Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for asking that question. Yes, I want all of the programs that are running at Aurora College at the campuses in Inuvik, Yellowknife, and in Fort Smith. For those programs there, what programs do they have, and which ones have they done reviews on? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for that. I guess for the future, and the Minister is probably aware of this, it's a really good program, and I think we should be identifying the success that the department is having with these non-NGOs. Northern Youth Abroad has a huge, huge impact on our youth, and the Minister has been involved with it previously as a volunteer. So I would like to see it in the business plan or in the main estimates in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. In regard to program reviews, when was the last time the Social Work Program was reviewed? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. I know the department is doing some good work on that. I just wanted to make sure we get it communicated properly and everybody is on-stream with it. So this next question, here, is just regarding Northern Youth Abroad. I know that there's a contribution agreement with the Department of Education and the Department Municipal and Community Affairs. Is it in this area here? Because it shows a blank here, but it might be somewhere else. So can the Minister confirm if it's in this section or if it's in another section? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My questions are in regards to Aurora College. We talked about the foundational review and program review. Can the Minister advise, if the two reports have different directions, which report will trump the other report? If the foundational review says we are going this way and the program review says we are going this way, which report will trump the other one? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister and the department and the Finance Minister for clearing up that inclusive schooling issue. So I really appreciate that. My comments are just in regard to a couple of other things in the budget, here. One, we're talking about a new stream for graduation; there are three or four or five streams. What is happening with this? It's not on this page? Okay. Thank you, that answers that question. Do you know what page that would be on? I guess I'll go back to the Minister on that one, then, because this says early childhood and school services, so I'm trying...

Okay, I realize I've only got two minutes and 30 seconds here, so I'm going to try to ask the question: are these positions to develop resources or are they positions that are going out travelling to work out from the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Ministers for ITI and Infrastructure and Finance for that great information. It is good to hear all of that stuff.

Mr. Speaker, my third question is: it's my understanding the estimated direct costs for carbon taxes starts with $10 per tonne in 2018. That increases $10 a year until it reaches a cap of $15,000 per tonne in 2022. It is estimated that high-use households will pay $880 to $1,015 per year. Will the government ensure that the Nahendeh residents are able to choose alternative fuel sources by that time?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer. However, guidance counsellors' positions in my riding, and in Mr. Nadli's riding, are being taken out and we're bringing in the child and youth mental health workers. So we're taking those positions out of the schools because those are the ones that I guess I'm seeing the Minister and Deputy Minister is saying it's not true. Could they please explain to me, then, if those positions still exist in the Deh Cho? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I spoke about some of the challenges in my riding for carbon taxes and green gas and energy and that. My questions are to the Minister of Infrastructure.

My first question: has the government considered expanding the Taltson hydro dam system, and are they looking at expanding that to the Nahendeh riding as well? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.