Bob Bromley

Society, really, is represented by a delicate balance between government, the marketplace and civil society, which includes the voluntary sector and requires strength in all three. I have no doubt that the government listens to itself and I can testify that we don’t dictate the market. When will the Minister start listening to the voluntary sector and the civil society when they’re speaking out on this issue and making demands that are clear and consistent like multi-year funding and establishing an office of capacity in the Executive?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Committee, we’re on page 2-13, Department of Executive, activity summary, directorate, operations expenditure summary, $869,000.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Stewart.

I didn’t understand any of that. I wonder if I could get a more plain language explanation there. Territorial Power Subsidy Program. I guess I want to know what are in those statements. How do we decide what to pay out? They’re identical numbers here between the two fiscal years. I guess I need to understand that more.

Page 2-22, Department of Executive, activity summary, executive operations, grants and contributions, grants, total grants, $350,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that intergovernmental relations works with other governments on behalf of our people of the Northwest Territories to develop and promote the interests and aspirations of our residents. I am led to believe that our Minister of MACA and probably other Ministers are as frustrated as Members on this side of the House in terms of our ability to influence the federal government on the issue of trespassers and squatters. What is this department doing to bring accountability to INAC and especially what are they doing to use any newfound leverage we might have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I speak today to honour the passing last week of a long-time Yellowknifer, Don Hunter. Since arriving in Yellowknife in 1966, Don Hunter’s kindness, wit and energetic contributions to community life made him fondly loved by many.

During his long career as a probation officer, Don Hunter touched the lives of many people in need of his guidance and wise advice. A vigorous participant in the local work of the John Howard Society, in 2000 Don was honoured with that organization’s highest public honour, the National Humanitarian Award. You might have met him at the...

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Since we already approved total grants I’m just going to ask committee if it’s okay to go back to total grants. Is committee agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to be clear on how we’re supporting the reduction in power rates here. I see there is a total increase of about $4 million in our subsidy to power rates as a result of our so-called reduction in costs. How is the Power Subsidy Program commercial? Is that a new subsidy that’s somehow used to reduce power rates to the commercial enterprises above and beyond the reduction of the rate riders and is that expected to be a permanent expenditure from now on?

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The time is up. I’ll ask are there any others that want to comment on page 2-13? Mr. Abernethy.