Caroline Cochrane

I mean, I have the same concerns as the Member. I mean, I I'm old; I'm 61 years old, and I don't like to borrow money. I learned a long time ago don't borrow it because if you can't pay it back, you're in trouble. And if you can't live within your means, you're in bigger trouble. So I think that we have learn that. It's not as simple as just going and asking for more money every time we hit the limit.

We're going to have to make tough choices, not only this Assembly, in the next Assembly as well. There's going to have to be really tough choices. When you got 22 priorities, you're not making...

Mr. Chair, what can I say? Thank you. Thank you, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The process of the budget negotiations is just that. It's a process of negotiations with Regular Members. I think that the Minister of Finance, myself as Premier, and all the Cabinet, have heard directly from Members in this session about the importance of housing. I know that in the last budget that there was an increase; thank you to Members for further increase with this hearing now again.

I'm not going to say that I'm going to just put in an amount. I have one vote in finance; I don't have seven votes, you know. And so I know it's a need for us. But what I would like...

Yes, Mr. Chair, I'd like to bring in Martin Goldney, the deputy minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs and secretary to Cabinet.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Absolutely, I do know that, yes, the coinvestment money was a carveout and it was from the work of last Assembly; however, it was did come into effect in this Assembly. So that is money on the table.

I also know that we're constantly talking. Like I said, it's the biggest priority that we have, I think all of us as Members of this Assembly. So it's not only are we asking at the table. We've identified it in our budget ask to the federal government. Hopefully, we'll see the budget should be coming out in the next month or so hopefully. And so hopefully we'll see more...

In favour.

For.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd just like clarification. Exactly what is the Member wanting to get changed out of this how we do it? I want to make sure that I'm clear with that direction. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents:

The letter to Prime Minister from Northern Premiers dated March 2nd, 2022, regarding Arctic Security; and the letter to Chair of the Council of the Federation from the Northern Premiers dated March 3rd, 2022 regarding Arctic Security. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

For.