Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the seizure of huge volumes of fentanyl in recent Yellowknife drug busts is an indication that at least some NWT residents are turning to the black market to satisfy drug addictions. In some cases, these addictions are the result of legitimate medical prescriptions. An NWT coroner's report last year raised alarms over overuse and misuse of prescriptions and how people are being prescribed potentially dangerous amounts of legal drugs by seeking multiple prescriptions. One means of reducing that supply for new and existing addicts is the creation of a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm wondering if the Minister could just give a quick rationale for deciding not to continue funding to the Indspire Awards.

No, thank you.

Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the 2016 Government of the Northwest Territories Budget. Mr. Speaker, this petition contains 330 signatures of Northwest Territories residents and two signatures of residents from southern Canada. Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request the following:

That the Government of the Northwest Territories recognize the following criteria when implementing reductions in the 2016 budget:

First, government workers and their families need to be prioritized;

Second, government jobs must be protected;

Third...

Thank you to the Minister for that. I didn't say that the roads were without benefits of their own, but rather what I'm looking for is this business case and so I don't feel like I have that yet. When the Finance Minister considers how funds should be allocated for roads rather than housing, how does Finance determine the greater advantage of one over the other?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm asking my questions of the Minister of Finance because the policy of favouring road infrastructure over social infrastructure is a matter of financial and political philosophy. Permit applications have been filed for a possible construction of an all-season road to Whati. Given the size of this project, I can only hope the detailed cost-benefit analysis has been created to quantify benefits and returns. Has a cost-benefit analysis been completed and if so, will the Minister table this document for all Members and the public to evaluate? Thank you, Mr...

That's my mother. I have no further comments, thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister just said they could support it in other ways. I'm wondering what those look like.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I noticed recently that ministerial staff have started to describe themselves as special advisors. I am wondering if that is just a title change or whether there are other implications to that. Thank you.