Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm quite pleased to get that question. I can say a couple of things quickly, mindful of time, although I would be happy to go on longer if I had more time.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, the MIP, or the Mineral Incentive Program funding, this is the amount of funding that is provided to exploration projects of all different sorts. And out of the almost $1.5 million disbursed thus far, Mr. Speaker, over $1.2 million of it went to critical minerals and metals projects, including a good proportion for lithium projects. So there's that.

It helps leverage...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, again, the federal government changed the tax rates on April 1st of this year and when there's the ability to make the calculation of the amounts for the year, then we will do that and be able to do that. The federal government does provide the rebates on a quarterly basis. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's not under the agricultural strategy, there's not a carve out for one riding or another necessarily. They are done by ways of application. So, therefore, not necessarily reflecting that there might be more challenges to participate in one form of food growth and food commercial good growth or food creation because, Mr. Speaker, there's other options. And certainly, in some communities, country food harvesting may well take a greater place and have a greater role in providing for a community than what agriculture, say, might in another. But that's...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on my left I have Kelly Bluck, the director of fiscal policy for the Department of Finance. And Laura Jeffrey on my right, legislative drafter in the Department of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that the I mean, we certainly have been receiving funding from the federal government under the sustainable Canadian agricultural partnership. This is a fiveyear investment by the federal government in the agrifood sector. And for us, we are expecting over $7.6 million over the life of that agreement here to the Northwest Territories which is, I would note, a 25 percent increase on numbers we were getting under the last agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has asked or made quite a number of statements about the procurement review, and there has been quite a lot done. In July of this year, a report was put out publicly. It's online through the GNWT's government the Department of Finance website detailing all the many changes and improvements to procurement in the Northwest Territories that have been made in the life of this government.

Within that with respect to the Business Incentive Policy and I know the Member goes on at length about how much he liked the review, the review itself says that...

Thank you, Madam Chair. If the issue is around an evacuation route, that probably does not fall within ITI. Certainly during the evacuation, infrastructure did take the lead in terms of providing some additional porta potties along the route and ensuring that there was some additional cleaning, as did ITI, to ensure that for the parks that are there in the parks along the way, that the outhouses that are there that they were receiving additional cleaning. I am I have received both side of this council in that I certainly did receive some complaints, but I also had other people that I was...

Thank you, Madam Chair. So part of what a significant portion of the work that was done was an analysis of the potential mining needs for really, for the entire region. I think people sometimes presume it's just for Slave Geologic only, but it does go far beyond that. I know that NTPC have already entered into MOU agreements with Pine Point and I believe with Norra Zinc, although I could stand to be corrected about that. But are also in discussions with some of the other mines in and around in the South Slave but also then through the North Slave and, again, not only with respect to Slave...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I did want to know I'm glad I have the chance, there was a working group, it actually does have a new name now, it's the Northwest Territories Housing Forum. And I'm not sure whether or not terms of reference can be shared. Obviously, we'd be only one seat at that table but let me make that inquiry. And perhaps that, again, also can demonstrate the level of commitment between all the parties at that forum and what they're attempting to do at that forum. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, Madam Chair, this isn't being turned into a territorial park. But there is a recognition that right now the dock that is there is quite unsafe, is being used, and so as a matter of a primarily a safety concern and safety issue, that's the thrust behind this. Thank you.