Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister work with day home operators through -- the department knows who they all are if they're registered day home operators -- to understand this concern more? Because it seems like there's a disconnect between the department and these operators. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would be happy to talk tax policy with the Minister of Finance. I am a big fan of how we can find ways to change our tax policy to incentivize investment in the Northwest Territories, to grow the financial services sector, and to keep people in the North. So if she's willing to have that conversation -- I mean, I think -- let me make it a direct question.

Is the Minister willing to look at this as part of her sustainability efforts and her department's efforts to raise revenue -- or sorry, well -- yeah, maybe -- well, yeah, let's say, like, as part of revenue...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, that's a lot to cram into two days but it is better news than they've had before, so I look forward to speaking to them and see if that works.

The other thing that's not being provided is inclusive childcare for kids with special needs and learning disabilities. There's no funding available to them. I've spoken to the Minister about the SKIP program; it doesn't apply to day homes. They can't hire their own staff. They're sole operators. So how are we providing care for inclusive early childcare and education for these kids? Because they need it. They have doctors...

Great. Well, I guess we could talk about it a bit more, but it's a very good benefit. You know, like, this is -- yeah, I would encourage the Minister to look at ways to increase it. These things are great. They -- you know, we're -- they -- they're going to benefit people staying in the North, in -- you know, taking the edge off the cost of living, and, you know, in particular in communities, smaller communities as well, that's money that's going in to help people pay for groceries, for school lunches, all that stuff. And this seems like a no-brainer to me because it's a really easy way to get...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a parent with young children, daycare is very important in my life, very important for many Northerners. In speaking with day home providers, which are their own industry, it seems like there's some pretty significant issues that are challenging their ability to operate. I've spoken with the Minister about this. I'm hoping she can give some answers to the public now. There seems to be a dispute around pay. Day home operators maintain, at least the ones I've been speaking to, that they make less than minimum wage grid that is being developed for centre...

Okay. Finally, very quickly, does the government intend to maintain taxes on industry and rebates for industry? Thank you.

Thank you. I guess, like, because there would -- I'm looking for gross I guess, or like, the total revenue, because the COLO won't exist either. If the consumer tax goes, there will be nothing to fund the COLO. So I assume that would be direction; maybe we'll confirm that. Will the carbon tax payout stop when the carbon tax revenues stop as well; are they going to be tied together? Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, so I mean hopefully this is a moot point because it seems like there's, again, movement federally to eliminate these. So what is the plan if there is a change to the policy direction from the federal government towards consumer carbon taxes, how will these numbers change? Thank you.

Thank you. Shouldn't that make it go down, Mr. Chair? Thank you.

Thank you. I think the carbon tax report would probably be the best place for it. The issue was in that report previously, there's just been a line item for general revenue or a large -- anything that's not spoken for through the rebate programs is just revenue to the GNWT and then the argument is, well, the GNWT does lots of stuff that's related to climate so that's how we're doing. So it's, you know, dollar for dollar accounting of how it goes. I think the report would be the best place to do that. Can the Minister make that commitment? Thank you.