Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement on devolution, my questions are to the Premier today. Starting with the first one, can the Premier explain, since our 20th Assembly began is there any discussions or progress that have been made on transferring total devolution, control of devolution between this government and the federal government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I couldn't have said it any better than the previous presenters to a honourable person.

I had the opportunity of meeting and talking and discussing issues there with Tony in the 18th Assembly, and Mr. Speaker, he would humorously say I was a Speaker, I was a Commissioner, I was the MLA, I was the Sergeant-at-Arms, I was the Minister, and I was also told they're not going to hire me anymore because I don't know how to stick to a job. So the conversations we had was very humorous, and I'll never forget that. So it gives me great pleasure to support this motion. Mahsi.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We initiated the 20th Assembly with a focus on restoring fiscal balance. That was our directive, to basically and simply straighten out and strengthen our fiscal position. Our outside support, really, to some degree, in a large degree, dictates the balances and the strength of your finances because of the simple fact that we can't raise anything, we don't manufacture anything. You might make some eggs and some fuel tanks, but outside of that you're solely dependent on the third party formula funding that's coming in.

Then we moved on and addressed the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier answered my next question, and that was discussions underway with the Council of Leaders to support total control transfer of devolution. So I see that there's discussion going on, so I am going to waive that question and move on to the next one.

Can the Premier explain on the expectations that we can expect from the plans, if there's any in place for further talks for the remaining term of this Assembly with the federal government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize the president of the North Slave Metis Alliance Marc Whitford. We have some friendly discussions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over a decade ago, the NWT devolution agreement fundamentally transformed our territory's future. We gained province-like control over the public lands, our resources, our economic destiny. This was not merely an administrative transfer; it was a recognition that Northerners are best positioned to make decisions about the North. Legislation still remains with the Government of Canada.

Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I spoke of the declining resource sector, mineral industry departure. Mr. Speaker, with devolution came the authority to conditionally manage our own...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Doreen Cleary, a longtime friend of the family. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of our colleague from Range Lake's red alert last week to the mining industry, I wish to share my concerns pragmatically regarding the precarious economic position as identified in the eyes wide open economic forecast. It is shocking, Mr. Speaker.

The GNWT will see Diavik royalty revenues cut off in the first quarter of 2026, just months away, while a nation building project such as the critical infrastructure developments are needed, indeed intended to replace the declining industry and diversifying our revenue streams. The timeline presents...

Thank you to the Member. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for that clarification there. I feel comfortable that we do have an infrastructure maintenance checklist in place here, and this is a cycle, so I'm glad to hear that. If that is brought up in my community visits by concerned parents for example, I'll certainly relay that message on that the school is a part of an annual audit for repairs and maintenance and upgrades and so on. Mahsi.