Bob Bromley

I appreciate that information. Just as a follow-up to my other two on the Sustainable Communities Administrator Program and Renewable Energy Technician Program, if I can get an update on where we’re at on those two programs. Thank you.

That’s all I had on this page. Thank you.

I guess I would hope that we would be able to find out eventually. I would be interested in having that information reported back to committee, if that’s possible. Thanks for that information.

I know the Minister is aware that, over a number of years now, I and committee have been interested in Aurora College programs, as many people are, and particularly seeing programs developed in the area of Sustainable Communities Administrator Program and in the area of Renewable Energy Technician Program. I was wondering if I can get an update on those.

Just for efficiency of time, I also know that there...

Thanks for the Minister’s response. I guess I have a couple of points on that. The Minister referring to the marching orders of the Legislative Assembly and I don’t debate him on that. The only thing is I don’t think he would suggest that we park our brain outside the door. When the economic analysis for that highway was built entirely on the Mackenzie Gas Project, when that was temporarily shelved for five or 10 years as it has been, then I would think that this body of representatives would likely bring that into consideration and adjust our plans accordingly. It might buy us a window of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have a few brief questions here. I note that the division provides immigration supports through the Canada-NWT Agreement on Territorial Nominees. I just wonder what activity we had on that file and how many Canada-NWT Agreement territorial nominees we have had in the past 12 years or whatever measure the department has handy. I guess associated with that, do we monitor what areas these immigrants work in, if they are associated with a particular field? If so, I would be interested in that breakdown, as well, if that is handy. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’m just wondering if the vehicle licensing is in corporate services or is that in highways. That sounds like it might be in highways so I’ll save that one.

The other thing, in terms of planning, again, I’m wondering where the division is between the divisions and planning, but I’m wondering where… I’d like to talk a little bit about the maintenance of our highway systems versus decisions to put resources into new road infrastructure, if that would be, again, under planning and policy here or whether that would be in highways.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to start by making a quick comment on the early childhood and making note of many of the good programs that are happening, and obviously there are plans to expand the Head Start program, and partnerships with Yukon and so on are not addressing the early childhood part or the early years part of early childhood development. I just want to make clear that there is a difference there.

The other thing is that early childhood education and child care are, strictly speaking in terms of what we’re talking about, not early childhood development. So when reference...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’m happy to have this opportunity to offer some general comments in response to the Minister’s opening remarks. I want to start by saying the budget is very tight here for this department and a 1 percent increase, this is a major priority for myself and my colleagues. That is a pretty modest increase compared to the demands that we have.

I also agree with the Minister’s remarks on the arts and culture and heritage, and fully recognize the importance of those to both our identity and strengthening our people and also to diversifying and supporting our economy. Those need...

Thank you, Madam Chair. As the Minister knows, we’ve been pushing for a full-cost accounting approach on this and I assume that the report does look at the cost of the bulk storage facilities for fossil fuels and clean-up costs and so on, and addresses the net costs and benefits, environmental impacts and so on. Is there any conclusions that the Minister can mention and subsequent action to start putting this in place that the Minister is prepared to share at this time?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to follow up from my earlier alerts. I know the department had said earlier this year that they were working on incorporating other fuels like wood pellets into their programs and I’m wondering if I can get an update. I don’t see it referred to here specifically, but perhaps I missed it. Something committee has been asking for for years. If I can get an update on that and if it appears in the budget identified.