R.J. Simpson

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.

Thank you. I believe so. I know I asked the same question in the last Assembly. So I can ask the deputy minister to speak to that a little bit. Thanks.

Thank you. So the SFA program is you know, it provides basic funding for university students. You know, there could be instances where departments want to provide scholarships or bursaries to students, and that's done for different things. I know ECE provides additional bursaries for people going into certain or, you know, taking studying certain fields. But that's not something that SFA is doing at this point.

I mean, we could look into it but as the Member said, we need lots of doctors; we need nurses; we need trades people; we need teachers; we need virtually every profession here in the...

Thank you. Changes from last year? I'll hand it to the deputy minister. Thanks.

Thank you. So there was a budget that was created for this this regulator. The budget was created out of thin air with no concept of how much work would actually be needed and what position would be required. There was a review undertaken to look at what work has been done, what work will need to happen going forward, and a decision was made based on that review. If there is a need in the future for additional money for this, then I personally don't think that we have much of a say because as a regulator, they need they have a job to do, and we would fund them according to the job they need...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The commanding officer of Gdivision also has an Indigenous advisory committee, and they meet biannually. It's made up of community members and elders.

Of course, people may remember the RCMP is also working with the Dene Nation on an innovative program that is well underway, that was announced last year. And the GNWT, the RCMP, and Salt River First Nation are working together to address some of the outstanding issues out of that jurisdiction. So there's lots of work underway. Thank you.

Thank you. So there's a lot of work going on right now with the SFA program review. I think it I mean, ideally, it would be great if we could compile that as part of the program review and then we could put our efforts towards that, if that's the information that's being requested, we can, you know, redirect staff efforts towards that and see what we can put together. But I'm not sure that the Member's going to get an accurate view perhaps of what he's looking for. If someone calls their SFA officer and, you know, has a conversation about, you know, wanting to, you know, not have to pay back...

Thank you. Because of the timing of these main estimates, we show a decline of positions, but it's because we are it's the timing of when we sign our federal agreements. So there's no intention to lose these positions but the agreement was not signed in time to have it printed in the main estimates. So that money will come forward through a SUP, and those positions will reappear through that SUP. Thank you.

Thank you. There's a pretty good uptake across the territory. I'm not sure if there's a regional breakdown that departmental officials might have. I'll send it to Mr. MacDonald. Thank you.