Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just going to be brief on this. A couple things come to my mind. If core needs keep on going up when we keep on spending money on this, then we’re doing it wrong. I honestly think that we need to be looking at how our Housing Corporation is doing the job and working with the people to make it more efficient. My other challenge I have is we look at cost-saving measures by bringing modular homes in, but we don’t take into the fact the income support or the money that’s being taken away from people working. Again, this is a challenge. When I look at the survey done by...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister. That is all I am trying to do. I want to make sure we continue to keep the trust going and the partnership with the three territories. If this works, it works. If it doesn’t, at least we made that offer there. Maybe some people in Ottawa are listening to what we are talking about here, and it may have an impact on it as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for that answer. In my region actually, it’s probably getting really excited about some of this great stuff that’s happening. Mr. Speaker, besides public housing, what other programs does the NWT Housing Corp offer that will help our seniors remain in their communities?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about the Department of Transportation. On Friday, June 3rd, Minister Schumann stopped in this House to do a Member’s statement about the Inuvik to Tuk Highway. In his statement he spoke proudly about this being the third successful winter of construction on the project. This project employed over 500 people with about 74 per cent of the workforce coming from the Beaufort Delta region and other NWT communities, fulfilling the goal of sustainable contribution to northern employment opportunities and delivering jobs where...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I notice it’s an increase of $1.3 million compared for the main estimates from last year. Is there a rationale for the huge increase on this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

No, thank you.

Hopefully, this will be my last question. I realize that you will be trying to get a briefing. But there seems to be about three or four other briefings that you’ll be in front of us on, so I think that one may be a little bit behind. I’m just a little concerned with this authority. If we have issues, will we be still going to a public administrator or will we be able to fix issues beforehand, and so we continue to, you know, have a better system in place so we don’t have to bring in public administrators? Because that does concern me. Then the regional boards do not have the say and the power...

The Minister talked about two fulltime, one halftime position for the Mental Health Act. Is this going to be able to help alleviate some of the issues out in the regions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks for that clarification. I was a little concerned if we would be rolling over O and M every year and it’s good to see that it’s going to capital. If we’re still having the challenges, we’ll be there. In regards to your answer to Ms. Green there about ministerial role versus authority role or core functions, and you talked about the ministry or the department shrinking a bit, with authority, is the department and authority actually shrinking, or is it we’re going to still have the same amount of staff, just that one will be a ministerial role which would be smaller, and then authority...

Can the Minister advise if these positions are moved to Yellowknife or out to the regions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.