Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, immigration enriches our communities, enhances our economy, strengthens our diversity, and grows our population, which is a very important goal for this government. Though the benefits of immigration are indisputable, the policies that govern immigration are often complex and difficult to make effective in various jurisdictions in Canada. Mr. Speaker, immigration is a shared responsibility and much of it is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Our government operates its own nominee program through the Departments of Industry, Tourism and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this work expected to be completed within the next fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under the corrections line, there is North Slave Correctional Centre security retrofit. Here in Yellowknife, $55,000. I just would like to confirm if that retrofit is an appropriation allocated to correct the security flaws identified after the escape in the facility. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under community health programs, if I may question that area, there is a line for sobering centre, Yellowknife, $100,000. I am just wondering if the Minister can provide details on this project to date? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider the following matters. Tabled Document 383-18(2), Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018; Tabled Document 384-18(2), Supplementary Estimates, (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018; Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act; Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, No. 2. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you again to the Minister. It is very concerning when members of the community bring these concerns forward and are talking about leaving the territory. In other provincial jurisdictions that have more robust provincial programs to support nominations, the federal government is taking their cues from that. I think particularly of Quebec, which has a very robust system to attract francophones and anglophones into the province.

Would the Minister commit to starting that work here, in the Northwest Territories, not just a conversation with the federal Minister, which is important, but also...

Thank you for that. I'm content that the government did conduct its consultations appropriately. I just raise this issue because often we aspire to very effective legislation that's based on examples drawn from other jurisdictions and sometimes we can forget that Northerners and northern districts may not be up to the same capacity as southern jurisdictions. I guess I'll just leave it with this. I think we're only affecting a small section of the economy, and if Mr. Walker did not raise those concerns, then I'm content that these concerns have been properly addressed through the legislative...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I spoke on the importance of immigration for countless benefits to our society here, in the Northwest Territories. I'd like to ask questions to the Minister of ECE's role in supporting our nominee program. I understand there are two new families and businesses and seven new residents in total that have come to the Northwest Territories through this program. Can the Minister explain how the department works to support family reunification through the nominee program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I said earlier, the Standing Committee on Government Operations heard from Mr. Roger Walker as owner and general manager of Territorial Tobacco Products. Mr. Walker presented us with a great many documents and a long history of dealing with taxation of tobacco in the Northwest Territories and his concerns about potential tax slippage. We were also provided with information from the government's own internal audit bureau on this, and at this point the standing committee is content with the response from government, and his concerns fell outside of the scope of the bill...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning is pleased to provide its report on the progress review of the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, and commends it to the House.

The 18th Legislative Assembly's decision to set out a four-year mandate for its term represents an important evolution of consensus government. For the first time, all 19 Members agreed on defined actions to advance the priorities they set. These were set out in the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 and approved...