Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on questions asked by my honourable friend from Nahendeh, can the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission tell us what class and subclasses apply to the Government of the Northwest Territories toward the WSCC's rate structure? Thank you.

Thank you. This funding is crucial capital for entrepreneurs and for businesses that are looking to develop, to grow, and to pursue expansion, and there is just not a lot of private equity out there being floated to northern businesses. I see this fund as a key way that the government can help diversify the economy directly, and yet, we do not see substantial increases to this pot of money.

I recall a couple of years ago when similar arguments were being made to increase the Mineral Incentive Program, which was done, and currently that fund pays out and is contributing a lot to our economy. Why...

I can tell the Minister that a recommendation and a requirement are different. Those are the concerns that have been brought forward to me. Further to that, with the teacher to children ratio, it seems 1:25 is putting a lot of stress on these classrooms and the learning environment that these children are supposed to be benefitting from. Is the Minister open to re-evaluating that while this review takes place in the summer?

How much is it oversubscribed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment what assessment, if any, has been done on the operations of the junior kindergarten program? Thank you.

Noticing the time, I will just be quick if you will allow me one more question. A lot of the procurement really depends on local knowledge, knowing who the vendors are, knowing what they offer, and knowing what their issues are. Is the department planning on adding additional front-line officers in the regions, especially the new Sahtu region, the Beaufort-Delta? Is that something that the department will consider? Thank you.

Thank you. I wasn't asking a policy question, but I appreciate the Minister's comments. I think there is more room to go. Are there client-facing service officers attached to procurement who can listen to concerns from the public directly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am listening to the Minister. I don't know if he is listening to my questions. He is providing some answers, but I'd like to know if he can produce this information. Will he table the numbers he has so far so the public can clearly understand exactly what the issues are and why we can't get this enhanced system that, again, people are asking for? Thank you.

That is a bit more clear, that there is some policy behind it. Is that what CATSA is saying? Has the proposal been brought forward to the Crown corporation for an additional line? Because that is what the people want, and I don't know if the Minister has done it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that Minister's Statement 151-18(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.