Wendy Bisaro

Thanks again to the Minister. That’s a great target date. I certainly hope that it can be met.

My other question on this page has to do with the next line item, transfer of funding from Education, Culture and Employment to support the expansion of the Healthy Family Program. I’m certainly in support of expanding the Healthy Family Program, but I’m trying to understand where the money is coming from in Education that’s going to be transferred to the Healthy Family Program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move we report progress.

---Carried

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the Minister. I don’t remember what the total amount would be that we have put into the pension plan for the Hay River Health and Services Authority, but I would think it’s many, many millions of dollars.

How close are we to bringing the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority in under our GNWT public service so we can bite the bullet once and for all, pay what we need to pay to get their pension plan in, similar to superannuation, and then have them as our employees going forward? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister. I think I understand.

I just have one last comment. I was somewhat dismayed to hear the Minister say that in the next bundle it’s going to be mostly bridges. It’s already decided what’s going in the next bundle and it hasn’t even been brought before any Members on this side of the House to have any kind of an input. We didn’t have much input into this bundle and where this money was going, and it sounds like it’s already decided where the next several bundles are going, so I have to express my dismay. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 205-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 5, 2014-2015, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 205-17(5) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the Minister. So, the total cost of these projects is not $28.5 million is my guess. The total cost is 25 percent more than this. Is that correct? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We wish to continue with Tabled Document 188-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2015-2016, with the Department of Public Works and then the Legislative Assembly. We would then like to consider Tabled Document 205-17(5), Tabled Document 206-17(5) and then Tabled Document 207-17(5). Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have a question here with regards to the total amount of money. The budget indicates that the net impact on government operations is nil because this says $28.5 million is totally offset by federal funding. There is a cost sharing between the federal and territorial governments, is my understanding with this Build Canada Fund. What is the percentage of cost share, please? Thank you.

To the Minister: yes, nice indeed, but I think we need to get beyond nice and we need to say yes, this is something that we’re going to do. I’ve spoken about this before. Both the Status of Women Council and the Native Women’s Association have a very minimal budget and in order for us to effect any real change we’re going to have to provide more resources. I would like to see an annual campaign school, not one every four years, because there are women in elected positions at other orders of government as well as the territorial that need this assistance.

I know there’s no funding in the ’15-16...

Thanks, Mr. Aumond, for the clarification. I guess the term that throws me off is “investment.” It suggests that we’re putting it somewhere and allowing it to grow, so I would maybe suggest to the Minister that the term should be amended for the next time around. Thank you.