Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So just, again, clarity, so they were budgeted in operations, they weren't purchased through operations, therefore they brought them through a supplemental?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we see throughout these appropriations that there's funding in there for vehicles, and I understand that some of this funding has been transferred either from deletions throughout the budget or is offset by some potential from some funding from other sources. I guess my question is just for clarify. Typically when the capital budgets come through, you would think that departments would be budgeting for vehicles and not seeing them come back in an appropriation. I'm wondering if the Minister can kind of give an overview of why vehicles come through an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Minister for that. And she kind of answered a little of my last question which would be has the department now reached out to, certainly in the areas where the Indigenous governments are very much involved in adult learning, have their own programs running through, and has the department now kind of looked to -- and I know the department works with Indigenous governments to expand that given that there's likely going to be a gap here that needs to be filled. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. And I apologize if -- I believe it was asked; I'm not sure if it was answered. But given that the Aurora College now will be closing down, or intends on closing down, the early learning centres, is the department of education and culture now going to pivot, pull that funding back in, and then continue those programs through ECE?

Thank you, and I thank the Minister for that, and I think it's amazing that the president has been up there, can see for herself what's happening up there. And, Mr. Speaker, this is no way a slight on the property owner or the developer up there. We're happy to have that building in our community.

I guess my next question is, then, so will the Minister commit to looking at putting these -- I know in some units, particularly in Yellowknife, I know in some apartment buildings they have security in there because we're dealing with a building where the door is often wide open, where there's things...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the ongoing drug issue in our territory. And I know my colleagues have mentioned it several times since this House has been elected, as well as the Premier alluded to it in his address.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak specifically to Inuvik and to one issue. We have one apartment building up there. It's quite a large apartment building -- it's three floors, I think it has somewhere around 60 units -- and every week I get at least, at minimal two, sometimes every day, e-mails, texts, phone calls, often videos, not only of the drug...

I had a question, Mr. Chair. Certainly, you know, out of respect for my colleagues, I'll support the motion if they want to defer. I certainly know that this $12 million is used to offset the rates for the outlying communities, one of which that I live in. Certainly I would like to see more of that money in there. We did have an opportunity to review this at the accountability and oversight committee at the time as well to get those details. But, again, if the motion is to defer, I respect my colleague's motions to do that, and we'll get that information back. Thank you.

Thank you for that clarification. Nothing further, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So are these eight vehicles then being purchased here, are they specialized vehicles or vehicles that just weren't budgeted for in the capital budget and now are coming through in a supplemental? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The committee would like to review the Supplemental Appropriation (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2024-2025. And Supplemental Appropriation (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025. Mr. Chair, I believe they're Tabled Documents 278 and 279. Thank you, Mr. Chair.