Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Premier about the new healthcare funding from Canada. The Premier was very public about his opposition to the deal as was presented by the federal government and a number of weeks later has signed on to the deal and spoke to the great benefits of it. So how did the deal change from when he initially opposed it to when he ultimately accepted it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Tlicho All-Season Road that will connect the community of Whati with the greater Northwest Territories. This is an important initiative for the growth and development of our future here in the Northwest Territories, and shows that this government is capable of working in partnership with many levels of governments, including Indigenous governments who have made the choice to ask for this important strategic investment.

People are very excited about this road, I think, across the territory and the potential that it represents for our communities, for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hear a lot of excuses from the Minister. If he is not interested in this policy change, I wish he would be forthright about it. Has he talked to the judiciary in addition to the other two departments I have listed, and can he answer if the department has spoken to the RCMP, the judiciary, and to other GNWT departments? Have we had this discussion about this policy change, and is the Minister willing to make that move? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Could the Minister be clear if it is 100 per cent or if we are still using the RCMP for a service that is not required? I think what I am getting across is: has an assessment been done if we are going to move the sheriff's office towards full coverage of court security and escorting services so we can get the RCMP back on the streets, keeping people safe, and allow our sheriffs to do a much-needed job that they are perfectly capable of doing, especially now that you have been given more resources to do that job?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Premier for that answer. My last question, Mr. Speaker, is the Premier also made public statements to the effect that, if this deal remained at its current levels, there would have to be cuts made to continue to support the healthcare system. The new sources of funding that he has previously addressed in this line of questioning, is that enough to avoid the need for cuts to pay for decreases in the health system? Do we have enough money flowing in that we don't need to make any cuts or adjustments in order to maintain a quality healthcare system in...

Could the Honourable Premier give a few more details than just that? The deal that we accepted is still less money than we have enjoyed previously on -- even with the additional mental health funding and homecare funding, it's still less than we would have received under the old agreement, so can the Premier be specific about how we're winning on this deal?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the honourable Members who have spoken before me, both today and tomorrow. Their comments are important to hear.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance delivered the muchanticipated 20172018 Budget Address, setting the stage for the coming weeks of budget deliberations in this House. It is a relief that this information is at long last made public so that our constituents can now know the full extent of what the government is proposing to do with their tax dollars and provide the programs and services they have come to expect.

As honourable...

Thank you to the Minister; that's clear. Ultimately, who is responsible for the remediation of Kam Lake? The ongoing remediation by Newmont, not Miramar of the Con Mine property, is having an impact on Kam Lake. Who is responsible for the remediation of the lake as it relates to the remediation of the Con Mine project?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. In my Member's statement, I talked about both remediation and environmental assessment for Kam Lake. Can the Minister tell me if an environmental assessment has been done for Kam Lake? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move to item 12 on the orders of the day, replies to the budget address. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted