Frieda Martselos

One hundred and forty million dollars for the City of Yellowknife for the 35-year period for grants in lieu/taxes, is this not an extra expense?

Madam Speaker, finally, I would like to address the mayor of Yellowknife's media statement of February 19, 2020. The new Stanton hospital tax bill for the amount of $4.5 million is the highest taxed building in the NWT. The mayor of Yellowknife made a statement that she did not have to raise taxes because of a new assessed property value of the new Stanton hospital. My question is: as all monies out of public funds belong to the people of the NWT, are you comfortable as the Minister of Finance with this statement?

Can the Minister tell us who owns the majority of shares of Dexterra, as well as where is the company based out of, and what the emergency number that is used by Stanton hospital staff after 5:00 p.m.?

Madam Speaker, I would like to do a short presentation on the budget address that was tabled by the honourable Caroline Wawzonek, the Minister of Finance, on February 25, 2020. First of all, this budget is status quo, with the vast majority of funds going to Yellowknife. I want to remind all Members, including Cabinet, of our 22 priorities, which included regional centres and smaller communities.

Madam Speaker, this budget focuses on all of the capital city of Yellowknife's needs and less on the regional centres and communities. The 2019-2023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest...

Mr. Chair, I also want to ask the Minister why we are following BC standards and not using Canadian standards in justice?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My statement today is about P3 Projects in the Northwest Territories. Following the public technical briefing on the new Stanton Territorial Hospital, which took place on February 11, 2020, officials within the Departments of Health and Social Services and Infrastructure confirmed a series of pervading issues that have been plaguing the new building since it opened in May 2019.

Madam Speaker, for clarification the initial amount designated for the new hospital was $350 million, according to the media release of October 1, 2015. This project over the 35-year period...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one short question, and it has to do with Aboriginal policing, also, because there is a problem with enforcement on reserve. There has always been a problem. You talked about training and First Nations policing and getting access to the federal program. I think that's a good way of going, and I encourage you to do that. I think that it's very important that Salt River First Nations Reserve has proper enforcement by its own people. I'm just making a comment, and I think it's extremely important. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, education legacy in Fort Smith has always been a topic that has been dear to my heart. When Yellowknife was named the capital of the NWT in 1967, Fort Smith was designated the education centre of the NWT. Fort Smith's education legacy is very prominent, and we are so proud to be leading the role in this field. Many of our former leaders, including Premiers, Ministers, former and current Members of Parliament, mayors, chiefs, and others have all gone through Fort Smith to advance their education. I say this because I want to remind people of the tangible value that Fort Smith...

Mr. Speaker, the staff must have a say in the development of the future transformation of the polytechnic university. Their experience, hard work, and dedication to post-secondary education must be recognized.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that, going forward into this 19th Assembly, my goal is to see the entire board of Aurora College be reinstated and to be at arm's length from the Government of the Northwest Territories. I want to see a northern-based polytech university with the highest of national standards be developed. Yes, the headquarters should remain in Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr...

When was the decision made to make all these airport changes, and why were the major users of the airport and the Town of Fort Smith not part of that decision?