Shane Thompson

It's great that we see this increase of 100 seniors getting through this program. It's of value. However, we went, in the Nahendeh riding which had 2,800 litres, to $2,700. Can the Minister please advise the amount of money allocated to each zone, so we get a bigger picture?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that answer. My next question is in regard to case management and recruitment of Indigenous people to be working in those positions. I guess my question is: do you have a plan in place, a session planning, that you actually train your Indigenous workers who wish to be in that role? Do you give them the ability to do training so that, when those positions come available, they are the ones who are given that opportunity? Right now, my understanding is we see a lot of Priority 3 staff in that position. Have you set up a plan for that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay. Thank you. Can the Minister expand on what this program is that we are talking about? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will just try to make it real simple. Can the Minister provide us with the information of all the increases that he has talked about with this here with a percentage? Just give it to us. You don't have to tell us the numbers here today, but if you can give us the information for all the things that he is proposing to increase? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past December and January, I had the opportunity to visit the communities in Nahendeh to discuss various issues and concerns, including the Seniors' Home Heating Subsidy program.

Mr. Speaker, elders from my riding have serious concerns regarding a recent change to this program. It is my understanding that the department is now issuing a fuel subsidy in a dollar amount, as opposed to litres. In 2017, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment conducted a review that examined all aspects of the program, including income threshold zones, fuel...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I understand that having a facility open 24/7, there is going to be some overtime because of sickness and stuff like that. I guess my question is: has the department looked at a cost analysis to see if it is more feasible to actually hire a couple more staff in case of that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I understand, you know, Indigenous RCMP regular officers, but have we looked at, you know, special constables like we have done in the past where, you know, you are getting a local individual to train, to be able to help the members who are coming in, and to assimilate into the community and have a face the community knows who to talk to? Is the department looking at the opportunity? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. It just blows my mind. I am glad that he thinks it is reasonable. I am glad that he thinks it is moderate. I am glad that he thinks it is minor. When he talks about getting a mortgage, well, you lock into a mortgage for a period of time, unless you don't want to lock into it, depending on the market. He said we didn't do it for 20 years. Well, why are people being punished now? Could we not look at gradually implementing it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have a couple more to follow up on that. With the North Slave, the additional measurements there, have you looked at increasing staff for that facility? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that, and I look forward to seeing that information as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.