R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Yes, and I see that traditionally Hay River has far fewer summer students than either Fort Smith or Inuvik, despite having a larger population, significantly larger, especially including the reserve when it's compared to Fort Smith. Why is that? Is it a reflection of the fewer number of overall government positions or is there some issue that needs to be addressed regarding summer student hiring in Hay River specifically? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is part of the reallocation of the marketing communications budget from strategic human resources, so the contract services went up to 212 as the Minister indicated, and then we had internal re-allocations for the purchased services budget to move up into the contract services as well. The answer is both. It is part of historical expenditures, as well as re-aligning some of the funding to re-allocate those services into an area management recruitment services from strategic human resources. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. What we can do is just take a break and then, when the witnesses arrive, we can continue.

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We've agreed to consider Tabled Document 5018(2), Main Estimates, 20162017, and we've agreed to begin consideration of the Department of Human Resources. I'll turn to the Minister responsible for the department for opening comments, Minister Abernethy.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. Mr. Beaulieu, what is the wish of committee?

I'd like to know: does Hay River meet the department's definition of “small community,” thereby making it eligible to receive some of the benefits of the $1.2 million being put towards single units to address small community homelessness that was announced yesterday?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Minister responsible for Addressing Homelessness announced various funding commitments related to the $16.6 million in federal funding this government has received for housing. I have questions for her related to those announcements. Like the rest of the territory, Hay River has a growing problem with homelessness. Since Hay River does not have an emergency shelter, are we ineligible for any of the $600,000 that was announced yesterday for semi-independent housing units within emergency shelters? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for that offer. I look forward to some collaboration on that front. Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think, overall, the health and social services authority accounts for a relatively small number of overall hires, so I don't think that would account for the quite large difference between the communities. Just a concern… I've had lots of people in Hay River concerned about the lack of jobs for summer students. We, know, like the other Members have elaborated on, we're trying to bring students back and we're trying to do the same thing in Hay River. I'll just leave it at that and I'll follow that up with the Minister at another time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Ministers have in front of them how many students have been hired. I was wondering: would you be able to tell the committee the number of summer students hired in Hay River over the past couple of years compared to a similarly sized Inuvik and Fort Smith?