Denny Rodgers

Thank you. And I expect no less, Mr. Speaker. And it's really good news. I just -- I didn't if I got -- she mentioned a pre-feasibility study. But my question was is she willing to look to do -- this government to do a -- in partnership with IRC, a full, robust feasibility study on the heels of that 2021 study. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about opportunities lost but that's in the past. Let's look at our bright future given the announcements of the infrastructure spending that's coming through DND. My question is for the Minister of ITI. Given, again, what I spoke about the work that's on going with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in the Beaufort Delta as well as the LNG we have up there, has the Minister and her department been in contact with the newly elected chair to discuss the ongoing projects that they're working on up there right now? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates, Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the 2026-2027 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. That's certainly good to know. Maybe we can find some more dollars.

But on the policy itself -- and, again, I understand and I appreciate the Minister going to give me an update on how those income thresholds have been chosen, like many policies -- and I mentioned in my statement about being culturally appropriate, and when you're developing policies rather to just be based on numbers and on stats and on CPI and those things, is there also any -- I guess, is there a cultural lens put on that policy to say, hey, sometimes things are a little different, particularly in smaller...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just following up on my Member's statement and my colleague from Monfwi's line of questioning for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment around the fuel subsidy for seniors. And I know that the income threshold has been raised. I don't have the exact number, I think it's around 83 to 85,000. My question is will the Minister -- because I don't think it's enough. I don't think it's close. Will the Minister, once again, take a look at that to ensure that a single person heating a home in Inuvik, that that threshold is adequate. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have an aging population as we know. More people are retiring from many years of service in either the GNWT or other industries in the Northwest Territories. As our cost of living continues to rise, more of our retired seniors and elderly people are being forced to work part-time or make the difficult decision to move south where the cost of living is lower. We have programs such as seniors' home repairs or seniors' fuel subsidy, but the income thresholds of these programs often leave many seniors out in the cold. It is time we look at these policies, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And committee wishes to consider 2026-2027 Main Estimates, Department of Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly and the Department of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I really appreciate that offer and I certainly will take her up on that given to heat a home in Inuvik, just a small home, is between a thousand and 1,400 a month. So it is quite expensive to do that.

Can the Minister -- I mean, I'm not quite sure how this program is subscribed. Is it something that's been oversubscribed, or is it something that, budget-wise, it has been all allocated each year for that? Thank you.