Tom Beaulieu

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the interpreters who we have in the House from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh; Mr. Tommy Unka from Fort Resolution and Maro Sundberg from Detah. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, because it does not appear in this specific capital plan, is it a carryover from 2017-2018 for the planning study for Kaw Tay Whee school in Detah? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, today, I wish to talk about the land lease policy of the Department of Lands. Previously, I had asked the Minister about the land lease policy and he expressed the policy was fair, yet the elders who are living on the land cannot afford it.

At this time, the land lease policy indicates that the land is based on 10 per cent of the value per year, so people who live in small houses on small lands worth about $40,000, $50,000, are paying $4,000 or $5,000 in lease costs; if they are elders, they get a 50 per cent exemption, and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, when utilizing the Phase 1 that has been completed and the adult learning centre, is one of those places where the high school is located at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I had talked to a high school student from Lutselk'e, and I asked him why he was in town this time of the year, why he was in Yellowknife. He said "because we have no school." I am wondering what the situation with, I understand this is not purely a capital item, but Mr. Chair, bear with me, I am trying to determine when it would be done, or even if that is the case, that there is no actual high school operating this season. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Marsi cho, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 416-18(2), Capital Estimates, 2018-2019, concluding the Department of Health and Social Services and going on to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Justice.

This program was not to prevent communities from being hurt by economic downturns. It was to change the employment rates in the small communities because they are much lower than anywhere else in the NWT. That program was put in place so it could address the issue of low employment rates in small communities. I said in my Member's statement, they are clearly way below regional centres, and way below Yellowknife. I am asking the question: did the Minister make this decision unilaterally to take the money out of the small communities to try to address the economic downtown in other communities...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue my questions for the Minister of Education on the Small Community Employment program. Mr. Speaker, I said that this was disappointing, and the Minister said it was not disappointing, but I think I would know if I was disappointed. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, considering that he was not in the room when we were negotiating $3 million, if he consulted with anyone. I am wondering if he even consulted with the Minister of Finance before making this decision. Thank you.

I'd like to ask the Minister if the department at first intended to deliver the Small Community Employment Support Program to small communities only.