Kevin O'Reilly

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the Minister that, if there are communiques and so on, that we don't always see that kind of material, so I would certainly encourage him to share it with this side of the House. Again, can the Minister commit to recommending to federal Ministers and their staff that during visits to the Northwest Territories there be meetings with Regular MLAs through the appropriate standing committees? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'd be interested in getting that information. Just maybe one last question on this is before making a switch: what formulary might be used? Is that something that the Minister and staff would bring to the Social Development Standing Committee before making the change? I would hope that the answer's going to be yes. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I know it is a special day, and I am really feeling the love from the other side of the House. Can the Minister, though, commit to consulting with Regular MLAs on GNWT positions and negotiations on federalprovincialterritorial agreements?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm going to let the Minister personally deliver that good news to a couple of constituents who have already shelled out of their own pockets for progressive lenses. Look, okay, good thing. How do we change that crazy system, like where we don’t find out about these things? There are things that we've been trying to change for years. I personally know medical personnel who will shell out of their own pocket because of the ridiculous turnaround times or what's covered or not covered. How do we get a critical mass to change that ridiculous system? Sorry, there's a little bit...

Merci, monsieur le President. I, too, would like to recognize a constituent in the gallery, Jacq Brasseur. She is one of the delegates for the Daughters of the Vote group here in Yellowknife that's working with Equal Voice Canada. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, it's good to get this out now. I think there's going to be a number of unhappy people but, look, I do appreciate that this is moving along even if it's at a snail's pace, but good that it's still moving. I don't think this is going to keep some folks very happy, but I appreciate the responses from the Minister and his deputy minister. Thank you. That's all I've got for now.

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. It is good to know that there are going to be some consultations around this issue, but I have raised the issue of capacity of Cabinet and their departments to bring forward legislation before. What would it take to move forward with legislation to regulate cremation and to allow a local business to grow and provide our residents with better services at lower costs?

Merci, monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. The department has said that it has a heavy legislative workload. Can the Minister explain what legislation her department expects to bring forward during the life of this Assembly? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, we've got an oversubscribed fund. It is doing great things. We are going to be developing a broader evaluation system for whether we are making progress on poverty overall, not just money invested into this fund. I think I have made the case and the Minister has helped me make the case for putting more money into the fund, period. Thank you.

Merci, monsieur le President. People in the Northwest Territories who want to choose cremation of human remains  that is currently about 30 per cent of all deaths  cannot access this service from a Northwest Territories supplier. A local funeral home would like to expand to provide this service, and it's just down the road from me, Mr. Speaker; but in seeking a way to support the expansion of our economy and of services for our residents, road blocks have been encountered.

All Canadian jurisdictions except the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have legislative regimes for cremation. In the...