Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement, and Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister's live to this issue, I know the Minister cares about this issue. My first question is what are we doing and when are we finally going to resolve this issue of cabin leases in settled land claim areas? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, and I appreciate that. And I appreciate it's different in every region. I appreciate some areas have settled land claims, some don't. Allocations have been made and some -- most in some areas, and some areas they haven't. So I know there are other complications but certainly happy to hear that they're working towards it. And, again, for the larger municipalities, to me it seems there should be a much easier process to at least get that portion done and focused then on the smaller ones as well. But no further -- no question there, Madam Chair, no further comments on the section. Thank you...

Thank you for that. Yeah, I mean, obviously it's difficult. Land is -- you know, in the smaller communities, and specifically in the coastal communities, you know, there's not a lot of lots there, and as we're aware of, the Indigenous governments, certainly in my region, have received a significant amount of funding to put housing in these communities, as well as the larger centres of course, but in the smaller communities as well. So it's so important that they get as streamlined as possible working with the department to ensure that they can get -- acquire some of that land that obviously is...

Thank you. Yeah, and I appreciate that, and I know the department does follow the business incentive policy; however, the business has to be here and be able to do this kind of work in order for them to qualify for that and if we don't have that expertise in our territory, obviously are we going outside to get it, and if we are, how much of that money we're spending outside. So I appreciate the Minister's response and look forward to getting that update at a later date. Other than that, Madam Chair, I have no further questions in this section. Thank you.

Thank you. And the total $8.3 million climate change accumulative impacts and knowledge, is that also, then, the entire budget is GNWT funding?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member's statement earlier on the building standards code, can the Minister provide if, indeed, the department has begun to work on having their very own buildings standards code for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Ministers and the deputy minister, assistant deputy minister, for those answers. Certainly appreciate that. And wish Mr. Loutitt good luck in his retirement when he's not having to sit here and deal with us anymore. No more questions, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for that. I appreciate that work is ongoing, and I appreciate the -- as the deputy minister said, that there's a firm commitment to getting this work done, and I'm sure a lot of contractors and a lot of builders in the territory would be happy to see that.

Just switching for a minute on some of the capital work, and I -- again, if I'm stretching, that's fine, someone can tell me. But on the -- at MTS, I know we did have that one-time contribution, $14 million. I know that that's not budgeted now. Are we happy; are we confident with the number going in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this may be a bit of a stretch. I'm not sure if this is the proper department -- in the House in my Member's statement around the new -- a new buildings standards code for the Northwest Territories or a -- not a new one, a one, because we don't have one. And I thought that I guess it is kind of a -- is delivering capital, Mr. Chair. So I don't know if the Minister or not if she has her A-Team here with her would like to maybe elaborate a little more on the -- on where we are with that and anticipating getting that work done, funded and done. Thank you, Mr...