Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So just to be clear, I appreciate the information. I do wonder if we still need to maintain a high level of awareness of what's happening at Snap Lake. Even though it's not in full operation, it still has a significant impact on our environment and represents a significant liability in ensuring that the company is maintaining its obligations throughout the care and maintenance period. Hopefully, we can get it back online but at this point I would hope that our current budget can accommodate that. I think I heard that from the deputy minister.

I want clarity on this. The...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that response. I think it is a great program, and I encourage the department to continue to support it and find ways to expand upon the program. On to sheriff services. I welcome the increase and the new staff positions and also the Minister's response to oral questions I previously have had in this House. That indicated the department was favourable towards expanding the role of sheriffs to fully cover court security and prisoner escort. Where are we at with that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make sure we're all on the same page. So the amount of total funding for inspections has been decreased in this budget. I'm wondering if the Minister can explain the rationale clearly so we can understand why an important function like ensuring that our liabilities are intact and well understood are being cut? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess what I am getting at is I think what I see from these numbers and my own knowledge of this service is that the contract services are a more efficient way to deliver the program for less. In the wake of reductions across the board to find efficiencies, why have we not considered axing this staff component part of this in favour of a more efficient way to deliver the service?

Mr. Speaker, it would be nice if the Minister did have that information because I know from personal experience that the current rent supplement program doesn't capture middle class earners and it does not do a lot to support that bracket, and that's a very important bracket. When we want to attract new labour, when we want to encourage young people to stay in the North, we've got to do more than just offer SFA, student financial assistance, and municipal loans; we need to offer real opportunities in the North, and that starts with a place to live.

So again, will the Minister commit to...

How much of the $726,000 under the line item court reporters is used for contracts and how much is used for our own staff? Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister. I appreciate that she is well aware of this problem. It seems like this new program will not build houses. How is it going to save money or subsidize the cost of living for renters? It does not sound like we have much of a program, just an idea of one, but we do have that sixmonth commitment, so I am trying to tease out a few pieces of this so we can understand where we are going to be in six months.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I notice that contract services has decreased from a high of $1 million in 201516 down to $365,000. Could the Minister explain that variance? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Ms. Deneen Everett, the executive director for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. She does incredible work for that organization, and I always appreciate the strong partnership she works to develop between many levels of government and the business community here, in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So again, is this going to be implemented in the fall through the capital budget or is it simply in the capital planning process? I am wondering when, again, my constituents will have certainty that this problem is solved. There are more houses going in right next to the jail every day, it seems like. It is a growing neighbourhood and I want to make sure that the people of Kam Lake have certainty that the facility that is right next to their families is a secure facility. So can we have certainty that this is moving along in this capital budget or if we are merely saying...