Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 81319(2), Main Estimates 20232024, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 81319(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I just love this place. Here we are, at what time is this? It's 9:30 talking about salaries for MLAs. I just gotta love this place.

Okay, I think there is a problem with this, where MLAs are talking about their own salaries, period, any time. I just think it's a no winner.

So what this motion would actually do is, and I should have let me take a step back. I am okay with going with a fiveyear rolling average. I think that it probably will even out some of the bumps and so on, but I just don't think that we should you be doing it and applying it to ourselves. It should...

I'm losing my mind here. I'll retract that, Madam Chair.

Committee wishes to deal with Tabled Document 81319(2), Committee Report 4219(2), Committee Report 4819(2), Bill 66, Bill 67, Bill 73, and Bill 76. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I guess I want to start by saying that I have the greatest respect for my colleague from Hay River South, and I do believe that he brings forward this motion with, you know, integrity and the greatest, you know, intention of trying to show leadership and do the right thing. And I do commend him for doing that. And I appreciate all the work that he does for his constituents and so on. But I respectfully disagree. I think there are others that will use this as a reason to say I think it feeds into a narrative that, you know, politicians are paid too much, work too...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I am going to be voting against this supplementary appropriation. It contains a $27.75 million settlement on the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link.

The original cost of this project, as we learned yesterday, Mr. Speaker, was $81.3 million. It has now ballooned to $194 million. That's more than twice the original cost estimate. And I think part of the problem, Mr. Speaker, is that this was done as a P3, and P3s lead to these kind of unexpected, unanticipated, conclusions. And this isn't the first time we've had to have supplementary appropriations brought forward to this...

Okay. How come it did last time? Is it crafted differently this time? What's the difference here, and thanks, Madam la Presidente.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following two documents: March 28th, 2023, CBC News story, "Nunavut flips stance on caribou protection again, now supports development ban on calving grounds; and, February 24th, 2023, Government of Nunavut Response to Final Written Submissions on the Nunavut Land Use Plan. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't want to prolong this. I guess I would urge the Minister and the staff to try to find a way to get that done before the end of this Assembly. You know, legislative proposal, it doesn't have to be super detailed. Just tell us what you want to do in phase two and start talking to people now about it. So if you can do it before the end of the Assembly, please do it. Thanks, Madam Chair. That's all I got.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister. Of course, I am not opposed to collecting data but triggering an environmental assessment while a regional study is going on? That's ridiculous. I am concerned that this government seems to think that it's a good idea to have a regional study as requested by the Tlicho government yet push ahead with a road at the same time that will have irreversible impacts on caribou. So can the Premier tell us what is the point of doing a regional study if a separate environmental assessment is triggered for the Lockhart AllSeason Road? Mahsi, Mr...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Kind of seems like a lifetime ago but I actually served on city council in Yellowknife in 1997 to 2006, and I remember being at probably more than one conventions of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities where motions were passed, asking for changes to this piece of legislation. And so, you know, fast forward to what I can't even do the math anymore 20 years later, almost 20 years later, 25 years, whatever, and some of those changes are in this bill. And so I want to commend the department for getting around to those changes. And I you know, I think this...