Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I talked about in my Member's statement, concerns have been brought to my attention by employees of the GNWT regarding what type of leave they may access while travelling and attending their counselling sessions to the federally funded Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program. Can the Minister of Finance please provide or confirm what type of leave is available to GNWT employees when accessing this vital service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am talking about power, but I think I understand correctly. Everybody is lumped in together, and it was over a three-year period. Did the corporation send out letters to the tenants saying that this is what is going to be happening? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the federal programs that came about in response to the recommendations made through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program.

Through this program, residential school survivors and their families are able to access mental health counselling as delivered by professionals, Health Canada-approved counsellors, at no cost. Of course, any of the approved counsellors are in Yellowknife and my constituents have to travel for these appointments, which Health Canada also pays for.

Where it becomes...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Mr. Hagen and the Minister for that. I understand it's a complicated issue, and so I just wanted to make sure I understood, because some organizations have said they do not want to do it. Some have come up with some really creative solutions, so I am just trying to understand how the department was working towards making sure things are dealt with properly. I am content with the answers I received here today. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's just going to be a couple of quick questions in regard to increasing power to seniors. Can the Minister please explain why seniors are seeing this increase in public housing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. If I understand Mr. Hagen correctly, then, the Indigenous groups, land claim groups, or the First Nations groups, the regional councils, they have agreed to work with us and are moving forward, even though it may be slow, but they have agreed to work with us on this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My problem is that, if we have a plan, we look at it at the year-end. We wait until the next year. That is a problem. To me, we need to do it at least biannually so that we know that we are on the right track and that they are fulfilling what they said they are going to do. We are reinvesting, and we are talking about a surplus. We are trying to make sure that this money is reinvested back into housing and making sure it is done properly. Will the Minister get the department to look at that and come back to committee to tell us if it is a feasible option? Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will try to be brief on this one here. In regard to the cabin leases, I know that we have reached out to the Indigenous groups to get them to work with the department. Can the Minister advise us how the work is going in that area? Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope that is in this area.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With this reinvestment plan, is it looked at yearly or is it just quarterly? Do you have a mechanism? You have developed a plan, but have you developed a process so that you can ensure that they are following that plan? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 314, we see an increase of five positions. Could the Minister explain what the increase of those five positions is? Thank you, Mr. Chair.