Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm glad I got a straight answer there from the Minister; I appreciate that. I guess, though, is this an area that the department is prepared to do some more work on by developing its own strategy or action plan around support for performing arts and our artists here in the Northwest Territories? So can you make that commitment to begin work on a strategy or an action plan of some sort? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Presumably, when the board of directors found out about the cut, they would probably have developed a revised budget for the college for the year. Was that revised budget submitted to the department? About when would that have happened and when would the department have approved it, or when would the Minister have approved it? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's a helpful explanation, but what I see here is support over time declining for our arts and performers. Is that the case? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that. That is sort of what I had assumed the accountability framework was all about. Can the Minister now explain why these cuts are being made to Aurora College contributions before the strategic plan is finished, before an accountability framework is finished? Then we might probably have a better understanding of where the college can become more efficient and effective. Why make these cuts in advance of those exercises? It just doesn't make any sense. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will help the Minister out here a little bit. How I can help him is that there is a map of the Grays Bay project and the road corridor on our side in my latest constituency newsletter. The Grays Bay Port and Road Project would actually go through the Bathurst caribou calving grounds, what is left of them. Our government has had this position where we have traditionally opposed any development in calving grounds, so is it a position of our government now that we would oppose this corridor that goes through the calving grounds of the Bathurst caribou herd? Mahsi, Mr...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think I heard the Minister say tomorrow; is that correct? Okay, great.

My next question is I believe it's in the business plan that there's some mention of an accountability framework being developed for Aurora College. Can the Minister or his staff tell me a little bit more about what that accountability framework is all about? Thank you.

I'm glad to hear that. Is the Minister aware whether this corridor, that has already been planned by his department, actually goes through any critical habitat for the Bathurst caribou herd?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So just to be very clear, then, the actual reduction in the contributions is $1.8 million, or whatever it is, found on page 45 of the main estimates; is that correct? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Again, I would like to thank the Minister for his answer. I did give him a head's up on what these questions would be. It looks like this progress and implementation is not happening nearly as quickly as it should be. I am just wondering: what is the problem here? Is it funding, political will? Can the Minister please explain the lack of publicly available information, real progress on finishing these agreements and fully implementing them? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So as I understand it, it's still under discussion, then, with the Government of Alberta; is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.