Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's different pots of money that may all be available and, firstly, any and everyone interested in opening a business or expanding a business along the Mackenzie Valley Highway can and should be reaching out to their regional ITI department. That is an opportunity to create businesses and to expand businesses, build businesses, as we anticipate work on this project to move forward quickly in the next little while.

There's also funding that is managed through strategic infrastructure with respect to the capacity and work readiness. So just last week, as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to have a page from Yellowknife South. She also happens to be someone I know very well. This is Ms. Savannah Gostlin who is paging for us here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can certainly say that that conversation -- this wouldn't be the first time that that conversation comes to light, that myself and the Minister of Health and Social Services are both very live to this, would like to work on this. So, again, just acknowledging and wanting our frontline staff to know that I am acknowledging that they are already quite busy, but in terms of figuring out that pathway, how we can provide that opportunity and provide that service, again, absolutely happy to look into that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I certainly didn't mean to not answer the question but simply to emphasize that at this point in time there are two utility companies here operating in the Northwest Territories, and there's not an expectation or any -- I've not received any other interest in changing that. So, Mr. Speaker, the focus has been on trying to ensure that the two companies work well together in terms of generation, distribution, and in working together when there is overlap between them in those two things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decision by the Hay River Town Council to switch providers was now 12 years ago. So quite a lot has obviously changed in the interim time, but I will certainly go back to NTPC and see what they can provide in terms of some analysis of what has changed in the power rates over the last 12 years. Thank you.

Yeah, Mr. Speaker, I am obviously not being asked for a solution today. We're being asked to work on a solution. So yes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, absolutely there's no doubt that that's true. We do want to ensure, of course, that we work always with the Association of Nurses and the authority to make sure that we are meeting the best possible standards for all staffing here, but certainly aware that that is an opportunity that we want to look at, that we are finding all the best possible available staff wherever they may be from. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that at this point in time there is no plan or intention to remove the franchising opportunity or to otherwise remove right now the presence of other franchises here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two pages here today, but I see only one in the gallery, so I might hold off for tomorrow on the other. But fortunately for me Ms. Shanli Carlson is a resident of Yellowknife South, and I am always happy to see her when she's visiting us here at the ledge. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I've already signed an MOU that says that we are committed to drive significant economic activity for Indigenous and northern residents and communities through responsible and environmentally sustainable critical mineral development. That is what the MOU that we just signed says, Mr. Speaker. I intend to follow through on that. I am more than happy to present on this project to committees, to MLAs, to the mayor, to the city, whoever wants to have those conversations. We are only at a stage of development, but quite frankly we're behind. We need to get this moving...