Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently the Housing Corporation announced a plan to build 40 new units for RCMP housing, new energy-efficiency units. Would the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation answer some questions about this? The federal government got out of RCMP housing because it was no longer cost-effective. Why is our financially challenged government taking this on and how we will make it cost-effective? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess this is in relation to some questions I asked earlier in the House, but under the line item for policing services, does that include rent for RCMP or housing costs for RCMP? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just to repeat, the Minister can confirm that the RCMP will pay 100 per cent of the costs for renting those units?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question would be: what will happen to the existing stock of RCMP housing? I believe it's over a hundred units. That seems like a sufficient amount and I can't image that they all are in a position to be demolished. I'm sure there's some units we might be able to use. Can the Minister update us on what the quality of the stock is and what the plan to dispose of it is? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We've heard a lot about how our priorities have to be tempered by our fiscal restraints. I think there's a concern for many people that if the Housing Corporation is overreaching with new projects we may not have enough resources to go to very important social housing. Would the Minister tell us where this money is going to come from and whether or not it is confirmed spending?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm satisfied if it can be confirmed with me outside of the Chamber. Thank you.

I would like to thank the Minister for providing those details and showing that the government has done quite a bit of work on this. That’s appreciated. I trust that the government will continue to work with the committee moving forward. This is an issue that is very important and on the minds of many Northerners. I think there is a lot of concern on the part of our communities, and we need to do the best job we can at making people understand what options are available to them and what choices they can now take with it comes to end-of-life care. I look forward to the Minister continuing to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to releasing the details of that public consultation with the members of the Standing Committee on Social Development, and as a public document as well? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Northerners deserve nothing less than the best possible healthcare during their lives that our government can provide. The same is true for end-of-life care. It should be no surprise to any Member of this House that the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on physician-assisted dying places new requirements on governments across Canada. With this rapidly approaching deadline of June 6, 2016, the Government of Canada is obligated to pass legislation permitting physician-assisted dying. Our government must now plan to regulate this process.

The debate on physician...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In times of economic downturn and fiscal restraint, it's important to show leadership and I welcome this amendment to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act that does exactly that. It puts MLAs in a position where we can show our commitment to the public service we provide and to clearly lead on the front of accepting a reduction in our own salaries so we can get to work and find those cost savings that our government now requires to provide the things we were elected on and the same standard of government services that people have relied on. I only wish that...