Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we need to consult with the small businesses in the North. I do believe that during the last round of increases there was an outcry from the small businesses. We need to consult with them as well. We can’t just say we’re going to increase wages at this time.

That type of information will be crucial to us to proceed, if we need to proceed forward, to increase the minimum wage. That is the information we need to tackle and consult with the small businesses on. We need that information from the Member as well.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Regarding the capital infrastructure for community museums that the Member is referring to, we can certainly provide the breakdown. I don’t have any in front of me right now, but I will break it down for the Member.

Mr. Speaker, we have to focus on the small communities that have two man detachments and also three man detachments and four man detachments, because backup policy does take up a lot of overtime hours for RCMP officers. We need to look after their safety. Those are the areas that we need to focus on. And, yes, the Member’s riding will be positively impacted, and other ridings as well. That’s what we are focusing on, and we’re getting ready for the special announcement in the early new year. We are looking forward to that, and I will continue working with the Members on this particular item. If...

Mr. Chair, Aurora College does get direct funding from ECE, so they go through our department. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for asking that question on special constables. It has been an ongoing discussion on that issue. Just recently, in early September, I went to Quebec City and met with provincial, federal and territorial Ministers at that time. I did stress, as I indicated in my Minister’s statement, the urgency of having special constables in the North — our uniqueness, our isolated post and also the backup plan with nine two-man detachments. It is sometimes difficult.

The Minister of Public Safety was there, Minister Day, and he heard my concerns. He did stress to all of...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This is something that I need to look into in my department. I don’t have the information in front of me if there has been consultation with the industry. In the past they have initiated various training programs as partnerships. They have simulators as well. I can certainly look into that further and get back to the Member on this specific topic. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the Market Housing Initiative, as the Member would know, has been with us for a number of years now. I’ve been working closely with the former Minister of Housing as well as with the current Minister on identifying the units that are probably vacant and can be utilized in the community. We met yesterday as well, talking about market housing — the rent at the community level, where some rents are $700 per month and some rent at $2,200 and so on. That’s what we’ve been talking about: how we can make it attractive for teachers and other professionals working with the development...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. As the Minister did indicate, there are standards for the Northwest Territories that we follow to build schools in the communities. There have been some initiatives from certain communities: Tulita, Gametì and, I believe, Fort McPherson, as the Member alluded to.

Those areas that are extra, beyond the school space or school activities, the Minister already indicated that is beyond the school standards. That is where we are with that. There are regular standards that we follow. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the Member’s riding in Aklavik, dealing with the housing shortage or the unit that’s closed down, we have been working with the local DEA and the band, and also with the Development Corporation, because they are the ones that own the facility. We have our superintendent going to a meeting with certain parties there. We are doing what we can as the Department of Education, because we have to look after our teachers as well.

I understand there have been some meetings in the last couple of days with Mr. Furlong. I believe there has been some alternative...

Mr. Chair, the program review should be available within the next two weeks, the end of this month.