Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Minister there for mentioning bridging the programs to the people. And I think that's recognizing a gap and here's a bridge to challenge that gap. I see all these unique programs, and I look at what's your Beaufort Delta or Deh Cho or Sahtu regional trades strategy. We can no longer deny that we really need trades. But how we're going to get there, let's think about going above and beyond the budget. Looking at the budget, it's an operational one. Yes, we have these career individuals, but if we're really not doing enough on the promotional side recognizing...

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question to the Minister is on the seniors' home heating subsidy. I'm, first of all, glad to see an increase. And the qualifications for this program is really concerning to a lot of recipients; I'm like many other MLAs from the region that hear these concerns. And it's always the fact of the threshold qualification. The recipients are exceeding the threshold qualification by doing something they've always have done in their past by earning extra money here and there as a pensioner and selling their crafts and/or doing part-time work only to find out that they don't...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu winter road season is critical to the region's resupply. Trucking schedules must be maintained. More importantly, the winter road itself must be supported by sufficient resources for efficiencies, trucking turnarounds, etcetera.

Mr. Speaker, the original truckload estimates destined for the Sahtu were in the neighbourhood of 1,000 loads. This includes essential supplies such as fuel products, not only to our government but the private sector as well, household staples, grocery inventories, and project materials. Mr. Speaker, I know of several...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In this area of the estimates we're talking about, the children, can the Minister expand on the upcoming year and the school food program that is being planned, maybe explain a little bit more information on the new fiscal year food program for the schools? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm looking at the active positions page there. When I look at the Sahtu and the Deh Cho, together these two regions make up one-third of the territorial communities and we've only allowed, for the last couple of years, one position. So I'm just wondering with the amount of schools in these two regions is there any future plans to expand on the personnel or staff in those two areas? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My next question is I recall in the last Assembly there was quite a number of contributions made by Skills Canada for specific projects accessed by a number of Indigenous governments, and I'm just wondering if Skills Canada still exists, and if so, if there's any access to capital there from this government through different education initiatives, training initiatives? But I'm really not too sure if Skills Canada still exists; I'm just curious if the Minister has any knowledge on the existence of Skills Canada. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is related to the Indigenous Services Canada. Can the Minister provide how many existing contribution agreements is in place, and if so, if that information could be provided? That'll help explain some of these numbers that we're seeing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I apologize to the Minister in getting this request in late here. However, we can move on.

My second question, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to asking the Aurora College board to consider adopting a new regional community learning centre strategy run from centres in Hay River, Fort Simpson, and Norman Wells? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to do this acknowledgement.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to acknowledge four Indigenous Language Revitalization Scholarship recipients for 2024-2025 from the Sahtu region --

Samantha K'ai Kenny;

Jennie Vandermeer;

Marie Speakman; and,

Karen Menacho.

-- have each received a $5,000 scholarship from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

These recipients are advancing the preservation of Sahtu Dene Kede. Two currently live in the Sahtu region, while two others are Sahtu Dene Kede speakers with roots in the Deline community. Their commitment...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Community learning centres innovation. Mr. Speaker, with the closure of the community learning centres brings new innovation. These centres have skilled and educated instructors who can enhance the capacity of current GNWT training initiatives. The regional community learning centres strategy proposes establishing three centralized community learning hubs in Hay River, Fort Simpson, and Norman Wells. Mr. Speaker, these regional centres could merge with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs school of community government by broadening and centralizing...