Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final question for the Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency. Can the Minister advise on a potential timeline? Of course, not within a day margin, but perhaps within two years. Could he commit to completing a policy within two years, and fully implementing that policy?

I appreciate we're still in the early days of this government and time needs to be taken to put things together. Does the Minister have a sense of what kind of resources or support to put together this policy and other initiatives as they relate to government transparency?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is International Pink Day, otherwise known as Pink Shirt Day. I'd like to share with this House some background information from the days' organizers. The International Day of Pink was started in Nova Scotia when two straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The two students intervened, but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying. They decided to purchase pink shirts, and a few days later got everyone at school to arrive wearing pink, standing in solidarity. The result was an entire school that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I encourage all Members to support this motion. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), the Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 32 by deleting the words “We will do a better job of making our residents aware of the mechanisms available to appeal government decisions” and inserting the words “We will develop and implement an effective communications plan to make residents aware of the mechanisms of available to appeal government decisions.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, be amended on page 13 by inserting the words “We will review and develop amendments to the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act in light of devolution to ensure a defined revenue stream and stronger public governance.”

[English translation not provided] I'm very proud to have a francophone background in my own heritage and to have attended immersion French language schooling in the Northwest Territories. I think we have a lot of work to do on this issue. Members have spoken about this already in the short life of this Assembly and it's something we have to continue to support and to push forward on. The francophone community call themselves “les tenois,” which is a wonderful way to say who we are as people from the Northwest Territories, much better than the cumbersome Northwest Terronian that exists in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I think we must be cautious in moving forward with these decisions and I would encourage the Minister to carefully evaluate whether non-management employees should be considered under this wage freeze. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I actually was referring to members outside of collective bargaining who are excluded from the union and who have had their salaries frozen by the announcement we heard a couple of days ago, so if the Minister could clarify those employees.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize my constituency assistant, Garett Cochrane. He’s one of the hardest working individuals I know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.