R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Similar to comments I made earlier, yes, I've been saying that for years. Unfortunately, this is an accounting document for the most part and that's why we're here, just to parse out this information and provide additional information to committee as requested. You know, I wish this document was ten times its size and we could have information about all of the programs. But the fact is that I have two binders here that together are probably two feet high, and that's only my two departments. So I'm happy to provide information as I can but what is in the main estimates is what's...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, there is a significant amount of collaboration between the Department of Justice and the RCMP before we see a final product and before it makes it to the Assembly. Mr. Bancroft can provide some detail on that. Thank you.

Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. I do wish to bring in my witnesses.

Thank you. So I can speak briefly to this. There isn't a plan. There's no plan for a new school in Dettah. There are 49 schools across the territory and they are looked at each individually. And the factors that they're taking into consideration are, you know, the safety of the school, the structural safety. You know, the mechanical safety. Is it nearing its end of life in enough ways that it's cheaper to build a new school than to continue to maintain a new school? And, you know, in Dettah I know there is a desire for a new school. I think, you know, talking to leaders from that community...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We can get to later sections in here and the Tlicho will be receiving a number of RCMP positions, and in the past we've added a number of RCMP positions there as well. So we are adding positions, and we have added positions during my time here to that region. Thank you.

Thank you. And I think the idea right now is to have this twoyear course and perhaps it could lead to another bachelor of education degree after another two years. But I think that's a little too far off in the future for me to say one way or the other and by the time those decisions are ready to be made, the Aurora College will be making its own decisions without influence from the Minister in terms of the programming. But I'm on the same wavelength as the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are no plans to expand the program as is. It is a Yellowknife program right now, and it is adapting itself to Yellowknife and I don't think it's a program that you can just transplant into a different community, even if it's a regional centre. But that being said, the goal is to figure out how we can offer more integrated services in other communities as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So I'm pretty hands off with this regulator, because it is arm's length. I think ITI probably would have that information. So I can talk to the Minister to see what's going on but I don't I don't get too deep into the business of oil and gas. That is the Minister of ITI. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We haven't done that in the past, and I don't want to speak for the previous Ministers, but when I was elected, that year minimum wage was $10. I've only been here six years. So it went from $10 up to $15.20 in a relatively short amount of time. So we far outstripped the rises to CPI or inflation. And so we haven't been in a position where we would want to do that. You know, if this is seen as adequate right now, this minimum wage, then it would make sense to tie it to the CPI. But I'm not sure if this is adequate. You know, there needs to be a bit more analysis. So am...

Thank you. So these numbers are based on the funding formula, our best estimates on the funding formula. Thank you.