Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Government of the Northwest Territories accepts the after-action review report recommendation to create one dedicated territorial emergency management agency for the NWT providing coordination support to local authorities leading the emergency response(s);

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories implement the recommendation to create one territorial emergency management...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as our emergency management system is made up of volunteers and is ad hoc to emergencies as they arise, having everyone trained in ICS shouldn't be an offer, it should be a mandatory requirement. It's legislated in Alberta, the independent after-action report cites this as a best practice. Will the Minister legislate ICS in either regulations or in legislative amendments so we can ensure who is responsible for emergency management in the Northwest Territories is adequately trained in ICS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I just think we need to have some very clear reporting on it just so we understand it. But maybe that is a question for the education Minister.

Finally, I guess if we could put it into terms, we often ask this, like how much money is represented when it's being spent on staffing in particular or programs, how much does it actually represent. So out of $14 million, how many EAs is that employing or EA positions is that creating? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I appreciate -- just to be clear, I will -- I mean, I'm going to continue to ask questions, but I appreciate this emergency funding, and I support it. I think it came a little late, and it's still -- until we know what that total quantum is, it's unclear whether $14 million is a significant amount. So my other question related to this is there's strings attached to this money. The Minister spoke to some of the eligibility requirements. But one of them is that education bodies have to first use their surpluses. So do we know how much surplus money is being spent...

Oh, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I thought I heard Great Slave but thank you very much for the opportunity to ask questions.

So I too want to query the Minister about this subsidy program for the service gap related to Jordan's Principal funding. Jordan's Principal funding is fundamental to our schools in the Northwest Territories. That's how it's been described by both -- well, I think the Minister at the table and the Minister of education, Minister of health, to the point where it is being referred to as foundational. So I think that creates a challenge because, one, I get the advocacy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the scope of practice of paramedics is unlikely to be changed without legislation to guide it. Is the department planning on bringing forward a legislative proposal or legislative changes that would bring paramedics into the Health Professions Act? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier if he can direct the federal envoy to begin discussions with the federal government on a clear plan to advance the asset -- or the asset potential and resource needs of the Yellowknife Airport. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has three major projects that it's identified as priorities: The Taltson hydroelectric expansion and submarine line, the Arctic Security and Economic Corridor, and the Mackenzie Valley Highway. We know the Mackenzie Valley Highway is well advanced. But all these projects are very important to the future of our economy. Today I want to ask the Premier if he views the Yellowknife Airport as a strategic asset worthy of that list. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week, we continue our call for a red alert on the economy and for the -- primarily focused on the revitalization of our mining industry, starting with modernized regulations, expanded incentive programs, and an independent review of this sector's decline to drive the exploration needed to reignite the NWT economy. However, a world-class mining sector needs more than just incentives and policy changes; it also needs robust infrastructure.

Recently, newly proposed projects are emerging to better connect the North with global markets. Chief among these is...

Thank you. And I know it's not matching, but the criteria is very much dependent on you use your surplus before you get to these numbers. And that has caused consternation from some school education bodies who have expressed concern about this. And I want to stress that education bodies are not in a position to criticize programs every time I've met with them regardless of where they're at in the territory or which region they serve. It is very clear that this is a -- you know, they have a lot of needs and students with a lot of needs and are chronically underfunded. So anytime funding comes...