Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I'd like to cite my questions towards my Member's statement today and where I talked about the advancement of a potential conversation of renaming the Northwest Territories. So I'd like to specifically ask the Premier, who also is -- who works with the Council of Leaders.

Mr. Speaker, would the Premier be interested in raising the issue with the Council of Leaders to get their thoughts and opinions on is it time to start having this conversation about naming the Northwest Territories -- or I should say renaming the Northwest Territories to a name that's more...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Mr. Chairman, if the Minister is happy to go back to Members, I certainly welcome that. Does that also mean that she would be comfortable if Members deferred the specific line item but approved the overall supp appropriation respecting that we are waiting for that further detail? I'm curious on her thoughts and impacts of that particular decision. We still have several days ahead of us in this session so that line item specifically can come back once we have that clarity. So would she feel comfortable with that approach knowing that it sounds like a lot of questions are still outstanding?

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you for that. Is the Minister saying that, suggesting, or implying, the PUB process is being held up on this point? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Is there any current financial urgency or impact that this has not been approved as of yet?

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I was wondering if they could -- the Minister, department, or the staff, could elaborate as to how that $12 million calculation came to be and specifically what areas of shortfall were identified to make that $12 million as the targeted total. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Certainly a pleasure to get an opportunity to comment on page 7 under the directorate here, assuming we're still on the $12 million being proposed here.

I'm wondering if the Minister can provide a breakdown as to how that $12 million came to be as the number. Can they be specific as to where that subsidy will be applied? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To be clear, not to get ahead of the budget discussion of health, so I'm not going to be specific because that's a debatable item soon, but the contribution is defined already. So I'm worried that direction has been given or direction hasn't been given, and even worse, Mr. Speaker, the health budget, including the territorial budget, will have been approved and cuts come later when the Assembly dims the lights. So, Mr. Speaker, what direction or what is being protected to ensure we're not getting cuts that aren't fully communicated to Members and the public so we can...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up on questions asked by my earlier colleague from Yellowknife North which is to the Minister of health.

So if we're not cutting frontline workers which, of course, I'm not in favour of cutting frontline workers, how do we get more with less? In other words, where are the cuts going to come from? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, given the comments of the Minister therefore I move that committee reports progress. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say I'm not sure I should say thank you or maybe should start over and say what did that answer actually mean. So what does informal conversations mean? I'm simply asking for can the Premier put it on the agenda for something for folks to consume and consider and maybe get some feedback on it? I'm not looking for a special task force where we line up hundreds of processes and administration. Because if there's no appetite at the Council of Leaders for this kind of conversation, maybe now is not the right now. That said, it may be something for the...