Kieron Testart

Member Range Lake

Kieron Testart was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Range Lake.

Mr. Testart was born on March 22, 1985, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was raised in the Northwest Territories, first residing in Tuktoyaktuk and later in Yellowknife, where Mr. Testart now lives with his family, his diverse background and wealth of experiences have shaped his commitment to community development and effective governance.

Mr. Testart was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kam Lake in the 18th Legislative Assembly, where he demonstrated a keen understanding of the issues facing his constituents. Beyond his legislative roles, Kieron has contributed significantly to the economic development of the region. Serving as the Director of Economic Development for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation from 2021 to 2023. Mr. Testart’s commitment to education and language advocacy is evident in his role as Program Coordinator for Canadian Parents for French from 2020 to 2021. His efforts have extended to policy analysis within the Government of the Northwest Territories and serving as Deputy Sheriff from 2009 to 2014.

Academically, Kieron holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Lethbridge (2004-2009) and a Certificate in Parliamentary Governance from McGill University (2017).

Married to Colleen, he is the proud father of Corbin, Eve, and Leander. In addition to his professional pursuits, Kieron finds joy in various hobbies and interests, including a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport, a love for film and theatre, grassroots activism, and an avid curiosity about international affairs.

Kieron's commitment to community extends beyond the political realm. As a dedicated volunteer, he has been actively involved in various capacities, including serving on the NWT Federal Liberal Association Board of Directors since 2011, contributing to the Liberal Party of Canada. His volunteer experience also includes a position on the NWT Branch Board of Directors for Canadian Parents for French from 2014 to 2020 and mentoring youth with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada in 2014-2015.

Range Lake Electoral District

Committees

Member Kieron Testart
Range Lake
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you. And if the department is unable to make up that difference, would then a supp come forward, a supplementary appropriation come forward? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you. So I think I made my point around this. I think often we see the solution to a lack of a a lack of a wholeofgovernment approach to public policy issues be solved with a new ADM. I don't know why it's an ADM, but it always seems to be a new ADM that will dramatically improve service delivery. And I don't know if that's historically been the case. I'm very and I'm skeptical if it will be the case here. But if you know, if this is how the department wants to expend its resources, then I wish them the best of success. But I hope that they can return to this House and clearly...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you, Mr. Chair. Your memory's been better than mine because I had forgotten where we left off. And I've also forgotten what questions I asked and what the answers were, so I will go again. I could check Hansard, but I'm too lazy.

Mr. Chair, for this particular item I'm too lazy addictions treatment facilities, so there's a drop in the budget from the revised estimates to these main estimates. Can the Minister explain why we require less funding for something which I think is a high need service of this government? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, how, I guess is my question. Like, I understand what the Minister's saying. This position is going to fundamentally improve service delivery. But how? Because, you know, it's one it's the addition of one person to provide leadership over the entire division or the entire key activity and all the staff that deliver those programs. So how is this one person going to make a difference? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Yes.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you. Yes, and I appreciate that that is a requires more than one department to come up with a solution to that problem, and presumably working with municipal and Indigenous governments as well.

I will move along to the addition of a new assistant deputy minister for the language and culture division. The department has been quite capably providing this area of public policy for many, many years without this position. Why do we need it now in a time of fiscal restraint? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, we don't have to do it all at once. I think that's imprudent. We should probably look at a pilot project. The two examples in Canada that have been universally successful have lifted people out of poverty, until they've been shut down by lack of funding, you know, were pilot projects. Can the Minister at least commit to exploring a pilot project? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the department is undertaking an inventory of its land reserves. Can the Minister speak to what the objective of that inventory is. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You're very generous, Mr. Speaker.

Today is a theme day for income assistance programs so I'll get the ball rolling and ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment what is the department's position on a universal basic income in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 20)

Thank you. So given that okay, so we have costs. So do we know how much so basically we don't this isn't saving money as much as it's generating revenue and the that revenue's going to be used to support the program as it's currently designed. Is there still if everything works out with the rebates and with the copays, what is the gap missing debt? Or what's the total cost overrun at that point? Thank you.