Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Okay. We are on page 266? Okay, project management. I want to know -- okay, what project are we talking about? So what does this represent? Because I know the project management for previous was revised so there was more money spent, and now we're back to the original budget. So what does this 2025 revised estimate represent? Thank you.

Do I still have time? Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah, well, I think the driver's license is the most important one that we would like to see the restriction lifted. And the other one is that I would like to see the department of -- or the DMV office in -- you know, in Tlicho region. So I just want to ask the Minister if the Minister can commit to working for the next fiscal year to have at least three position transfer or created in Tlicho region. Thank you.

Yeah, I was looking for a different answer; I was hoping that she would say yes. But does the Minister recognize that a dedicated administrative region could enhance efficiency by reducing duplication in service delivery and ensuring resources are better in line with the unique needs of Tlicho communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I meant to say expertise. So Yellowknife is North Slave. We're part of North Slave right now. So we shouldn't even have the restriction because we're, like, next door to Yellowknife. We access all their program and services, so we -- I think when we look at it, okay, in Behchoko alone, we don't have a stop sign or street lights -- or not street lights -- stop signs, but that can be done. You know, it could be accommodated. And we -- and the Highway No. 3 is a territorial road, and it has a divided line. I think we have the capacity to do it, but it's just that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about the need for a dedicated Tlicho administrative region to improve coordinations of government programs and services for Tlicho communities.

Mr. Speaker, one of the challenges with the current North Slave regional structure is that it combines Tlicho communities with Yellowknife, the largest urban centre in the territory. This creates an imbalance in planning and resource allocation because regional priorities are often dominated by the needs of Yellowknife, which has a population of over 21,000 compared to over 3,000 across the...

This one is regarding the regional operation too. So road licensing and safety, and like I said, I would like to see some of the positions transferred to the region. But since it's a regional operation and this is a territorial issue, you know, with the driver's license restrictions, if the Minister can tell us how this thing works because we're close to Yellowknife, and all the Tlicho communities -- especially in Behchoko, we're close to Yellowknife, and we're on the main highway. Why do we still have this restriction status? How can we get the restriction status removed because -- for class...

Okay. Yeah, no, no, that's why I asked. I am not too sure because we have two infrastructure departments, and one is high-level and this is a low-level one, according to the way that it's set out. That's why I asked if it, you know -- but I will ask the other Minister when she does her presentation as well, so -- so because the North Slave -- you know, North Slave is really confusing. It's -- and we are part of North Slave and -- but it -- in your budget, it's -- it identified Tlicho. So have the Minister ever consider -- I am going to say this again. Have the department -- is that department...

Thank you. Yeah, we're in advantaged positions to have more jobs transferred to our region because most of our young people are employed by the diamond mine. So with the closure, it's going to have a great impact so that's why I am just advocating I want more jobs going to Tlicho region where possible. Like, DMV is one of the positions, or that department that we can get -- you know, that we can benefit from in our region because a lot of our people go to Yellowknife to access some of the services, but -- so that's why I am advocating for that. I would like to see more positions, jobs...

Thank you. I think I am on the right page now. But not that asset, but there's interesting stuff regarding the asset management as well too. But I want to ask about this here, road licensing and safety. The current -- the upcoming fiscal year the budget went down a bit, and here I've been asking, you know, like -- I would like to see some of the -- I would like to see new jobs created in Tlicho region, and here I see a reduction. That's a bit disappointing. But I just want to ask the Minister that -- I know he said he will work with me to possibly create, you know -- create three positions or...

Okay, thank you. Thank you for the information. And I just want to ask the Minister, regarding the energy action plan, low income program to address energy poverty, and -- and lately I know that -- I've been hearing from a lot of people regarding the energy program and it's too expensive, too costly. So why there's nothing allocated for the upcoming fiscal year within the budget? Thank you.