Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've put a really strong focus in this Assembly on building relationships with all governments, federal governments, Indigenous governments, etcetera, municipal governments. So we've really feel that we have a solid, strong, positive relationship with the federal government as it stands today. If there was a time that we needed to, things weren't getting met in NWT; you bet, I'd be the first one knocking on other doors. However, in saying that, when the election was coming up, the federal election, we did send a letter to all of the all of the parties to say what...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Realizing that we haven't yet had to take advantage of it, I always say that any kind of bill or program or federal investment that puts a stronger focus on the northern needs of the North, we're always in favour of that. So that's one area that for sure we'd like to do.

But no matter what what the outcome of the Bill C245 comes, we are pleased with our relationship with the federal government so far and the accessibility that we have to the officials with the Canadian Infrastructure Bank. So we're not seeing any issues at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Absolutely, like you said, the mandate says that it is about recommendations for improvements in Nutrition North. When we went and we talked, it was communities asking to get on to it. I've already made the commitment that I'll go further with that, Mr. Chair. So I'm not sure what more the Member wants of me. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, well I do know that Municipal and Community Affairs does keep track of the capital amounts that they get from the federal government. The difficulty with having a formula, Mr. Chair, is that the years back, and I can't remember what year it was, but the GNWT did a good decision in my opinion, was they signed what was called the new deal, which meant that city municipalities were allowed to define their own, what they wanted to do instead of the GNWT telling them what to do. But when the the bad point there's always good and bad with everything and what happened that with that...

Mr. Speaker, this government remains committed to making negotiations and land claim and selfgovernment agreements a priority. It's one of our 22 priorities of this Assembly. It was a priority from the last Assembly, many before. It remains a priority, and it will remain a priority until it is until they are completed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I've heard that quite a bit. Decentralization is not one of our priorities actually. It's not in here. It's increase regional decisionmaking was in here. In saying that, though, I mean, there is a commitment. There is a like I said earlier, the Minister of Finance has made a commitment that we all want to see jobs in the communities. We recognize that, you know, like it was mentioned earlier, the stronger our smaller communities are the stronger Yellowknife is. It was made by a Regular Member, and I agree with that statement actually. And so like I said earlier, one of...

I agree, Minister Mr. Chair. Like I said, though, when I did do trips to the northern communities, most of them are northern communities communities that are off the grid don't have access or are eligible for it. What I heard was was the communities wanting access to it versus complaining about it, so. But I can take it one more step further and ask that question because I've also heard the complaint that you've said as well. I just haven't heard it from the communities themselves. But I'll ask. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Martin? Thank you, Mr. Chair, I'd like to transfer it to the secretary to Cabinet.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to defer that to the Minister of Housing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Chair, to Minister Wawzonek, ITI.