Richard Edjericon

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Canadian Space Agency astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen; Annie Belanger from Canadian Space Agency; Anne Burrow and Dave Sharpe from Bear Claw Strategy. Also, Ted Tsetta, the former chief of YKDFN; Liza Peiper-Charlo, band councillor from YKDFN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, conclusion of Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Department of Finance, form and concurrence -- concurrence.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates. We will consider the departmental totals for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and finance which we previously deferred. We will then consider the borrowing plan for the government reporting entity and established borrowing limits for the Government of the Northwest...

Thank you. Does the committee agree?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just find it hard to believe that, you know, we're still trying to deal with the problems in our community with alcohol and drugs, etcetera, and but we still got policies we got to work around. I'm asking the Minister if he could have a heart and take a look at how we could deal with these issues in small communities, especially when we have addiction in our small communities and drugs. So I'm asking here today what can you do to help our small communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we say that youth are our future. It also takes a community to raise a child.

Mr. Speaker, my communities are looking to establish a youth advocacy position that is urgently, urgently needed, who can connect youth in my communities to the many diverse opportunities that may interest them for sports, culture, education, and counselling. They may require some work between departments but MACA can provide the best opportunities for laying the groundwork by funding these positions through the hamlet, the First Nation offices.

My question to the Minister of MACA...

The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. The motion's in order. The motion's not non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my communities of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh are facing challenges on the scale they never experienced before. These challenges include serious increase in criminal activity, drug use, and mental illness, which are affecting especially our youth. As important as it is to provide our youth easier access to addiction support and keep the streets safer through increased RCMP resources, I am afraid that these solutions are only addressing the symptoms and not the cause of the problem. What my communities need to prevent our youth from falling into the trap of addictions in the first place is a...

Thank you. Members, I'm going to go to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, committee. The borrowing plan is separate from the estimates but required by the Financial Administration Act to be presented with the estimates. Further, the borrowing outlined in the plan will be included in the subsequent Appropriation Act that is presented to the Assembly. Please turn to page 17 to find the borrowing plan from the government reporting entity established borrowing limits for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions, I will now call this page.

The borrowing plan for the government reporting entity and...

Thank you. Committee, we will start with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Please turn to the department summary found on page 29, revenue summary information items on page 30 and 31. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions, committee, I will now call the department summary.

Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditure, total department, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, $403,245,000. Does committee agree?