Caroline Wawzonek

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 25, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2025-2026, be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 25, Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures) 2025-2026, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, Mr. Speaker, it's -- I'd have to go back and double check just to ensure that I'm, firstly, understanding the nature of the financial question that the Member's asking, but I'd certainly be happy to go back and take a look at the arrangements that were being made. Again, this does date back to an agreement and an offer that was from 2014 and certainly happy to provide the Member with some further detail. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't -- the question changed a little as we went. There's not extended debt. The power corporation's purchase of the Hay River franchise, of course began back in 2014, was -- and was only just recently completed in terms of determining the value of the assets and the amount that might have to be paid under it. That process is also now a part of the GRA that is underway, and the costs of the assets and the amounts paid and what that may or may not do to any rates will be part of that process and will be reviewed by the public utilities board. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department at this time, and MTS through the department, doesn't have specific plans to attempt to refurbish the Merv Hardie or to get it back up to speed. What investigations there has been has given a fairly high cost estimate to get it to be recertified pursuant to Transport Canada regulations. So at this point, more likely would be an attempt to sell the asset than it would be to refurbish it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a busy day like today, I'm afraid I might be missing Yellowknife South residents who I can't see from behind me. Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, we are a family friendly neighbourhood and I am happy to say we have two youth here that I will recognize from Yellowknife South. Aima Tabbaa and Olivia Costache, thank you for helping us as pages here in the House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been a long day. I've got a lot of papers in front of me, but I'm going to try and get this on the rails.

Let me start by saying, Mr. Speaker, I do believe that this budget process is a negotiation. It is a difficult one. It's a difficult one for everyone. Not everybody on Cabinet gets what they want at the Cabinet table. But we do have to come together. We have discussions about what the issues are, what our priorities are, what our constituents need, what our residents need, from all different sized communities here, from small communities to the...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 25, Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures) 2025-2026, be read for the second time.

This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It also sets out limits on amounts that may be borrowed by the Commissioner on behalf of the government. It includes information in respect of all existing borrowing and all projected borrowing for the fiscal year and authorizes the making of disbursements to pay the principal of...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2025-2026 Corporate Plan for the Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will be able to complete the sale and purchase of the assets and are not looking for any handout from the GNWT to complete that sale. Thank you.