Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, there was some increase here -- well, there was a couple of reasons. For one all but, as I said, this started in 2022 with the planning, but 2023 and the wildfire season that we experienced that summer certainly hindered significant progress on this first phase, of which first phase was to do, really, the mechanical dredging to reopen and reestablish a safe passageway for barges and for boats and barge traffic. So when that was delayed that certainly, you know, any time that there's work that gets delayed one year to next, that impacts and impedes on the budget...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are still currently in this process of a general rate application that was required by the public utilities board, so at this point we are waiting to see what the public utilities board comes back with.

We are also then very much eagerly anticipating the response of the public utilities board to the 13 different policy proposals that we have put forward as a government to look at ways to change and improve the overall structure and system of the GNWT or of the Northwest Territories power systems, and that includes looking at things like power systems...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, I mean, a broad analysis as to whether or not the funding is successful is probably beyond what I can speak to meaningfully here. I can say that with respect to the funding that's going to these organizations alongside work that's happening at Housing NWT is changing the available spaces that for folks who may require housing in different -- on different parts of the housing spectrum. So, you know, in addition to the Rockhill site that I had mentioned, there's also the Folk on the Rocks site that is looking to be transitional housing. I think that was only discussed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I would be very happy to appear in front of committee. In fact, perhaps a public briefing would be most appropriate to be able to give much more lengthy answers to all of these questions. This is an opportunity with this project to connect 70 percent of the population of the Northwest Territories to hydro. It's an opportunity to take advantage of energy that is spilling over at the current facility in Taltson Dam. It's an opportunity to link our grids, which are currently disconnected grids which is a huge problem for our energy costs and for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I don't know that I have a bed count necessarily here. I can say that initially the project that this was funding was on an estimate that there might be a 50 bed needed; however, it was determined that 25 to 30 person modular would be reasonable and so the numbers came down and the project was being asked to changed. There are 45 beds currently at Spruce Bough; 25 in it transitional housing. And so this does continue to support those efforts in that regard. With respect to the Salvation Army, again, I don't have the numbers in front of me, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm always very happy to talk about the Taltson project that we have underway right now. This is a project that is a partnership amongst the GNWT as one member of the MOU, but our other members are the communities and nations that are around the watershed region, so Akaitcho First Nation, Salt River First Nation, and Northwest Territories Metis Nation. We sit regularly. We had a steering committee meeting just before session commenced, and it was an opportunity for us to reaffirm commitment to the project, met with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, in fact, at that time...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, so a quick response, first, is that this is one-time funding that's going to two organizations. 1.5 -- just over $1.5 million to the Yellowknife Women's Shelter for the Spruce Bough transitional housing services they provide, and $300,000 to the Salvation Army shelter operations. This was money that was otherwise going to be lapsing because of just delays in terms of getting some of the work around transitional housing -- the transitional housing project that had been previously proposed for a site in Yellowknife that apparently there's some zoning challenges in that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I can't speak to what may or may not have been going on back in 2016. But, Mr. Chair, this is an appropriation that is meant to move -- there was -- sorry, there was some funding that sunset previously in health and social services, and then we are now looking to fund this out of ECE and to step in where the funding was previously sunset to now go from what was a federally funded program in health to a GNWT funded program through ECE. Thank you.

Yes, please, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we're being asked to consider a Private Member's bill that touches on an issue that is important and deeply felt not only in this House, not only in our healthcare system, but obviously throughout the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories public service.

And let me begin saying clearly, Mr. Speaker, that nurses are essential. We don't want to see them leave. Their contributions to this territory's healthcare system are invaluable. Their contribution to the health and wellness of all Northwest Territories residents is invaluable.

The GNWT...