Kieron Testart

That gap, when we started our term, was $32 million. How much has this government invested in closing that gap? I am looking for a dollar figure, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, if I understand the Minister correctly, if he could confirm this for me, the reason we can't offer that deal to leases on unsettled land is because of a lease-only policy that was put into place. So the policy is preventing this government from offering a similar deal to those lease holders; is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the Minister of Hope. He often hopes when we raise questions to him, but can the Minister commit to do more than hope and actually do some work to put a public policy lens? Like we do with gender-based analysis and like we do with Indigenous rights analysis, can he put a Privacy by Design lens on policy proposals? Let's narrow the focus, Mr. Speaker. Can he put a privacy lens on Cabinet submissions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the Minister resolves an issue for one of his problem areas by offering fee simple, I'm talking about the Cassidy Point deal that was honoured. So why aren't we just doing something similar? That seems simple enough for those residents, those lease holders. Why don't we offer that deal to everyone who's struggling with this issue? Thank you.

Does the Minister have any timelines that he can inform the House of when this legislation is anticipated to come forward?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the Minister has spoken about the funding to address the long-standing issue of equity leases. I believe this is the appropriate section. Where can I see that funding in the main estimates? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the mandate of the 18th Assembly, this government committed to lowering the cost of living in the NWT in order to improve our residents' quality of life and attract more people to make their homes in the territory. I am so surprised to see a new tax proposal, that this government will not only be failing to live up to this mandate commitment, but adding an unnecessary new burden to anyone considering relocating up North or buying a home and therefore counteracting their stated public policy proposal.

I will, of course, remind this House that when the Minister was...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, to clarify, this is something that the division is currently undertaking with their own staff resources, to develop this curriculum in conjunction with ECE? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for resolving that identity crisis. I get where the Minister is coming from, but is there any plan in place to develop that that he can share with us? I understand that there is potential there, but, more than just a comment, I mean is the department working to engage the college in developing some sort of strategy or working with the college in the foundational review? Like, is there anything concrete here, or is this just aspirational at this point? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I acknowledge the Premier's response, and I understand that this fund is not moving during his tenure as Premier. I think that's a shame, because Members on the standing committee have made numerous requests that this funding be moved and increased, and that has not happened. It's constantly over-subscribed. Assessments of the funding over the past, I think, 10 years have shown that it's underfunded. We need around $500,000 in the fund; we haven't seen any increases to that. Again, it's not helping promote volunteerism, which seems at odds with the Department of Community and...