Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re still doing the process of trying to bring the lotteries into the department. It was recognized a few years ago that having lotteries distributed by SRC may have been taxable to the point of $1.4 million. The SRC to their credit are the ones that brought that forward to our attention, though it’s better that these proceeds go to physical activity across the Northwest Territories rather than their existence. We’re still in the stages of that right now. We’re getting legal opinions and everything and we’re trying to ensure that we have that transferred...
Mr. Speaker, the Member is absolutely correct, I don’t think the sporting organizations would say we want to water down our investment any further, much like if you asked the arts community if they want to spread that $2 million plus they get between another 30 different organizations. I don’t think they’d be in favour of that as well.
I mean, there’s opportunities here to get some feedback and I will commit to the Member that I’ll spend the next little while exploring these options a little further and then we’ll continue to have a dialogue. I’ll talk to the sporting organizations during my...
Mr. Speaker, there is always a broader opportunity to have further discussion on this. We feel that the investment that’s made by the government through ECE into the arts through ITI is fairly significant and to the point of, well, $2 million, I think, through ECE. I’m not exactly sure what the ITI numbers are. To say that this money is going directly to sports, it actually goes to the overall physical activity and healthy choices activity for people across the Northwest Territories. This program, I think, was $5 million that we’re looking to distribute, and that would go to our four sporting...
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I take the Member's point. We know the recreational facilities are very important to a lot of smaller communities, and I know a community like Ulukhaktok utilizes their facility quite often. We will make ourselves available to the community of Ulukhaktok should they seek any advice. They are managing the issue. They are managing the project. They are providing our regional office with key milestone times throughout the project, and my understanding is the work is expected to be completed in this summer and fall, so they should be open for the winter...
Yes, thanks, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the fall of 2015, the Hamlet of Ulukhaktok identified mould issues in their arena facility. They had arrangements with the consulting company on an existing project in the community, and while they were there, they engaged them to help them deal with the mould, so they have done that. A regional office, we were in communication with them. We were comfortable with the approach that they were taking, so we left that with them. As to what MACA is doing to help the system, we provide the community infrastructure funding that they are able to utilize, but...
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the Minister had commented before that during the business plans that there was some discussion of this, and I think there were some questions asked of him at the time. The department obviously feels fairly comfortable that they would have this covered off. He did say at the time we have it covered off, or it would be covered off, and I, for one, take his word for it, and I don't think he would be saying it if he didn't have any reasoning for it or trying to pull the wool over committee's eyes. If he says that they're comfortable with this $21,000 reduction...
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have not reviewed the consultant's report. Again, that was a decision that was made by the community of Ulukhaktok, and if they had any questions or if they needed any assistance, then all they have to do is call our office and we will provide whatever assistance we can. But a shout out to the community of Ulukhaktok for taking ownership in this and dealing with it. We make our people available to them for any type of advice or technical assistance we can provide. As to what the actual cost is of the remediation, Mr. Speaker, my understanding is...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the GNWT, there is no single department that has legislative responsibility to provide ground ambulance service for residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Member makes a good point, and I will check with the department and see if there are opportunities. We'll explore options and see if there are opportunities for us to offer these courses before the elections actually take place, so those that are considering running for council will know exactly what they're getting into and what they're responsible for. I'll follow up on that and I will get back to the Member.
I'm not quite sure an SAO has been hired. I think they were going through the advertising and maybe the interview process, but I will follow up on that. Also, I think there was a commitment at the time that we were going to have elections again. That is still the plan, to have elections in December and have the new council take office January 2017.