This is page numbers 557 - 606 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was thanks.

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Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. My questions are for the on-the-land unit. Can the Minister provide me with whether we have staff in this, and where are they located?

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Yes, we do have staff, and they are based out of Yellowknife. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. Are there any plans for this unit to be moved out regionally, as it seems like on-the-land, we always say everything always ends up in Yellowknife, and this is something that I would consider that a department could run out of a region. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. We don't have a lot of staff in this area, and some of them are unfunded right now, so presently we're not looking at relocating them to other regions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. Looking at the budget for $3.5 million, could you give me a bit of a breakdown of what that is being spent on, then? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. For that type of detail, I will turn to my deputy minister, with your permission. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kelly

Thank you, Madam Chair. That budget covers salaries, wages, and benefits, and also covers grants and contributions and fees related to developing and implementing on-the-land activities, traditional knowledge, traditional economy, country foods, and public education. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to clarify, if it's providing all of those programs, are they travelling out to the regions, or are they doing that just in Yellowknife? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, they do travel out to the regions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

I'm just going to move to go back to the Community Harvesters Assistance Program. Knowing that the Minister, or the deputy minister, said that this hasn't been reviewed in over 10 years, knowing what we know in our regions, you know, this is a vital program for a lot of our communities. When the deputy minister talks about mentoring and a lot of these things, I think that's what this money will provide to the regional wildlife committees to be able to promote more mentorship.

In this budget, knowing that it hasn't been reviewed, would they reconsider looking at at least raising it, knowing that the cost of living has increased so much over the past 10 years? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. We are doing a review. That's part of the process. If we need to, we will come back, after we do our review, to the committee, through the business plan and our process. The other thing right now is we don't have the additional funds to allocate towards that right now. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

I know there was a wide review, and I know that there are concerns on how this gets distributed, but I just feel like the consensus that I've spoken to different Indigenous groups in my region is they say it's just not enough money. There is just not enough money to give out. You have stated that it's all used up every year, so we know that, without even having to do a review, there is not enough money there. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a great program. We're not denying that. We totally agree with you. What we've heard from 18 communities and three regional organizations is to look at how this program is being operated and managed. What we've done is we're making that commitment, so we want to make an informed decision before we come and ask for money without justification. Thank you, Madam Chair.