Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was wondering if, similar to my colleague from Yellowknife North's question around ECE, if the dollars for wildlife and forest management are based on previous contracts for fire suppression, aviation contracts, that sort of thing, from the previous year or if there are increases? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from previous discussions held in this House, which included tabled photographs of infestations of tenant units, there are sometimes ongoing environmental health concerns in residential units. So can the Minister please explain how the NWT rental office works with other government departments to monitor the environmental health and safety of units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what mechanisms are in place to address repair and maintenance of tenant units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the election period last fall, I have heard multiple concerns from constituents in my riding with respect to the upkeep of rental units. The recent Northern Housing Report 2023 released by CMHC provides an analysis on market housing in Yellowknife. Rental rates have gone up and 28 percent of families in the city are unable to afford secure, affordable, rental housing.

Mr. Speaker, 18.2 percent of renters in Yellowknife are in core housing need. This means that they are living in units that are unaffordable, unsuitable, or inadequate. I have seen...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's okay.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I I'll rephrase what I guess I'm trying to seek which is I do understand that it is for contracts that are based for the full fiscal year, but I'm curious as to whether that contract amount has increased from the previous fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that answer. As I'm sure the Minister's aware that constituents are confused. My constituents who thought they were making greener, smarter moves by switching to propane are, to put it mildly, frustrated by this carbon tax exemption for just dieselbased home heating fuel.

So my question to the Minister is will she commit to seeking exemptions from the federal government for all home heating options in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although I'm sure she's tired of repeating herself, can the Minister of Finance please briefly explain to the House why the GNWT's carbon tax legislative regime is the better option for Northerners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that information. My question is can the Minister confirm with her Cabinet colleagues and do a little bit more to promote these pathfinding pieces because often here on the other side of the House and I'm sure the Minister feels this way when she was a Regular Member as well we end up being those Pathfinders. So if folks on the Cabinet side could share those resources with us and maybe promote them a bit better in the public, I'm wondering if she can commit to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. So one other thing I was wondering if the Minister could do is commit to review and discuss with myself, and perhaps the social development committee, the findings from the forthcoming implementation options developed by Alternatives North, which should be available in at least a draft form in the spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.