Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm just more than a little bit disappointed that whoever is in charge of the property hasn't bothered to consult or talk to the GNWT about what the remediation plans are at this point because it's heading our way. Look, I'm going to be here asking these questions next year, and I suspect, by then, this property is going to be on our books. A fair heads-up to my colleague on the other side, I will be asking these questions again a year from now. Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's all I have. Thank you.

I want to thank the Minister for that. As this year's budget address points out, though, 30 percent of GNWT operation spending is devoted to health and social programs and services, and in the budget that is proposed for next year, it is going to go up another $75 million. The Minister of Finance said the current expenditure pattern is unsustainable and that a plan was being developed to stabilize health and social services costs. I am quite concerned about what that plan is going to look like, and I don't want it to lead to a reduction in Health and Social Services programs. Can the Minister...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'll get a little bit more technical here. Where would a contingent liability then be? It's not found anywhere in the main estimates. Is it recorded in the public accounts somehow? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. In my statement, I referred to the conditions described in the Health and Social Services System 2019-2020 Annual Report. The report portrays some very mixed results here in the NWT, where we still seem to be lagging behind many other Canadian jurisdictions. Can the Minister describe for us how this tracking of some indicators feeds into planning and delivery of healthcare programs and services, particularly around mental health and addictions? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I'll move on now, too. Can the Minister tell me whether there is any funding in here for inspection and remediation of Cameron Hills? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. One of the earlier speakers mentioned the elimination of the equity lease administration line for 2021-2022. This was a program that was announced with much fanfare by the previous Minister and was supposed to go on for I think five years. Is this ending early, and have all of those leases been inspected now and they've all been transferred to fee simple ownership? Is that what has happened? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Lands at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't think I need to delay this any longer. I move that $303,000 be deleted from the activity corporate management under the Department of Lands for grants, contributions, and transfers related to the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. My understanding was that the work on the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, there had been some money in the EIA budget to look at that work. It's been deleted. Is that work now going to be picked up by the Department of Lands? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell me how long these negotiations have been going on with the federal government to secure funding? Thanks, Mr. Chair.