Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 94019(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 20232024, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 94019(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration.

Merci, Monsieur le President. In the last sitting, I raised a number of concerns with the review of the Fiscal Responsibility Policy. Apparently, that policy has now been revised effective April 1 although a thorough search of GNWT websites could not locate the revised version until yesterday.

The finance minister said in March that there was "fairly detailed" engagement with standing committee. I stated that the work we did as Regular MLAs on what was given to us is some of the finest feedback in my more than seven years as an MLA. Unfortunately, the public will probably never get to see that...

Yeah, okay. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this in my one minute that's left now. And I haven't got an answer about what the current practice is, or the practice will be moving forward. And is any of this going to be communicated in any way to the Indigenous governments that their costs related to opioid damages, if they seek and maybe even get reimbursement from GNWT, they would be included in the claim and that there might even be the potential, at some point, for sharing some of the claim money. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Okay, then what's the purpose of, you know, (c) here which does cover through one or more agents or in other intermediate bodies. Does that potentially include Indigenous governments and why wouldn't we roll those costs into this if there's a way to do that? So, yeah, thanks, Madam Chair.

Okay, thanks. So this could be used, moving forward, for health care benefits that are incurred related to opioid damages and the GNWT can, and perhaps should, start tracking these costs that are covered by other agents? I guess that's a question for the Minister. Thank you.

Okay, thanks. If that's not the practice, what's the purpose of this section? Thank you.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. So as I understand it, committee received a written submission from the Deline Got'ine government, and I'm sure the committee will find a way to get that posted to their web page, to make that submission public. But they were asking for revenue sharing with regard to any settlement that might be made. And I guess I want to ask the Minister and his staff how they intend to interpret this: "health care benefits" means item (c) found on page 2 of the bill. Do they actually intend to try to recover costs where they have reimbursed Indigenous governments for health care...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I rise to speak to the principle and merit of this bill.

I want to sincerely thank the Minister for bringing forward the bill that addresses some of the concerns raised during the review and debate on Bill 60. Specifically, Bill 92 requires unconditional carbon tax revenue sharing grants to communities with a formula to be determined by the Minister. This is a much better solution than dealing with community government payments through the main estimates. I still there are still some issues around when the payments will be made and what other deductions may be...

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Mahsi.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Another area of concern is with analysis in reporting on compliance with Fiscal Responsibility Policy. A variety of performance measures are outlined now in the new policy, but there doesn't appear to be any public reporting required.

So can the Minister tell us with what, if any, public reporting will take place on the prescribed performance measures in the new Fiscal Responsibility Policy? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.