Bob Bromley

Of course, that report is due any day. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg thing here. I think we’re talking about cost of living and so on for our people. Is there the flexibility, should the report confirm what we have hired experts to tell us, and I assume it would, that we would have the capacity to get going on that legislation pronto?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that and I will look forward to what comes out of that.

My last note is I see we are not really making much adjustment to the arts investment in the grants and contributions. That is just something I really support. I think we have gradually done a better job since the early days of the 16th Assembly, but I think there is more room for achievement here and investment. It has a very well-demonstrated impact on local economies and helping people realize their full potential, obviously, their personal and community identities and cultural aspects. I just raise...

I don’t see it here but I believe this division would deal with legislation. Am I correct in that assumption?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for that information. I’m glad to see an expansion of that. It seems like there’s an obvious need for it and I appreciate that. On the other hand, I see a reduction in the grants to early childhood programs of almost $800,000 and I’m wondering why the drop there. I know the Minister is aware that Members put this as a very, very high priority, this area for investment, and yet we seem to be going the opposite direction in terms of our net investments in early childhood.

Thank you. I get the sense that there are still lots of areas for investments and pretty positive payback periods and returns. On the utilities side, I’m just a little bit surprised at the increase of $2.5 million given our focus on this, especially when our fuel costs are down. The deputy minister has mentioned LED lighting and so on, and I have to say I’ve just put that into my kitchen and I’m pretty amazed with some efficiencies and still some very good lighting.

Is this simply new assets that are being brought on stream and if I can get an update on that? Like I say, $2.5 million given...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s comments on the interdepartmental confusion which clearly is a barrier to grandparents accessing the support they need. Currently, ECE is the route for grandparents who are informally fostering grandchildren to receive financial support through income assistance while apprehended children are the responsibility of Health and Social Services. I appreciate the Minister’s look here, but I ask the Minister to hark back to when he was part of a group of MLAs that revised child and family services and highlighted the needs to support grandparents...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could I just get confirmation about the capital transfers? Are there just no capital transfers this year and no Labour Canada agreement? Was that transferred over to another department?

Thanks to the Minister. When young parents have problems and grandparents fill the gap, often informally, sparing their grandchildren the trauma of apprehension and interaction by child and family services, this often brings a financial burden beyond their capacity.

Will the Minister immediately and specifically begin a process of non-adversarial outreach to grandparents who are fostering informally, to begin recognizing and meeting their needs? There are lots out there. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few brief comments. I know there has been a transfer of energy, $6.1 million into this department, which is significant. I am looking forward to discussing this. I am sure there is forced growth, yet those seem, relative to those amounts, a modest increase. In other words, probably a net decrease to the department’s budget in a sense. I am curious about that.

I wonder if I could just get a general comment on carry-overs and how we are doing with that with our infrastructure, specifically maybe how climate change is rearing its head. I know about some shipping...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to join my colleagues in recognizing Ms. Moffit and her award of the Wise Woman of the Year. Fantastic. Also, I would like to recognize Barb Hood, resident of Weledeh and also NWT Seniors’ Society executive director, and of course Sandra Taylor and all of the ladies in the gallery who are clearly leaders in our communities and in the House today. Mahsi.