Robert C. McLeod

I could give the Member an answer but I will take it as notice and I will commit to getting the information put together. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we hear from the public all the time, through Members. Asking me to take this on the road to 33 communities has got to be cost-effective first of all, and we know what we’re going to hear. We’re going to hear… Well, we assume we know what we’re going to hear: the arts organization across the Northwest Territories will say that they would like part of the lottery proceeds and all the folks that are responsible for delivering physical activity in healthy choices sport programs will say that we need more money ourselves. We feel with the $2 million plus investment from other...

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...

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...

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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In July 2014, we met with the community of Fort McPherson and we were concerned about their financial situation. At the time, we said that we were going to place them under a municipal supervisor, which actually became the municipal administrator as well. We dissolved council and we took over the operations of the community of Fort McPherson.

I have to commend the people of Fort McPherson. We had made some changes early on that they weren't happy with. They let us know. We made some adjustments, especially to the elders' water rates, and they worked with the community...

Mr. Speaker, once the report was done and after exploring some options, it was determined that a phased-in implementation would probably work the best. There is some cost involved with that, and I believe there is some legislation that needs to be developed. Again, we have heard from the NWT Association of Communities and people across the territory, especially in the larger communities, the importance of this. The Member said in his statement before, I think we have studied this to death, and now is the time to implement some of the recommendations of the study, and I will commit to doing my...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any prefix, you dial 1-1-1-,1 gets you the ambulance. Any prefix, you dial 2-2-2-2, gets you the fire department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.