Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also understand the intent of this one; however, as stated before, we are in a time of huge inflation and people are struggling and we have to be careful with taxpayer dollars, and I just don't think this is the time to be bringing this forward. We do have offices in this Assembly and this would cost tax if it was approved, would cost taxpayers extra money. And so I cannot, in conscious, support this motion at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I spoke to the other one too but this is kind of in the same concept, I guess, is that my issue is that we have people that are making minimum wage in society and currently, at this point, they don't get a CPI increase although I would like to see that. I know that we are looking at changing that. But at this point and the other thing is that some Members have more than one constituent assistant, Madam Chair. Some of them have two, one in their riding and one here in the capital is what I've noticed as well. So I think in the spirit of fairness to Members that may have more than one or two...

Mr. Speaker, I'll take that question on notice so I can get the information that the MLA requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a Range Lake constituent and the wife of Tom Williams, Ms. Pamela Williams and his daughter Aurora. My heart is with you. And call me if you need me.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also agree with the Member from Yellowknife North. I do think that for many years I've been hearing about the underrepresentation, and I do think that it should have been addressed. I'm not a hundred percent sure why the committee didn't address that or give it a solid explanation of why not. I think that kind of a disservice was done. But, Madam Chair, so therefore I'm going to vote against this motion.

But Madam Chair, if it does go through, one thing I did hear on the campaign trail is there's a lot of confusion on the Ingraham Trail. People were telling me that...

Thank you, Madam Chair. This one I am 100 percent in support of. I know that when I first considered running for politics, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't know anything about this building nor the procedures at all. So I think that the more that we can do to actually ensure that all people understand how this structure works, the better off. And especially for people that are lower become and people that feel that they don't deserve to be here. I think everyone needs to know that they all deserve to be here. So I am 100 percent in support of this. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I am also not supporting this. We're getting to the time that postCOVID, or in COVID, that people are making tough choices and inflation is hitting people. And as the previous Member stated, we have offices in this Assembly. So at this point, with what's going on in society and the struggles that people are facing with inflation, I cannot justify spending taxpayer money on another office. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In principle, I support the concept of what we're trying to do here and I was in the last Assembly, and we did try to make it a family friendly place. However, in practice, I can't support this because it's saying that everyone shall get $2,000 no matter how many dependent children you have. That, Madam Chair, is I can't accept that because I come from a family of eight children and, you know, my only flight with my two children that might do but if you have eight children, and some community members have large children, how is that fair, Madam Chair? It won't cover...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that when we met with the Association of Communities, it was brought up. I do want to say a shout out to the Red Cross; their work has been phenomenal. I know that I've made a commitment to meet with them, and I do believe that the departments are in discussions with them. But I will need to take notice on where exactly we are at with that discussion, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour former deputy minister and public servant Tom Williams who lost his battle with cancer just this past August. Born and raised in the Northwest Territories, Tom dedicated his life to the North and was a wellrespected member of every community he lived in. Tom started his career in the public service over 30 years ago as a personnel officer in Inuvik. As a proud Metis, Tom earned respect from Indigenous people and leadership across the North.

In 2001, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Gwich'in Tribal Council where he spent seven years advancing...