Kieron Testart

I believe I have made my case for moving this out of this activity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In my role as chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, our committee is responsible for reviewing the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs' business plan and proposed initiatives. We have spent time with this department, both in business planning and more recently, and perhaps of higher priority, the recent report of the Auditor General of Canada.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Priority and Planning are pleased to see the department produce an action plan and put a high degree of priority on that action plan...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in the sitting I asked questions about the environmental integrity of Kam Lake, the namesake of my riding. I am wondering if today the Minister of Health could answer some questions I have around a 2016 public health advisory around arsenic. That study recommended that Northerners not eat fish or drink the water in Frame Lake or Jackfish Lake, and cleared Yellowknife River, Great Slave Lake, Long Lake, a variety of bodies of waters. Unfortunately, Kam Lake was not included there, so I am wondering if the Minister today can advise on the relative...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister. I could not have said it better myself. The standing committee completely agrees. Will it remain in this department or return to the Executive where it can serve more of a central stabilizing role for our non-government partners? Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I suppose that speaks to the state of our oil and gas industry, which is disappointing. I notice that the Witness Expense Assistance Program is no longer accounted for, or it doesn't seem to have any revenues. I am assuming that line item is rolled into another program. Is that correct, or has that source of revenue been eliminated?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will leave this issue, but I will say I appreciate where the Minister is coming from. This government has made unilateral funding decisions, not necessarily in this department but in other departments, without necessarily talking to our partners. So I think, if we can provide the service for less and find greater efficiency, which is what my suggestion is we can do with LGANT, then it's beholden on us to look at that opportunity and see if it can be made a reality if it doesn't compromise service delivery.

So I'll just leave that with the Minister and hope that one day...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to talk about something that is very important to my constituents in Kam Lake, namely the security around the North Slave Correctional Centre. So are we on track to make those security improvement to the facility that will prevent future escapes? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does the department maintain court workers in every region? Sorry, let me clarify. In every regional centre where court circuits are held? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If increased activity requires a greater inspection budget, how will the department meet that demand in the wake of this cut if it goes forward? Thank you.

The two new sheriff positions, are they located in Yellowknife? Thank you.