for an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, at the outset I would like to say I am going to support this motion. I spoke in my Member’s statement about the need for conservation and, in my view, it needs to be the basis of any resolution to this particular disagreement. It should be the only reason that we are discussing this particular issue. The caribou herd, in my view, is in distress and in order to preserve it from extinction there needs to be a solution that considers conservation.

I think we’ve managed to get to a place where we have groups on two different sides and the sides can’t agree. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I have to ask the Minister, if it’s a very successful and popular process, I would suggest that’s probably not the case for the residents of the Yellowknives in Dettah and Ndilo. So could I ask the Minister for clarification: do we have residents within the Yellowknife area who are happy with the process and happy with the outcome? Thank you.