Frieda Martselos

Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. My first question is: since the Stanton P3 and the legacy, 100-bed, long-term unit for Yellowknife have crippled our government for moving forward, could the Minister tell me who makes up the Boreal Health partnerships?

Madam Speaker, accountability and transparency are extremely important when dealing with public money. The money that is being used belongs to the people of the NWT. Most of the P3s are contracted with southern companies and the money flows south with little benefit to people of the NWT. P3s can be a positive way of doing business if we're dealing with northern companies or Indigenous groups and the detailed agreements are firm, signed off properly, and all the monies stay in the North. I will be asking questions to the Minister of Finance on this issue. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to just make a comment first before I ask the question, and that is that I'm very proud to say that most of the people at the two facilities in Fort Smith are extremely qualified and do an excellent job. I've been to both facilities at various times with clients, especially when I was with my other leadership role in Salt River. I support both facilities and the staff. There are some gaps in the system, and a lot of the people in there are long-term residents, members of Salt River, members of the Metis community that are staffing these units. They run a really...

I just want to remind the Minister that there are a lot of qualified people in other communities, also, besides Yellowknife, and just doing something a little bit differently to ensure that we get the same service as the people of Yellowknife is essential. I think we are not asking for very much. It's a right. We live in the same area. We have this mandate, and I honestly feel that I want you to know that you agree with me, that there are qualified people all over the territories, not only Fort Smith, Inuvik, Yellowknife. The smaller communities have qualified people. Correct?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll remember that. I'm just wondering, you say that 55 percent of the clients are from Yellowknife or northern. How many people are 55 percent?

Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance stated that the P3 for Stanton project came in on budget. Do you as Finance Minister truly believe this is a correct statement?

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?

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...

I think it is extremely important that if the negotiators who are appointed do not work out with the actual people at the table in that particular claim or whatever that they have the option to ask for someone else who actually understands land claims and mandates and the implementation of a claim because many times we have these people who do not understand where we come from. You struggle with wording. You can have an "and" here and a "the" there, and it is entirely taken out of context sometimes, even in the implementation. The fellow sitting beside you understands where I am coming from.

Wh...