Julian Morse

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, and forgive me if any of these questions are off point, but it's sometimes hard to know where to ask business plan questions so I am going to direct some of them here and hope that we're on the right page for it.

The first thing I wanted to ask about was the macroeconomic policy analysis. That policy I know is being used to assess projects and provide a macroeconomic lens to projects as they're brought forward and something I've wondered about, and talked to the Minister about a fair bit, is whether we'd be better off using macroeconomic analysis to inform our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, I would be happy to approve whatever funding is needed if it was brought forward as a proposal. So, again, I would just ask -- I mean, what I'm trying to encourage the Minister to do here is have a look at the report, consider the possibility of establishing a pilot. It doesn't have to happen in this budget, but I'm just wanting us to move towards change, move towards trying new things. Would the Minister consider looking into it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that what I need to emphasize from the report is that they did research on what levels would disincentivize work, and I think we're well below them, and so that's where I think the report could be valuable. And, really, Alternatives North was recommending that the government build upon this research. It's a beginning, not an end that they're suggesting. So would the Minister commit to reviewing the report and the recommendations, building upon that research, and coming back to the Assembly with proposals for changes to income support that would help...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since I tabled the document I referred to in my Member's statement earlier today on potentially establishing a basic income guarantee in the Northwest Territories, have ECE staff considered the Alternatives North proposal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I had the privilege of attending the AME Roundup Conference in Vancouver as the representative for the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment. The conference gave me the opportunity to observe our Cabinet colleagues at work and attend numerous informative meetings and sessions. I wanted to share some of my high-level takeaways from my experience at the conference.

The first thing that stood out to me was the incredible amount of work and time our Ministers, Premier, and staff put into advancing the interests of the NWT. It was a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm noticing a bit of a -- there's a theme of hope developing in the sitting today. Mr. Speaker, can we go a little bit beyond hope and just get a commitment that this is going to be ready in the 21st Assembly for adoption by the Assembly or for a legislative proposal to come forward? It's important work. The human rights commission has been asking for it for years. Let's get it done, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

No, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the previous Minister of Infrastructure committed to establishing a building standards framework or Act which addresses accessibility concerns repeatedly raised by the human rights commission. Mr. Speaker, does the current Minister of Infrastructure have an update on the initiative to create a building standards framework or Act? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm quite disappointed to hear that. I understand, Mr. Speaker, this was a budget commitment made in response to a committee and was committed to on the floor by the Finance Minister. It's difficult for me to understand them saying now it can't be done. Can the Minister elaborate on that and why are we reneging on the commitment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the June 2024 budget commitments, health and social services committed to expand midwifery services to two more communities without birthing services. Mr. Speaker, what progress has been made on the establishment of midwifery services in Behchoko?