Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister’s approach to a discrepancy between how much a community spends and how much a community will receive through this complex funding formula, will that be addressed this year or is that something that the communities can discuss and raise with the Minister soon, because it will impact their current year’s budget, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. No, the issue is that there is already a shortfall because the funding that communities are getting is based on a three-year average, but the average did not include the skyrocketing increase in the O and M, which is basically fuel. So that’s the shortfall that the community has asked me to address. Will the Minister look at some type of funding options to provide, to prevent this hardship for this fiscal year? Mahsi cho.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. My comments and questions are also with the continuation of the operation of the Deh Cho Hall. I just want to advise my honourable colleagues that this is not a new project, nor is it something that came out of the blue. It’s something that myself as MLA for Nahendeh and Fort Simpson that I’ve been working with the people on, on how to address the office needs. In 2002, when the fire marshal came out with his report, he’s saying that in 2006 the building is going to have to be shut down or renovated. Everybody said that’s great, let’s just renovate this...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know that the Housing Corporation has been having lots of problems delivering programs to the regions. I know that this is one of the ways that they want to address it. I know they have been asking for positions time and time again and there is just no support for it then. But now that the federal government is contributing some $50 million and we have a chance to get housing on the move beginning immediately, I am going to vote against this motion.

Often when I am travelling to the regions and communities and talking about their frustrations about getting their...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It’s still not clear to me whether…I think it’s $1.6 million annually after that. Is that all our own-source funds then, Madam Chair?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4 and Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Miss Virginia Sabourin, the CHR for the Nahendeh region in Fort Simpson.

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I believe with her is her daughter, Joselyn Kierstad, who is a graduate this year, and as well as her sister, Miss Judy Sabourin.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. That’s something that kind of weighed a lot on the community decision as it went along. They’re like myself and anything that government does, why does it cost so much even a simple estimate for office space? As we discussed earlier in the day, it’s like $320,000. I’m not too sure why it is, but in the construction field the cost of labour and materials are just astronomical. A new project such as this, we’re looking at $3 million. If Members of this side of the House had the power to get the government to spend money, I would certainly champion the motion to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that in accordance with the Rule 6(2) that we extend sitting hours to conclude the item under consideration.

Yes, okay. Our government commits $50 million towards a $50 million input from the federal government and I’m not too sure how come we’re fronting the money for O and M if it’s part of the three-year strategy. How are we benefiting from the proposed cost sharing from the feds then, Madam Chair?