Kieron Testart

Mr. Speaker, I'll ask the questions here, if the Minister doesn't mind. The other area here is innovation, of course. How is ITI rewarding innovators in our economy? What programs and support do they have in place to reward private sector actors who are innovating their own businesses, including the mines? How are we rewarding innovation at all levels of our economy?

Okay, so, if the money is not spent, this is returned to general revenues, or is this diverted internally to other activities in the department? How is the lapsed funding typically used by the department? Is it just lapsed funding that goes away, or is it spent on other activities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Time and time again, the Members at this side of the House have raised the issue of knowledge economy and our government's investment in it. I'd like to ask the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment exactly what his department is doing on this file? It doesn't seem like much, but perhaps he can set the record straight and allow us to understand how ITI is advancing the knowledge economy in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, the actuals in 2016-2017 were only $10,000. What was the difference between the estimates and the actuals in 2016-2017? Thank you.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Bill 1: Western Canada Lottery Act, and commends it to this House.

Introduction

The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to report on its review of Bill 1: Western Canada Lottery Act.

Bill 1, sponsored by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), repeals the existing Western Canada Lottery Act (WCLA) and replaces it with a new act to establish a Northwest Territories Lottery Commission, under the direction of the Minister, with the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 83, under "grants," we see "fire damage compensation." I am just wondering, in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, how much of this money was spent? I am just wondering about the overall level of subscription. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the knowledge economy emerging and becoming an ever more vital contributor for continued sustainability of northern economic growth, it would seem like a sector this government would seek to stimulate through strategic investments and development and innovation strategy that rewards private sector investment in innovative solutions. This would also prepare us for the coming reality of carbon pricing and green economy solutions to northern mining and manufacturing. For, in the end, innovators will move to jurisdictions that support innovation. That is why I am quite...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The department has had its strategies and frameworks implemented before, such as the greenhouse gas emissions strategy, which is one of the areas the Auditor General addressed, and that was one of the big issues. The framework was in place. There was buy-in across government, but nothing actually happened at the end of the day. I know that in some cases around information sharing, MOUs are entered into between GNWT departments. Is this an approach that the Minister will consider moving forward? It is something that the Auditor General recognized that was lacking, the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that is good work, and I look forward to doing it. I just hope that we don't see any further delays with these important pieces of legislation. They are important for the development of the territorial economy, and also in ensuring that we are protecting our environment and managing our environmental liabilities.

The climate change audit that was done by the Auditor General of Canada, who is also the Auditor General of Record for the Northwest Territories, was quite critical of the department's leadership role in climate change as the lead department in government...

Okay. That is an odd arrangement, but I will leave that the Minister to resolve, and I look forward to him reporting back to the House on progress made. Thank you.