Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the importance of the health care system and that any major changes to it are significant concern for our residents, will the Minister of Health and Social Services provide an explanation for the delay of the transformation of health care in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, one of the highest priorities of any government must be the health and well-being of its citizens. The delivery of quality and affordable healthcare is a cornerstone of good government in Canada and it's something that Northerners have come to expect. Yet the standards of the Northwest Territories' healthcare system vary wildly across regions and not all of our residents have the same standard of care. The 17th Assembly recognized the need to take action on improving healthcare and began the process of health system transformation in an effort to provide the best possible care to...

The Mining Incentive Program is very similar to a program they have in Yukon as well. However, the Yukon program is nearly twice as large in available funding and has additional funding for late-stage advancement projects. Will the Premier commit to reviewing the program and possibly expanding it, given the importance of getting exploration back on track in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the Minister of Finance on his statement on the fiscal update this morning. It's good to have some facts on the ground for us to consider and some clear projects for moving our economy forward.

I also agree with his assertion that the tax base at this time is too low to fuel the kind of revenues that we require. However, the low-hanging fruit of our economy has always been the mining sector, and of course our Territorial Formula Financing Grant. These are areas that we can work to directly expand by making the Northwest Territories...

That is exactly why I asked these questions today. We have heard at length of how great the program is and how it is achieving results. Those are the kind of the results we need to move our economy forward and I'm pleased to hear that that the Premier will be looking at expanding the program and the possibility there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've heard of the slowdown in our economy and the decline in mineral exploration. I'd like to ask the Premier what is being done to reverse the course of the slowdown in exploration and what concrete actions we're moving forward on.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In recent years, the NWT has missed out on mining exploration to the benefit of our sister territories. The industry itself has identified a lack of infrastructure as an issue there. I'm pleased to see that the government's prioritizing road access to some of these areas. Will the Minister of Transportation answer what actions have been taken to improve road access to the Slave Geological Province?

This could be a significant nation-building project if the connection was made all the way to the Arctic Coast in Nunavut. Has the Government of Nunavut been brought into this discussion about leveraging resources to help finance the construction of the road?

Mr. Speaker, It is no secret that governments across Canada are facing significant fiscal challenges with the current state of the economy. The Northwest Territories is no different with low commodity prices limiting our resource-driven economy and a shortfall of government revenue that challenges our government's ability to provide the services and programs that Northerners have come to rely on. Our economic reality is felt first and foremost by our people, especially those who have lost jobs or business opportunities as a result of this downturn.

Northerners are now looking to us as their...