Kieron Testart

Again, I might not have heard clearly the response to my first question, but the $900,000 here, what is that intended for? Is that just a placeholder, and the money will be reallocated if it is not required? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a question about the contract services line on page 41. It seems to have increased by nearly $1 million. Can we get some clarity on why that is? It is a substantial increase. Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister's support for this important industry. This is another example of how we have natural advantages in the North tied to our unique geography, tied to our natural resources, and we need to use every one of them to grow the economy. On the issue of lobbying the federal government, has the Minister in his work with the fibre optic link had the opportunity to develop any regulatory improvement proposals to share those with the federal government? Has he done that work?

Thank you for allowing me one more question, Mr. Chair. So, I understand that there is a confusing process around the reinstatements, but there is still less being proposed now, so what does that represent? What are the reductions in this year's proposal? I note it is around $300,000 that is being reduced, so what is that $300,000? Where is that coming from? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance some questions about how we are using our potential in the satellite industry to grow the knowledge economy. My first question for the Minister is: can the Minister advise the House on what resources have been allocated by this government in its budgets to promote the NWT as a destination of choice for the global remote sensing sector? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know that the appropriation line for Aurora College is reduced this year. What is the cause for that reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and there we have the inherent contradiction with it being both a publicly funded independent institution and yet one that the department can reach into and tinker with when they want to change the services being provided.

Why are we approaching the college, the management of the college, through providing that kind of direct approach rather than entering into funding agreements, those kinds of arrangements that can be targeted, measured, have reliable targeted outcomes that the college would have to meet? Why are we not incentivizing the operations of the college and the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As a publicly funded institution, is it at arm's length from government as other publicly funded education institutions are? Can the Minister confirm that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm sorry if I'm struggling with this amount. I have asked questions about what is presented before us in this budget, and I am hearing a lot of answers about how it was used previously. I understand that this number may change, but I am looking for why the department is requesting an increase of $1 million to this. I think what I am hearing is that, the previous year, it was a considerable amount more and it was redistributed, so they are trying to harmonize it to a degree where they can still support the contract requirements that they think are going to be required for...

Thank you. Just for clarity, then, this increase to the contract services line is in order to support those programs going forward into this year? Thank you.