Jackie Jacobson

Welcome back, colleagues. It is my pleasure to reconvene the Fifth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

I know that all Members have been busy since we last met here in March. Committees and departments have been travelling to many of our communities to hear the views of our residents of the Northwest Territories. Many of us also had the opportunity to spend time in our communities working with our constituents. The connection with our constituents is what makes our work so meaningful.

Colleagues, I was very happy to welcome back the 2015 Youth Parliamentarians as they gathered here for a...

It would be in this next fiscal year to complete.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, just the better services, I guess, for our style of security for the Members and I guess for the whole building. I guess it’s more accurate. Having our own security services is a lot better than an outside source.

To my left I have Mr. Darrin Ouellette, director of corporate services, and to my right I have the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Tim Mercer.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 estimates for the Legislative Assembly. I would like to thank the members of the Board of Management for their assistance and input on this budget.

The Assembly is seeking an expenditure appropriation of $21.175 million. This represents an increase of $2.186 million, or 11.5 percent, from the 2014-2015 Main Estimates of $18.99 million.

While this is a significant increase from the 2014-2015 operations budget, additional funding is something that we need every four years in order to hold the next territorial election and for preparing...

Yes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This year it will be moving all the Commissioners into the Laing Building where the transport drivers have their licensing area. It will be done in August.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just for the first question regarding the electoral officer and an increase of $871,000 budget for the upcoming General Election, the increase is for hiring and training of temporary election staff and the remainder of the increase was the travel, contracting, materials and supplies and expenses. We are just waiting on signage for a few areas in the building, and we’re pretty close to being done for the persons with disabilities.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll ask Mr. Ouellette.

Yes, Madam Chair.