Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I will speak to what this bill is all about and the process that resulted in the bill. I will also provide some comments on the bill and concerns with what is there and what is missing. There will be some praise but also harsh words that reflect my continuing concerns around the failure of Cabinet to implement its Open Government policy.

To be honest, I simply edited the remarks I made almost four years ago to almost the same day on Bill 44 from the 19th Assembly. Some of those concerns are addressed in the new bill, I'm happy to say, but others have been...

Okay, thanks. I know I keep asking this question, and it probably is kind of annoying - as I can be. The Northwest Territories Heritage Fund, why is there just this placeholder figure of $7,600,000 for, it looks like, you know, last year the revised estimates. Surely to goodness we must know what that figure is by now? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President.

I MOVE, second by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that when this House adjourns on Thursday, March 9th, 2023, it shall be adjourned until Monday, March 27th, 2023;

AND FURTHMORE, at any time prior to March 27th, 2023, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier date, earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall...

Okay, thanks. Who actually owns the infrastructure then at the end of the day? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I'm just wondering if he can tell us if there's any real concrete outcomes? I understand he's going to meet with the Minister facetoface in April. That's a good thing. But, you know, did he secure a commitment from the Minister in Alberta that there would be public engagement in the development of these tailings discharge regulations? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

No, okay, that's I just wanted to raise that and it sound like there's a collaborative thing going so that's all good by me. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that, keeping notes and giving us the update. I'm just wondering if he can tell us whether there was any acknowledgement of noncompliance with the transboundary water agreement or an apology? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Okay, thanks. Well, let's just focus then on the positions in Yellowknife. And, you know, I presume that there's not warm bodies there right now but where are they actually going to be located? I guess where I'm going with this is it might be better if they're actually located closer to the health and social services staff and the workers there as opposed to just being kind of lumped in with all of the rest of the HR people. And, look, I don't even know where they are in Yellowknife, what building they're in. But I guess if I could get some clarification from the Minister. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I think we actually have a rule that we're not only supposed to acknowledge folks that are in our riding but, and I'm not going to pile it on just this one time I will follow the rules, but I acknowledge there's lots of friends in the House today.

I do want to recognize a page, Jaida Deutschmann. I haven't met Jaida, but I think I know her mom and dad. They're great vegetable growers; they’ve got a greenhouse and so on. And I really appreciate the work that all the pages do for us in this House. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Finance at this point. Mahsi, Madam Chair.