Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Madam Chair. We wish to continue with Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016. We want to continue with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and, time permitting, Municipal and Community Affairs and the Department of Lands. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for the information on that completion date. I guess since the daycare operators, day home operators were advised that this would be done in October and now the Minister has just said it’s going to be completed in March, I’d like to know why there was a delay. I would also like to know from the Minister if he can provide me with a list of the daycare and day home operators who have been contacted for input into the review.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not too long ago I spoke about what I consider to be punitive income support policies. I was, and still am, particularly concerned with the Minister of Education’s view that an RRSP, a retirement savings plan, is considered a rainy day fund by the department and that an RRSP must be cashed in for a client to access income support.

With the help of our very capable Legislative Assembly staff, I did a little investigating of income support policies across Canada, and surprise, surprise, most provinces and territories exempt RRSPs from consideration as income for income...

Thank you, Madam Chair. A couple of comments and questions here. In terms of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, it certainly seems to be a project which has now become a priority of this government.

Is there any money in this budget that is being, I guess for a lack of a better way of putting it, earmarked for the Mackenzie Valley Highway? Thank you.

My question was when. I heard lots of info in there, but when will this strategy be complete?

Thanks to the Minister. When can we expect to know, I guess, the results of the review, first of all, and then following on the results of the review, when would we know whether or not there’s going to be a supp appropriation coming forward?

I think that’s good. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a question here. As the Minister said in his opening remarks, we are separating the functions of Cabinet and corporate communications. I would presume that by setting up two separate communication shops, so to speak, that there is going to be some expense incurred. I realize that it’s over two activities. It’s in the directorate and I think it’s under Cabinet support as well. How are we funding the establishment of these two separate Cabinet and corporate communications functions?

Not being on a committee that has this department as part of their mandate, I would like to ask the Minister if the report that he referenced is public. Has it gone to committee yet and/or has it gone to the public? Thank you.

So, will the Minister be considering trying to find some money to do some dredging in the ’15-16 summer?

HON. TOM BEAULIEU: