Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 4, the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, on May 12, 2011. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

The bill corrects small inconsistencies and errors in various laws in the Northwest Territories. All of the changes proposed are minor in nature and non-controversial.

Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, to the Assembly as ready for consideration in...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will support the motion. I think it’s something that would be a good solution to this government in many areas.

I know that in the communities of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e if you ask the health professionals, local health care nurses what they think are the number one health issues, they say alcoholism. Alcohol is the number one cause of health issues in the small communities, and we know from sitting here and we know from being Northerners that it’s also the number one cause for corrections, justice: alcohol. It’s the number one cost for even youth, people...

Thank you. In Fort Resolution this government and municipal government has spent I think over $1.5 million to build a youth centre. It would be important to maximize the future spending there, utilize that building. Does the Minister support more funding going into a small community’s committee to Sustainability on Rural and Remote Communities committee so that those communities can provide more support for our youth?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the new youth centre in Fort Resolution. I have questions for the Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has seen four years of spending for youth, probably record spending for youth in this Assembly and also as a youth Minister. Does the Minister agree that strategic spending that supports youth today will reduce social problems in the future? Thank you.

Will the Minister pass the majority of the responsibility of delivery to community client service officers at the community level which we have in Tu Nedhe, have them fill the roles as career development officers which are usually regionalized or headquartered and have them play a role during the rest of their time for the day? Right now they’re working half days. Have them do the career development officer position so that they can work full time in the communities.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the Small Communities Employment Strategy. I have questions for the Minister of ECE on that topic. Will the Minister consider having the Small Communities Employment Strategy delivered at a local level as much as possible?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Within the confines of these programs, would the Minister consider contribution agreements with the Aboriginal and local governments for transferring funds to those governments for employment purposes?

Will the Minister allow as much flexibility into the program, into the three programs with the intent of maximizing local spending at the local level?

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Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the government and the Committee on the Sustainability of Rural and Remote Communities for all their work in trying to bring some equalization to the small communities. One item I am particularly pleased with is the Small Community Employment Strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve had an opportunity to review the documents on all three employment programs. Although I’m happy with the intent, I believe that some changes must be made to the program.

Firstly, Mr. Speaker, some small communities do not have career development officer...

Okay. I was more or less thinking about the funding that would go directly to dealing with or negotiating with those Aboriginal governments that have not signed on. Not really in a regional context but in more of a government-to-government between the three governments was what I was referring to.

I have another question. Is this process of the final Devolution Agreement going to proceed, in as far as how the Government of the Northwest Territories sees it, without the Dene governments?