Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the parties did begin the negotiations in March of 2023. Again, this summer season has brought quite a number of unexpected challenges and emergencies to everyone's feet. But, again, I do want to assure that the GNWT and the union do continue to have discussions. They've been in contact even throughout the evacuations. I know the department has appreciated the opportunity to be engaged, not necessarily about negotiations, but even just as a resource to be able to maintain the contact and the line of communications. All that said, though, I don't expect an...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, the federal government is a fairly significant partner in this project. I believe that we are still sitting at approximately 75/25 percent on this, but let me just pause to the deputy minister to see if I'm correct. I'm correct with that.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the facilities that are currently being used to house all of the territorial archives are not at national standards. This is meant to be, at this point, just a temporary stop gap measure in advance of a full standalone archives being a project that can be contemplated. But at this point, we do need to protect those cultural materials. So this is meant to be that work to get that process underway. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to update the Legislative Assembly on the Government of the Northwest Territories' fiscal situation since the tabling of the 20232024 Budget. It goes without saying this has been an extraordinarily difficult financial year not only for the government but for many Northwest Territories' residents and businesses. Despite the challenges, our actions to address fiscal pressures, combined with federal disaster assistance, means that our fiscal outlook remains stable over the medium term.

We will end 20222023 with an operating surplus, despite last year's...

The short answer is yes, Madam Chair. I think there's a fairly good network around Canada between different jurisdictions, depending on the needs of any particular wildfire season or at any particular point within the wildfire season. Thank you.

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I'm going to go on a limb here based on all of the information I've seen over the last few weeks is that we're not ready to necessarily make concrete plans in response to the current wildfire season and that the afteraction reviews that have been spoken about already in the House are, you know, underway but certainly far from complete. So that question will have to probably wait until that process is complete. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: What We Heard Affirmative Action Policy Review; Public Service Annual Report 2022/2023; 69th Annual Report 20222023 Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board; and, the 69th Annual Report 20222023 Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I still have the deputy Minister of Finance with me, and I'm now joined by Dr. Erin Kelly who is the deputy minister for Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at present, there's two programs already operational, and they were both stood during the midst of the evacuation. The first one I'll speak to out of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. We changed the SEED program that a lot of businesses that are familiar with, added on a directive relating specifically to the wildfires. Under this program at present, there is a contribution amount of up to $5,000 for eligible costs that were incurred. There's also, under the BDIC, they've also had their board brought their board together and established a...