Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I respectfully suggest that you probably really don't need to do a lot of consultation? There was extensive consultation during the development of the bill itself. Juul Labs, the vaping industry was there; the health folks were there. There was vigorous debate and discussion, presentations. People know it's coming. Can we please just get on and do the right thing for our youth? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate the words of the Deputy Minister and the Minister. I often don't say "thank you," so thank you for your hard work.

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks to the Minister. I guess I'll be kind of clear here. I don't want the deficit done on the backs of our citizens. I don't want to see people lined up in the hallways waiting for healthcare and so on. The idea of health system transformation is that we could find some efficiencies. I'm all for efficiencies, but I just don't know how the health authority can make up this kind of deficit over a short period of time. We need more money spent on healthcare. We all know that, and I don't know whether there are opportunities to get money from the federal government or...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Presumably, then, that's to March 31, 2020? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I don't think she actually answered my question about when we're actually going to see a plan. The Minister knows well my views on megaprojects that Cabinet keeps pushing. I have made no bones whatsoever about that, but if there is one project that I think we can all get behind, it's improving Internet connectivity in the NWT. All of us can get behind that. It is something I think that the federal government is ready to move on, ready to fund us, but we need the plan. Can the Minister commit to making improved Internet...

I want to thank the Minister for that. I agree with her assessment, but the problem was that this project was sold to the House, to the public, as a way to allow for individuals, households in the communities to get access to high speed Internet. It hasn't panned out. Given that the promise was to have services in the communities, what steps will the Minister take now to deliver on that promise and literally go the extra mile to ensure that the improvements of Internet service actually happen?

Merci, Monsieur le President. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Finance as to why the anticipated improvements to community Internet services along the fibre link have yet to happen and how we are going to improve Internet access and reliability in all NWT communities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I have one quick question that I would like to ask the Minister about. What is happening with the regulations to prohibit the sale of vaping materials to youth? I am sure the COVID stuff has, maybe, put a delay in that, but it was a very, very important issue when the changes to smoking legislation was brought forward in the last Assembly. I think it's something that we have to deal with and we still need to deal with quickly. Can I get an update from the Minister? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks to the Minister for that. Can the Minister tell us when this plan is going to be ready and if it can be shared with MLAs even in a draft form? Thanks, Madam Chair.

So what is the plan to deal with this deficit? I don't blame anybody in this room for that. This is an issue of chronic under-funding of our healthcare system. Is there a plan to deal with this deficit over the long term? Thanks, Madam Chair.