Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I won't belabour the Minister to read out the action plan, but what I am interested in is the cost of that action plan and whether or not that is represented in this budget. Thank you.

I thank the Minister for clarifying, but I am concerned about the status quo approach to procurement, as I'm sure he's well aware, and other Members of this House are concerned, and the Standing Committees on Economic Development and Environment are concerned. I hope that, as we develop strategies and documents like the Manufacturing Strategy, we are better positioned as an Assembly to address these public concerns and make progress on them one way or another. Either amend the policies or provide additional resources in the form of subsidies or enhance existing engagement programs or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this motion. I don't think I could possibly begin to embody the spirit of the motion as my friend the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre did, but I did want to take some time to speak about the difference that elected representatives can -- and we have two here today who have been working tirelessly since the term began, the honourable Members for Range Lake and Yellowknife Centre -- make a difference and actually find meaningful ways we can improve representation in politics by getting more women elected and more women...

Thank you. Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that response. I did hear any enhancements, so I will assume that the preparations are remaining consistent for those activities.

Finally, the Manufacturing Strategy has been undertaken by not this department, but depending on the outcomes of it, it may affect procurement policies. Is there any money or any budget or any budgetary activities in this department that would change procurement policies based on the findings and the ultimate resolution of the Manufacturing Strategy? Thank you.

What other programs has the Minister halted intake on in the college currently since the foundational review started?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wouldn't necessarily characterize, although much of this legislation is in early development, it is in the legislative cycle and the province of Ontario has actually already moved ahead with some of these modifications to their construction legislation that governs the construction and industry government procurement, so I would advise the department not to remain tied to the Senate bill, which is working its way through the Parliament of Canada, but to also look at the province of Ontario and what they have accomplished in their short time.

In addition to prompt payment...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my honourable friend from Nahendeh's questions, I'd just like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment: if there are students who don't want to leave the Northwest Territories to take training in in-demand jobs like social work and teacher education, what do we tell those students? Thank you.

Nothing further for this department. Thank you.

Will the Minister engage with the relevant standing committee at the nearest available time to go over the kinds of changes they are contemplating, the kind of work plan that they are going over? Will the Minister commit to providing the standing committee with more information on how the department is meeting its statutory requirements under the act?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we reviewed the Department of Finance, there was the preparation line for strengthening labour negotiating capacity, and one of the stated purposes was around MTS and enhancing their ability for labour negotiations.

At the time we reviewed that, the department wasn't able to give an exact figure for what they predicted. The cost of MTS is a component of that additional funding would be, but they did indicate that that would be billed back to this revolving fund. I'm wondering if this department can help us get more clarity on what the expected cost of that additional...