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Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Teachers need time and training to roll out the new and adjusted BC curriculum here in the Northwest Territories. Teachers may be expected to complete five 2hour courses over the summer. Apparently, these courses aren't ready yet. This information was found on social media, not in formal announcement from the department or their education authorities. So can the Minister tell us when the training materials will be ready and delivered to teachers? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Yeah, thanks, recognizing I have 13 seconds left. Yeah, this is obviously an issue. At least one Indigenous government has raised this issue and I am going to suggest to the Minister, and maybe the Minister of Health and Social Services, that you need to have this discussion at the Council of Leaders' level to get their views about this. If we're going to do things, we are going to do things with Indigenous governments, you have an obligation to talk to them about this. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Okay, maybe this is just semantics then. So GNWT has to initiate giving money to Indigenous governments on their own before we're going to seek reimbursement. What about in cases where Indigenous governments incur some costs and then seek and maybe even get reimbursement from GNWT for opioidrelated damages, would those sort of costs could they be rolled up in this as part of the claim? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Okay, so, yeah, I get that there's a formula in here and that it's some kind of pro forma calculation then of what the damages are. But will GNWT then include costs that have been incurred by Indigenous governments in seeking damages as part of this class action suit? That's my first question. Thanks.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Okay. So just so I understand this a little bit better, is this going to work just retroactively to the date that this bill is passed, or is there sort of a proactive aspect to this bill where it could be used to cover future costs? And I'm sorry, I just don't know that answer so maybe I'll go to the law clerk and ask the law clerk that question. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. So what is the current practice if an Indigenous government covers someone's health care one of their member's health care costs in some way with regard to an opioid issue or, say, travel for treatment or whatever, does GNWT make reimbursement to the Indigenous government upon request; is that the practice right now? And are those costs tracked? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Merci, Monsieur le President. Committee wishes to consider Bill 72 and Tabled Document 94019(2) and Tabled Document 94119(2). Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. When I raised the Fiscal Responsibility Policy in the last sitting, the Minister revealed that there had been a, quote, "checkin" with at least two of the credit rating agencies. I'm not sure what that means. Were they given a draft, an opportunity to comment or what? So can the Minister tell us what this checkin was all about and what happened? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 94119(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 20232024, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 94119(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in a formal session through I don't have a paper copy. Sorry, Madam Chair. Now I do. Thanks.

Madam Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 94119(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 20232024, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 94119(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. And I think we have a difference of opinion on how much was accepted. But the real way to look at that would be to actually get it released. So it sounds like the Minister's game for that.

So one of the provisions of the revised Fiscal Responsibility Policy is on affordable debt and states, "to ensure that the extent of its debt and borrowing including debt associated with P3 project is within its means to repay and that debt servicing payments do not adversely impact programs and services."

So can the Minister tell us what...