Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, again, much of a similar response in that I'm certainly happy to work with my colleague. Obviously, you know, we certainly do have responsibility under the carbon tax in the Department of Finance but then the subsidy rests with ECE. So I know that there's some work happening with the income assistance review, and so we will ensure that the two departments are speaking to one another about the perspective impacts of the carbon tax issue and then looking at how that might be addressed, if possible, under programs under another department. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a fairly new roll out. There certainly has been funds available prior to now but it was ad hoc whereas now there is a more formalized process by which interested parties can apply. There are, you know, maximums and some eligibility requirements. But in short, Mr. Speaker, it is meant to be a fund that formalizes an opportunity. So precisely as is asked, that governments and organizations can apply, have money to attend conferences, to attend training, to bring training into their communities and to their people. It is being run as a pilot. And I just say that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to speak to this. I mean, obviously just, you know, noting firstly that the NTPC obviously is responsible for managing its own affairs. That said, I do have the opportunity to meet with their officers and staff and the Minister responsible, and it just so turns out that the Minister responsible and myself are on the steering committee for the Taltson hydro project. So lots of opportunity in that respect to ensure that all the right parties are alive and aware of what projects are in the region, the timeline of the various projects in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a situation of jurisdiction at hand and the federal government does have a jurisdiction. There's been challenges by other jurisdictions around carbon pricing and carbon tax systems. I certainly will commit to continuing the conversation. I want to make clear that there have been conversations between officials from the Department of Finance but as well as officials within other departments who are also taking a lead on climate change or climate change impacts here in the Northwest Territories. But Mr. Speaker, I most certainly will continue to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we are later well, I guess in 2023, facing a prospect of the federal government having changed the carbon tax system. As such, we are in a position having to amend our carbon tax system to be compliant. It is going to have an impact on residents in the North notwithstanding the fact that we are not wellplaced to respond to carbon tax changes and respond to the need to reduce GHG emissions as other jurisdictions in the south might be.

I am particularly cognizant, Mr. Speaker, ridings such as Nunakput, are especially going to be hard hit. They are already...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't necessarily speak to what might be happening mine by mine or project by project. Certainly what I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that indeed, yes, at the Nechalacho Project, Deton Cho are, indeed, the miners of that project. They are the ones running the contract and doing the mining. That is, I think, perhaps maybe a first in Canada; certainly a first in the Northwest Territories. And I can't agree more, this is the way of the future, and it is you know, I think it is something where we are starting to see access to equity change, access to whether it's...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure that we would necessarily have a final on that at this point. I mean, the system hasn't even been designed yet. So I mean, I can only speak to it from the perspective of knowing what happens over with ISSS that there certainly is some O and M that is associated with big technical projects. But, again, at this point, we don't even have the system actually designed. So it's premature for me to take an estimate. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, only to acknowledge that with respect to the Department of Finance more generally, I am aware that this is an issue that's come up. And I will, you know, speak with Minister Archie so that between the two of us, and then we'll be prepared to answer those questions in the course of the review of the capital plans in COW. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, again, Mr. Chair, some of the work that's occurring a lot of the work that's occurring has, indeed, been done through GNWT's public service. There are also some contracts with the entity that's responsible for LTOS platform, the Spatial Dimension Canada, which is involved there. I can't I don't have in front of me whether or not that's the entire amount that was referenced by the Member. But those would be the way that the money has gone, as I've said again, that there's the both internal funding that's been used for our own staff as well as for, again, the trimble...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think that is a question that's looking at the entire capital budget that is being proposed. So let me take that back and when the Department of Finance is here, that might be the time to attempt a more fulsome response. Thank you.