Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am going to stay with the Small Community Employment Program. It was not exactly 100 per cent clear to me that the $928,000 that sits in contract services was targeted to small communities. Could I get that clarification first, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So approximately $1 million out of contract services is targeted for small community employment? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to increasing work and continuing to meet with the other social development Ministers of the GNWT to reduce poverty in the NWT?

I'd like to ask the Minister how he is exploring options to leverage funding for increased investment in anti-poverty initiatives?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided]. Marci cho, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Maclean's magazine reported that the federal government is setting up an advisory committee on poverty. This team will take the lead role in creating a poverty reduction strategy.

It is made up of top researchers as well as experts in the fields of business and social services, and significantly, people who have actually lived with poverty in this country, and it will evaluate ideas that come out of public consultation.

The committee's work will also be tied to the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2017-2018, continuing with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

That is not what I am hearing, but in any event, if there is work being done, what type of work is being done? What direction has come from this Minister to other Ministers under the departments that are amalgamating to ensure that Affirmative Action Policy is being followed when they are reducing positions?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Human Resources. Mr. Speaker, the government has proposed three separate amalgamations in this upcoming fiscal year and Infrastructure and the amalgamation of the Executive DAAIR and also Finance, Human Resources. My question for the Minister of Human Resources is: is there work being done with those departments that are amalgamated by him, as the Minister of Human Resources, to ensure that the affirmative action is being followed if there is to be any reduction in positions? Thank you.

Anti-poverty is a big issue in the NWT. What new money is being invested and targeted to anti-poverty in 2017-18?