Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I note in the long-term facility plans that there is a construction of a 38-bed long-term care facility in Hay River. I think that's great. I congratulate the residents of Hay River. But as I know, Mr. Chair, as the Minister knows, we do have a location in Inuvik that's had some geotechnical work done, the area's been cleared. I know the Minister likely has -- may even have a copy of a presentation and/or a design and an operations facility plan for such a facility in Inuvik. But what I don't see is it on this list this year for this year's capital...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will speak a little today on the economy as well.

Mr. Speaker, we're coming into our fall session, concluding our fall session going into winter where we'll be getting into our budget negotiations again. And we've heard loud and clear from all my colleagues in this house, both on Cabinet and both on the Regular MLAs, I'm sure, that we need infrastructure, we need programs. You know, but what we need, Mr. Speaker, to do this, to accomplish this is revenue, and revenue is what we don't have. I empathize with the Minister of Finance. I know her job is -- must...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I know the community of Tuktoyaktuk, similar to other communities in my region, are already struggling with infrastructure. I know the community of Tuktoyaktuk are now paying down the debt for their new water treatment plant they've had, they've built there, and they've also -- there's a major shore erosion project going on up there, Mr. Speaker. So then I guess, you know, is the Minister suggesting that the community do rollbacks? I mean, is it something that -- I mean, obviously, we have limited funds in municipalities and in hamlets in our region. How does the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the Member from Nunakput's statement today and given the fact that certainly my community in Inuvik is on the Mackenzie River, we've often had flooding, not as serious as what has happened up there obviously, but considering the community experienced a post-cyclonic storm surge on August 30th, I have a question for the Minister of MACA, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister of MACA confirm, has the community been offered or did they receive any financial assistance from the government to help the community remove the debris and certainly get the roads back...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of Tabled Document 388-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2025-2026, at this time. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is the second year in a row that we've had to do a supplemental appropriation for the power corp, and I understand why. Our committee has been briefed thoroughly on why the $12 million's going in it and what we're doing to stabilize our rates or at least stabilize but to ensure that our rates don't skyrocket even more.

I guess my question for the Minister and staff is that do we even consider the option or looking at options to do some kind of privatization around our power corporation, P3 options, and things like that? Kind of think outside the box a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you again to the Minister for that. He mentioned it was tendered earlier this year. Can the Minister give an update on the current status of the tender process and when we anticipate this project started? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement on infrastructure projects in Inuvik around Arctic sovereignty and security. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. Could the Minister ensure that the commitment, the funding commitment to build a new airport terminal building in Inuvik is still in fact on the books.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that MACA did council the community to -- not to declare a state of emergency but to apply through the NWTAC through their insurance program to help build roads and remove the debris. Can the Minister -- I wonder if the Minister is aware how successful they were in receiving that insurance funding from NWTAC. Thank you.