Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a revenue problem. It’s no surprise that when the Minister of Finance was gathering views of NWT residents during his Budget Dialogue 2014, no one called for lower taxes. Indeed, some suggested increasing revenues through smarter taxation and improved royalties.

The need for investment in sustainable energy infrastructure, home retrofits, early childhood education, adequate housing, job training and addictions is obvious. Expenses are going up. How can we address this need? Shifting to a smarter tax approach is a good start.

Reducing taxes on low and middle income...

That wasn’t what I was asking. I think that’s obvious and appropriate. I’m asking what is being done to set up an equivalent one where we also have a responsibility to consult with our people and our residents on issues that are important to them, which are the activities of this government. Thank you.

I obviously don’t have that number in front of me so I’ll leave it at that. But if the Minister does come up with any further information on that, I would appreciate it.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank the Minister for that commitment, and that was just one suggestion. I’m sure the Minister has others on how to find people, but I appreciate that.

Just looking at the budget, I just had a question. It seems like we took quite a jump up in ‘14-15 and we’re maintaining that. Compensation and benefits are actually down. I have to congratulate the Minister on that. I’m not sure how he has managed to do that, but that’s a rarity, but the rest is up. I’m wondering: is there an explanation and is this a temporary blip that’s expected to go back down? I imagine...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate this opportunity to ask a question here. I have an issue that comes up frequently with constituents with a variety of backgrounds. Many seemingly very qualified people don’t even seem to get interviewed, and these are long-term residents, Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal, quite a variety of people from all walks of life. I know I’ve talked to the Minister about this and I know he’s aware of this.

What sort of monitoring is done? Like, do you monitor the number of complaints about this and requests for appeals or however people might respond? What are the plans to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four documents to table today. The first is a letter from Alternatives North to Minister Ramsay and calls to our broader representation or in-depth representation on the Mineral Advisory Board, and a similar letter from Ecology North. The first is dated 4th of February and the second is dated 6th of February.

I’d also like to table, and according to my commitments to the Premier, the science behind the new knowledge that we need to leave most of our fossil fuels in the ground. The first is in Nature, published on the 8th of January 2015, entitled “The geographical...

Thanks again to the Minister. On May 6, 2011, the Minister temporarily suspended the successful but understaffed Midwifery Program in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Detah. Rather than choosing to staff the program appropriately, the Minister of the day simply suspended the program, leaving half of our residents in the Northwest Territories with no Midwifery Program at all. After four years, this suspension seems to have become a permanent cancellation.

When will the Minister fulfill the promise and reinstate, in an improved format, the highly valued and much missed Midwifery Program for Yellowknife...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services today. During the last session I asked questions about the rollout of the Midwifery Program. At that time the Minister indicated that two positions in Hay River were filled and going live in early 2015, which I understand has happened, and the department was actively recruiting to refill a midwife position in Fort Smith. So my first question is about Fort Smith.

Can we get an update on whether that long-vacant position in Fort Smith has been filled? Mahsi.

Thanks to the Premier. I really don’t have any more questions. I’m not suggesting that that’s an easy one to make progress on. I’ve got almost a lifetime of experience watching the difficult issues trying to be resolved, and yet, unsuccessfully. I think it’s good every once in a while to have that discussion and see where we’re at and see if there’s anything else we can do. I’ll leave it at that. Thank you.

HON. BOB MCLEOD:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A mining advisory board to “provide advice to government to ensure mining regulation is in place that encourages economic growth while maintaining high regulatory, environmental and social standards.” To quote the Minister of ITI’s press release seems a worthwhile exercise. However, digging deeper, I find that the board will be comprised of only ministerially appointed people with “direct experience in the NWT minerals industry.”

The Mineral Development Strategy itself was developed by an industry panel. The Minister three times chose to ignore public interest policy...