Julian Morse

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to request unanimous consent that we move item number 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery, up to item number 4, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. Environmental legal obligations are governed by relevant federal and Northwest Territories Acts along with their associated regulations and guidelines. These legislative requirements form the foundation for the recognition of environmental liabilities by the government in line with public sector accounting board standards and the Financial Administration Act. The financial management board requires that all departments maintain an inventory of existing environmental liabilities and potential sites in the public...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been a long day already, so I'm just going to be very brief. I spoke quite extensively to my concerns about issues in the healthcare system and ways that we can go about solving them, and one of the key things that I shared at that time was listening to healthcare workers, listening to our frontline workers. And so I think that that is ultimately the aim of this motion. I think the motion speaks for itself. I'm in support of it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have some very special guests in the gallery today. I dare say this may be the first time we've recognized a dog in the Assembly, but we have therapy dog Kit and her handler Joanne Cecchetto today in the chamber and several officials visiting from the St. John Ambulance Priory Headquarters led by CEO Brent Fowler; Samantha Rodick, director of community services; Lori Anderson, chancellor of St. John Ambulance Priory of Canada; and, Patricia Johnson, regional chair of Manitoba and Northwest Territories council. I'd like to extend a heartfelt welcome to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am happy to rise to recognize the dedicated volunteers of the therapy dog program in the Northwest Territories.

The therapy dog program, overseen by St. John Ambulance, provides comfort, companionship, and emotional support to individuals in need. Certified therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers visit various community settings. These furry friends offer unconditional love and attention, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and stress. In particular, the therapy dogs can offer a calming presence and companionship, especially for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I chose to take a bit of a different approach to negotiating the budget this year. I've spoken a lot to the need for increased funding going towards housing in this territory, and we discussed that a fair bit during the vote on the capital budget, which I voted against because I didn't feel that we had gone far enough, and as I said at the time, my issue was with the word "notional." If we had removed the word "notional", they would have had my support. Well, the result of our negotiations at this budget where notional has been removed from the plan to fund...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Frame Lake constituent Yvonne Quick, who received the King Charles III Coronation Medal. This medal, which was awarded in recognition of Ms. Quick’s remarkable legacy and career in Canadian aviation and her dedication to northern tourism is a testament to her incredible dedication and support of the aviation and tourism industries in the Northwest Territories. I am honoured to acknowledge Ms. Quick, a true northern icon, for this achievement and thank her for her dedication to and love of the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't think there's much disagreement in this room about the problem that is trying to be solved through implementation of this new policy. In fact, I haven't heard any disagreement about that, the problem of underrepresentation of Indigenous persons in the public service.

So to give a little bit of history on this, the department during the last term of the Assembly went out and did engagement with the public on changing the affirmative action policy and fixing the issues that are at hand. What came back was quite complex. It produced a lot of results...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following documents: First is Towards a Basic Income Guarantee in the Northwest Territories prepared by PlanItNorth for Alternatives North. And second is Towards a Basic Income Guarantee in the Northwest Territories: A Proposal to Invest in People for the Common Good - Summary for Policy Makers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, during the presentation, the department hired -- highlighted a number of areas which still need more work, for persons with disabilities, women, long-time Northerners who are now left out of the new policy. Can the Minister discuss how the department plans to address diversity and inclusion and prioritizing northern hires under this new policy that they've just approved. Thank you.