Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the Minister has spoken about the funding to address the long-standing issue of equity leases. I believe this is the appropriate section. Where can I see that funding in the main estimates? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the mandate of the 18th Assembly, this government committed to lowering the cost of living in the NWT in order to improve our residents' quality of life and attract more people to make their homes in the territory. I am so surprised to see a new tax proposal, that this government will not only be failing to live up to this mandate commitment, but adding an unnecessary new burden to anyone considering relocating up North or buying a home and therefore counteracting their stated public policy proposal.

I will, of course, remind this House that when the Minister was...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, to clarify, this is something that the division is currently undertaking with their own staff resources, to develop this curriculum in conjunction with ECE? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for resolving that identity crisis. I get where the Minister is coming from, but is there any plan in place to develop that that he can share with us? I understand that there is potential there, but, more than just a comment, I mean is the department working to engage the college in developing some sort of strategy or working with the college in the foundational review? Like, is there anything concrete here, or is this just aspirational at this point? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I acknowledge the Premier's response, and I understand that this fund is not moving during his tenure as Premier. I think that's a shame, because Members on the standing committee have made numerous requests that this funding be moved and increased, and that has not happened. It's constantly over-subscribed. Assessments of the funding over the past, I think, 10 years have shown that it's underfunded. We need around $500,000 in the fund; we haven't seen any increases to that. Again, it's not helping promote volunteerism, which seems at odds with the Department of Community and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank my honourable friend from Nahendeh for raising this important issue; this is something that the Standing Committee on Government Operations, which I chair, has taken very seriously and made numerous recommendations for. I think the NGO Stabilization Fund will solve a couple of problems if it is moved back to executive. It does appear that the executive is taking action on ensuring necessary funds are provided to groups like the Friendship Centres, and that's an important cause, but it needs to be defined by some sort of policy. I know the Premier has...

Were consultations undertaken with the Indigenous nation that has a claim to that territory prior to that deal being done? Thank you.

I will remind the Minister that this is the not the federal government's obligation. This is our own funding formula, and the money should be coming from this government, or that funding formula needs to change if this government cannot afford it. We need to figure this out, but if the Minister is right and we are spending $1.2 million, it is going to take 32 years to close this gap. If not a dollar amount, how much time has been dedicated to a plan? Do we have a five-year plan, a 10-year plan, a 20-year plan? How long is it going to take to close this gap?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the lease-only policy, is that a policy that this government can change? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is an ongoing issue with the shortfall in municipal funding that is provided through our funding formula to municipal governments of the Northwest Territories. The Minister has indicated that she is looking at fixing some of those. Can we get more details from the Minister on what our municipalities can expect moving forward on closing the gap in municipal funding? Thank you.