Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I give notice that on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly:

The honourable Frederick Blake, Jr., Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Jackie Jacobson, Member for Nunakput;

Ms. Caitlin Cleveland, Member for Kam Lake;

The honourable Diane Thom, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake; and

The honourable Paulie Chinna, Member for Sahtu.

And further, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of...

I want to thank the Minister for that information. Of course, we may be able to reduce or eliminate all the diesel for the three Tlicho communities for the same cost as building the line that the Minister put forward in the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan. Given that there hasn't been this evaluation of options, why are we proceeding with a transmission line?

Merci, Monsieur le President. Later today I will table information on costs of mini-hydro projects for the Tlicho communities of Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti. I shared this information with the Minister of Infrastructure earlier today. These projects would allow each community to meet its energy needs, offset diesel for electricity, and could displace home heating oil while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of living. Is the Minister aware of these mini-hydro studies, and can he tell us whether the cost of these mini-hydro projects is comparable to the proposed Whati...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I, too, would like to recognize a constituent, Mr. Tamlin Gilbert. He is going to be serving as one of the returning officers in the upcoming election.

We also, of course, have Nicole Latour, the Chief Electoral Officer. I want to thank her for her work at improving elections and electoral reform in general. I want to recognize returning officer for Frame Lake, Ms. Mona Durkee. I might be by to see you in early September.

Lastly, and not least, my constituency assistant, Craig Yeo. No matter what he did to try to make me look good, it often just didn't work. Mahsi...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that, notwithstanding rule 4, when this House adjourns on August 23, 2019, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 24, 2019;

AND FURTHER, that, at any time prior to October 24, 2019, if the Speaker is satisfied, and after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following document. It's an August 22, 2019 email from Mr. Pentti Sjoman, Whati, 1,200 kW Nailii Hydro Project." Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Yesterday the Minister said that this Whati transmission line is about displacing diesel and "potential economic development in that region, and we will have to build in some capacity." All I am asking, Mr. Speaker, is that our government be open and transparent about the purpose of the Whati transmission line. Is this transmission line the best option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, who benefits, and does it deliver value for money? Can the Minister tell us whether there will be a contribution from Fortune Minerals, or is the Whati transmission line a subsidy...

I want to thank the Minister for that response. It's my understanding that the costs for some of those projects may actually go down with an all-weather road providing easier transportation. Can the Minister tell us whether there has been a comprehensive evaluation of energy options for the Tlicho communities that include mini-hydro, transmission lines from various sources, greenhouse gas reductions, and most importantly, perhaps, value for money?

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In my statement earlier today I mentioned the difficult relations between our government and the NWT francophone community over education. Can the Minister tell me how many applications for admissions by non-rights holders she has received under the 2016 directive, and how many were approved? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. [English translation not available.]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to save my reflections and thanks for the replies to the Commissioner's address a little later. I have spoken several times, though, in this House about the often strained relationship between the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the NWT francophone community.

On October 16, 2016, the then-Minister said, "That's where we don't want to end up, is in the courthouse, and then have a court order against the government." Unfortunately, that is where this government has gone again on the...