Kate Reid

Mr. Speaker, Happy Lunar New Year, Happy Mardi Gras, blessed Shrove Tuesday, and Ramadan Mubarak, Mr. Speaker. My riding is diverse, and I want to remark on all holidays my constituents celebrate where and when I can.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to also note that I have many constituents who are active in the YK Citizens for Ceasefire group. Every Saturday, they brave the cold and make their voices heard at the four-way intersection at 48th Street and 49th Avenue, in support of a free Palestine.

Today, they are rallying and raising their voices in a Canada-wide day of action to call for more...

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. And to the main estimates, I believe the only real substantive pieces that have changed from the previous main estimates to this main estimates in terms of dollar figure is an increase to Francophone services for the educational authorities, Aurora College and WSCC in provision of services in French, and possibly the reduction is with two staff, one full-time and one part-time. Is that really the only money that is being moved around right now? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, you know, we're gonna make the Minister a passionate fan of culture and heritage if it's the last thing I do. That's good to hear. And I just declare one more point of clarity, Mr. Chair. Will we be seeing steps on -- or draft steps to implement as committee in summer of 2026? Thank you.

Well gosh, Mr. Chair. I don't have anything further to press. Look forward to that detail. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. So just looking at the main estimates for this activity, there -- there doesn't mean to be any -- there doesn't appear to be any substantial growth or reduction. It's staying sort of static. And so with the I would say rather continuous pressing of many members on the desire and need to see more tradespeople in -- being trained in the -- in the NWT, having more opportunities for apprenticeship, etcetera, how does the Minister and this division see itself effectively supporting labour market training and development efforts. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's all for now.

Yeah, I would love -- thank you, Mr. Chair. I would love to have a little bit more information if the Minister and her department is willing to share. I think it would be interesting to have that data to track the efficacy of having the two streams and understanding where things are best -- the best fit is for residents.

I guess also I would like to clarify in the same sort of category of questions around that program is whether ECE has encountered any challenges or confusion around the eligibility of the new program or if applicants have uncertainty about which program is more appropriate or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that. I know she has a lot of opportunities to speak to various partners, including federal partners, on topics such as these, including the assets of the mines as they reach their closure.

Mr. Speaker, can she tell me if -- especially in Arctic security, Mr. Speaker, can she tell me if there is interest of the Department of National Defence to utilize some of these airfields and airstrips in their future planning? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ITI.

In 2021, the GNWT participated with many stakeholders, including Indigenous governments, on the Re-Imagining Closure project around mine closure and where ideas of common ground could be found about repurposing assets, among other ideas. Can the Minister tell me the status of conversations between the GNWT and other stakeholders and diamond mines as they close around asset repurposing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So some of the work that's being contemplated with the legislation and the work that is ongoing for future Assemblies, be it the Archives Act or the Heritage Resources Act -- I apologize if that's not the correct title -- that work is being contemplated in existing resources? Thank you, Mr. Chair.