Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the discussion around the Education and Culture supplementary appropriation, there was a discussion around this early learning and childcare agreement. Our detail here is from 2017 to 2020, but I believe I heard a witness quote this as a 10-year deal, or a 10-year funding arrangement. Obviously, this program is four years. Can we get some clarification whether or not this is a 10-year funding arrangement or a four-year funding arrangement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my reply to the budget address, I spoke of the process that led us to what we have been doing for the past several weeks in the Chamber of the House. Although I was dissatisfied with how that process played out and I felt we could have had more engagement on both sides of the House to build a budget we could all support, at the end of the day, we were forced into a situation where it has taken us to until this point to bring forward an appropriation bill.

In ideal circumstances, we would have more time to work on these issues to find a compromise. I think...

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the industry has been looking at this technology, including industries working in similar conditions, and potentially in the Northwest Territories themselves. Does the Minister know if there are any industrial energy projects that the GNWT could potentially partner with and work with the federal government to move nuclear projects forward in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure, as Infrastructure is the department that handles our energy policy for this government. Earlier today the honourable Member for Yellowknife North spoke about nuclear energy as a potential solution to remote industrial operations in the high Arctic and as a solution for off-grid mines. I know that many industry actors who are operating in the Northwest Territories have been looking into the potential of nuclear technology. I haven't heard a lot from this government on its position on nuclear. Do we have...

I appreciate that we don't want to potentially impact the negotiations that would result in the backstop. I don't support the backstop model. I think we need our own made-in-the-North model. Can the Minister assure us that we will get a made-in-the-North model, and we won't be forced to accept the unfavourable backstop model that is being proposed by Ottawa, unfavourable to people in the Northwest Territories and my constituents?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm satisfied with that response. I think we have seen this for a couple of years now, that the health benefits are being exceeded based on demand, and I'm pleased to see we are fixing the problem. I have no further questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has put in place a carbon backstop for jurisdictions that don't embrace their own carbon pricing model. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he can speak to ongoing negotiations with the federal government over carbon pricing, and whether or not he has prepared our own carbon pricing model for implementation here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have one question about this. The shortfall for extended health benefits and Metis health benefits, this amount, this $4.3 million, appears to be 40 per cent over the current budget. Of course, it seems like we are seeing an increased need for these benefits to be extended to Northerners. The current level of funding going forward, has it been adjusted to address the shortfall in the supplementary health programs? Thank you.

Maybe something further. Are these positions solely contingent on this funding? Is this something we are looking to maintain after three years? Thank you.

Thank you. Can the Minister just quickly explain the difference between the two, the 10-year framework and the three-year funding plan? Thank you.