Jane Weyallon Armstrong

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.

Okay, thank you. Thank you for the information. Yes, well that's good to know because, you know, I've been asking too and I am not going to stop with that DMV. Like I said, you know, Tlicho region is growing and I know I did talk and ask the Minister regarding transferring, well, you know, some of the positions. Transferring and/or you create because you -- you know, like, I am sure the Minister, they have the authority to create employment. And with the mine closure, with the Diavik and with the Gahcho Kue, we do need more -- we're going to need more jobs to sustain our region. And I did ask...

Thank you. And then, well, you know, projects or any infrastructures or any major work that's, you know, being done in the region, it's not, you know, something that -- it's something that we welcome, especially with the Dehk'e Frank Channel Bridge it's, you know -- it's good, you know, and it's greatly needed. The repair, the replacement needed was needed ten years ago. So it's good that it's being -- you know, there's a plan in place now. So I just wanted to ask, there's a huge -- I know somebody asked me too in my region that why there's a big increase with the spending. I think the total...

Okay, so thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that information. So what -- so I just want to ask the Minister how are these -- like, I represent Tlicho region so how much of this was allocated in Tlicho region. Thank you.

(audio) but maybe with the -- because you guys -- I mean the Cabinet meets with Indigenous governments, with the Council of Leaders, so maybe you can bring it up with -- with the Tlicho leaders there too as well, work with them on this. Thank you.