Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in the sitting, the honourable Minister of Finance was asked questions around the consultations related to the proposed sugar tax. Looking now, I see that the engagement is closed. I am wondering if the Minister can update the House as to when the results of the consultation will be made publicly available. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think of this kind of proposal somewhat as a New Deal "part 2," where we devolve further responsibility to our municipalities and allow them to make more decisions around what decisions they actually want to make, that they think are going to grow their communities. My question was more: does the Minister believe there is any impediment to our communities taking on that responsibility? Granted, not everyone is on the same level, but at least in the larger centres or the centres that are dealing with chronic land-management issues that have been brought to the floor of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Minister's Statement 158-18(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Would it be fair to say that the department's role is more to provide compliance with legislation than to actually make decisions over the contents of a community plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that, pursuant to Rule 6(2) of the Rules of Legislative Assembly, that Committee of the Whole continue to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment for the purpose of concluding the item under consideration, Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

If a community came forward with a request just to access large parcels of land for the sake of their own, internal development, what would be the advice of the department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations, which has oversight over this department, has also spoken with many municipal leaders in the course of our consultations on various pieces of legislation. One consistent message that comes back to the committee every time that we consult on a new feature or new authority that the municipalities are getting is this municipal funding gap and the need to fill it. You can have as many conversations as you want, but it is not going away. I think that, unless the strategy is a costed strategy that indicates incremental funding...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020, with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let's talk about the community government funding formula that currently has the $32-million gap. The Minister is committed to a strategy; that strategy has been committed to for quite some time. Can we get more details on that strategy and any costs associated with it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Look, I have to compliment the Minister's honesty. It is hard for politicians to break promises on the floor of the House like that. This is our responsibility. This is something we must accomplish. Will the Minister commit to rebalancing this formula so it is a realistic formula, in partnership with the NWTAC? Will he commit to either doing that or fully funding this? There are only two options.