Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too want to welcome some of our guests today. Martha McLellan, she's a Range Lake resident; and, Kathryn Barry Paddock, and also a Range Lake resident. And I'd also like to recognize Mika Cameron. She was an important educator in my life coming up in the Northwest Territories. Thank you for being here today.

Thank you. And just to be clear, like, I understand the Minister's intentions here and that there is a -- we're all on the same page that we want to build these homes and we want to invest more, and it's the resourcing question and a dollar question. But don't be afraid to disappoint me, right, because when you say we've got a $50 million -- like, last year, we negotiated a $50 million plan. And earlier this year, when we were -- well, I can't say what we were discussing earlier because it was in-camera but earlier this year, we got different information, and now again we're back to a zero...

So has it gone from $150 million notional plan to a $50 million incremental plan, is that correct? Thank you.

Okay, well, I had other totals there that I was looking for clarification on, but if the Minister doesn't want to answer that, that's fine. I'm going to go back to this incremental plan.

So is it $50 million -- sorry, is it $150 million of new spending, or is it $150 million of total spend -- of current spending that's just being wrapped up into an incremental plan? That's really the crux here. Are we spending more on housing or the same on housing? Thank you.

Thank you. Sorry, can the Minister just confirm, an implementation plan? Oh, incremental plan. Okay, can I understand what that means. Because it's gone from -- sorry, I said $50 million. It was $150 million, but our understanding was to be $50 million a year. That sounds incremental to me. Is it not that; is it something else? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I support the motion under consideration by the House -- or by the committee. The Member, I think, has laid out the rationale for it quite eloquently which is we're all very aware that this decision was made unexpectedly. Well, not -- the decision was made unexpectedly but the rationale behind the decision has been known I think to the college, to the Minister, to the department for quite some time. But the timing of it was, of course, surprising to this House and to the department. So when we see something like that, I think it's -- we have to be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister -- I'm kind of spitballing ideas here. But is the Minister aware of any federal funding pots that this would be eligible for? The city's receiving $25 million right now. Is there something that the department could help them access more money working with MACA, whoever it needs to be, but could we break down some silos and get the city some money so we can complete this project? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is one we should be spending -- we should be fulfilling our commitments to communities to 100 percent. But this is an extraordinary cost that's well beyond what the city can afford to pay. Every year it gets more expensive. Will the Minister find a way to work with his Cabinet colleagues, with the city of Yellowknife, with the NWTAC, with the federal government, with everyone who has a cheque book, and get the city the money it needs so we can have safe, clean drinking water for half of our residents in this territory? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is something that's been troubling our community for quite some time, and the Yellowknife River water pipeline that's been built since '68 has been in dire need of replacement for a number of years. In 2017, when I served this Assembly previously, it was pegged at $34.5 million. Last year, it was $62.7 million. This year it's now $107 million. Our city cannot afford this pipeline. Our residents deserve safe drinking water. Can I ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs how is he supporting the city of Yellowknife in completing this important...

No, thank you, Madam Chair.