Caroline Wawzonek
Deputy Premier
Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this point, the program does service Yellowknife, Detah, and Ndilo specifically, and there is no express plan at this point to expand that service. Although, as I noted in some of the earlier questions, fully 45 percent of the individuals who receive services are residents of other communities. That said, the GNWT in general, right now, is taking an approach of trying to move to more integrated services and more integrated service delivery. That's about the best I can say right now, is that there is a broad level of commitment to improving this kind of service across...
Mr. Chair, thank you. Fortunately, I have had contact with the staff who do administer the day-to-day operations and am assured that these numbers were developed initially post-devolution to reflect the certain reality, given the current reality in the business planning process that will be undertaken this spring, that there may well be a review to consider whether or not these estimates are more than is required in light of the work that they are being requested to do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission is tasked with identifying new suppliers, where they're available. It is a challenge that's being faced by our other territorial and provincial partners. It's one that we'll continue to talk to them about their own practices and see if there are options in our procurement that we haven't considered. As I say, I am alive to the ultimate impacts of not having supply and what that does. Again, it's a fairly new system across Canada, so hopefully, as all the provinces and territories work that through, that we will see a general improvement...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know there is a budget for leadership training and for corrections training generally, and I think it probably does fall within this area, so I will leave it to the Member for her next question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank, Mr. Chair. It certainly is my intention as a Minister to ensure that any new programs that are being offered to members of the public do receive appropriate media or other types of communications. I would just note for the Member that, at this point, when I say the end of March, that will be when the applications are going to be accepted. I don't want to create a false expectation on the part of the public that they would then turn around and immediately have recalculations done with finality. I think perhaps, with respect to when the communication goes out in a formal fashion, it might...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is currently, in fact, an evaluation underway of that program, and if we can, we will endeavour to provide the deadline of when to expect that back; if not imminently, then I would commit to providing details as to when we are expected to have that report back. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. They don't necessarily need to be a resident of Yellowknife in order to. My understanding, anyhow, is that they don't need to be a resident of Yellowknife at the time of being accepted. Acceptance is based more on a referral, and referrals have to come in through a service provider within the social envelope that are participants in the ICM program. I can certainly confirm, and I've been told stories directly about individuals who have continued to receive services through the ICM program even when they have returned home to their home communities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, obviously, if I'm wrong about this, I will bring a correction back, but my understanding is that the Office of the Oil and Gas Regulator puts together their financial budgeting, just the same as any other department. It does go to the Department of Finance to be compiled together with all the main estimates that then come before the committee in the same fashion as the other items that the numbers that are here are generally put together through a business planning process. Obviously, all of the main estimates here didn't have quite the same business planning process because of the...
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I acknowledge that there certainly has been a delay since even, I believe, the date that I provided to the House with respect to some aspects of the process. In order to have a cannabis store, there was first an RFQ, request for qualifications, that was sent out this summer, and then there needed to be an RFP, a request for proposals. That process was due out in January. I acknowledge that it's now not January. I am assured that that will be complete and that that will public this month. I will certainly ensure that I am doing my best to follow up on that date. At...
Mr. Chair, when I attended, myself, down in Hay River and had a tour, they described engaging with everything from businesses to local volunteer organizations, to provide both sort of placements and just involvement and to engage them so that they are aware of what the program is and what the opportunities to involve might be. That's not a very specific answer, and at this point, the reason it's not very specific is because some of the details of exactly who might be involved depends on the willingness of those partners to be involved. What I would suggest, Mr. Chair, is that I would commit to...