Bob Bromley

Mr. Chair, thanks to the Minister for those remarks. I look forward to that program review office report.

The department and this division specifically is also the lead on trade matters. I know we are hosting the Agreement on Internal Trade, I believe it is. The GNWT is hosting this year. Is the Minister committed to retaining support for local businesses over outside businesses outside the Northwest Territories coming in and taking over from local businesses?

The example I use is, for example, an undertaking service is something that it takes a certain population to develop, and when one does...

I’m wondering what is the land component of this figure.

Is it the understanding of this department that the MGP will not be going ahead for several years, likely late 20-teens, 2020?

Again, the Minister is proposing August. He knows we don’t get together until September and that’s business plans, which means this won’t be in the 2013-2014 budget. Now we’re talking 2014-2015. I guess my response to that is a request to the Minister that he commit right now to having a program in place, proposed, in the draft budgets, the business plan that we review in September.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to first ask about the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation. I think there have been discussions about the need for some consolidation of services and some more efficiency within that agency. I’m wondering if the Minister can tell me what’s happening on that front. Thank you.

Again, I have no problem accepting the Minister’s estimate that it’s about a million dollars. We are dealing with budgets so it doesn’t hurt to have exact amounts, although those will vary according to the reality of conditions during the survey. I’m sure the Minister is aware of that. I’m just wondering, obviously we must give up some things to do that degree of work in this program. Like I say, I’d be happy to learn more detail on what that is when that information is available to the Minister. I will leave it at that.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have to say that I’m pleased with many of the moves that are taking place with the new approach to housing recently proposed and I’ll be looking forward to chatting about some of the details.

I guess my first question would be on this year’s financial approach. The $700,000 additional dollars identified to continue the energy upgrade in public housing, how many upgrades would $700,000 typically support for energy upgrades? How many houses could be upgraded for that amount? Thank you.

Thanks for those comments from the Minister. I think we are at least in total agreement on the last statement he made. We do want to get it right.

One of the administrative mechanisms the Minister has mentioned is a move to an integrated case management, meaning that GNWT treatment and client service that work cooperatively to bring the various available programs to bear in helping individual clients. This would break down the cycles and improve the effectiveness of the individual programs. What progress has the Minister made on that front? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering about the Mackenzie Valley development contributions, $715,000. I wonder what is our contribution to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group given that all the other proponents are closing their offices and shutting down on a temporary basis, at least. What is our contribution to the APG?

Yes, I was referring to during the 16th Assembly when the caribou did crash and we were, as a government, less than candid leaving the outfitters with commitments that they obviously couldn’t fulfill given the situation. We knew it. They didn’t.