Bob Bromley

I guess the Minister has elevated my concern if this is happening across all departments. I mean, again, I say good grief. We have so much experience in this area. I mean, I just can’t feature it. This is a waste of valuable resources. We have so many competing demands. We’re talking about kids’ lives here today and we have to start getting real here. Thank you.

I just want to find out from the Minister what’s happening with the wind project to cause this delay in expenditure. I assume that this expenditure will be brought forward. Maybe we can get a quick update on what’s happening here. Thank you.

I’ll ask the Minister if he would like to give opening remarks.

I appreciate that information. I wondered if the rates have gone up for the government.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee defer consideration of the department summary for the Department of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that this is for contribution funding to the local housing organization for increased power. My understanding was that power rates had declined. I’m wondering if the Minister could give an explanation of this cost.

Mr. Chairman, just to confirm, the Minister sees no other work that the department can do in the area of prevention and early intervention other than a couple of healthy family programs for 2012-13. Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister’s comments. I know the Minister would agree that these organizations have forced growth too. The price of gas doesn’t choose to go up just for the Minister and not for the executive director of this organization. I’m asking the Minister to commit to, during the course of this year, increase the funding to the YWCA of Yellowknife for the duty that they’re expected to perform. Find the money and get it done sometime this year. I appreciate that’s the Minister’s interest in doing that. I’m asking for his commitment. Forced growth.

Mr. Chairman, that is not good enough, obviously, or we wouldn’t be here. We have stated in our report that there are, in fact, some prevention programs, but as I said, we found that the programs are starving for resources and lack capacity. The Minister agrees with us that prevention is a key part of the approach, but the Minister doesn’t realize that we are saying it needs to be a much larger part and that we will gain savings from that. That will contribute to our health delivery programs. It is the Minister’s responsibility now or ours to find those dollars.

I’d appreciate learning that. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment there. Let’s just stick with what we’ve got in front of our noses here. How much has the Department of Justice budget increased since 2009-2010 proposed for 2011-2012?