Bill Braden

Mr. Speaker, I am not hearing the kinds of things I would like to hear when it comes to really building a strategy that people can get onboard and have some faith and some ownership in. The strategy needs, Mr. Speaker, to say who is responsible, what will the work be, what are the measurables going to be, where are some targets and some budgeting. The information presented is very general. Will there be more advanced work on setting out some actual work plans to help us achieve some turnaround in this situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few days ago, the Department of Health and Social Services circulated a document entitled Sexually-Transmitted Infections, the Naked Truth – A Strategic Directions Document. It might just be coincidental, Mr. Speaker, but that document was circulated to Members on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. I don’t know if that’s a suggestion to us or not. The content of the document is quite disturbing. I salute the department for putting the information out. When we see things or indications in the transmission of sexual diseases, the rate of gonorrhea infection has gone up...

Okay. So does the policy read that the subsidy program is based on Yellowknife’s base rate or Yellowknife’s rate? What’s the rule of the day? Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. I’m pleased to hear that in this forum. I’m going to be looking forward to that debate and the involvement to see what various communities and customers across the NWT have to say. Electricity is an essential service and it’s a very costly one, of course, in many of our communities. There is though also, I think, a very real requirement, along with some kind of a subsidy or cost redistribution mechanism, for a strong enough price on it, Mr. Chairman, to promote and stimulate conservation. This is going to be a really interesting discussion of this very essential service. Now...

Yes. I’ll get back.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are a few areas that I would like to delve into here under the power subsidy issue. The program, as outlined here, suggests that the government is going to inject about $8.3 million into subsidizing electrical power that will largely go to individual households in the diesel powered communities, Mr. Chairman. A smaller amount goes to a commercial subsidy program. I would note, Mr. Chairman, that that is a projected increase of about $1.2 million from this current year. I’m sorry; it is the same as this current year, Mr. Chairman, but this current year is $1.2...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So the intention, as outlined in the business plan to do this in the coming fiscal year, there’s a suggestion that we may need to back off from that timing.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Roland has reflected for this committee, Madam Chair, what we have heard in previous briefings. This is a major initiative and it is one that I look forward to a successful roll-out and a good implementation. It really will affect the calibre and the satisfaction and performance of our workforce. I place a really high significance and value on the work that’s being undertaken.

Now, I wanted to see if the Minister could give us some idea if we’re going to see more or less a status quo, roughly the same number of people continuing to be involved...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not expecting the Minister to speak for the Minister of Finance for Canada, but I’m wondering if he might be able to tell us from his perspective what are Canada’s or does the Department of Finance in Ottawa continue to have objections? I understand that that committee has twice heard recommendations to amend this act; it has twice refused. Why are they continuing to do so? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The need to replace this big piece of computer infrastructure has been demonstrated, at least to me. I know that has come up for probably the last three years in discussions of this department, so we're moving ahead on it. This current year, according to the information provided, we'll be spending about $183,000 on it. The department is asking for $500,000 this year, with the anticipation of spending $15 million over the next two years, for a total project cost of $15.7 million. That is a very large computer, Mr. Chairman.

A question that I wanted to ask; we're...