Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I give my question, I do want to have a quick congratulations to Minister Semmler and Minister Kuptana and their Member statements today and congratulate them on this special day as well.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the waiting lists and the issues around housing in my community. My questions are for the Minister of housing. The first question is how many vacant units are there currently in Inuvik, Mr. Speaker?

It's surprising, because when the president of Aurora College sat in front of committee, it certainly was made very clear to us that if there's one thing that they could get to continue would be that $500,000 funding to ensure that program continued on. So I'm a little surprised that it wasn't brought forward to the department as well. The department obviously is aware that they do require that funding for that training, that particular program, to ensure that they can qualify the programs would qualify the insurance requirements to become a polytechnic. So has the department had any...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Minister Cleveland. So just then to confirm, the reduction of $850,000 is not a reduction to the program itself or the services that it offers? It's still going to maintain at the same levels it was maintaining when we spent $850,000 more last year?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of activity early learning in the main estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, again, like, I appreciate the work that your department's done on this. Again, you know, from all indications from the Children's First Society in Inuvik, you know, they're very appreciative of the work that's been done by you and your department. And that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying I want to give you more money. I think you need more money. We need to continue this. We need to make sure that we got it looked after. That's great, that people in public housing can open day homes. I encourage people all the time, hey, if you're at home, open a day home. Hey, it...

Thank you, excellent. So my obvious question is, then, why is that not in here? Because I think it should be if we need it. So if we need that, let's get it in the budget.

Would that then so are we talking, then, about being able to provide more spaces based on that or just that's what we need to maintain our current levels of 1,956?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that answer. And I look forward to that information.

One final one, Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister spoke about the funding, the $1.7 million. Can he speak specifically what the department's doing to support the work of the community food banks in Inuvik, please?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank Premier Simpson for that information, certainly it's good to get that on public record.

Mr. Speaker, how is the department working with the federal government to maximize the Nutrition North support programs for my region?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order for people to live financially independent from the government, there needs to be local economic opportunities. There needs to be business activity and a local economy in order for people to earn wages and prosper. When there's a lack of business activity, Mr. Speaker, like we see in the Beaufort Delta region, families have no choice but to turn to income support. And when families are limited to income support to pay their bills, providing healthy nutritious meals becomes even more of a challenge.

Mr. Speaker, the population of Inuvik is 3,383. The...

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer the further consideration of the main estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.