This is page numbers 659 - 708 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 community.

Topics

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is built into the calculations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I assume that the department is working with the communities to identify some areas where they can raise money. I'm just wondering if you have any idea what those areas may be. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Working with the communities, and I just want to mention land transfer, but it's a very difficult process for the communities to gain that responsibility. There's a lot of other situations that come along with it. In looking at the grant-in-lieu that we do have, in looking at the federal funding, as well, that we do support the communities and with their application process for them to receive additional funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just looking at community government funding and formula funding. Has the department reviewed the formula funding in the last while to confirm it's equitable and it works for all the communities? Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will just revert this question over to Eleanor Young, Ms. Young. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Young.

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. That was exactly the work that was done in 2014 was to go out and take a look at our funding formulas and ensure that they were fair and equitable across all communities. That work was what resulted in the funding gap numbers that we have been discussing now for the last few years. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Young. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just going over to recreation and the sports programming. I see we spend a few dollars in that. I'm just wondering if the money we're spending is actually providing any benefit or some benefit to supporting youth, and helping them keep in shape, and whatever else they have to do? Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Just to clarify, that would be under sports and recreation, so that is the last section of MACA. The sports and recreation is our last. We're on the fifth, and that's the seventh section. Did you have further questions on regional operations? Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Just to clarify, we're on regional operations?

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

We are on regional operations.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Page 339?

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Sorry. I thought you were asking about -- there's a whole section of sports and recreation. I will give you some time on the clock. Can you re-ask your question?

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. The funds that we're providing for recreation funding to children and youth and the programming, is the money we're spending, are we getting value, I guess, for those dollars? For me, recreation and sports are very important. I think it helps develop youth. I just want to make sure we're providing the funding and we're getting the value for what we are providing. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to just elaborate a little bit. The binder kind of seems a little bit confusing that these are regional operations. We do provide these programs at the community level. As you go forward into sport and recreation, that is funding that we provide for organizations to deliver sport and recreation. Anyways, I just wanted to list this off, that we have recreation funding. This is for the smaller communities. The Children and Youth Resiliency Program, regional youth sports events, the Youth Contribution Program, and the Youth Corps would be at the community level. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just going to go to the -- and hopefully, this is the right section -- senior citizens and disabled persons property tax relief. I see we have an increase from $847,000 up to $1,005,000. Can you just elaborate on that increase? Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Hay River. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. There was an increase there, and it was due to the amount of applications that we did receive for the seniors and disability tax relief program. Thank you, Madam Chair.