Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to say just yes, but the reality is you have to look at the individual situations. You have to look at employees, their needs, their desires. Some people prefer a fourday work week. Some people are workaholics, like myself, tend to work seven days a week. Other people only want to work one day a week. So it's looking at the person's interests. It's also looking at the employer's needs. Some agencies I have run agencies in my past in the NGO world where it was hard to get parttime people because we were open seven days a week. So I did move to a fourday work...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I do know that within this session that we will be putting forward a proposed bill for the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous People. Part of that work is actually to be it's not just putting out a bill and saying it's done. If we really take the United Nations Declaration to heart, then it means ongoing work. So I think that in fairness to the Member, that every single program and service within the GNWT, including our Crown corporations, should be looking at the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous People and seeing how that fits within all of the work...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the Member has a point. I think there is some confusion in the public. And even myself when I came into government, understanding how Crown corporations are different from government departments. So I do think that there needs to be an effort on perhaps clarity to the public and maybe looking at the structures of those Crown corporations. Although, Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear that in the life of this government, I don't see this happening. It might be something we put in the recommendations for the next government. But at this time, we're looking at...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, and that is that question kind of goes back to my statement in that it's going to take longer to review that. It's not something that should be done in a rushed fashion, for example in the life of this Assembly. I think that it needs to be really a comprehensive review. Each of the corporations have different needs, different goals, different purposes. So I'm not even sure if you could have one governance for all. So like I said, Mr. Speaker, I don't think it's a bad idea; I just think that the timing is not correct at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can say that no, not all of the Crown corporations' governance models have been reviewed. However, I can say because of the issues that we're having with Marine Transportation Services, that one is being reviewed. And we're also looking at the NTPC. But not all Crown corporations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Range Lake constituent Ms. Samantha Stuart. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am here to present the 20232024 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Overall, the 20232024 Main Estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and vision of Budget 2023, by:

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Funding the GNWT's negotiation and implementation efforts with respect to the conclusion of selfgovernment, resource and land claims agreements with Indigenous governments; and,

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Providing support for the departmental activities related to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Department’s main...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I feel like I've already briefed that Member on this item. But for the public, absolutely we are again, another exciting piece of work that we're looking. And this work was done with the Council of Leaders table. It wasn't easy. You know, it took a lot of work and not everybody's on board; the majority are on board. This work will be bringing forward a legislative bill in this session. I think we already did the proposal give me the right term there, Martin. Legislative proposal he says, because we recognize the committee has to, for 120 days take it on the road. We...

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today the launch of a new funding portal on the Government of the Northwest Territories website that will make it easier for territorial residents, businesses, nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, and others, to find information and access funding opportunities offered by the Government of the Northwest Territories. This initiative also advances our government's commitment to open government by making government information accessible in a way that is responsive to the needs and expectations of NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, the government's job is to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that really the whole purpose of the GSOs, government service officers, was to be able to provide services in small communities. It wasn't seen as a regional or a headquarters initiative. I note that there may be some appetite for it. I'm not against it either. But at this stage and honesty, Madam Chair, we're at the end of the government. We got, like, huge things we're trying to get finished within EIA. We've got, like, not only the priorities, the mandates, etcetera. We've got, like, things going on geopolitically that we're also watching for. We just went...