Shane Thompson

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the clarification. So the government is actually not funding it completely. We're working with the divisional boards to find the money, so it's not fully funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories unless it's from the funding that exists, that we get right now.

So yesterday the Minister was talking about that they have to find it from the surplus of these educational boards. Can this Minister verify that each school board has a surplus that they can actually find to help fund this 1.76 per cent funding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker...

I thank the Minister for his answer. Yesterday, we talked about a 2 per cent that the divisional boards have to come up with. So if the government is fully funding this program at $5.1 million, why are they asking the divisional boards to come up with 2 per cent?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleague from Tu NedheWiilideh said yesterday in his reply to the Budget Address, he's one of the MLAs who represents small communities. I, too, represent small communities in my riding, and they face many challenges. Unfortunately, sometimes our concerns are not heard by Cabinet. I've said it before, and still firmly believe this.

Mr. Speaker, before I speak directly about the budget, I need to address one of the budget processes. The first issue is consensus government. On Thursday, we heard from the Premier that the budget is a product of consensus system. He...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the Mayor from Hay River as well, but I won't call him the Mayor, I'll call him a friend. It was funny because today we were talking about our exploits when we were younger playing ball and he was a center fielder, so I'd like to welcome Brad Mapes to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess I was asking for the impossible, and I apologize to the Minister for that. On my constituency tour, I heard from the youth. They're asking, what is this government doing? With these positions not being filled, can the Minister please advise this House what is happening in the youth area for our young people?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs about the positions of the youth workers, and it was great to hear that she's made a commitment, as long as she stays as the Minister, that those positions won't be on the cutting block, which is really good to hear. However, again, we're looking at 15 months, 18 months, of these positions not being filled. When will these positions actually be filled? I understand they're going to classification, but how long do we have to wait until we get these positions filled? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, it saddens me again to stand in this House and speak about another loss in my riding. Unfortunately, on December 20, 2016, Eugene Villeneuve passed away. Eugene was 56 years old when he passed.

I had the opportunity to meet Eugene about a month after moving to Fort Simpson in August of 1992. He was always friendly and willing to share and discuss issues of the day. I am fortunate to say he worked with my son and was always willing to give him a helping hand and advice as he grew up through his teenage years.

Eugene was the eighth of the nine children born to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her answer. Unfortunately, strategies don't do anything if we don't have anything for our youth, and that is a real concern, but that will be another day for other questions for that. Mr. Speaker, with the challenges of the Municipal and Community Affairs that they are facing through the Auditor General and that, will the Minister look at, potentially, moving the Sport and Recreation division to the Youth Secretariat, and call it Sport and Recreation Youth Secretariat, so that they're not the poor sisters on the block, and that we can focus...

I thank the Minister for her answer. Still not a deadline. Are we looking at the new fiscal year? Are we looking at this fiscal year? I know when we're looking at things, even if it takes a month to get through classification, we're going to still be looking at the new fiscal year. What time will we be looking at in the new fiscal year so these positions can be filled?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for her answer. I worked in the field for 23 years. I understand the importance of the crossover. We did a lot of crossover, so I understand that and I understand the importance of it. I still struggle with why you're changing job descriptions from a youth officer and a sport and recreation one and making it combined to one.

I guess my next question is: Why is the government looking at it? Is this going to be a potential cut? Because now we're going to have two people in the region doing the same, similar, job, same job description, is...