Tom Beaulieu

The Minister hasn't had discussions with colleague Members or the department. However, I would like to ask the Minister if he can commit to taking a serious look at increasing community access road program through forced growth if necessary or a new initiative or any other method that the Minister may have in his repertoire?

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member statement, there are more applications than there is budget in the program. Although there has been discussion but none on increases as the Minister indicated, has the Minister had any sort of discussions with his colleagues at Cabinet and specifically the Minister of Finance to increase this budget for the community access road program?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Today, I would like to do my Member's statement on DOT's Community Access Road program. Mr. Speaker, the Community Access Road Program currently has about $1 million for distribution to the communities. I realize that application for this program runs about $1.4 million; however, I feel that the budget should be increased to $1.5 million for the next fiscal year, then increased to $2 million the following fiscal year. The new budget for this program should be set at $2 million moving forward.

The Community Access Road Program is a very good program in our...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to review Tabled Document 143-18(2), Capital Estimates for 2017-2018.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, Committee wishes to report progress.

Mr. Speaker, people know I'm a big proponent of employment over things like applying for somebody to come and fix my house; I would rather give individuals a job so they could fix their own house. So does the Minister agree that creating employment with government spending, not necessarily employing the people, but creating employment with government spending is the best way to address social ills of the Northwest Territories?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have questions for the Minister of Finance. I'd like to ask the Minister of Finance if he has met with other Ministers to see if they have a plan to spend strategically to ensure that we get the best bang for our buck as far as government goes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Marci Cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, today, would like to again send some condolences to families, to the family of Keith McDermott of Fort Resolution who passed away on July 9, 2016 here in Yellowknife. Keith was born June 29, 1975. He was a very kind-hearted person who loved to work hard for his family. He wanted to make everyone happy, so always took time to say hi to family and friends. His passion for playing guitar and singing made him feel good, and he loved wearing his cowboy hat and boots. Keith enjoyed going out on the land, travelling, was a good athlete and he was a good...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister agree that spending by government during slower economic times is positive for the NWT? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the infrastructure spending by the government, has this Minister again continued discussions with the other Ministers to ensure that the spending is targeted to the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories that we all support?