Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's not what I asked. I believe that the deputy minister had indicated that there had been some discussions already with large emitters around regulations. Can someone confirm whether that is the case? Thank you.

I think we might have more discussion about whether this should be part of our policy coming forward. Later in the Minister's statement he sings the praises of P3s, and I would like to know: he talks about how the Mackenzie Valley fibre link is an effective way of delivering large strategic infrastructure projects that are essential for the NWT, so is there some sort of an evaluation framework or criteria for success for the Mackenzie Valley fibre link?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, that is kind of interesting. Committee is not going to exist in about 10 to 12 days. How can this be shared with committee when committee is only going to be around until August 31st? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I would like to ask the Minister of Infrastructure some questions regarding his statement earlier today. He noted that there are going to be specific requirements established for hiring and training local residents with regard to the Tlicho All-Season Road. This is something I have advocated for a long time, that we actually have specific targets and commitments and requirements built into large infrastructure projects. Can the Minister provide us some details of what these specific requirements are actually going to be? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I do have some questions on clause 8. There is provision in this clause for a rebate of carbon tax. It says that the Minister may, in accordance with the regulations, provide a rebate. Also, in 2.3, large emitters are to be, I guess, defined by regulation, and grants can be prescribed by regulation. Firstly, there is no definition of what a large emitter is in the bill. What is a large emitter? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I just love the passion of the Minister, again, and I am sure she can encourage her fellow Ministers to be as collaborative on all fronts with this side of the House. I would like to know, though: how is the Minister going to ensure that the new action plan under the Arts Strategy is put together in a way that it ensures our support programs are designed to take advantage of matching funding in other complementary programs?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So, yes, we have got a comparison now between GNWT's approach and what's being done in New Brunswick, so I don't think it's really fair to say that this is what the federal backstop would look like for the Northwest Territories. I just want to make that very clear. The debate, some of the debate, is around that this would cost us less or that the rebates would be larger under the GNWT approach than the federal backstop. This is a federal backstop for New Brunswick. It has nothing to do with us.

The federal backstop that has been negotiated though in the Yukon, this is what it...

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. My statement recounted the disappointed arts community leaders who report that they have long appealed for the collection of hard data on the value of extended productivity of their sector. They say that this kind of data should have driven consultations around the development of an action plan for the NWT Arts Strategy. I would like to ask the Minister: why has the detailed data collection, through a survey of artists, producers, and presenters, not been done? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I didn't make those promises. Ministers did in this House, or even outside the House. All I am pushing for is to make sure that we fulfill those promises. There were further promises made to extend the fibre optic link to Tuktoyaktuk. Can the Minister explain the status of this work, its costs, and whether it will happen in advance of real connections and improvements in the communities that were supposed to be served by the fibre link in the first place?'

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I believe I heard the Minister say that concerns had been raised by OROGO and the NEB. This gets back to this issue of concurrence by the federal government, and I'd like to raise a point of privilege that this is impinging upon my ability to do my job as an MLA and put forward a motion for consideration of the House. I think this is thwarting my ability to bring forward a motion that is in the public interest, in my view. I turn my mind to some of the comments that were made yesterday by the Minister, as well, where, you know, federal consent was being sought as far back as...