Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. The recent release of the Health and Social Services System 2019-2020 Annual Report paints a picture of many major health conditions and trends for the Northwest Territories. There are some positive outcomes shown, including a decrease in potentially avoidable mortality due to preventable causes, as well as those due to treatable causes; a decrease in the rate of children in permanent care; a decrease in the proportion of mental health hospitalizations due to alcohol or drugs; and a decrease in workplace safety claims.

However, the overall health of our residents...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can someone just give me a rough figure? Like have 50 percent of these been converted now to fee simple title, or 10 percent, or 3 percent? Can I just get a rough figure of how many of these equity leases have actually been converted to fee simple title? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. It's not often that we have to deal with motions in budgets in Committee of the Whole. Look, as I said earlier, we don't have the funding for this. This shouldn't come as a surprise to the Minister. I raised this in January with the Minister that, if the funding had not been secured by the time this came to the floor, I would bring it forward, so it doesn't come as a surprise to the Minister. I'm not saying anything against our staff who have probably been working hard, trying to get the federal government to pay some attention to us, but the fact is: we don't have the money...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Okay, and I'm looking at the annual report. I can see that there is a revenue shortfall for 2019-2020 of about $425,000, roughly. That money, is it coming out of the consolidated revenue fund, essentially? Is that the source of the money? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Nothing further, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. This is going to be the last comment for me. I am hoping that the Premier is listening because I do not know what the problem is with departments bringing forward legislation. Yes, 14 years to develop changes to the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, four-plus years for bringing the amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to cover municipal governments, even start with the city, towns and villages, this is just totally unacceptable. I just do not understand why we as a government cannot move forward with legislation more quickly. I got...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, okay. I see that the physical activity, sport, and recreation fund, that is the lottery money in and out. Somehow, I'm trying to reconcile that against the annual report financial statements, which are the most complicated I think I've ever seen in my life, almost. These financial reports from the annual report are somehow represented here on page 360? Is that correct? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I look forward to a supplementary appropriation by the department to make sure that community governments can actually have their costs covered. I do not think it's fair that this responsibility is downloaded onto them without resources. Is this something that the Minister wants to try to accomplish before the end of this Assembly? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. It sounds like the money is still there available for multisport games. Is that correct? It's just not going to get expended, and no expenditures are anticipated in 2021-2022? Thanks, Madam Chair.