Kevin O'Reilly

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. I would very much like to see that list. Can the Minister confirm that that would be provided? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. That is good to hear, but I have raised this for, I think this is probably about the third or fourth year in a row now. When are we going to be at a point where we can have public reporting of wait times for a variety of medical services? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. That is good to hear and understandably delayed probably as a result of COVID. Is this, dare I say, some sort of almost a co-drafting process, where the associations are involved in drafting the legislation or giving feedback, having an opportunity to review drafts or whatever? How is that working? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Site visits, is it a team that goes? Is it just one individual? Is it a medical person who goes? With all due respect, I'm just trying to understand what the process looks like, if someone has a checklist or there's a medical assessment involved and so on. Can I get a bit more of an explanation? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021, with Health and Social Services. Thanks, Madam Chair.

I want to thank the Minister for that. It's great to hear that 242 employees here are going to benefit from this right now. That is great. The turnaround time, I am really pleased, and I want to congratulate the Minister and her department for the hard work on that. Our minimum wage, though, is a measly $13.46 per hour, which is not enough for a decent standard of living in any of our communities.

Last time the minimum wage was increased was April 1, 2018. That process involved stakeholder committee. It looked a lot like the previous one. Given that the NWT Wage Top-up is a clear sign our...

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Finance who administers the NWT Wage Top-up Program. As I said earlier today, I support this program. However, it's not clear how it relates to, for example, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Can the Minister explain the relationship or difference between the NWT Wage Top-up Program and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that explanation. Look, I understand where this came from, but it's where it's taken us. That is the issue here. We heard the Premier yesterday say that it would be a sin to roll back the progress on some of these programs. This is one of the ones that it would be a sin to roll back. This program was not limited to essential services. It was for all people here who are paid minimum wage. They have to get the employer to do it, but that is what this is about.

Can the Minister make a commitment that she is going to work with her...

I want to thank the Minister for that. Clearly, the wage top-up program serves a specific purpose just for us here in the Northwest Territories. Can the Minister, though, tell us how well that is going in terms of the take-up for it, in terms of the number of applications received so far for the wage top-up program, the number of employees covered, and how quickly the applications are being processed? I did give the Minister a heads-up, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. To support low-income workers during the pandemic, the Department of Finance has implemented a wage top-up program. NWT workers aged 15 or over and earning less than $18 per hour are eligible. Program covers April 1 to July 31, 2020. Workers who receive commissions or tips must include those amounts as part of their income for the purpose of the program. Students who, as part of their school curriculum, are employed in the work program and those who are self-employed are not eligible.

Employers are required to apply and receive one-time compensation of $50 per...