Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As well, the water levels have dropped just over three feet this year, and in Fort Resolution we have the water intake lines that are they're not far off the shore but they because the water went down. The lines had to be brought out a little further. In regards to fire safety in the community and water for the community of Fort Resolution for each household, what can you do to get this thing fixed right away so that this is not an issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier that Fort Resolution hamlet is under third party management. On January 9th, 2024, we had a serious house fire in our community, and my question is my first question is, will the Minister commit to put in place a volunteer fire department in the community of Fort Resolution as soon as possible? Also, to work with the chief and council, and president Arthur Beck, Fort Resolution Metis Council, on the plan? Mahsi.

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. This motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour of the motion? Motion carried. All those opposed? Motion carried. The motion is carried.

Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Also, can the Minister commit to meeting with the leadership in Fort Resolution and the public along with myself, as the MLA, to talk about the hamlet of Fort Resolution? Also, can you also commit to having a monthly meeting with the community members with the SAO?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Minister. And I think it's great that you're going to make that commitment. And the other thing too as well I brought up, Mr. Speaker, is that we had a fire plan that we brought forward in the last Assembly and going forward the fire season's right around the corner. I want to know if the Minister could commit to putting in place a fire plan for the community of Fort Resolution and work with the chief and council of Fort Resolution and also the president of the Fort Resolution Metis Council? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 5th, 2023, the hamlet of Fort Resolution had its elected council dissolve and replaced by an administrator appointed by municipal and community affairs. The department's now responsible for the hamlet's governance with senior authorizing official making all their decisions on the daytoday operation.

The people of Fort Resolution see this intervention as an example of modern-day colonial type of attitude. They feel punished. The GNWT is accusing them of mismanagement but how could they have managed their community effectively when they never had adequate support...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 1320(1), also Minister's Statement 420(1), Minister's Statement 520(1). And, Mr. Speaker, I move the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the finance Minister. Well, the biggest thing that I'm a little worried about is austerity, and I brought this up in the last Assembly. And when the Minister of the day had mentioned that this issue would be brought to the next Assembly to look at, so here we are today. So I'm just want to raise this because it's a concern. You know, will

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister of Finance. I think the biggest thing I keep thinking about is the overall deficit of this government. And looking back at the budget books, we're about $1.6 billion and one of the things we don't talk about is balancing the overall budget. So the question to the Minister is prioritizing balancing the budgets of this new government, can you tell me how would you approach on that? Thank you.