Denny Rodgers

I'm not arguing that. I'm saying is that what's low income? You have two people that don't qualify for the other benefits that you just mentioned. They're making 80 grand a year. You have a couple making 80 grand a year each, or a couple making that living in Inuvik. Not a lot of money left over at the end of the month, believe it or not. If you look at the bills and you know yourself what you have to pay up there. And if you had a couple of kids in that household as well and, again, what I understand and I get it. And when I've talked to people in the department and I've talked to other...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, and correct me if I'm wrong, but given what I've heard and what I understand of the new EHP, the program, would it not solve some of the issues at least if we were to look at increasing the income threshold to a higher income threshold?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee would like to consider Tabled Document 9320(1), 20242025 Main Estimates, Department of Health and Social Services and Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know oftentimes, you know, some of our issues are communicating what we're doing in our regions. And I'm not sure if working with other departments such as ITI or ECE, can the Minister kind of let me know how the Government of the Northwest Territories is ensuring that our communities that are eligible for the harvester support grant and the country foods subsidies are being made aware of this support? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I spoke about the inspiring work initiated by the Indigenous governments in my region in providing food baskets and country foods to residents or beneficiaries up there. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs and our Premier. I know he's well versed in all things food security, and I'd like to ask him how is the Government of the Northwest Territories working with Indigenous government in the Inuvik region to address food security? Thank you.

That's me. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, first of all, I thank the Minister and her staff. Monumental task. Huge department. Appreciate the work you guys are doing.

You know I've been an advocate for obviously for addictions, mainly for aftercare, and I'll certainly be speaking with the Minister on that come capital budget time and be prepared for that. But I know for now I know as I spoke to in my Member's statement today, the Gwich'in have built a wellness centre, are working having the wellness centre that they're working on using for trauma and for different addictions. We know that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the main estimates for the Department of Justice at this time. Thank you.

Thank you. Nothing further, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Yes, it just makes sense to me if we're losing that portion of a department, then likely there's less work the department needs to do.

My other question, Mr. Chair, is that is there any consideration given the I mean, the opportunity to work in this, certainly in this field, or to work in general in Fort Smith, likely not as robust as in the capital city, was there any consideration given to potentially closing a couple of wings in the Yellowknife facility and keeping the Fort Smith open and given there may be easier then for either a transfer of jobs for the people affected here or...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my question is so if I understand correctly, the Fort Smith correctional facility equates to about 40 percent of what the department has. Is that or there was a 40 percent occupancy in the corrections facility itself?