Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm looking for a commitment from the Minister of Finance to follow evidence-based decision making in developing his budget. That would mean not only looking at the fiscal benefits of investing in infrastructure, but also in the potential problems of cuts, not only to the people who are working now, but to the possibility that they may also leave the territory and take their share of the Territorial Formula Financing funding with them. My question to the Minister is: Will he commit to evidence-based decision-making in this budgetary process?

Mr. Speaker, I don't think that hoping the public will give their input into the budget process is a very systematic response to the scale of change that the government is planning to make. Therefore, I would like to hear that the government is going to attempt some consultation on the budget in the next few weeks, whether that means visiting communities, having an online tool available, or putting ads in the paper, that there is a mechanism for people to respond to the big changes that are coming their way.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to acknowledge the passing of Esther Braden. Mrs. Braden arrived in Yellowknife with her husband and five children in 1964 and she soon became a tireless and indispensible volunteer in our community. She most recently was involved with the Hard of Hearing Association and with the seniors, and she was a frequent entertainer at Aven Manor often playing the piano, which was a true love of hers. Her efforts earned her an Order of Canada in 2006. Mrs. Braden helped build Yellowknife in her reflection: kind and caring. As well as her own contributions to public...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday the Regular Members of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning issued a media release to give our view of the budgetary process now underway, and to propose some priorities for measures and public consultation. I would like to add that information to the record here by speaking of it. The government's media release of February 9, 2016 said, “The GNWT is committed to working closely with MLAs to identify practical solutions to the fiscal challenge,” and that “The GNWT will develop proposals and share them with MLAs for input prior to...

Thank you for that commitment. I urge you to make good your promises for collaboration and open government by consulting people in whatever manner is feasible within the time that is available. This is a very significant change in direction for the NWT and I think that people will want to have their say on it. Further to your fiscal statement today, as you know, government jobs are very valuable jobs, especially in the small communities. I'm wondering whether you have done any analysis of the impact of the loss of jobs at the local level and that you'd be able to share with us?

WHEREAS Section 46(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that the Legislative Assembly shall elect a Deputy Speaker;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly wishes to appoint a Deputy Speaker;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. R.J. Simpson, be appointed as Deputy Speaker. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. R.J. Simpson, be appointed as Deputy Speaker. At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

My question for the Minister responsible for Homelessness is whether the government is prepared to match the federal contribution of $306,000 annually to Housing First in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize today Ms. Lydia Bardak. She is a constituent in Yellowknife Centre and a tireless worker with the population of homeless people that I spoke about in my Member’s statement. I commend her for all the work that she does on behalf of those that need it, and I'd also like to introduce my partner and recognize my partner, Janice McKenna, and my mom, Ann Little.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I was campaigning for the position I now hold, voters told me more about homelessness than any other issue. Their concern is for people who are visibly homeless. People who sleep in tents around this building, stairwells, bank foyers, and emergency shelters at night and who wander the streets by day. This is a group of people who need homes. There is some debate about how many people are homeless in Yellowknife today. The last time the emergency shelters publicly reported on the number of unique visitors they had, the number was 936. That was in 2008. This number...