Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you, Minister, for your answer. I'm just thinking about the deficit again, but I'm just thinking the budget overall is you know, we got a pretty big budget here of $610 million plus. I'm just thinking about the three P initiatives in terms of commitments. Going forward, I know that we're building that new hospital and then the renovation of the old hospital, etcetera. I just want to know, I guess overall, is that going to the binding of this budget the government's those projects long term, what are the I don't know if you could speak to it or not but I...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to come back to the deficit that was mentioned by my colleagues earlier. Going forward, though, this next fiscal year we're going to be you said the 189. But overall, I just want to know, like how do we what are your management plans to deal with this deficit, I guess, going forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to revising the honorarium policy for traditional knowledge by doubling the base rate in addition to increase the base on inflation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, that's hard shoes to fill in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Anyways, I just want to mention that in regards to my Member's statement earlier about honorariums, I'm just thinking back in 1999, when I was a chief for Yellowknives Dene First Nation and back then our band councils were given $250 a day. And since then, 24 years later, you know, I'm sure the rates have gone up. But anyway, the current rate of honorarium is set at $250 a day and was last updated in 2009. Inflation has increased by 32 percent since then, not to mention our economy's being hit with the global recession and global...

Thank you for that, Madam Chairman. I guess the Minister maybe could convey my issue or concerns to the president of the Aurora College and let them know that if we could get this position filled right away, and it's important that and, again, the people in the community in my riding are saying that well, you know, geesh, we got issues in education, concerns, etcetera, but they don't know who to call. They're phoning me and saying well, when's the position going to be filled, etcetera. So if I could get you to maybe communicate that to the Department of Aurora College and their people and...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Anyways, I'm just in regards to Aurora College, I'm just looking under the organization structure. So under the structure, you have the Education Act that more or less created the Department of Education, Culture and Employment office. And then under that office, then you have regional DEAs and they have their own boards and there's agreements in place and they administer their own education at the local level, etcetera. So then in terms of communications, so mostly like the chairman of those DEAs will respond or report to the Minister or vice versa type of thing. So I...

Thank you, Madam Chairman. And thank you, Minister, for that clarification. So essentially, so the chairman for the Aurora College now will be communicating with you and the office vice versa so it's no different than the regional DEAs and chairmans etcetera. So having said that though, as you know, in the Northwest Territories and from our experience and it's coming up in a lot of meetings I attended, even when I was a chief and attending the Tlicho assemblies, the Dene Nation assemblies, the AFN assemblies, etcetera, even at the national level, there's always been a big gap in education...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am doing a eulogy for the late Carmelle Rose Landry from Fort Resolution.

Carmelle Rose Landry was born in Hay River on May 10th, 1975 to her parents Angelina and Howard. She grew up with her mom Angelina and dad Howard. Carmelle lived in various communities throughout her life until she decided to reside and build her home in Edmonton with her beautiful children Breanna Rose, Caitlin Dawn, and Shayden Lawrence Henry.

Carmelle was a homemaker. She loved her children dearly and ensured they had a happy life with her and strong traditional values. Carmelle...

I have one more question. And thank you for that. And I really appreciate that. And my last question would be is that I know coming in here a year in my term already and I'm trying to throw some luggage on the train, and I mentioned this to the Premier the train left the station back in 2019 and but anyway, it's something that when I go to the community of Dettah, one of my home communities, they always talk about a new school. And I was apprentice back in 1981. We were still doing the maintenance on that building. So I'm just wondering maybe it's something that we could probably get a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I don't have much question too for the Minister. I mean, other than that actually, it's actually great working with the Minister and your office and your staff as well. The only one that keeps coming up is that is the fuel subsidy in my riding. And I went through your policies really quick. I understand the zones and one, two, and three, and the levels, etcetera. The only thing that sometimes I get calls on is that sometimes the subsidy doesn't go far enough in terms of going over the amount or whatever it may be coming towards the end of the year. So I'm...