Caroline Wawzonek

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 36, Appropriation Act, (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2026-2027, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have had concerns raised at times, certainly in this government, where we had a very narrow set of four priorities. It was raised at some departments or at least divisions since the work that they did every day that they believed was for residents was not going to be reflected in business plans because it didn't necessarily, at least on first blush, reflect overtly or directly the priorities. So, again, I appreciate it. I think there's probably some back and forth to be had.

Too much information is of no benefit to the public to understand or to Members to...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes that Bill 39, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2025-2026, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I suppose that may be a matter of interpretation in the sense that departments certainly are very well aware of the priorities of this Assembly. It is incumbent on, obviously, Ministers as being politically accountable, deputy ministers as being operationally accountable to deliver on the priorities. So to the extent that the business plans do not align with the priorities, that really should come forward.

Every main estimates, that's why we put them with the main estimates. It gives a good opportunity for Members here in this House to critique the main estimates...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2024-2025, be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an area, Mr. Speaker, where it's, I think, good to acknowledge that only a few short years ago we had very few evaluative staff in the service of the public service, and we certainly have increased our roster over the last few years and increased the focus through initiatives such as government renewal which really does expect all departments to participate in monitoring and evaluation. So, at present, Mr. Speaker, we have seven different departments and agencies who have their own embedded staff, but in the absence of that, Mr. Speaker, we do work with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have a few things to say.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to rise today to express support for the 2026-2027 Capital Estimates and to reaffirm our government's commitment to delivering infrastructure that meets the needs of Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, this year's plan outlines over $436 million in investments that will strengthen our communities, improve public services, and support economic growth. These investments include major projects in housing, health care, energy, and transportation, each one designed to improve the quality of life, build resilience across the territory...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a resident of Yellowknife South, Mr. Marc Whitford who is president of the North Slave Metis Alliance. He and Linda I've known for many, many years. We're almost neighbours. Welcome one more time to the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 39, Supplementary Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2025-2026, be read for the second time. This bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation Act, (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2024-2025, be read for the second time. This bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures and borrowing authorization of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.