Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now, I wasn't sitting in this House on the last Assembly, but I did pay attention. I feel like some deja vu. The last time this was attempted, surveys were sent out, consultations were done, and a plan was still adopted that left many schools outside of the ability to provide exactly what the school board is looking for, which again, Mr. Speaker, is providing best resources and the best schools for our kids which is exactly what we and the department agrees with and what the resolution puts forward, but to get to there we need a clear and costed plan and resources...

I just wanted to ask the Minister some questions about those numbers on capacity. This is of course the Ecole St. Joseph School which is in my riding of Kam Lake, and the school board is reporting 522 students for 90 per cent capacity for the 2016-2017 enrolment year. The Minister's quoted some other numbers. Can he explain the difference between the school board's numbers and the Minister's numbers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know last week was Small Business Week, however when you represent Kam Lake there's always a good reason to talk about business. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to acknowledge the achievements of one of my constituents who recently won the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Award at the Yellowknife Chamber's 70th Annual Business Award Gala, Garth Wallbridge and his firm Wallbridge Law Office. Mr. Wallbridge is a Metis public speaker, lawyer, and a leading northern entrepreneur.

Having over 30 years of experience in the North and operating the only 100 per cent owned...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Has this information got out to the public that this is -- apart from today's proceedings, but has that announcement been made public so people have an awareness, a sense of what's happening at the old facility? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There's a line item for 18 extended care beds in Yellowknife, and my understanding is some of those are going to Avens and some of those will be in the old Stanton Territorial Hospital facility. Do we have now a plan for the old facility, the old Stanton Hospital facility? That would be my question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to reiterate my strong opposition to the use of affordable housing for these units. These are market housing units, and they are designed to produce revenue for the GNWT as stated by the department. I disagree with the use of affordable housing on these item lines. I would encourage the department to re-evaluate its definitions.

I have another question, however. Recently, at the City of Yellowknife's Roadmap presentation, the Minister mentioned that Housing First models were being rolled out in other communities in the form of four-plex units. Are these...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I apologize for my earlier error. This would be on page 70. Again, there are three affordable housing projects in Fort Simpson, Hay River, and Norman Wells. Can the department provide its definition of affordable housing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to table the following two documents. One is an article from the Wednesday, October 26th edition of the Yellowknifer “St. Joseph School Feels the Pinch," and the second is from the Northern News Service Online from Wednesday, September 7th, entitled "Auditor General Examining Municipal Services."

I appreciate the Minister clarifying that for the benefit of the public. If that is the case then who is writing in the report that they agree with the audit and laying out action plans that include items that require cost? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the "Auditor General's Report on Municipal and Community Affairs," it appears that to correct many of these recommendations and the responses from the department, itself, will require further resources. It talks about adding additional resources for training, additional staff. Quite a significant amount of work needs to be done to implement this. Has the Minister begun the process of costing this out, and can she inform this House of what this increased funding will require of our government? Thank you.