Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 10, Exemptions Act, and the committee wishes to report that Bill 10 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister speaks of a strategy and knowing what it takes to lower core need. Does the Minister actually have a strategy to address core needs in the small communities, to address the communities that have the highest core need? Has the corporation developed an actual strategy to address that issue?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke of the core need of the NWT Housing Corporation. I have questions for the Minister.

I realize that in five years, 2004 to 2009, this government has had at least six Ministers. I’m just making that point to see if the government is trying to maybe stay with one Minister to try to get things resolved.

I’d like to ask the Minister, in his year of being Minister of NWT Housing Corporation, if he has determined why the Housing Needs Survey has grown in the last five to six years.

This is along the same line and more as to maybe the next steps of questions from Mr. Hawkins. I am curious to know if the Minister is going to present to committee reworked numbers than what was there previously from other governments on the devolution and resource revenue pieces. I was wondering if the government or the Premier would look at what type of impacts, positive impacts that could be accrued at the regional and small community levels as well.

I recognize that the sawmill didn’t work out, although it existed and created lots of business and put some income into the community and some employment. As I’ve often indicated, the low employment in Tu Nedhe communities, I was more or less thinking of opportunities for some other business in both Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e, opportunity for a business similar to the type of businesses that the investment corporation now supports in other parts of the North. There is no business in Tu Nedhe that is supported by the investment corporation. That’s basically what I’m asking. Are there plans...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, on behalf of the Tu Nedhe residents, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a few people for the kind contributions and selfless acts during Christmas holidays.

Mr. Speaker, Christmas can be a trying time for families, particularly elders living alone or single mothers in small communities. For some of these, the Christmas Hamper Program provides the only opportunity to have a nice Christmas dinner with their family.

Mr. Speaker, each Christmas the Salvation Army here in Yellowknife runs a Christmas Hamper Program in collaboration with Air...

Mr. Chairman, just shifting gears for a minute here, one of the other key areas in both Tu Nedhe communities, Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, seem to be small loans. I’m not sure if that’s some sort of venture capital needed by some smaller scale businessmen in the community just employing one or two people and just some capital to get their business off the ground. Right now, the structure is set up where the economic development officers don’t work directly for the department but actually the department has a contribution agreement with the local organization to bring the EDOs into the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, previously in Fort Resolution, the NWT Development Corporation, prior to their amalgamation into the Business Development and Investment Corporation, supported a business in the community of a sawmill. Similar supports to the businesses that are successful now under that investment corporation like Acho Dene Fur Clouds and Fort McPherson Canvas Shop. I understand from discussions with local people that there was always an intention, even though that business of the sawmill did receive a lot of support from the government, ultimately at the end of the day...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll keep my comments brief as well. I think one of the few consolidated efforts that this government has put forth over the last several years that I agree with is the consolidation of utilities. I would be curious about the placement of positions as a result of the shift of $30 million-some-odd dollars in utilities going from the various departments to Public Works creating quite an unusual increase in the budget of 65 percent. However, that’s recognizing that’s probably going to be a good thing with commodities such as fuel, when one department can administer...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In small communities like Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution there is a unique opportunity for RCMP members to get involved in the community and have a lasting, positive impact on residents, particularly the youth. I have questions for the Minister of Justice on this. Can the Minister advise me if the RCMP members have the option to remain in the community longer than the standard two-year posting?