Caroline Cochrane
Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cabinet hasn't made a conscious decision that says we are going to have a matrix-style of organization structure as such. We have discussed the issues of the integrated service delivery. One of the guiding principles that we actually tabled in the House here on December 10, 2019, says that we will evaluate, develop, and deliver programs and services using an integrated, client-focused, and solution-focused approach. People should not have to go to six different agencies, different departments, to actually get services. It is not okay. Sometimes the stories that people...
As I just stated in the last question, we have done quite a bit of research cross-jurisdictionally for our integrated service delivery. We can do research for the sake of research; we can do studies for the sake of studies and plans for the sake of plans. However, we have done this research. We have the program running. It is just been evaluated now. I would suggest, honourably, that we hold back for a minute from doing more research and see what the evaluations come up with first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The old model with the housing corporation was we waited till a building deteriorated until it was unusable. Then, we ripped it down and we put another one on. One house, one family.
This model is the same. I have already said, we can't exceed the 2,200. I think it's 22. Is it 24 now? 2,400 and 200 market. The 2,400, we can't exceed that. We're not going to exceed that. Instead of waiting until they deteriorate and ripping them down and then put another one up, which was the old model, why aren't we giving those houses better, in good repair, not junk. I'm not okay with...
Thank you, Madam Chair. To clarify, yes, it's the regional governments. The ones that are in the land claims and the settlement negotiation are what I focused on, although some of them are not regional because not all of them are part of a regional land claim or a self-government negotiation, so sometimes I had to phone the chiefs in communities versus actually a regional rep. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, the government service officers in the single-service window centres are actually a real success in the smaller communities, in all honesty. In the last 10 years, we have had over 70,000 people use that service in the small communities. What do they do there? Because in the small communities we don't have the big government buildings like we do in the regional centres or like here in our capital city, often they have people who fly in from different regions. A worker will fly in once or twice a month or whatever.
Like we have heard many times in questions in...
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just had to check and make sure there were no political bombs coming off with that. Absolutely, this joint committee, I mean, in theory it's supposed to be between Regular Member and Cabinet, but we don't foresee -- you never know what will come out of the woodwork. At this point, we don't see a problem with sharing it with our Indigenous governments, to get their opinion on the terms of reference, as well, recognizing that it would take communication with that, because they need to be informed of what is going on, so we have to make sure that we have communication to...
I will say that, as with the last Assembly, there will be committees formed with Cabinet. One of the committees will be around climate change, and the economy, and environment. We will, all Ministers, applicable Ministers, will be sitting around that table, so it will be interdepartmental. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am trying to remember. I think northern business was a priority in here. I have looked at this mandate so long it is starting to blend. However, even if it is not clear enough in there, it is a priority of Cabinet. Amongst our Cabinet priorities that I shared with Members, Cabinet as a whole, we have taken a stance that we want as much as possible northern businesses doing northern work. None of us is happy with sending the dollars South. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Absolutely, Madam Chair. The whole intention to review the act is that Indigenous governments are moving more into self-government. They have a right to draw down aspects, such as education, health, et cetera, and so we would need to make sure that we open the pathways so that that can happen. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Chair, I think the Minister might have an answer. Do you have an answer? Okay, she's going to give you an answer of how many per community.