Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that is a substantial increase, from $1,764,000 to $2,388,000. I am just wondering if he can elaborate on how money is going to solve this problem? My understanding is that the current leases are administered by the staff, so what are these additional staff positions doing? Why is more staff time going to resolve equity leases? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today there was a public hearing with the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and it brought to my mind the long-required need to bring about new access to information and privacy protection legislation in this building. We are still working off of the original legislation that came about in 1996. A lot has changed since then. I would like to ask the Minister of Justice: what progress is being made on updating ATIPP legislation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have nothing further, but I do think this is a step in the right direction for promoting knowledge economy initiatives. This centre is a key component of maximizing our benefits in the region, so I support the department on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for that response. That is good news. Is there a cost to this program? Are there resources dedicated to it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to follow up on my strong support for the NWT Centre for Geomatics, as well. The Minister just mentioned working with Aurora College, and I am just curious if he can elaborate on that point a little bit further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, does the Premier believe that this fund promotes volunteerism? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Noting the clock, it is the latter; but I'll allow the Minister to answer. I want to make one more comment that, on this business of the honour of the Crown, the honour of the Crown, you need to be a Minister of the Crown to make a promise on behalf of the Crown, not a public servant. I don't think the Minister grasps that fully, but a Minister of the Crown can hold the honour of the Crown. That is how that happens. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Making best use of limited financial resources, in the words of our august Finance Minister, I wonder if we can prioritize this as a mandate commitment. It is a requirement of our funding formula. MACA itself, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has done this analysis. When will this government meet its own requirements that it has established for itself to support our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So just turning back to the original line of questioning around this exception that was made for Cassidy Point: is the land where those leases reside settled territory? Thank you.

That gap, when we started our term, was $32 million. How much has this government invested in closing that gap? I am looking for a dollar figure, Mr. Speaker.