Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I get to the details of my final comments, I want to thank the Member for Boot Lake. He's relentless on this issue. And those of you reading or listening at home or those historians 20 years from now that pay -- combing through Hansard, they heard it here, this Member's been relentless on municipal issues, so certainly by all means. He just every day brings up help Inuvik; we need more stuff. But in all honesty, Mr. Speaker, he is a good Member, and I do appreciate the work and support he's given this initiative. That said, I support all Regular Members on their support. As a matter of fact, I noticed, just by counting heads quickly, most of us have served in one form or another on a band council or a municipal council. I mean, when you hear MLA from Yellowknife North's point, I mean, that's a struggle they faced every day when I served on council. And I'm glad she highlighted half the discrepancies. And that's part of the reason the motion is here.
Mr. Speaker, it doesn't -- you know, the challenge municipalities are facing under inflationary costs or not being appreciated. I mean, the fact is that, you know, this is about just balancing and bringing fairness throughout.
Just in short, Mr. Speaker, $52 million, we all know is the current gap. I mean, no one's asking for the absolute cheque to be written, but we would certainly know that our communities would welcome the finance Minister to show up with her credit card to find a way to deal with that outstanding balance, if I may say.
She also noted in her budget speech -- and just for those reading along, page 4 in case anyone was interested -- it said they have a $294 million projected surplus. So there must be some room to help communities like Tu Nedhe in the Tu Nedhe riding or the Deh Cho riding when they see Enterprise struggle. So, Mr. Speaker, there are reasonable requests out there, people are looking for help.
Mr. Speaker, as we move forward on this particular thing, you know, I call upon the Honourable Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs, you know, help us help you fulfill that election promise. Help us by voting for this motion, and feel free to be brave. And as I said in my Member's statement earlier today, the fear of doing change, I support the Minister to stand up and vote with us, Mr. Speaker, because I know he can do it.
So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to, again, thank all my colleagues. And I will ask for a recorded vote on this particular initiative. And I look forward to the government's detailed response with a simple word, yes. Thank you.
The Member for Yellowknife Centre. The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member for Monfwi. The Member for Frame Lake. The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Mackenzie Delta. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The Member for Deh Cho. The Member for Sahtu.
All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
The Member for Thebacha. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. 11 in favour, zero opposed, six abstaining. The motion has passed.
---Carried
Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Minister's Statement 4-20(1), Minister's Statement 5-20(1), Minister's Statement 17-20(1), Minister's Statement 24-20(1), Tabled Document 93-to(1), Tabled Document 111-20(1).
