Kate Reid

Thank you, Madam Chair, and just getting my time back. This is my favorite department, apparently.

So a real quick question for the Minister. The item for the bureau of statistics, I understand it's static since the last fiscal year, but prior to that there was quite a significant reduction. Can the Minister speak to why that might be. Thank you.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. And I don't necessarily disagree with the Minister on that answer. I'm very keen to see what this action plan will look like once it's developed. I think the Minister is quite frank in her assessments and I'm certainly am quite frank in what I experienced in the public service since the pandemic, and what I hear from former colleagues across the GNWT, the morale is not good. And I guess how does the Minister envision an action plan that will really truly address morale? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Well, I note that the Minister and her department has aimed to see this bill passed during the life of the Assembly and look forward to further updates when the bargaining is complete. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Although I appreciate that answer, and I think that's fantastic that more licensing opportunities are available online, I do not believe you can get your first NWT license online. So until that is the case, I'll keep asking for Saturdays in memory of the previous Member for Yellowknife North. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And, yeah, I don't disagree with the Minister on the importance of cyber security whatsoever. However, I think, you know, if there is a way to find some economies and savings in this line item, I mean, it would mean more money for programs and services delivered to the public, not that not having technology for our public servants isn't important but just, you know, I'm hopeful that the department can take a look at that and square that away. Thank you, Madam Chair. More of a comment.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And just for funzies, I'm going to ask the Minister if she'll consider opening the DMV on Saturdays. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So just because I want to get this out to the public, could the Minister please elaborate as to why the interest on both longterm debt and shortterm interest we saw quite a large jump from these budgeted dollars in the main estimates from 20232024 to the revised estimates of 20232024? And although I'm sure the Minister of Finance is possibly happy that the interest rate has dropped slightly lately, I'm curious as to why this is being budgeted for so much lower in the mains. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So as my colleague from Monfwi has spoken to, very passionately in this House on many a time, there is a concern, I think, around the lack of funding for the senior home heating subsidy. So especially for elders who are on limited incomes. And I can see that in the main estimates from 20232024 and the revised estimates, there is a difference of approximately 500 and change thousand dollars, and now the main estimates for 20242025 have gone back down. Does the Minister wish to speak to whether she thinks that's adequate? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's a nice shout back to Minister of Justice for more French translating drafters.

I'm curious around specifically, you know, what we're going to be asking of our workforce in the early childhood operator piece, especially around some of the asks for their education. And so does the Minister know when that piece will be out for public engagement in hopefully this year, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Okay. I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.