Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can certainly confirm it is an area that the two departments are working on together, and they are looking to ensure that they are putting forward a package that is aligned and cohesive between the two.

Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to commit to get a detailed timeline on that work. I didn't bring it in front of me here today, but I have heard this issue raised many times. It's not only a matter that affects NGOs. It's one that can hinder the availability of arts programs and festivals and activities that really can bring a lot of life to the community. So I am more than...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned at the beginning, Mr. Speaker, the individualized relief program, which is a cash payment, that program was reviewed after the 2023 evacuations and fires, and the changes that we've made were in response to that. I'm obviously well aware that there's been an after-action review of the broader response with respect to the wildfires here and the way in which that's managed. And again, all but the one recommendation are being accepted and advanced by the Government of the Northwest Territories as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, there's not going to be an additional and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Mr. Speaker, prior to 2023 there was no form of reliable or consistent relief funding whatsoever. In 2023, initially after the South Slave regions had experienced multiple evacuations, the department started to try to, on an urgent basis, create some sort of system or a program to support folks. And now with that, Mr. Speaker, in 2023, we developed a couple of different programs and the feedback was that that was complicated. And so on review of those programs, it was after that review that a determination was made to have a single website system where folks who...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is going to be the Have Your Say website that is available, and folks are hopefully familiar with that tool. It is used across the GNWT. That will be coming out this calendar year. So certainly will send that to my colleagues and hopefully get the word out to the public that that's happening and certainly would want to encourage anyone who's interested. Traditionally, Mr. Speaker, this would be a piece of legislation that because it focuses on the public service and is a tool related to the public service wouldn't have necessarily gone through as...

Mr. Speaker, as Canada's digital landscape continues to evolve, so too do the threats to critical infrastructure, government services, and personal information. Meeting these challenges requires a united approach. Cyber security is a shared responsibility, and our collective efforts are key to building a more secure future.

On September 22nd and 23rd, I had the honour of joining my colleagues at the federal-provincial-territorial Ministers' symposium on digital trust and cybersecurity in Kananaskis, Alberta. At this forum, we collectively recognized the increasing complexity of cyber threats...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me jump to the very end there, Mr. Speaker. With respect to e-services, that happens to also fall under the Department of Finance and is something near and dear to my heart that I think lies too far under the radar sometimes in terms of the service benefits it can provide. That said, I don't have a date right now. I would certainly be happy to commit to getting that information, and we'll certainly look to advance to the extent that we can. That should be one of the next areas that we look to move, if possible, to one of the online e-service areas. That is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what this is meant to cover are sort of incidentals, if you will. So at this point it's still through the emergency management organizations where transportation to or from an emergency relief location is provided, access to accommodations at an emergency relief location is provided, other expenses, for example mainly food, is provided. And at those locations, there is triaging that is done with all best efforts so that someone who's not able to remain in a group accommodation circumstance can access different types of accommodation, hotels for instance...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the comment. I do think that over-engagement is something that does tend to happen and can happen and can detrimentally affect the outcome that we want. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to say that I will direct to ensure that the staff working on this treat the information that was received during the public process the same as they would information that we would receive during a government-led process. There will be no two tiering of it. I can also assure the Member and the House that they've already been watching. I have frequently heard...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the very first step which is happening as early as next week, is to engage in bargaining -- with bargaining partners which is to say the unions so that they are fully aware and involved in the path that we may choose. As I am noting, that starts next week with the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of Northern Workers and then the teachers' association thereafter. And, Mr. Speaker, we'd be scoping out some opportunity for public engagement thereafter but still noting that there was a commitment here to have a legislative proposal ready to roll...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the amount available to ECC in terms of wildfire suppression has grown in its base budget. So the base budget in the main -- which is what's in the main estimates that we see in the winter session, from 2022-2023 was $18.7 million; 2023-2024 almost $21 million; and 2024-2025, $24.3 million. Then on top of which we have the supplementary appropriations in each of those years. But my point simply being that there have been adjustments over the years as well as some support that's come in through Enercan over that period of time. But at the end of the day, the...