Caroline Wawzonek

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 89, Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures), 20232024, be read for the second time.

This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 20232024 fiscal year. It also sets out limits on amounts that may be borrowed by the Commissioner on behalf of the government, includes information in respect of all existing borrowing and all projected borrowing for the fiscal year and authorizes the making of disbursements to pay the principal of...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 84, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: InterActivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 from April 1st to December 31st; 2022; InterActivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 from April 1st to September 30th, 2022; and, the Diversity and Inclusion Framework document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not in disagreement and I don't think the department's in disagreement. I just want to figure out how to roll that out. As I said, I was listening, and the department was listening, I and was in conversation with them as we were listening virtually. So right now it's a $1,200 bilingual bonus paid to employees who have Indigenous language skills. But it's indelible employees, so someone who's in a position or a role where they can see some sort of benefit of speaking that official language.

Mr. Speaker, there's always a benefit in speaking that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it so happens as that report was being read in yesterday, I asked for a status report on action 2.2. I can say that the Department of Finance and ECE are working together with the Indigenous or interdepartmental Indigenous languages committee. We are on track to have that delivered sorry, to have the program ready for delivery third quarter of 20232024. So basically that would be this fall. I don't know obviously yet how many residents or how many employees would be participating in that, but would certainly be looking forward to promoting that to...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 86, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023 to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm thrilled that NWT tourism is getting a great shout out, Mr. Speaker. They do have some pretty incredible materials. Mr. Speaker, ITI and ECE work together in terms of immigration. So as far as trying to attract people here and that certainly is being from an international for immigration perspective, but that, I think, can influence what we're doing nationally within Canada as well. So let me take that away. I again, I've also seen updated materials from NWT tourism. I think think are, in fact, award winning materials on a national scale of what they have. Let me take that away. Again...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 87, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as it is, there's actually a requirement or an expectation for the Department of Finance for GNWT employees to institute an exit interview process. That's part of the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework. We are expected to undertake that work and to have that ready to go in 20232024. So in that sense, that much of a commitment I can certainly make. And, Mr. Speaker, I know when there was some of these news articles came out the other day, I had an opportunity to speak with the other department, ITI that I'm responsible for. And looking there too...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't want to speak at length. I know it's been a long day for everyone but just in light of the comments made, Madam Chair, I do think it appropriate if I just address at least briefly some of what was said. I don't rehash the proposals in Bill 60 that are connected to Bill 60.

Fundamentally, Madam Chair, I want my colleagues on the other side to know that I've heard them and, frankly, I'm sorry that we are where we are. I'm live to the role of accountability of a Minister and I'm live to the fact that folks are very frustrated with where we are, so. I...