Kevin O'Reilly

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The new Regular MLAs have almost survived their first budget. I will use my reply to the budget address to set out some thoughts on the following: a description of the process and how it might be improved; public engagement and my assessment of same; and substance of the budget and its consistency with the priorities and mandate of the 18th Assembly.

On the budget process, as I mentioned earlier, this was my first budget as an MLA. I followed GNWT budgets for many years as an interested observer and have partaken in many pre- and post-budget consultations with previous...

Glad to see the fund getting back into a healthier position. Just really good work that happens there in terms of beverage container recycling, electronics recycling, but I have a couple of other questions further into the departmental budget on those things. Thanks.

I thank the Minister for his response. I think it's an easy, quick thing that we might be able to do to at least start us down that path, so I appreciate his commitment there. I am wondering, though, about phased introduction of 911 service. One study proposal is to expand the dispatch centre already in place for the City of Yellowknife, and in fact, in the Yukon, Whitehorse introduced 911, and it was rolled out to the communities. Will the Minister consider that sort of option here for the Northwest Territories?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I might contact the council myself, but like my colleague, Mr. Thompson, I wonder whether the issue here is really one of promoting the programs to ensure that there is stronger uptake, but I appreciate the answers from the Minister. That's it for me for now. Thanks.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The Minister is then quite confident that this reduction from $1,250,000 to $600,000, we can still accommodate the needs of our residents based on that sort of reduction in expenditure or revenues coming from the feds and presumably the same on our side? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Then I just want to check, have we made any approaches to the new federal government in terms of capital funding for French school expansions? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, you probably never want to have me as your Finance Minister because I can't even add and subtract anymore, but those four positions, have any of those people found other employment within the GNWT at this point? Do we know that level of detail? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Premier for the commitment for briefing to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, presumably. The Premier did mention that there's going to be consultations taking place over the summer for Northwest Territories climate change strategy, and I believe there's also a greenhouse gas strategy renewal that's to take place this summer. How is that work that the Northwest Territories government going to do over the summer? How is that going to feed into federal/provincial/territorial climate change measures including carbon pricing...

Thank you.