Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in past cases like we have in Tsiigehtchic, ENR let hunters take down problem bears in emergency situations. Would it be all right if hunters helped out with the emergency situation, in a safe manner, of course? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, public safety and the safety of the community is our first concern. If the community feels that there is a problem bear or one that is a threat to the community, they are able to take it down. As the Member said, it would have to be done in a safe manner. We would like to have our wildlife officers do it, but if they are not available and there is a threat, then they would be able to take the bear down. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have more questions for the Minister of Education on small community employment rates. Mr. Speaker, the $3 million that the Minister spoke of earlier has the potential of decreasing or increasing employment rates in small communities by a certain percentage; it is maybe 5 or 6 per cent. Is the Minister aware of what the potential is for the $3 million? If it is spent in the small communities, what will it do for the employment rates in small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, one of the mandates of this government is to increase employment rates, close the skill gaps throughout the Northwest Territories, and obviously $3 million in employment in small communities would be significant. We would see a lot of businesses that would train locals, as well as a focus on skill development, and create employment. As you go back through the history, the Small Community Employment Program with the funding that we had in previous years was not fully utilized. With the increase influx that we have gotten, I think we will continue to support the small communities, but, looking at enhancements, we want to make sure that the communities that did take a hit with the economy also got supports.

Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the employment rates in the NWT run 6 to 10 per cent higher than the rest of Canada.

Yes. Employment rates go up as the communities get smaller and, in some regions, we have seen where employment was thriving at one point and now it is, I will not say diminished, but slowed down by a lot. We want to make sure that we allow our residents, our Northerners, the opportunity to get the training, get employment, as well as increase skill development.

Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the small communities are represented by about 90 per cent Indigenous people.

Yes, I am well aware of that. We also have to understand that this program itself is application-based, so we work with our partners to ensure that they can put in an application and get that funding through the application process.

Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the employment rate for Indigenous people is 54 per cent in the Northwest Territories and 80 per cent for non-Indigenous people.

Yes, I am well aware of that. That is why we are making some of the initiatives, strategies, investments, to address those issues. The Small Community Employment Support Program is one way we are doing that. Our enhanced Student Financial Assistance so people can get the training that they need to so that they can enter the workforce, our labour market contracts that we have with the federal government to address some of those labour market needs, as well, there are many areas that we are doing to try to address these concerns. We are working as a government to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today the Minister for Infrastructure made a Minister's statement about federal infrastructure programs. Folks on this side of the House, we often do not really know what our Cabinet colleagues are doing with regard to these programs, so it was a helpful update. I am just wondering, he mentioned in his statement that there is an initial proposal that has been submitted to the Low Carbon Economy Fund. Can the Minister just shed a little bit of light about what is in that proposal so that we have a better understanding? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Low Carbon Economy Fund is something that came up in short order with the federal government. They gave us a very short timeline to respond to what we think we could deliver on what their criteria was around this. It is still an ongoing bilateral agreement with the federal government. There were a number of initiatives that we have put forward. I am not so sure I can discuss them in the House right now, as the negotiations are still going back and forth with the federal government.

Thanks to the Minister for that. I understand it might be the subject of negotiations. Is the Minister willing to share that draft proposal with the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment on a confidential basis?

Yes, we can do that.

Thanks to the Minister for that commitment. Would the Minister be prepared to do that with other federal infrastructure programs? I am not asking to be deluged with initial proposes, but, on this side of the House, we just do not know what is going on a lot of times with what our Cabinet colleagues are doing in terms of submitting proposals. Is the Minister prepared to make that commitment on other federal funding programs, big infrastructure ones? I do not need everything.

I can take that under advisement and then let the Member know.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of Ministers have made the comment that the economy is in a downturn, and I am wondering what this government is doing to correct that problem. We have heard some ideas around small community employment. We have a budget before us that is under consideration. I would like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs how she is working at closing the infrastructure gap that is delivered to our communities. Local infrastructure projects are the best way to provide short-term gain to our economy, to create jobs and growth. What is the Minister's strategy to get that money flowing to our communities and grow our economy? Thank you.