Kevin O'Reilly

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I have some questions about what's in here and also something that's not in here.

So I'd like to start by acknowledging that the Minister has carried through with her commitments, as I fully expected, in terms of some increased spending that we had negotiated as part of the budget discussions earlier this year. There is extra money in here for housing, $4 million; $2.2 million for shelter funding; an increase of half a million dollars for heritage centres; there's some reductions in contracted services, but the area that's not covered in the supplementary...

For.

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. As I understand it, this is federal money, and I know I've spoken to the issue of victim services before. And the Minister of Justice in the last government actually undertook a review of victim services at my request and had found that, you know, we could be providing better support to the coordinators and the NGOs that actually do much of this very important work.

So this $750,000 kind of windfall from the federal government, is there a breakdown of how that money is going to be spent? And I guess what I want to make sure is that some of that funding is going to go...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the mover, the Member for Deh Cho, and the seconder, the Member for Tu NedheWiilideh, for bringing the motion forward.

I want to acknowledge what I've heard from small community MLAs over my six years as an MLA here in the House and in committee about issues around healthcare in small communities. At the same time, though, I want to recognize the work and initiatives by the department and the staff. I think we are doing some things in these areas. You know, we worked together to get funding for Indigenous patient advocates. I know the department is...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, once the Minister's able to get her computer unlocked, I'd be happy to get more information on that. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that.

In my view, the Cantung and Mactung saga is another example of postdevolution mismanagement of our resources. When I asked the Minister for lessons learned last time, she spoke about hope for a solid proponent to take over the property. I'm going to try the question again, perhaps a little bit differently.

Can the Minister explain what lessons have been learned about financial security and public liabilities from the Cantung and Mactung saga? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. I know even in the last Assembly, the last official languages commissioner, there was some confusion over who the recommendations should actually go to and who is responsible for acting on them. And in some previous language commissioner's reports there was some criticism leveled at the Legislative Assembly itself for not acting on recommendations from previous reports. And I think there was some misunderstanding between the executive and legislative branches of government. You know, if recommendations from the official languages commissioner would come to the...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I've talked here about, you know, the need to create more childcare spaces, particularly in communities that don't have childcare.

So can the Minister tell us what action needs taking now to create or ensure that new spaces are created in those communities that do not have childcare providers, period. And how is the Minister going to meet the demand for more childcare workers to provide universal and affordable childcare? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that, and I'm sure he's going to tell me next whether the money started to flow.

But I mentioned the provisions in the agreement that cap fee increases for operators to 2.3 percent annually. And, you know, this is in an environment where nationally inflation is running at 6.7 percent. Here in Yellowknife, 7.1 percent. The Minister's confirmed the increase is above 2.3 percent will be allowed when deemed necessary. So what's the definition, Mr. Speaker, of "necessary" and when would the Minister allow increases beyond the 2.3 percent...

Merci, Monsieur le President. It’s been almost six months since the signing of the federal territorial agreement promising $10 a day child care for parents across the Northwest Territories. In reviewing the issues of implementation and delivery of benefits, I regret to say that a lot of progress still needs to be made.

The biggest issues remain putting money in the hands of parents who continue to pay for child care after the deal was signed and creating enough spaces to meet demand. The rebate money has to flow through the child care providers to the parents, and that can only happen when...