Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to say it's been a bit of a grind these last couple of weeks I think is a bit of an understatement. Certainly, I know we've -- for those of us who it's our first time going through the budget process, certainly a learning experience and, yeah, and a long experience. Again, a big thanks to the staff that beared with us through this process.

I was going to say something cheeky about the Minister of Finance, but she works way too hard for me to do that. And I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit scared of her as well so -- after the past three weeks.

Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 93-20(1), 2024-2025 Main Estimates, be now concluded and that the Tabled Document 93-20(1) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 93-20(1), 2024-2025 Main Estimates, and Tabled Document 111-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2024-2025. Thank you, Mr. Chair. All departments, if I need to say that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I do understand that. And, again, the concern is had the student been living, say, in Inuvik and had required to be escorted out, then there would be an escort provided, wouldn't be an issue, they would go out both the student -- and I know the Minister is a mother, so she would -- if she had an 18-year-old getting a CT scan, she'd probably likely to be there and not trust the 18-year-old to get the information he's required to get, or he or she is required to get from that doctor. So I guess my question is, then, can the Minister explain whether there's any...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I like the word get it right. I'm glad that myself and the Minister are on the same page there.

So then, Mr. Speaker, then, my assumption, then, is during the review that the Minister will be engaging with the public as well obviously as Indigenous governments with this process? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize my daughter Haylee and her husband Anthony visiting us from Anchorage. Haylee obviously was raised in Inuvik, had taught school there for six years, and actually is a former page in this House many years ago. Her husband Anthony, it's his first visit to Canada. He's originally from Michigan. And Anthony is an airman first class in the 3rd maintenance squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. So welcome. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 111-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2024-2025, be now concluded and that the Tabled Document 111-20(1) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll just speak to the motion briefly, Mr. Speaker. I do support this motion. I think it's another tool. It's a step in the right direction. I think, you know, our goal is to disrupt the flow of drugs coming into our territory, at our borders, in our communities, and also to help those who are suffering from the consequences of those drugs, Mr. Speaker. So, I mean, I listen to the statements from my other colleagues, and I concur, and certainly there are -- you know, we need to keep moving forward to things like addiction treatment centres and aftercare programs. But I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke specifically to youth that are living in Edmonton, going to school in Edmonton under the age of 19 and not having the ability to get an escort to come down to attend medical appointments with them, whether that be a CT scan or an MRI or things that often we're sent out to Edmonton for. So I guess my question is can the Minister commit to revising section 6.2 to recognize that a minor under 19 years of age requires an escort or is provided an escort upon request? Thank you.