Caroline Wawzonek

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 89, Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures), 20232024, be read for the second time.

This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 20232024 fiscal year. It also sets out limits on amounts that may be borrowed by the Commissioner on behalf of the government, 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...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am here to present Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act.

This bill addresses amendments to update the Northwest Territories carbon tax rate schedule to meet the revised federal carbon pricing benchmarks from April 1, 2023 to April 1, 2030.

The sole purpose of Bill 60 is to keep the Northwest Territories carbon tax rates in compliance with the federal government's carbon pricing commitments, including not returning the carbon tax revenues into the economy in a way that negates the carbon price signal.

Passage of Bill 60 is a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, when I attend federalprovincialterritorial meetings of Ministers, I am proud to tell colleagues from across Canada that we are in fact a perpetual minority government. I am proud of this fact because I can also say that we have always passed not only the operations budget every year but also, separately and additionally, a capital budget. These budgets may not pass unanimously but they pass through a consensus process of review, information exchange, and discussion. And when I describe the kind of expectations we entrust on MLAs to receive and hold...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 87, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 3, 20222023, be read for the second time.

This bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 20222023 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Three times a charm. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to present to the House Bill 88, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 20232024, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 86, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023 to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm thrilled that NWT tourism is getting a great shout out, Mr. Speaker. They do have some pretty incredible materials. Mr. Speaker, ITI and ECE work together in terms of immigration. So as far as trying to attract people here and that certainly is being from an international for immigration perspective, but that, I think, can influence what we're doing nationally within Canada as well. So let me take that away. I again, I've also seen updated materials from NWT tourism. I think think are, in fact, award winning materials on a national scale of what they have. Let me take that away. Again...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 87, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as it is, there's actually a requirement or an expectation for the Department of Finance for GNWT employees to institute an exit interview process. That's part of the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework. We are expected to undertake that work and to have that ready to go in 20232024. So in that sense, that much of a commitment I can certainly make. And, Mr. Speaker, I know when there was some of these news articles came out the other day, I had an opportunity to speak with the other department, ITI that I'm responsible for. And looking there too...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't want to speak at length. I know it's been a long day for everyone but just in light of the comments made, Madam Chair, I do think it appropriate if I just address at least briefly some of what was said. I don't rehash the proposals in Bill 60 that are connected to Bill 60.

Fundamentally, Madam Chair, I want my colleagues on the other side to know that I've heard them and, frankly, I'm sorry that we are where we are. I'm live to the role of accountability of a Minister and I'm live to the fact that folks are very frustrated with where we are, so. I...