Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation said, first and most importantly, this change to the board of directors of the Power Corporation will save ratepayers $1 million per year. My question for the Minister today is: that million dollars, how are ratepayers going to see that coming off their bills? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this budget offers quite a few things Members of this House can get behind. One aspect in particular is investing $16.6 million in new federal funding for affordable housing projects with the intent of providing residents of the NWT with an increased number of households that are not only contemporary in all relevant safety standards, but more importantly, and all too rarely seen in the North, affordable. This is by all means a noble measure of this government to tackle the cost of living and will benefit a number of families in Yellowknife and in all our communities, but, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the only… Well, I'm eager to see the strategy roll out and I hope that committee will be, and I'm sure that committee will be consulted. I hope also we do some public engagement of this and get it out to the scientific community and not just here, in the Northwest Territories, but in people doing northern research across Canada and potentially in international organizations, as well. I would encourage the department to actually look at those partners and not just keep it inhouse and keep it in this building, as well, because those are the people we want to bring...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I note under this activity we've got the science agenda indicated. I'm wondering what the department's efforts are in regards to attracting more scientific research investment in the Northwest Territories. We have untapped potential to attract more research opportunities here and if the department's role in leading the science agenda is looking at ways to open the Northwest Territories up to more research opportunities and investment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the department for their response, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased that we are working on this with our federal partners, as well, and I know that the federal government has made this a very large commitment. Is there a current set of proposals put together by the department to leverage our own resources with incoming federal funding? Do we have an ask to give the federal government to see some of this money flow north? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I note that the adaptation plan under “Contributions” has seen a small increase. What exactly do we use that funding for? I note that it's for support planning actions by NWT communities, regional governments, and organizations. It just seems like that's a very small pot of money considering the significant need for climate change adaptation. My mind turns to our coastal communities, particularly Tuktoyaktuk which has seen a great deal of coastal erosion. I know the community there is struggling with properly understanding the problem and what's needed to solve the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I for one appreciate that the department is being proactive and the government's being proactive in the support; it's music to my ears. We know that the department will be supporting the Housing First project. How will the department be addressing homelessness moving forward in other communities outside of Yellowknife, across the territories, and providing the same kind of support to clients who are without homes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister for the answer. How will the department be reviewing the provision of these services to ensure that they're provided in a timely manner and are effectively supporting the program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my colleagues as well. This is a clear example of a northern government recognizing the problem and addressing it in a way that partners with private sector and Indigenous governments, but it also does so in a transparent method that this Assembly expects to see of this government. I ask, Mr. Speaker, if the Yukon is doing something to tackle the issue of affordable rental units, what is our government doing to solve our problem here in the Northwest Territories? For if it can be accomplished in our neighbouring territory, it most certainly can be...

Sorry, Mr. Chair. Nothing from me.