Kevin O'Reilly

I want to thank my colleague, the Government House Leader, but who could forget the legislative landslide in the last eight months of the last Assembly? I personally spent most of the summer away from home, in committee travel, meetings, and a final sitting of the House in August where one clause-by-clause review of a bill stretched on for four-and-a-half hours, until past midnight. Who could forget that, Mr. Speaker? What is Cabinet doing to prevent a repeat performance?

Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. I was in the last Assembly, and one of the reasons why they were being amalgamated was basically a cost-cutting, cost-saving exercise. Some people did lose their jobs, and I know there were efforts made to try to retain people through whatever the name of that policy is that GNWT has. There were less people working for Infrastructure than there was for the two separate departments. I'm just trying to square that with adding more money into the budget two or three years later to try to rectify this. It just doesn't seem to make any sense to me. Maybe someone can take...

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today, I spoke of the legislative lethargy of our Cabinet. We are about a third of the way through our term, and no bills of any substance have been proposed by Cabinet. Changes have been promised to the Education Act, to implement UNDRIP, to bring our resource management into this century, and more. Can the Premier explain whether there is any substantive legislation planned for the current sitting? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can someone explain to me the increases for department management and finance found on page 240? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks for that information. How do we pay for maintenance on highways? Is it found here, or is it found in the capital budget? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, the survey that the Minister talked about, I think, even earlier today that's online and you can pick up at the health centres, that kind of stuff. Thanks.

I'm glad that the Minister became aware of this problem 40 minutes ago. It's a long-standing issue, and I'm surprised that it has taken her this long to recognize that it is an issue. I mentioned earlier that there is dissatisfaction amongst some of the teachers with regard to Internet and technology issues that GNWT should be helping with. Is the Minister aware of these issues and what is she going to do to help speed up service calls related to educational needs?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. With that action plan, would we expect to see some changes moving forward with things like addictions treatment facilities, grants, contributions, transfers, that kind of thing, in future budgets with the new action plan? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Sure. I recognize that this issue cuts across many departments, but this is becoming a real issue for low-income families and post-secondary students. Unless our students have access and affordable Internet, education is not universal. I want to ask the Minister, within his authority, what is he doing to remove barriers related to Internet accessibility and affordability for families and students? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks. That's really helpful to understand. I presume, then, that this section of the budget, there is nothing in here that really deals with after-care. Is that correct?