Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. First off, I'd like to thank the mover of the motion for a very eloquent and detailed rationale that sets out the importance of supporting universal daycare in our communities. I don't really want to repeat any of her arguments. I think she made them very well. What I want to do though, Mr. Chair, is focus back on the priorities that we identified as the 18th Assembly earlier on in our lives here. Back in December, the priority reads under “Cost of Living” number 6: “Implementing universal and affordable childcare.” That's what we committed to do together before people...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I do appreciate the Member opposite providing a good summary of the good work that Arctic Energy Alliance does carry out. I think part of the difficulty here with this proposed amendment to the motion is that it would basically take away one of the measurable targets or actions for this particular item in the mandate, and that's to expand programs. We haven't said over what period of time or even how much, but it's an inspirational part of this action in here to basically expand those programs.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), the Proposed Mandate of The Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, be amended on page 21 by deleting the words “We will provide incentives for residents to invest in energy efficient products, help businesses, condominiums and co-operatives make investments in energy conservation and energy efficiency, support residents and communities so they can make investments into renewable energies such as solar, and improve the energy efficiency of public housing,” and inserting the words “We will expand and improve access to...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I note that in the proposed mandate, on page 13, the same section that we're talking about, there is a long list of legislation that the Cabinet has proposed that we review in light of devolution. They include a new Mineral Resources Act, the amendments to the Northwest Territories Mining Regulations, the NWT Lands Act, the Commissioner's Lands Act, the Territorial Parks Act, the Petroleum Resources Act, the Oil and Gas Operations Act, the Waters Act, the Environmental Protection Act, and the Forest Management Act.

That's a good list, but I don't understand why the review of...

I apologize. I didn't give the Minister much advance notice of this. This seems to be a quickly evolving situation. I'm just wondering if the Minister can tell us then how these two pilot positions were actually evaluated, and would he be prepared to share that with at least this MLA?

[English translation not provided.] Mr. Speaker, I have a number of Yellowknifers who have contacted me regarding termination of care aids working at Stanton Hospital effective March 31. Can the Minister tell us how so many care aids are currently working at Stanton, when this service started, and what sort of duties they perform? Sorry, that question would be to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I promise I won't speak for 10 minutes, which is my usual habit. This was a difficult process for us all to go through and a learning experience for us all. I do appreciate all of the work that our staff put into this document, and Cabinet put into this as well. I was probably negligent in my opening remarks not recognizing the work that Cabinet and their staff have put it into this document. I do appreciate the work that we've all put it into this.

Earlier in my remarks in consideration of this document I said that I couldn't support it as it had been brought forward. I'm...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to be voting in favour of this motion for a number of reasons. Recently, Yellowknife MLAs did meet with the mayor and city council here in Yellowknife to talk about some issues of importance for them. The mayor has been on the public record as supporting changes to the Cities, Towns and Villages Act to enable the City of Yellowknife to use local improvement charges as one way to set up a revolving fund that would allow residents to access the capital costs of energy efficiency without having to put all the money themselves up-front. They can start to pay for the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For those that are listening, or are going to read this in the Hansard, the difference here is we’re changing the wording that was in the tabled document from “provide incentives” to “we will expand and improve access to incentives.” That’s the key difference here. Just a little bit of an explanation. The original wording says, “provide incentives.” We already do that through the Arctic Energy Alliance, so I don’t think this really represents any kind of innovation or change in any way, and I think what I heard, certainly, during the campaign and from a number of...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have one further amendment I’d like to propose to the mandate document. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), the Proposed Mandate of The Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, be amended on page 21 by deleting the words “We will provide incentives for residents to invest in energy efficient products, help businesses, condominiums and co-operatives make investments in energy conservation and energy efficiency, support residents and communities so they can make investments into renewable energies such as solar, and improve the energy efficiency of public housing...