Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Yeah, that's good. Thank you. That's what I wanted to hear. And then what I see here, it's good. You know, there's more money allocated to some of the programs, like men's healing, which is greatly needed, and it's helping a lot of community members in small communities. So I know it's being used well. Even the Victim Assistance Program, it's really helping a lot of communities because I know that we see things happening because of these programs. So I'm glad there is money, you know, there is increase in that budget for this fiscal year. So that's all. It's more of a comment. Thank you.

Thank you. Yesterday I talked about the drug problem, drugs and crimes in my region. Not just my region, but it's in all of the small communities. And, yes, Mr. Rodgers is right that, you know, it is destroying our communities. It's destroying the life of our young people. It's a major issue. It's a big problem, especially in small communities because we don't have lots of resources in small communities but the drugs are coming in like even taxi coming in from larger regional centre to small communities when they know the RCMP are off the road when they're not working. You know, like they...

Yes, because it says here on the other side implementation of NWT homelessness, antipoverty, alcohol strategies, and coordination of GNWT strategies associated with food security, etcetera. So you said regional. So it was for Tlicho region, we have TCSA. I'm just wondering, like, are they going to if they do that with the regional director, are some of the regions going to be getting these positions, or they will be some of these will be transferred to the regions to regional office?

Okay.

we're still on (audio)

And all these jobs are besides GSO, is there any other jobs that's allocated in small communities? Like, I know we have GSO. I know Tlicho community have four GSO. I just wanted to know if there was any other jobs, a high level, like you know, not regional well, hopefully regional. You know, like I just wanted to know if there were other jobs that were allocated in Tlicho region. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. This Public Utility Board, because it's NTPC or energy regulators, I thought, you know, how come it's not under infrastructure or, you know, ECC because it deals with that's more within their department, so how come it's under EIA? Thank you.

It's not that bad. It's mostly for small communities and regional centres, that we have lots of people living in the regional centres as well that are affected.

So, Mr. Speaker, on Friday the 20242025 Budget was tabled with a $2.2 billion operating budget. The Minister states: This is a practical and realistic budget aimed at reducing our overall expenditures in 20242025 to help restore balance and increase our fiscal capacity to deal with unexpected events.

The Minister also states this budget is about value and efficiency.

Mr. Speaker, I understand we are in a time of fiscal restraint. We need...

Here, gun and gang strategies, okay, 20222023, there's nothing allocated for this fiscal year. It's not in the budget. So I just want to ask the Minister why it's not because we know we have a lot of issues in small communities, and then I'm sure there's a lot of community, you know, Indigenous government and other organizations, they use this money for you know, to help and work with the young people. So it's more of awareness and education program, part of healing. So I just wanted to know why it's not part of this budget this fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are communities in the NWT without consistent RCMP presence. Can the Minister explain what is being done to improve effective level of policing in NWT communities?