David Krutko

Mr. Chairman, in regards to the district program officer staff, I would like to know, are the district staff aware of existing government programs and services in regards to policies, procedures in regards to such things as local tenders or basically negotiated contracting guidelines to ensure that they are aware of it. Because I have had some discussions with them; it seems like they are not in full support of it. Regardless if they support it or not, it is a government policy. I would like to know, are they aware that they have to follow government policies and procedures?

Mr. Chairman, again, it would be good to get that information, and more importantly, illustrating exactly how those expenditures are going to be spent what we can do to enhance and support our volunteer firefighters in our communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, there are high pockets of unemployment in the Northwest Territories, especially in rural and remote communities. For a housing unit, the cost of $300,000 to $400,000 can go a long way to generate jobs and employment opportunities in our communities. This government has government policies and procedures to deal with that type of opportunity so that those dollars remain in the communities and some of those negotiated contracts, sole-source contracts, local tenders. Mr. Speaker, the whole approach on negotiated contracts is for the local organization in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the area of Municipal and Community Affairs, I think we have to realize that some communities are still challenged by the decision to allow communities to take on more programs and responsibilities. Communities are still challenged by way of capacity issues regardless if it’s a lack of professional staff such as SAOs, financial officers, and even, in some cases, in regard to maintenance. People that they require to implement their responsibilities and obligations under the community empowerment that’s taken place by transferring those program responsibilities...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the implantation and the two whole thousand dollars you get for implementation of the...(inaudible)...land claim agreements, I’d like to know, is there also a duty to consult in regard to Municipal and Community Affairs. I know you’re presently in the process of reviewing the squatters policy and whatnot and I know this issue has come to the attention of the Minister by way of our Gwich’in leadership meeting in Inuvik in regard to the squatters at Airport Lake in Inuvik in which the Gwich’in are requesting that you have an obligation to consult, especially...

Mr. Chairman, just on the funds in regards to the sunsetting of federal programs, are there any new federal programs that are rising that probably can replace those programs? In most cases there are new programs that do come forward every once in a while. I would just like to know, is there potential of new federal revenues by way of programs in the area of housing? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, again, I noticed that under contract services, a lot of these dollars seem to be expended outwards and not really to deal with the public safety side in regards to fire retention and making sure we... I would just like to know under contracting services, what is that $355,000 for.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d just like to ask the Minister about the facilities such as the Joe Greenland Centre, the facility in Behchoko, and I believe there’s a facility in Fort Simpson, with respect to long-term care facilities. I’d like to know where in the budget you can show me that there are actually infrastructure investments and how much money is going to be invested into the Joe Greenland Centre for the retrofits that are required for the two reports from Public Works and Services and the Housing Corporation on the condition of the facility and the work that has to be done to bring...

In regard to an illustration, I’ve noticed that there has been an increase of about $300,000 from last year’s mains to the revised mains. Can you illustrate what that $300,000 increase was for?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table the document that is a letter of support from the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk to the Hamlet of Aklavik in regard to support for the Joe Greenland Centre.