Tom Beaulieu
Statements in Debates
Today I talked about the importance of providing adequate support to deliver sport recreation youth programs to my communities and to another riding. My questions are for Minister of MACA.
Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister going to do to assist the community of Lutselk’e regarding problems associated with the operation costs of a new arena?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, the department’s mandate is clear: to provide support to communities, to provide local sport and recreation programs. According to my communities the support being provided is insufficient. The department needs to re-examine its priorities and provide efforts where the communities can see immediate, positive results.
Later on I will follow up my statement with questions to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
I just have a question for the Minister on the insurance for the fire at Chief Albert Wright School. I am curious why insurance costs don’t cover this $451,000 plus the previous $188,000 for cleanup.
On a previous occasion the Minister replied to one of my questions about working for sport and youth infrastructure from different sources. Can the Minister tell me if he has worked directly with the communities of Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution in regard to leveraging dollars from other sources?
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
I'd like to pass my condolences to the family of Noel Abel, from Lutselk'e, who passed away just before lunch yesterday, February 11. Noel Abel was 84 years old and lived in Lutselk’e all his life. Noel Abel was one of 17 siblings and was the last living man of the family. I believe there is only one member of that family still alive, and that's Vicky Sanderson, also from Lutselk’e.
Noel had many, many relatives. I spoke to a couple of his nieces yesterday, and they tell me that Noel had 50 to 100 very close relatives, counting all his...
So I guess that’s about it. I guess, again, I’d like to say that my main points continue to be youth, cost of living and making sure that they have programs that fit the people. Thank you.
At one time the Department of Municipal Affairs provided a wage subsidy to these communities for recreation programmers and facilities maintainers. But with the new funding formula for financing communities, this was done away with. Mr. Speaker, attracting and retaining good, qualified recreation staff continues to be a constant challenge for our communities.
Would the Minister commit to once again providing a wage subsidy to allow communities to have competitive wage and benefit packages for recreation professionals in communities?
Mr. Speaker, today I talked about the importance of hiring qualified, properly trained recreation staff in our communities and the struggles many of our communities are experiencing with this. My questions today are directed toward the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Geographically the North is unique in many factors, and these factors include the cost of living in each community. Taking this into account, can the Minister commit to taking the lead in developing standardized pay scales and job descriptions for recreation professionals?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some interpreters and elders that have come in from the riding. They are Terry Villeneuve and Bernadette Lockhart.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the importance of getting and retaining good, qualified recreation workers in our communities. As you know, recreation staff play an important role in the positive development of our youth, as well as contribute to overall community wellness with the delivery of effective sport, culture and recreation programming.
Mr. Speaker, many communities struggle to find and retain good, qualified recreation staff. Often they hire unqualified local individuals. Often these individuals, who have the...