Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last week your Standing Committee on Government Operations reported on the 20202021 Public Accounts. One aspect of their report that has been subject to recent media coverage was the $194 million deficit of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. That's a shocking fiscal reality for this government, already cash strapped, to bear, and it's only expected to increase with the realizations on major operation deficiencies.

Looking at other major spending items in recent times, we now know that the cost to repair the catastrophic flood in Hay River...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Madam Speaker, eventually cuts to services and programs will be required to manage spending without a miracle windfall well outside the government ability to plan. Based on current financial projects, can the Minister tell me when these cuts to programs and jobs will come? Will it be in 2023? 2024? Or 2025? When will cuts be required, Madam Speaker?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I stated earlier today that this government's financial position is in dire straits. Without new revenues, austerity measures are a likely outcome for the future years. As mentioned earlier, simple math. I believe it's time to be honest with our residents about this reality here in the Northwest Territories today.

Madam Speaker, one of my question would be to the finance minister. Is this government planning to implement austerity measures, including cuts to services and jobs within the remainder of its term? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. While we're having that same discussion, I guess I'm just wondering maybe we could also maybe plan to meet with the chief and council for YKDFN as well to take a look at maybe some of their needs and requirements as well maybe. If the Minister, if her and I could probably meet with chief and council just to in sometime, depending on her schedule, just to talk about some of these other capital projects. Mahsi.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. And if I could so that sounds like a commitment. And if we could, I wouldn't mind asking the Minister if she's willing to come to Lutselk'e maybe sometime in November to have that discussion with the community and council. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess what I'm just thinking is that, you know, we had a we got a budget of almost $2.2 billion, and in my riding we have 1.7 percent of the overall budget but yet in the South Slave Region, on the map here that I'm looking at, it says it's you know, we got 15 percent of overall costing but yet when I look at this, it doesn't cover off Fort Resolution, Dettah, N'dilo, or Lutselk'e. So I guess I'm wondering, like how do I, like, in Fort Resolution, we need chip seal in the community. They've been asking for that. And the question is when can we have that discussion...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister work with Lutselk'e Dene First Nation to develop and implement a shared enforcement protocol to ensure this kind of thing will never happen again? At the same time, if he wants to work with the community in the spirit of reconciliation, then I'd like to have a commitment here today by the Minister to say that he is willing to go into Lutselk'e to work with chief and council and if need be, then that's where he should apologize because I'm not hearing it in the House here today, because the court Supreme Court decision is final; it's done...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So basically the Minister's refusing to apologize to the people in Lutselk'e and Lutselk'e Dene First Nation for their unlawful raid into the community, so. I'm shocked, I mean, I I don't know what to say. This is something that's I expect from the Minister to apologize, and I'm kind of want to hear it here today. And if not, then I have other questions. Thank you

Thank you, Madam Chair. Overall I guess at the end of the day is that, you know, we're still in a housing crisis here in the Northwest Territories. It's significant. It's right across the board in all 33 communities. And I don't see a plan. But overall, I think maybe is, you know, the aboriginal governments are now looking at going directly to Ottawa to get the same pots of money but they're competing with the Housing Corporation somehow, and that needs to be looked at again because what the reason why they're doing this because they have to jump through these hurdles to qualify with their...

All right, thank you.

Committee noted that the purpose clause contained in the Model Act was not implemented in Bill 48. Section 1 of the Model Act states the broad purpose of arbitration as an alternative to court proceedings, the principles that parties are free to agree on most procedural matters, and that courts should not intervene except as described in the legislation.

On the other hand, purpose clauses may express the intent of a statute and intend to bridge a gap between policy and law. On the other hand, inserting purpose clauses may have risks by raising expectations or creating...