Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I I'll rephrase what I guess I'm trying to seek which is I do understand that it is for contracts that are based for the full fiscal year, but I'm curious as to whether that contract amount has increased from the previous fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on his previous answer, I don't think the Minister will commit to what I'm asking but I will ask all the same. Could the Minister commit to provide an interdepartmental response to address tenant concerns with respect to environmental health in tenant units? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. And, yes, I do realize that the NWT rental office has that capacity but they also, in their annual report, state that the office receives many inquiries from tenants regarding landlord obligations to repair but have little follow through. So my question is can the Minister review the tenant complaint process under the rental office to remove any challenges that tenants face to address landlord obligations to repair? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would wish to recognize a few different folks. Two of the pages here today are from my riding. That would be Ms. Jack Penny and Hamza Abouhagar, pardon my pronunciation. Thank you for being with us here today.

And also, I would like to recognize my past coworker from environment and climate change, Ms. Tasha Alexie who is here today to hear about the annual report. Thank you for joining us.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that answer. As I'm sure the Minister's aware that constituents are confused. My constituents who thought they were making greener, smarter moves by switching to propane are, to put it mildly, frustrated by this carbon tax exemption for just dieselbased home heating fuel.

So my question to the Minister is will she commit to seeking exemptions from the federal government for all home heating options in the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although I'm sure she's tired of repeating herself, can the Minister of Finance please briefly explain to the House why the GNWT's carbon tax legislative regime is the better option for Northerners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. So one other thing I was wondering if the Minister could do is commit to review and discuss with myself, and perhaps the social development committee, the findings from the forthcoming implementation options developed by Alternatives North, which should be available in at least a draft form in the spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to rise and recognize Mr. Mark Heyck who was the first person who teach me how to door knock and look where it got me, so thank you for that. As well as being my mother's last former employer before her retirement. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this week so far we've heard a great deal on concerns for adequate funding for seniors. And I've asked a little bit about the income assistance program changes. I also want to recognize too that my colleague from Mackenzie Delta has a different perspective on this, and it's a conversation that really needs to be regionallybased and best fit. Yes, the question would be could the Minister speak to what pathfinding is available for residents who need ECE program supports, like income assistance and seniors home heating supports? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, while I can respect that changes to income assistance will help residents, I'm convinced that even more administrative barriers and burden can be reduced by implementing a basic income guarantee in the NWT. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of ECE commit to undertaking a feasibility study to study guaranteed basic income for the NWT similar to one that is underway in Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.