Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. Do we actually have an agreement in place right now to cover these expenses that are going to be incurred in the new year? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Look, this is an issue of fairness. Are we going to treat our employees the same way that all other employees in the Northwest Territories are treated? I think that's a very simple question, here. I am looking for a commitment from the Minister that she is going to work with our unions to make sure that the domestic violence leave provisions are the same for all employees in the Northwest Territories. Is that a commitment she is prepared to make? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Given that we have already started to make some reasonable in-roads into the free entry system under the Mineral Resources Act where Indigenous governments are going to get notice of people wanting to stake claims, there may be requirements around work plans for work to be conducted as part of mineral exploration and given to Indigenous governments. I am just wondering why we continue to have this colonial structure in place, and is the Minister prepared to look at whether we need to continue this Surface Rights Board? Thanks, Madam Chair.

I want to thank the Minister for that. I think she made a commitment that she would actually send out a reminder. Is the Minister prepared to send out a reminder to GNWT supervisors that this provision in the collective agreement is perhaps more permissive than seems to be interpreted?

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I really look forward to that briefing and the information coming forward. I guess I've sat here really patiently for four years, now. In the last mandate, there was a commitment to develop a comprehensive approach framework to prevent public liabilities coming to this government and, guess what, it has already happened. I predicted it, and it has happened. Our government has not developed any policy in this area. The only legislative thing that I'm aware of is rolling back the requirement for mandatory financial security. We tried to get that into the Public Land Act...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Is this a contribution agreement that just covers the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board, or is it a part of a broader contribution agreement that covers a whole variety of devolution activities? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that, and I do want to commend him for taking on that big job. I think he is the right guy to do it. I supported the previous Minister when she conducted an administrator review of Income Security programs. They resulted in some important changes, but what we really need is a systematic approach to change. An example of that is guaranteed basic income, or at least a pilot project around guaranteed basic income. Has the Minister or his department considered a guaranteed basic income pilot project in the NWT, and when is he prepared...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Look, there's a dispute resolution process in the Tlicho agreement. I don't know why we don't trigger that, start the formal process, and take it to arbitration if we have to. This is clearly a federal responsibility, and the feds should be paying for this. It should not be coming out of our money. I leave that for the Minister. I left it for the last Minister; nothing was done. I don't want to be here three years from now without our government having actually stood up for our rights under the agreement. Work with the Tlicho government. Submit a joint dispute resolution...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Is there any kind of a plan to look at or decide whether we continue to need a Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board? Thanks, Madam Chair.