Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to my Member’s statement, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Business Credit Corporation a question for the benefit of my constituents who received legal notices that their loans have been called. What steps are followed after being given these notices that the BCC is calling in their loans? I am interested in the process that is followed after being legally contacted. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. What I heard from the Minister was that the authority is there with the divisional boards to allow that kind of structure to exist, which is to have a day set aside to concentrate on education of aboriginal languages. Maybe if the Minister could confirm that for me.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I think the next question for the Minister from me would be that I’m just trying to determine whether the priority is identified in this special report. I was wondering if there was a move or trend towards having more aboriginal language and culture used in the school. Some of my constituents were talking to me. They’re saying, Kevin, the way it looks to me is that the government has a priority in languages and culture, yet we’re actually only spending five to 10 percent of our time in these endeavours. So what’s the real priority? I’d just like to ask the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is line items on education and culture. I’d just like to speak on them, but perhaps if I can ask the Minister what the latest initiatives in terms of supporting the acquisition and maintenance of aboriginal languages and culture just in terms of whether there are any recent studies being done to support these important initiatives in this department.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the social workers who have been working in my riding of Nahendeh. I know that they're working very hard. Just on behalf of myself and the people I represent, I would just like to say thank you very much for the work that they're doing. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you. I would just like to say that in my mind, Mr. Chair, it just doesn’t seem right that that reduction of seven staff members would still lead to an increase of our compensation and benefits. For the question involved here, maybe the Minister can further clarify what he meant that even though we have reduced staff we are still paying more in compensation and benefits.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am just trying to establish if that will be our revenue base in that line item in the next few years. It seems like that is how it’s going to be. Thank you very much.

I just have one more question with regard to taxation revenue and property taxes. It looks like a $3 million increase. I am just wondering what to base that on. In fact, it looks more like a $6 million increase if you go from mains to mains.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just looking at the budget address. Our projected revenue was stated at $917 million. On page 3-22, it says total revenue is $820 million. I wonder if you could give me an explanation of the difference.

That is fine. Thank you.