Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. And thank you, Minister. If no such austerity measures are planned, how will the government manage its considerable fiscal challenges without clear resources/future revenues to offset spending deficits? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last week your Standing Committee on Government Operations reported on the 20202021 Public Accounts. One aspect of their report that has been subject to recent media coverage was the $194 million deficit of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. That's a shocking fiscal reality for this government, already cash strapped, to bear, and it's only expected to increase with the realizations on major operation deficiencies.

Looking at other major spending items in recent times, we now know that the cost to repair the catastrophic flood in Hay River...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Madam Speaker, eventually cuts to services and programs will be required to manage spending without a miracle windfall well outside the government ability to plan. Based on current financial projects, can the Minister tell me when these cuts to programs and jobs will come? Will it be in 2023? 2024? Or 2025? When will cuts be required, Madam Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Timber Bay is a very traditional place for the community of Lutselk'e Dene First Nation. They have been using this area since time immemorial for hunting, trapping, fishing, wildlife; it's their way of life. And, you know, they've been doing it long before the Canadian Constitution ever existed. Same thing with treaties, the NWT Act 1967. And in September of this year, the camp was raided. If you could imagine the camp having elders, families, children, guests, up to about 80 people. And then all of a sudden the chopper comes into the community, wildlife...

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I think there's got to be a way because, you know, the way I read this document to the Aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories when you see $30 million going to and that's coming from Ottawa that was probably negotiated or application was made to get that money, but at the end of the day is does this makes sense to fix up public housing with CIRNAC dollars when we are in a housing crisis here in the Northwest Territories. So going forward, you know, like we're going to have to develop a better strategy as to how we're going to deal with this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Iris Catholique. She's the management for Thaidene Nene from Lutselk'e Dene First Nation in the audience. And also Laura Michel, traditional knowledge activist for Lutselk'e Dene First Nation. And I'd like to recognize Paul Betsina, a band member and also from YKDFN. So mahsi, and welcome.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, so that helps me to understand how the funding works a bit. In here, in the Northwest Territories, you had I think you had mentioned during committee that there's about 2,400 public housing units in total. Of that amount, here in Yellowknife how much of that public housing units we have that are either do you consider rent supplement program as public housing where you lease, say, from Lanky Court and that kind of thing, is that considered public housing? Or is it something different altogether. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want one more question, I guess, and I'm done. I just want to see a smile on her face so that I could get my winter road this year. Thank you, Madam. Just a statement. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. While we're having that same discussion, I guess I'm just wondering maybe we could also maybe plan to meet with the chief and council for YKDFN as well to take a look at maybe some of their needs and requirements as well maybe. If the Minister, if her and I could probably meet with chief and council just to in sometime, depending on her schedule, just to talk about some of these other capital projects. Mahsi.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. And if I could so that sounds like a commitment. And if we could, I wouldn't mind asking the Minister if she's willing to come to Lutselk'e maybe sometime in November to have that discussion with the community and council. Mahsi.