Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Madam Chair. We asked the departments to provide the mandate actions, and then the deliverable dates and the measurable outcomes. In fairness, the departments were a bit conservative in their dates because nobody wants to be set up to fail. Then we brought this mandate document in to standing committee as a draft, and standing committee said, "Be bold," so we went back to the departments and we told them to be bolder, because, again, I don't want to set up the departments to fail, either. They looked with a little bit more objective lens, and they put timelines that they felt would...

Minister of Finance?

Thank you, Madam Chair. What we would do with the working group is we would, of course, have it interdepartmental, because we all have contracts, most of us; and the other thing, of course, is we would bring in some industry partners to provide advice, as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll take it as a comment. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. If I can get the Minister for ITI to answer that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I absolutely agree. We need to not only look at natural gas. We need to look at things like hydro, as well. We need to get the communities, smaller communities, off of diesel. Diesel is not good for the environment. It's not good for people. It's not good for the cost of living, so we have an obligation to do that. I do know that some of the Indigenous governments in our northern communities, in Inuvik, are looking at not only for natural gas and how we use it in the territories, but also for exporting internationally. I think that we need to stay on top of it, and...

I have not sat down and had direct conversations with both Ministers that were named, to say what kind of board you are doing and those kinds of things. However, I was the education Minister before, and I know that education does have a timeline when they will be bringing in a board of directors. Ministers are responsible for appointing their boards, Mr. Speaker, and so, therefore, if they wanted a direct timeline, it's probably better to ask the relevant Ministers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I would like to be able to say that we'll get them done in a year; however, I can't. This is work that we're doing with the Indigenous and the community governments, so it is on their timeline, and so, to be respectful for those governments, we have to work when they are. I would like to say that some of the Indigenous governments already have economic plans; they're on board. Just because it says spring 2020 and ending in 2023, it doesn't mean that we're not on it already. We're already talking about it and, as soon as we can get them completed, that is my...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I do believe in best practices, and I also believe in capacity and what we're able to do. Right now, at this point, I think that our capacity is at the height of what we can handle. We do have a report already on core housing need that we can produce. Universal childcare, I'm going to push back a little bit, Madam Chair, and say that that is something that is more relevant towards the capital and some of our larger regional centres. It, certainly, is not an issue that communities, for example, our smallest community is Colville Lake, Lutselk'e, might put on their...

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is a bit soft, but I agree that we do need to change our messaging. The last sentence on the "How We Will Do It" says that we will promote investment and increase awareness of the NWT's regulatory system, because I think that is a concern that people often say. We need to also change our messaging, not only about getting mines here, but how people see mineral exploration in the Northwest Territories, because I keep hearing people are saying green energy versus mining, but you can't have green energy, Madam Chair, without mining. We have cobalt here. We have lithium...