Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said they certainly have been a little slower to get moving than what I might have hoped. That said, I've certainly spoken to my department about them to get updates, and I'm assured that one of the biggest things that's happening is these have been an opportunity and a vehicle by which our officials are actually able to engage with the appropriate counterparts in a context of identifying priorities in this space, identifying areas where a federal investment can unlock some of our priorities rather than being only a one size all -- fits all approach...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, happy to do so. Mr. Chair, obviously this summer there was a situation in Yellowknife where a number of folks who are underhoused were living in tents and the numbers surrounding homelessness and underhoused individuals in Yellowknife seemed to take a rather significant increase as a result of which one of the positives that came from that experience was that the Departments of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Health and Social Services, were able to work with the non-government sector that provides a number of services, work with this community to determine what some of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I do. Mr. Chair, for clarity, would you like me to do opening remarks on both at the same time or one at a time?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It was executed back in 2023 so that would put us, I think, in the third year of its operation. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the high cost of energy remains one of the greatest challenges for residents and businesses across the Northwest Territories. The realities of our northern environment only amplify these burdens. However, the GNWT is committed to alleviating these pressures through immediate relief and sustainable long-term solutions, paving the way for a more stable and affordable future for all Northerners. As we approach winter many communities, especially in our northernmost regions, face significant financial difficulties in heating their homes and paying their electricity bills. Most...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, certainly happy to provide more detail. Just in brief, there is some work that's being done in terms of the drainage, culverts, surface improvements. There's dips that are -- that become present and become in some cases very severe on this particular stretch of highway and all throughout, and so trying to smooth those out which sometimes seems like an endless task. But that's the overview of it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not the finance Minister for the federal government where the budget comes from. In consensus government and in this government, the Department of Finance provides policy directives. We try to do the monitoring of our financial situation, and we support departments when they bring forward their initiatives. We provide analysis of initiatives through our management board secretariat, who is an agency that benefits all of the financial management board. But when there are items that come from a department, they come forward to the financial management...

Sorry, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I've just lost the page that I'm looking for. So why don't I turn it to Ms. Bolstad. I think she has it in front of her.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it's partial offset $1.35 million in federal support have come in, so the net to the GNWT is $2.15 million. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the main estimates are due out -- well, we've already gone through one round of them and the next ones aren't due out until, of course, the February sitting. It's not usually my practice or any other finance Minister's practice to discuss them in great detail before that happens. So our own processes this year are still underway in terms of building our budget, and so that directive remains in place. Thank you.