Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In her appearance before the Standing Committee on Government Operations, the Information and Privacy Commissioner had requested that her office receive additional funding to fund a deputy commissioner who would eventually take over part of the functions of that office as it is split over two jurisdictions. I am just wondering if that request was seen by the Legislative Assembly and whether it was approved? Thank you.

I spoke to some of these students, potentially before that happened, and they were quite upset about not being able to do this education here in the North, or at least start this education here in the North. Is there any possibility that exceptions can be made for these students to continue on the educational path that they had originally planned to do before this announcement was made?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Finance Minister's address, he committed to restoring funding to Aurora College to deliver the social work and teacher education programs but made note that there will be no additional intake for these two programs, so I would like to ask the Minister of Education if he can explain how this process is going to work and what the students who were previously impacted by this change can expect now that this financial commitment has come forward from this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that the Minister thought that this was a good idea, but, clearly, there has been a reversal decision there, which I appreciate. Perhaps the Minister can just remind this House and the public: when will the strategic plan be available for review, and can we get a concrete timeline, please, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

What of the access program students who were planning on taking this program? Will they still be able to fulfill those goals? We will start with that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise to speak to the Finance Minister's recent statement on cooperation in the 2017-18 budget. It is no secret that we have had a very spirited debate in this House over this very important issue of our fiscal and strategic priorities moving forward into the 2017-18 year.

I am very pleased today to share in the announcement that we have achieved a compromise on the budget and that Regular Members, working together, have found a way to express their concerns both publicly and privately through the established practice of consensus...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move this committee to defer further consideration of the directorate activity in the Department of Finance, Main Estimates 2017-2018 on page 132 at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

How many families are currently receiving the benefit under the current structure of the benefit? Thank you

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If there was a change in our tax rates, is it the director who would be responsible for implementing that change? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I neglected to ask about the NWT Child Benefit, so in the department total I'll just ask some questions about this.

So this is a new change that's coming forward again with the passage of a piece of legislation that is currently with committee at second reading in this House, and it will increase the benefits payable through the fund or, sorry, through the credit. How many families are going to benefit from the enhanced NWT child benefit? Thank you.