Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the review of the 2005-5006 Draft Main Estimates, the committee had an opportunity to speak with the Premier about the federal initiative to establish an expert panel to look into issues related to equalization payments to provinces, and the proposed sub-panel that will consider the financing formulas that govern the flow of federal money to the territories. The committee was pleased to hear of this initiative and is hopeful this process will lead to an improved financing formula that addresses many of the shortcomings of previous financial arrangements with...
Mr. Chairman, I’d like to move back to page 2-99. My apologies. We have a motion.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Could the Minister provide detailed information on what this government has done to deal with truancy, high dropout rates and the low graduation rates of our schools in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate what the Minister said. On that note, what resources do we provide the schools and the district education authorities to ensure that we get these truant kids into school? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier in my Member’s statement, truancy is becoming a serious issue in the Northwest Territories. My questions will be to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Would the Minister tell me if the Education Act that permits a parent to be charged up to $500 has ever been enforced? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess at this time then, I would like to put a request into your position right now, as Chairman of the Board of Management as well as Speaker of the building, to get some assurances that we will look into it in this fiscal year about addressing it again.
It is a building that welcomes people. Just at the opening up of this session when Mr. Roland read in his budget, there were cars parked every which way and I have to say that I am embarrassed; truly I am embarrassed that we invite people to come here to see and follow along and be part of our opening budget, but...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the fact that, I assume, when we resupply, we adjust our rates. If that’s what happens, that’s probably the most reasonable way. I could have taken once every blue moon from the Minister and we could go to our calendar and figure that out. That’s a tangible number, but regular basis was not. I am fine for now.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Recognizing that the Minister did commit to getting some information to me and maybe at that time I could further follow up on some of these questions, but I will leave him with one more question maybe he can answer at this time. How often do we…Let me just back the truck up for a second. I will say that I think it is our role to help stabilize these fuel prices. I think that is definitely what government is here for. I certainly do recognize that the cost of fuel to get into Wekweti would certainly be a lot different than maybe in Nahanni Butte. So that being...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would these rates also be reflected in the true cost of delivery of this product to some degree or not? We're providing this product in the community that, say, no private contractor sees enough flow of product in order to make it economically worth their while; therefore, that's why no one in private industry is doing this. So are we reflecting relative market rates at all that would be fair market rate in these communities? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just on the line of questioning Mr. Braden has brought forward, have we ever qualified what this subsidy is? What magnitude to the dollar figure is the subsidy? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.