Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm not asking if there's a difference; I know there's that threshold. I'm asking if that threshold is being reviewed also. The Minister answered the question previously saying, "We're always reviewing BIP, it sort of gives a leg up to the northern companies versus southern companies." My question was specific to northern versus local. Is that part also being looked at? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, I'd like to ask the Minister if the department is still contemplating possible review or maybe revamping of the Business Incentive Policy, first question. Second question is: is the Business Incentive Policy meeting its intended objective?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, has the department determined that this program isn’t achieving its objective? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I notice that Business Development Investment Corporation is dropping by almost a half a million dollars. I was wondering if the Minister could just explain that decrease? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that committee defer consideration of estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister: what is the expected economic impact on Fort Smith if the Teacher Education Program is eliminated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are committed to training teachers and incorporating Indigenous knowledge in our practise through our pledge to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. How will we meet that obligation if we eliminate the Teacher Education Program at Aurora College?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. We will be the only jurisdiction in Canada that cannot train our own teachers. If we do this, we will lose connection to the land, the culture, the history and the Indigenous people, all the northern learning so special to our Teacher Education Program.

Mr. Speaker, we must be forward-thinking. Our predecessors built this program investing in the North and our people. The 17 Assemblies before us stayed true to that fundamental principle. There have been many temporary difficult financial times, but Members of those Assemblies were strongly committed to training Northern...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm wondering if the review is going to include the community portion of BIP? Right now there's certainly an advantage for NWT BIP companies over southern companies; I should say, it sort of evens the playing field between North and South, but I'm wondering if the Minister is also looking at the difference between North and local? Thank you.