Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I thought the Minister had indicated that the review was done in 2014 and that it was a 10-year plan to recover the deficit. I was more or less asking, not about what type of deficits were accumulated, but why, maybe, the deficits got accumulated to start with? Trying to operate some infrastructure that was not funded for? The Minister indicated the arena is a core infrastructure that gets funding. I am wondering why it occurs that they are not able to operate the arena. I guess that is more of a comment, but if the Minister wants to comment on that, that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good memory; I have the numbers in front of me. Mr. Speaker, inside the human resource plans, I would like to know if the Minister would insist on having some development plans for affirmative action so they can move up the ladder to more senior positions if their education and skills warrant it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wasn't sure where the funding was situated, so I am happy that it is not in this section. Just the same line of questioning now for arenas, to operate the arena. Where does that funding come from? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In the breakdown of affirmative action candidates in the GNWT, we notice that most regions are well within or very close to representing our population, except for if you are looking at representation of the territories overall. As I indicated in my Member's statement, Yellowknife is just slightly low, but there are other communities as well in the same way, some communities lower, actually. I would like to know if there are any affirmative action plans that departments by department follow?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, is that $500,000 incorporated into community government funding? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker.

Sworn oaths of office obligate Members to a standard of conduct. The Legislative Assembly’s oaths of office for Members and Ministers are set out in Schedule B of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. For example:

"I, (Member’s name), do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my skill and knowledge execute the powers and trust reposed in me as a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. So help me God."

Members’ and Ministers’ oaths are sworn before the Commissioner with due ceremony and...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am wondering about the recreation funding. I don't know if this is exactly on the right activity line. Often we find that the arenas around some of the smaller communities are not operational all year or sometimes not operational for a year or longer. In the past, I think there has been longer. Lately, we have built some youth centres. Again, a little bit of difficulty funding youth centres.

I am wondering if I could ask the Minister if the recreational funding activity is the money that would be used to support the ongoing operation of an arena or a...

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'll do a follow-up to questions that I had asked the Minister of Human Resources about Affirmative Action some time ago.

Mr. Speaker, in this budget, the government is planning to incorporate the Department of Human Resource into the Department of Finance. The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning has expressed its concern that the newly amalgamated department will not ensure that proper attention is paid to human resources.

Mr. Speaker, the government must look at different, more innovative ways to deliver on the Affirmative Action Policy. I...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, when the Minister talked about gaps, that would mean that just the tax-based communities would be responsible for the huge gaps that lie in between the tax-based communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chair rise and report progress.