Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, again, you know, I've got a real concern because I look at, you know, some of the projects that are getting pushed back and just as an example, you know, the extended care facility in Hay River backed to 20272028, you know, and then I see that well, they're going to reevaluate. Well, I'm not exactly sure what that means.

You know, we talk about you know, we've had flooding. We talk about dredging. And, you know, we're going to be looking for money for that. Are we going to get turned down because of our inability to you know, to complete what we're supposed...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess this cautious approach, I guess, in spending in capital spending is interesting. But I guess what is concerning, I guess, to me, is that, you know, is that, you know, departments appear, I guess we know that they're unable to spend money spend the funding received from federal government to actually complete projects and, you know, we're seeing important projects being pushed back. We're seeing possible, you know, maybe lapse of funding; I'm not sure. But does the Minister does this raise a concern, I guess, to the Minister because, you know, we look at less...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Recommendation 13 looks to replace the current child care travel allowance with a family responsibility allowance. I move that this Assembly recommends that an amount of $2,000 per year be paid to all MLAs with dependent children regardless of the number of dependent children they have. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I support this motion. I understand that the Legislative Assembly has started a major overhaul of its website. A redesign project will help improve users experience through an easier searchable platform, navigation, and enhanced administrative capabilities. This will allow the public to have easier access to detailed and accurate information about their MLA's compensation and benefits. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Recommendations 4 and 5 relate to the establishment of a professional development fund for sitting MLAs. I move that this Assembly recommends the establishment of a fund of $30,000 annually, $120,000 for the Assembly, that MLAs can apply to for ongoing professional development.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Legislative Assembly's current constituency assistant hourly rates range from $25 to $46 per hour. The average is approximately $35 per hour. No one is below $25 per hour. Members prefer to have some flexibility in terms of how they manage and compensate their constituency assistant so I recommend that this motion be defeated. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the basic allowance for maintaining a second home in Yellowknife should be reviewed annually by the Board of Management to ensure it remains in line with the current rental market. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, along the same lines as the previous recommendation, I support this motion.

Madam Chair, like the last recommendation, this Assembly will be establishing a special committee on transition matters that I believe is best positioned to consider this recommendation; therefore, I recommend that this motion be accepted.

Madam Chair, I support this motion. The transition for Members out of politics and either back into private life or retirement can bring with it complex financial considerations. This is a service currently provided to Members. We just need to communicate it better in the run up to and after election. Thank you, Madam Chair.