Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we and our committee have been looking really hard in looking at this budget and so the first thing, our biggest challenge we're looking at was the elimination of the Transition Rent Supplement Program. We understand that this program has not met its goals, but this should be addressed. Instead of getting rid of the program, the goals should be looked at and, if it's not efficient, then maybe the fund should be allocated to different housing programs instead of being removed. That is very important to us. Housing is important, as we all know, and this has an...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to introduce all of you to an amazing young lady, Jessie Loutit. I had the pleasure of watching her succeed in sports such as hockey and soccer throughout her years in Fort Simpson.

After graduating from high school in Fort Simpson, she went on to university and decided after two years that she wanted to start rowing with the University of Calgary team. Instantly, she fell in love with the sport and two years later she decided to move to Auckland, New Zealand, to row during the winter months. The time on the water was extremely beneficial...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the deputy minister for that answer. It is actually good to hear. I have been talking to a lot of people, and they are talking about making their homes more energy efficient and trying to get wood stoves in place. It also helps with when we have power shortages or fuel running out, so that is great to hear.

In regard to the energy plan, is the department willing to look at coming back for a supplemental after they have investigated alternative energy, renewable energy sources out there? Is there the potential that, after they have come up with this plan, they could...

No, I thank the Minister for his answer. We are going to probably disagree on it. I appreciate that they are going to look at it. Too bad it is not going to be in this budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Could you tell me where on this page the BCP is on? Because I mean I am not sure that we are talking about the same program. If it is on this page I apologize. I do not know where it is, so can the Minister please verify that it is on this page or in this section? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my concern is that we are looking at mega projects versus small community-based projects, and so besides this $1 million for small communities as compared to all these other major projects, has the department looked at putting a better percentage to small projects that will benefit the whole territories instead of the major projects? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a couple of questions. I notice a reduction of $410,000 for the facilities program, properties planning risk management safety. Can the Minister please explain why we see the reduction in this area? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the answer to the Minister. I will make that commitment that I will make sure that I get that letter to you guys. I will have to phone my office there because I got a response back from the department saying that it was going to be looked at and that was -- again I apologize, but I will make sure that we get this e-mail forwarded and I appreciate the Minister's commitment to look into it and work with the community to address this issue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to thank the Minister for the answer. It is great to hear that the department is working with the communities when these tragedies happen.

Mr. Speaker, when a tragedy occurs in the small communities, will the Minister advise us who the department contacts? Is it the leadership, the family, or is there just whomever they decide who needs to be contacted? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. In this section of road, there is a hill that the community has been trying to renovate or fix up in the last year or so. What has the department been doing with the community to address this issue? Thank you, Mr. Chair.