Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there there is in the 2026-2027 Budget, a proposed increase. Obviously that remains to be seen, how that goes here, but it's still before committee. But there is a proposed increase to student financial assistance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's in fact the folks down in the Taltson zone who are seeing the largest rate impacts. They had been paying an amount that wasn't reflective of the impacts of having increased infrastructure in their region and as a result of that, Mr. Speaker, it's actually that area that's seeing the greatest increase, not folks who are in the northern zone on this particular occasion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is being driven by some unexpected issues that came to light once the bridge system was opened up for the already-known repairs that were taking place, and as a result of that, when they identified an opportunity to do some additional work on shuttering plates, rubber control springs, that these two warranted replacement, and as an opportunity, given that the bridge was already opened up -- well, paused for traffic or reduced traffic and had these cable systems opened up, it was an opportunity to ensure that this work also got done at the same time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this includes the drinking water testing and short-term remediations that were discussed just previously. There's also funds within this component here for funding under the national action plan to end gender-based violence. There's an amount here -- oh, sorry, Mr. Chair. Are we on -- my mistake. Let me just turn that to the deputy minister, please. I was looking at the wrong line item, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is funding that is meant to support and enhance emergency services and firefighter education across all communities. So there's two different things happening here, Mr. Chair. Regional centres will see the training done brought to the national fire protection association standard. That's for regional fire departments. As well, Mr. Chair, then there will be, for smaller communities, the assistant fire marshals and contract trainers will be providing first aid and emergency response training to those small communities so that they can support their own initiatives. And...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a new cost of living subsidy that is being applied directly to all customer utility bills in the Northwest Territories meant to reflect the changes that came about following the general rate application last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this in territory child and family supports, this is an area that supports youth who are in need of supports through, for example the Tlicho Community Services Agency as well as Hay River Health and Social Services Agency, foster placements by both of those agencies, family support agreements, group homes across different regions and communities. As for why it comes in the form of a supp, Mr. Chair, there -- it is demand driven and so if there's a higher than anticipated need, then that -- then the budget amount that is allotted for the course of a fiscal year...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it's at this point the cost to provide drinking water and to support YK 1 schools was the more significant of the costs to date -- or sorry, not to date really. I guess as of, say, November 30th. The projected costs have it as being roughly equal amounts as between the testing initiative that's been undertaken, immediate remediation efforts, and then also to provide drinking water. So as I said, up to this point in time it was a little heavier weighted on ensuring availability of supports for in the short-term for -- like, the water fountain remediation and water...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And sorry, the Member was clear. I just didn't have it large enough on my screen to see it. So it's not only inflation necessarily. There is rising material cost and contract -- there's also rising contract cost, increased number of response events, so that's not only necessarily related to inflation. And then too, Mr. Chair, would be if there's, you know, climate change events that result in an increase in the number of emergencies. All of those things can contribute to this. So, Mr. Chair, there's a base budget -- the other thing, Mr. Chair, is that we are dealing with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's already work underway in partnership with Indigenous governments. We had, in the fall, signed a work plan with the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation out of Wrigley and met just last week there. We're going back again to design the final routing. The final design of the routing will be done together so that we're making best use of traditional knowledge as well as with more western traditional science-based design. They're putting those two things together so we have the best possible route. But meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, again, looking to work on a traditional...