Bill Braden

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That satisfies my curiosity here.

No problem. To clause 7, which specifies that the Liquor Board may make regulations prescribing the hours and days of a licensed premises, I would like to ask what kind of circumstance or condition gave rise to the requirement to amend or adjust the board’s authority here.

Mr. Speaker, the RMCP is demonstrating quite a refreshing attitude toward being more connected with the community in the delivery of community priorities for policing. I wonder if the department has been looking at the Police Advisory Committee model that just started here as a way of potentially assisting other communities in the NWT to have a better connection with policing in their community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the aspects of enhanced policing -- and the Minister quite appropriately said we are looking for services across the NWT -- is the provision in the NWT of a specially trained dog in the area of drug detection that would be based in Yellowknife and would be available for increased enforcement. Can the Minister advise whether this is part of the business plan and part of the service we can expect to see on site here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many community organizations are working together to deal with family violence and drug issues. The Crack Busters program has the Tree of Peace and Salvation Army behind it. We have the Citizens on Patrol. We have the Community Wellness Coalition. Mr. Speaker, the message here is that there are community solutions to community problems if citizens take action, like constituents calling the RCMP. There are frontline service organizations, and I would certainly say there are MLAs to help get action. The message is we do not have to and we will not put up with drugs and...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move we report progress.

That’s all true, but, Mr. Speaker, by that same token, this program keeps a lid on all those families. It does not give them an extra margin that they could use, such as this program to get a bit ahead to make a difference in their life. It’s been argued that while the program does sustain families, it in fact imposes poverty.

Mr. Speaker, this question is going to stay on our agenda. I would like the Minister to provide some information. I am wondering if he could provide me today or in the near future how many income support clients would get their energy cost benefit clawed back and how...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the answer is yes, Mr. Speaker. Does the federal government put any conditions on territories or provinces such as ours that have this clawback policy that would ensure that this money, which is intended for all Canadians -- it’s something that all Canadians put into and the federal government is putting back -- cannot be clawed back?

Thank you, colleagues and Mr. Speaker. You know, along with the much welcome rebates that the federal government is proposing, I must make the case further that northerners bear the brunt of the weather and the cold climate more than most Canadians. Remember that 12 degree difference between Edmonton and Inuvik. I call on the federal government to take a real, good, hard look, a dollar and cents look, Mr. Speaker, at the true cost of living north of 60. This is not an original idea, but I think it’s one that we should bring forward, and we have a seven percent answer right now before us, that...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister in his previous answer indicated that if a family is on income support, we pick up the fuel bill for them. That’s right and a part of the program that I very much value. I can’t agree with the Minister when he suggested there is no other impact on those families. What about all the other things that they have to pay for which are going to be as a result of the higher costs of fuel across the board in our society? We talked about airlines. We know the taxi fares are going up. Canada Post, Mr. Speaker, already has a freight surcharge on parcels. I have to go back to...