David Krutko

Can we get an idea of how many dollars have been allocated since the signing of the agreement-in-principle with these groups and what the terms of these dollars are? Is it up to December 31st or is it on an as needed basis?

Mrs. Groenewegen.

It’s not a simple question of cash switching hands. Sweat equity is a way that people do work things off, and I know in the past, people did trade, barter, and did whatever they had to do to help the other person out. I think that should still originate in this government. I think we have to be conscious that people do have talents in our communities, and if you can make use of those talents and tell them you can work it off, I think that’s all I’m asking for.

I’d like to ask the Minister to take this into serious consideration. Since you look at the arrears that are out there, I think it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the line item that says “to provide funding for Aboriginal participation in negotiations,” can we get a breakdown of what that funding is and what exactly it is used for?

Total department, not previously authorized, $2.098 million.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of the Housing Corporation with regard to my Member’s statement and looking at alternatives and options to work with tenants that are finding themselves in situations of either being evicted or having arrears and finding ways. As the Minister should know, in most of our communities we have 45 percent unemployment. There are very few jobs to go around. I think as a department you should consider looking at what you can do to help these individuals work off their arrears by either simply cleaning, painting, or in some cases, like I...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that’s the whole problem with these dollars that we’re being asked to approve here, because it does not really deal with the problem at hand, and more importantly, it does not basically justify spending this type of money on a process that, as you know, is flawed. When you have a flawed negotiated process, you’re going to have a flawed result.

I think that we have to realize that as important items such as devolution of the Northwest Territories that we as legislators, as government, have an obligation, regardless if it’s through a constitutional obligation or as a...

Transportation, capital investment expenditures, airports, not previously authorized, $369,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My questions are with regard to the executive operations of $2.2 million and the devolution process. I’m not really clear how to read it. It says to support transition and implementation. Usually implementation takes place after you have a final agreement. How can you be implementing something that you are still negotiating?

The other aspect of the resources is to provide Aboriginal participation in negotiations. Again, we are leaving out a large portion of our population on the Aboriginal participation in this process, as we all know. We have some 4,500 individuals being...

Deputy minister.