Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say I've had the chance to speak to the Minister of Transportation. I know the Premier has as well. We've certainly taken this up with respect to wanting to make sure that that fund gets utilized appropriately. It's only an amount that starts to get at some of the needs we have. It does not build the road entirely. So I am not sure if it's going to be a one-third or if it's going to be project-allocated. We have been certainly, and I think with our sister and brother territories, saying that this is not going to be enough in a big sense. But...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am already in contact quite regularly with all three of the Indigenous governments who are lining the ultimate route of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The current MOU exists between the GNWT and SSI. We also have a work plan signed with the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and certainly am looking and hopeful that we will see an expansion in a formal capacity to bring all three groups, or all four groups with the GNWT, into a formal agreement. So certainly supportive of that, Mr. Speaker. The next step really will be to do that in alignment with the timing...

Yeah, Mr. Speaker, I am obviously not being asked for a solution today. We're being asked to work on a solution. So yes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, absolutely there's no doubt that that's true. We do want to ensure, of course, that we work always with the Association of Nurses and the authority to make sure that we are meeting the best possible standards for all staffing here, but certainly aware that that is an opportunity that we want to look at, that we are finding all the best possible available staff wherever they may be from. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that at this point in time there is no plan or intention to remove the franchising opportunity or to otherwise remove right now the presence of other franchises here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two pages here today, but I see only one in the gallery, so I might hold off for tomorrow on the other. But fortunately for me Ms. Shanli Carlson is a resident of Yellowknife South, and I am always happy to see her when she's visiting us here at the ledge. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can certainly say that that conversation -- this wouldn't be the first time that that conversation comes to light, that myself and the Minister of Health and Social Services are both very live to this, would like to work on this. So, again, just acknowledging and wanting our frontline staff to know that I am acknowledging that they are already quite busy, but in terms of figuring out that pathway, how we can provide that opportunity and provide that service, again, absolutely happy to look into that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I certainly didn't mean to not answer the question but simply to emphasize that at this point in time there are two utility companies here operating in the Northwest Territories, and there's not an expectation or any -- I've not received any other interest in changing that. So, Mr. Speaker, the focus has been on trying to ensure that the two companies work well together in terms of generation, distribution, and in working together when there is overlap between them in those two things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decision by the Hay River Town Council to switch providers was now 12 years ago. So quite a lot has obviously changed in the interim time, but I will certainly go back to NTPC and see what they can provide in terms of some analysis of what has changed in the power rates over the last 12 years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mayor of the city of Yellowknife has not expressed any concern of being excluded of the project. And, Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot of work on the current MOU and signed an MOU right now with the two landholding groups. We're going to follow through with commitments in that, which includes ensuring that there's economic benefits for all Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.