Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Considerable progress has been made toward realizing our mandate priorities, but there is much room for improvement. We have set out broad directions for more focused attention. Specific comments and targeted areas for improvement are outlined in appendix A, which for convenience follows the format of our mandate. Performance on the individual items listed below is a detailed accounting of progress on our mandate and the state of our promises to the people. It bears repeating that we are fully accountable for this record as Regular Members and Cabinet. We must deliver on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Government Operations concluded a public hearing on Bill 15: An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act on April 6, 2017. A public clause-by-clause review was held on May 29, 2017. The committee heard from Mr. Roger Walker, owner and general manager of Territorial Tobacco Products, who raised concerns about tobacco tax collection that are outside of the scope of the bill. The committee understands the Department of Finance has taken Mr. Walker's concerns into consideration and has responded accordingly. The committee thanks Mr. Walker for his...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move to Item 12, reports of standing and special committees, on the orders of the day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I do appreciate the Minister's comments about limited resources. I guess my concerns around this are: I know that a study was done many years ago on a new courthouse facility, but it just seems like this thing keeps eating money, as there are constantly new concerns that seem to be coming forward. It is an office tower that has been modified into a court facility, and the judiciary is intertwined with the Department of Justice, which is not an appropriate separation of power.

There are many concerns here, so I guess my concern is: although I know we have limited fiscal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, immigration enriches our communities, enhances our economy, strengthens our diversity, and grows our population, which is a very important goal for this government. Though the benefits of immigration are indisputable, the policies that govern immigration are often complex and difficult to make effective in various jurisdictions in Canada. Mr. Speaker, immigration is a shared responsibility and much of it is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Our government operates its own nominee program through the Departments of Industry, Tourism and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this work expected to be completed within the next fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under the corrections line, there is North Slave Correctional Centre security retrofit. Here in Yellowknife, $55,000. I just would like to confirm if that retrofit is an appropriation allocated to correct the security flaws identified after the escape in the facility. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under community health programs, if I may question that area, there is a line for sobering centre, Yellowknife, $100,000. I am just wondering if the Minister can provide details on this project to date? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider the following matters. Tabled Document 383-18(2), Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018; Tabled Document 384-18(2), Supplementary Estimates, (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018; Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act; Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, No. 2. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you again to the Minister. It is very concerning when members of the community bring these concerns forward and are talking about leaving the territory. In other provincial jurisdictions that have more robust provincial programs to support nominations, the federal government is taking their cues from that. I think particularly of Quebec, which has a very robust system to attract francophones and anglophones into the province.

Would the Minister commit to starting that work here, in the Northwest Territories, not just a conversation with the federal Minister, which is important, but also...