Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. There's a lot of eager beavers here today.

---Laughter

While we're on this department, I just want to ask about the first quarter funding for energy solutions, which I believe also includes Arctic Energy Alliance and our own work as a government on energy conservation, energy efficiencies, and so on. I'm just wondering what rough portion we're looking at spending in the first quarter of 2016-2017. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Premier for his response. I guess I was asking the question, though, in the context of this First Ministers’ meeting in Vancouver that he is going down to. I am wondering if he has any specific asks or requests that he is going to be making at that meeting, and if he could share those with the House.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the Minister for that response. Presumably, though, we're looking at engaging folks beyond just the university. We're talking, presumably, the mining industry, environmental organizations, Aboriginal governments, the co-management bodies. All of those would be part of consultations that will take place regarding these guidelines as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mothers-to-be across the Northwest Territories want to have their babies with the assistance of well-trained midwives who are supported by a comprehensive, stable, and well-funded midwifery program in all of the regional centres across the Northwest Territories. For the sake of our young families, I hope the Minister will confirm real progress and certainty on moving forward with midwifery in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's good to hear, and I thank the Minister for his response. I just want to confirm that there's also funding in the first quarter for work to be done on the guidelines of the Minister mentioned in the House, if that wasn’t earlier this week it was last week. I believe that the department is preparing some guidelines. Is there funding in the first quarter for some work on the guidelines? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I presume that's December 31, 2016, then, just end of year. We're talking about a bunch of different years here, so I just want to nail down that end date for this particular program. Thanks.

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the Minister's answer, and I'm satisfied with that. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Now that is starting to make some sense for me. Finally, to close it off then, we are not looking at any substantive change between what we spent in 2015-2016 in the first quarter for income assistance and student financial assistance as opposed to what is being proposed in 2016-2017. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I’m not sure I am getting my question across the best way I can then, perhaps. For income assistance, student financial assistance, what are the proportions of the total spending that we are looking at in the first quarter? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the assurance then that the Minster has provided, that there's no changes or cuts that are being proposed to energy efficiency and conservation programs from the department. Maybe just one general comment if I may, that next time we have interim appropriations, which may not be for another four years, past my life, or all of our collective lives, that if there are significant variations that fall below the 25 per cent, it would be helpful to get those explanations provided to committee. Thank you.