Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. I will now ask committee to turn to your main estimates document, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which begins on page 331. Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary. Please turn to the first activity, found on page 335. Thank you. We have Municipal and Community Affairs, community governance, operations expenditure summary, $2,036,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Cochrane.

Thank you Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few questions here under the GSOs, as well. As I've said numerous times, it's a big help to our small communities that have no resources, unlike regional centres, and people really appreciate that service. Moving forward, is there a possibility to cost-share with the federal government in the future to have that staff position full-time? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Sebert.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few things that would be nice to see in the budget here. Many schools in my riding have issues in the fall, mostly the fall time with bears in the community, and especially when it's dark in the morning. It's a safety concern for children who have to walk to school, both in Aklavik and Fort McPherson. This fall, we had grizzly bears hanging around the community, and also in the springtime. People in the communities would like to see busing, but the truth is, funding that's given to the DAs isn't adequate to provide schooling. That is something that we really need...

What can the Minister do to support Aboriginal governments that want to bring prospector training to their communities?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I called on the government to pursue new major projects that will create jobs for the hardworking people of the Mackenzie Delta. Today, I want to continue on that theme of employment, but at the other end of the scale, the small initiatives and training opportunities that can supplement the benefits of major projects.

Residents of Fort McPherson have an idea. They have told me that prospector training like the sessions government supported in Yellowknife and Hay River last year would deliver a useful skill boost in the region. In its mandate, the...