Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. O'Reilly.

The Minister already answered my second question, so I'll ask the third. Mr. Speaker, if a woman needs to leave a violent partner and an unsafe home but there is no local safe house or shelter and no resident RCMP officer, what resources are available for her?

Ms. Cochrane, thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce her witness?

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Cochrane.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few general comments. We are glad to have some spending in my riding in the budget, but we are always hoping for more projects, largescale projects like a new school, for example. I am a bit disappointed that, after six years of hearing Moose Kerr was going to be up for a major retrofit or replacement, all we have is a few repairs to the existing facility, hazmat portables removed, site planning for crush work and landscaping, and a new playground. That did really shock me when I saw this.

There is also a huge need, too: while our children are out playing...

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Cochrane.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, continuing support for these five shelters, that is certainly critical, but what about all the other women? In my riding, the communities of Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic want to establish a local safe house, a place where the community can support some of its most vulnerable residents. Provided a location could be secured, such a place could be managed by the local organizations, like the band, with the government's support.

A safe house is exactly that, Mr. Speaker, a safe place where a woman and her children may find shelter...

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you, committee. That concludes the Legislative Assembly. We will now return to Municipal and Community Affairs. Does the Minister have opening comments?

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Cochrane.