Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Heritage Fund is an excellent way to keep a resource wealth here in the Northwest Territories for the use of future generations. One of the items of the transition report of the last Assembly was to do work on the Heritage Fund Act to do exactly what this amendment calls for: To create a defined revenue stream and stronger public governance of the fund. Right now, the revenue stream going into the fund is more or less defined by an agreement from the Minister of Finance, and it is the opinion of many that this needs to be looked at and defined by legislation so there...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Of critical importance is, although only a small number of businesses would benefit, there are only a small number of businesses in the Northwest Territories to begin with, and that's exactly the kind of thing we need to start changing. I thank the Premier for outlining some of the programs we currently have to support entrepreneurs and private sector enterprises. Those are good programs and they should be expanded. Although this tax relief measure will result in lessened government revenues, it is something we can definitely afford, and again, we need to provide a plan...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to speak strongly in support of this motion. It clarifies exactly how our government will help to promote products with some clarity and certainty, and gives industry an idea of the role they will play in this process. Kam Lake is home to many manufacturing businesses in the Northwest Territories, and they're all keenly interested in finding ways that the government can help support their businesses. It is definitely a growth industry. It is a value-added industry for the Northwest Territories. It deserves the full support of this House and I encourage all my...

Can the Minister of Finance provide the cost saving numbers that will result from this measure for both management level and non-management level excluded employees?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when many people think of excluded or non-unionized employees they think of senior managers and higher ups in government, when in fact there are many who serve in regular positions such as secretaries, administrative assistants, and analysts. My question for the Minister of Finance is: How will this pay freeze affect non-management employees in the public service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I started my career in the public service as an excluded employee, working as an administrative assistant. I can confirm to this House that I was not in a position that earned a high salary, and given the high cost of living and working in the NWT, my family often struggled to save for our future. In challenging times it is important that our government show decisive leadership. I fully support a pay freeze for myself as an MLA and for public servants in management positions. However, I find it difficult to support a pay freeze that may unduly burden public servants at lesser...

[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.