Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly strongly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs simplify its approach in responding to the Auditor General's recommendations at paragraphs 109 and 112 of the Auditor General's report, such that the proposed actions are responsive to the purpose and intent of each recommendation; and further, that the department subsequently adjust its 2019-20 target date, identified under proposed priority action 109.6, to allow for a more timely response. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate all Members of this House for being strong voices of their people over what has been a long and often, as other honourable Members have pointed out, arduous session, but the debate in this House and differences of opinion ultimately make us a stronger Assembly and a better government for the people of the Northwest Territories.

We've seen a great deal of success in the passing of the budget that was a compromise between two viewpoints and, again, is a stronger budget because of it. We have new funding for homecare, for mental health support...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs include indicators in its action plan which measure progress in implementing identified actions as a means of achieving improvements in essential service delivery at the community level. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs consult with local government administrators of the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities on the proposed actions contained in the action plan before finalizing it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that any GNWT department selected in the future for an audit provide the Standing Committee on Government Operations with a copy of its action or implementation plan in draft format; and further that this document not be finalized until the department has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations made as a result of the standing committee's review. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Can the Minister tell us what is the complaint process for procurement in the Northwest Territories? How do people complain about our procurement system?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, government procurement often comes up in my discussions with constituents, and particularly in supporting our economy, and our government has recognized that government procurement is an important driver. So now that the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment also has the responsibility for the Department of Transportation, soon to be the Department of Infrastructure, all under one roof will he commit to a comprehensive procurement reform for the Northwest Territories that involves stakeholders and creates a better system of government procurement...

I, of course, represent the business community that makes frequent use of trades. I have laid out some of the good work the department is doing already. I wonder if the department spoke with the people making use of this program and agrees that their businesses are unsupported, or not supported as much as they could be. I clock that at 25 per cent capacity of what they get. Does the Minister agree that, by providing more financial resources, we could get more people into the trades and more apprenticeships going with these businesses?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the hardworking tradespeople of the Northwest Territories, who have pursued very important skills that are in high demand, not only here but throughout Canada. I also want to recognize that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does support our tradespeople through apprenticeship programs, and the continuous support for the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Certification program.

The department assists and supports the development, maintenance, and delivery of designated trade and occupational training programs that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure if my understanding of this is that it is a replacement of the Code of Conduct, but it is rather linking the Oath of Office to the Code of Conduct, so we are, as Members, after we swear our Oaths, we will be held accountable to the Code of Conduct. A great deal of discussion was had about how to give the Code of Conduct teeth, more or less actual, enforceable, and tangible results, and that was a discussion that we had in Caucus early on, and we all agreed was important, so the motion was more than aspirational, but actually had some impact on our behavior...