Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister has laid out the basic facts very clearly. I've been tasked, as the lead Minister, to deal with the homelessness issue and I'm also the chair of the social envelope Ministers and we collaboratively got together to look at how we're going to deal with this issue, which is quite complex. Our initial focus was to deal with what they call absolute homelessness for the coming winter, which was those folks who don't have accommodations at all, a warm place to sleep at night. At the same time, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation is working on the longer-term issue of relative homelessness, those that are inadequately housed or don't have appropriate housing. What we've asked for this winter is the funds to tide us over working with local organizations in Yellowknife and in the communities, recognizing that there's a need to transport people, recognizing that there's a need in the small communities, as well as to increase the capacity of the Salvation Army and the YWCA once again to get us through the winter. We've also got some short-term funding to have some of the actual staff resources to work to pull together the broader plan and the intention would be to have further work with homelessness built into the business planning process of the affected departments, which is Health and Social Services, the Housing Corporation, Education, Culture and Employment, and Municipal and Community Affairs has been at the table, as well.
Michael Miltenberger on Committee Motion 40-15(3) To Amend Bill 17 To Come Into Force On The Earlier Of The Prorogation Of The First Session Of The 38th Parliament And The Coming Into Force Of The Civil Marriage Act (canada), Defeated
In the Legislative Assembly on March 9th, 2005. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 40-15(3) To Amend Bill 17 To Come Into Force On The Earlier Of The Prorogation Of The First Session Of The 38th Parliament And The Coming Into Force Of The Civil Marriage Act (canada), Defeated
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 9th, 2005
Page 1937
See context to find out what was said next.