Statements in Debates
Thank you to the Premier for that report, to some sort of a plan coming forward on carbon pricing. Last week, I asked whether a modelling report on carbon pricing could be shared with the public and Regular MLAs. The response from the Premier was that it could be shared with committee at some unspecified date. Can the Premier tell me whether he is prepared to table the report in the House during the current session, and if not, why not?
Merci, Monsieur le President. Last Wednesday, the Premier gave the economic development and environment committee a briefing on progress towards an Energy Plan and Climate Change Strategic Framework. An update was provided on public engagement, and work on the Pan-Canadian Framework, that will form the national plan for climate change action.
The Premier and committee witnesses had very little to say about carbon pricing, as no one seems to have the clear lead. I had to pry for facts on cross-departmental collaboration, both there and in the Committee of the Whole review of the ENR budget last...
Merci, Monsieur le President. It was almost a month ago that I gave my reply to the budget address. So what has changed since then in terms of the 2017-18 budget now that we have an Appropriation Bill in front of us? I will review of the budget process, the offer from Cabinet, the amended budget, and draw some conclusions.
The budget process. Let no one be fooled, the reduction targets are driving this budget in an effort to build larger surpluses to spend on infrastructure projects or roads to resources. That has been Cabinet's fiscal and economic development strategy since the mandate was...
Thank you to the Premier. I think he actually answered this question rather than the last one, so maybe I will just take another try at it here. Last week, in the presentation to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, the Premier mentioned that there was a modelling report that has been prepared on carbon pricing, and he offered to share that with committee, but he didn’t give a date for that. Can the Premier tell me whether he is prepared to table the report in this House during the current session, and if not, why not?
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Premier as the Chair of the Ministerial Energy and Climate Change Committee of Cabinet. As I said in my statement, I am concerned that we start the needed research and policy work in consultation with Regular MLAs and the public around carbon pricing. Since the carbon pricing system is inevitable, can the Premier say when Members will see a detailed plan for carbon pricing in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to my colleagues. I wouldn't raise this issue in the House if it were about a few thousand dollars, but this goes to the very heart of why Yellowknifers lost confidence in how government was attempting to remediate the Giant Mine. I trust that our government is working diligently behind the scenes to ensure that the federal government lives up to the promises it made to invest in a permanent solution for Giant Mine. I will have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks to the Minister for that. Come September, when students come back for their program, there will be a whole cohort missing of new students in these two programs. All the teachers will be there ready to go, but they won't have any students. Is that what I am hearing? Why would we reinstate all the funding for the program if we are not taking in new students? Can the Minister explain this?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Education some questions about the reinstatement of funding for the Teacher Education Program and social work program through Aurora College. I am just trying to figure out how this is actually going to work. Are these complete and total reinstatements of the funding for those programs? I will start with that one, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
I appreciate the commitment of the Minister. Our government did sign this agreement, as well, so we do have some obligations, and this is certainly in the best interest of Yellowknifers now and into the future. There is some urgency to getting this issue sorted out. April 1st is coming up quickly, so I am just wondering how confident the Minister is that we can get the federal government to live up to this agreement and to ensure that all the appropriate funds are available to invest in the Northwest Territories.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I mentioned in my statement earlier today that the federal government is not living up to the spirit, intent, and letter of the Giant Mine Environmental Agreement by allowing the carryover of unspent funds to build up a research program into a permanent solution to the arsenic. Is the Minister aware of this issue, and what is he doing to address this problem? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.