Tom Beaulieu

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize Darrell Beaulieu, a constituent of mine from Ndilo. It is partly his fault that I am here today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the history of this is that there were other communities approximately that size, and some have gone through full long-term care facilities like in Fort Simpson. Others, like Fort Resolution and Deline, were shut down completely, although the unit that's there belongs to the NWT Housing Corporation. I understand that, and I'm satisfied with the response that the Minister has given me on the Great Elders Facility in Fort Resolution. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I apologize for that. Mr. Chairman, on the administrative and support services, the same system the previous Member spoke of, the mental health and addictions information system, on the detail it indicates clinical data from mental health patients. I'm just wondering if that includes addicts as well. Thank you.

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.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, just to be clear, I'd like to ask the Minister if the Small Community Employment Support Program budget of $3 million that was added to the $1.2 million now supports all communities except Yellowknife. Thank you.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2007, when I became MLA, one of my first and biggest issues was employment in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, the 16th Assembly made a decision to address issues on employment rates in small communities

Programs like the Community Access Road Program, programs that supported traditional economies, were enhanced. The budgets were tripled, Mr. Speaker. Programs such as single window service and small communities' employment were created.

With these initiatives, employment rates continued to increase gradually to a point where the average is nearly 50 per cent...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the integration of health authorities into SAM, is this the last integration for the Department of Health and Social Services authorities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.