R.J. Simpson

Thank you. So as for the $20,000 difference, I will pass it over. But we do fund Skills Canada $70,000 in here as well as another, I think $85,000 to labour market agreement. And, yes, I agree. I remember when they used to go to the regional centres and have their competitions outside of Yellowknife. I think it was great. So I'd like to work with them to make that happen again to you know, to get more kids, students interested in the trades. But on some more of the detail, I can ask Mr. MacDonald. Thank you.

Thank you, and I apologize, I realize how inadequate my answer was as soon as I said it.

So the funding formula takes into account many things but the biggest driver is enrolment. And so generally, the more students you have the more money you get. The less students you have, the less money you get. Thank you.

Thank you. I don't have the expertise with the remote work policy to answer that. I mean, I can see if the deputy minister knows, understanding that that policy might not be fully fleshed out yet. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And that responsibility is not mine alone. That is really all of government needs to work to ensuring that. We need to ensure that we have an adequate housing stock so that the rents are affordable. We need to ensure that, you know, our economy is robust so people can find jobs. So the minimum wage, people have to remember, it's a minimum standard. You know, this is an employee's market in the Northwest Territories. Our wages, on average, are much higher than the minimum wage. It's a very small proportion of the population, and a young portion of the population, that...

Thank you. And I used to express the same frustration about $165 million one line in ECE's budget so I understand where the Member's coming from. I'll work with the department and with Finance but there could be rules related to how this is organized that are, you know, beyond my ability to influence. But we can provide committee with a breakdown, a more detailed breakdown. Thank you.

Thank you. So I don't want to open up a can of worms about where money comes from for regulators, but wherever it comes from it's the coffers of the GNWT is where it comes from. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, there is work, and this is under the budget of a previous section, but there is work towards developing a languages program, a twoyear diploma which could then lead into something like an interpretertranslator program or perhaps a bachelor of education. So that work is underway. Thank you.

Thank you. There's one position being added. It is a data coordinator, and it has to do with perhaps I can just ask the deputy minister to explain it because it's a technical position. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Generally what happens is every two years the minimum wage committee is struck, and it does a review of the environment in the territory and produces some recommendations for the Minister in regards to the minimum wage. The department mentioned to me that they were embarking on that process again and I said, just wait. I'm not sure if that's the route I want to go.

The committee does a lot of great work, and I appreciate the work the members put in but, you know, given the criticism by the Members about that process, I might be taking a different approach. Thank you.

Thank you. The northern bonus is funds that are provided to students who return back to the Northwest Territories who have repayable loans, and I believe it depends on where you live, you are eligible for different amounts each year. I believe that comes into effect I know that if you live in Hay River, you can get $2,000 a year up to a maximum of $10,000. Thank you. And that goes towards repayment of your loan. Thank you.