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Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Thanks, Madam Chair. My questions are going to be detailed as well. So thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Speaker. I had a few comments, some of which I may have made in Committee of the Whole, but, yeah, I want the public to know that I'm in Edmonton with my family. I recognize the hardship that the current situation has caused 70 percent of the Northwest Territories residents, but I believe that we need to continue to focus on firefighting and saving the communities, and I want to thank the firefighters, the contractors, the volunteers for the work that they're doing. Of course, I also want to thank the Albertans that have shown us tremendous support here in Alberta and thank...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the mover and the seconder for bringing forward the bill, but the public should know that we received by email exactly one hour before this special sitting. So I really haven't had a lot of time to consider the bill, and I think it's kind of very unusual to get a bill in this manner. Of course, these are very unusual times.

I do share, I think the intent of wanting to improve emergency management, and I think that's a shared value amongst us all and if it isn't, we are not doing our jobs. But I guess I do question about whether this is the right...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Yes, thanks, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to talk to this. I think this is, you know, unprecedented times that we're in. We've talked about this earlier today even. It's not going to be possible for us to hold fair elections on September the 2nd as originally planned given that 70 percent of the population of the NWT has been evacuated. This would affect the majority of the actual ridings in the NWT as well. You know, so I think we've taken the advice of the chief electoral officer seriously. I think the only, I guess, piece of new information here is the date of November the 14th...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Thank you. In favour.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Yes, no, thanks, Madam Chair. I guess lastly, I will have a number of comments that I'm going to make about the adequacy of the evacuation transport financial assistance program, whatever it's called, and the fairness and adequacy of that as well as some other supports that I think are needed as some of the other Members alluded to, but I thought that it was best to make those sorts of comments at second reading of the supplementary appropriation bill that should happen later today.

But I do want to thank my Cabinet colleagues for the work because I know that they are working very hard on all...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can we anticipate seeing another supplementary appropriation, then, for the last sitting of this Assembly, scheduled for late September, that would perhaps deal with the firefighting issue but also support financial support for evacuation, you know, other costs associated with the emergency that's, you know, presently throughout the Northwest Territories. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. So this is going to leave us in a huge hole, obviously. Clearly, we cannot possibly be in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Policy, probably even after a couple years. But can the Minister just tell me what the supplementary or the reserve is at this point and how much over we're going to be as a result of this sup and yes, we'll start with that. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

In favour.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. Just quickly, I'm in Edmonton; I want to thank the firefighters, volunteers, contractors, and our Alberta hosts.

I'd like to know, though, from the Minister whether we actually have a total estimate of what the firefighting costs are to date and what it's likely to be by the end of the season and whether this supplementary appropriation is going to be enough? Thanks, Madam Chair.