David Krutko

One of the other areas that the department should seriously consider is family size, especially when you start off as a single couple and then maybe you have a few children. What we are finding is it is leading to overcrowding A lot of people that got into Homeownership Program were basically newlyweds. In most cases, they might have had one child or something. A couple of years later, they have four children and the house is not designed for six people. Is there a possibility that the government can look at the programs wherever possible and instead of having to do a major retrofit of that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Premier for that, because I believe it’s fundamental change that people don’t like. Like anything else with change, it’s human nature to react first before realizing what they’re getting into. I’d ask the Premier to move on this matter and keep the public informed on where we’re going. I think at the end of the day they are the ones who will determine where we stand on this issue.

Okay. Back to page 10-35, Aurora College, funding allocations. Agreed?

Minister of Education.

General comments. I’ll come out.

As I said in my statement, I think this is probably one of the achievements we can make as the 16th Assembly by doing something that will really show results. I think we have to move on this. I think the people in our communities, especially the smaller communities, who are struggling to pay their bills these days, especially the ones who are now unemployed and looking for work. It raises the importance of high energy costs and finding ways to reduce them.

I would like to ask the Premier how soon they can come forward so we can have a debate on this issue in this House.

Okay we’re on page 10-35, Aurora College, funding allocations, information item. Mr. Hawkins.

More of a comment, but if you’d like to respond, Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Welcome, witnesses. General comments. Mr. Bromley.

We do have to realize the high cost of energy in our communities and the effect it has on our residents, especially in our small communities. It is right now unaffordable; we have to make it affordable.

As a government we have an obligation to all people in the Northwest Territories to bring down the high cost of energy and also share in that pain throughout the whole Northwest Territories. I look forward to the rate review before this House sooner rather than later. I will be asking questions to the Minister responsible for the review.