Kevin A. Menicoche

That’s okay.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just want to follow up on the capital planning process. The Minister did mention that it is under FMBS, but, at the same time, the Department of Finance has some of the purse strings in terms of the funding that flows over what is tied to definitions and a certain amount of goals, like green infrastructure. I am sure that our Department of Finance does have some leeway in defining what green infrastructure is. Late last week, I said -- well, it will actually come to me in a dream, Mr. Chair -- that I wasn’t too far off when I said there is nothing greener...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to review the Appropriation Act, 2005-2006.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m just wondering if the Minister was speaking about national guidelines as well. I guess I was looking more for how we get an appeals process going because that’s the real problem here, Mr. Speaker. A lot of the issues I’m hearing are that the Housing Corporation is not responsive; how do we get them to understand my unique circumstances? Like in the case I was talking about in my Member’s statement, Mr. Speaker, how does that person appeal the process, is the question. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. In my Member’s statement, I spoke about some of the inconsistencies that the constituents are experiencing with how the Housing Corporation reviews and applies the level of rent scale. I am just wondering if the Minister can tell me what guidelines we are using today. How do we determine who pays what rent and at what levels, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

A motion to report progress.

In honour of Valentine's Day, Mr. Speaker, I’m asking the government to have a heart.

I was contemplating a different subject altogether there. I am glad that the Minister is willing to look at this whole area, because I believe it is something new that the government has to address, especially with the onslaught of developing at an increased pace. It is not only diamonds. Now we have oil and gas that has been looming. Actually, the oil and gas has been there. It is just that development of a pipeline, as our communities grow and the demographics change as it seems like people are moving to larger centres and stresses are increasing. We have to be there for our people....

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I think "being limited" you are being too generous; non-existent, Mr. Minister, especially in terms of the goals and objectives of the liquor board and the commission. I would say that these boards and commissions should take a more active role in consolidating our alcohol and drug addictions needs as we go forward here in the future. I would like to get a commitment from the Minister that he will continue to look at this and see how we can better organize our government to address the needs that are coming up in the long term, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a committee motion. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Finance focus on the communication elements of the 2006 census so that NWT residents are made aware that the 2006 census is vitally important to the NWT and its residents. Thank you, Madam Chair.