Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to acknowledge and thank the mover and seconder of the motion for bringing the matter forward in the House. I didn't use my Member's statement to speak to the issue today, but I'm not sure I really have a lot to add that is profound or different from what my colleagues have already said. I acknowledge that racism continues to exist here in the Northwest Territories and that we do need to work to stop it and put in place measures that will help people reach their full potential. I acknowledge that my colleagues on the Cabinet side have started some of that...

I want to thank the Minister for that. It sounds like the backlog is going to be taken care of maybe before the end of March, and I really do appreciate that. These problems with the sterilization equipment, though, appear to have started soon after the new building was opened. Of course, this was a very large public-private partnership P3 arrangement, so I want to know from the Minister if she can tell us what the total cost of the investigations and delays were and who is responsible for these costs?

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The problem with sterilization equipment at Stanton hospital began in July 2020 and took almost six months to resolve. I do want to acknowledge that the new Minister certainly updated the public and myself more regularly when she took over the portfolio and did contact residents who were waiting, but I still have a basic question. What was the cause of the problem with the sterilization equipment, and has it been permanently fixed? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Rather than have the Minister read it off, perhaps she could provide that to me or to SCEDE? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Wow, I actually got through all of my questions. I want to thank the Minister and her staff for responding fairly quickly. I just wanted to note for the record that we have a wood-pellet boiler system, as well, in our home. When we put it in, it was $35,000. The prices have gone up significantly, but it is a big cost. We actually have hoppers on the outside of the house, and it's delivered pneumatically. With pressure, they can blow the pellets into hoppers, and you don't have to load the individual bags in. It's a big benefit that way, especially when you're an old guy...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I'd like to turn to the Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund. There is a significant surplus that has built up here, and I'm just wondering when we're going to start to spend it. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Rather than eat the clock up here, can I get a commitment, then, from the Minister to share some more information about what that project is all about and whether there are any other mini hydro projects or work being done in the other Tlicho communities? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Bingo, I got it. I appreciate that. I think this is the part of the budget where the Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund is found as an information item. I'd like to know: there seems to be quite a lot of money that's built up as surplus in this fund. When can we expect that this is going to start to be spent? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. This is more of a comment. We spent tens of millions of dollars on these two projects, and I, as a legislator, have not seen an updated cost estimate. I don't know what else I can say. That's just not good management. I will leave it at that. I want to ask about the strategic infrastructure line on page 243, $667,000. Can someone tell me briefly what that is actually for? Thank you.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I will confess that I don't know how many kilometres of highways we have. Does the Minister have some kind of figure or the cost per kilometre? Is it, I don't know, $10 a kilometre that we pay to maintain a highway? Thanks, Madam Chair.