Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that this is a relatively emerging section of our economy, and it's not something that we traditionally thought of as a strength, but I don't want to see this department be in a position where it's waiting for the knowledge economy to come about organically, and that it's actually finding ways to stimulate knowledge economy, investments and development, and an innovation strategy that rewards private sector investment in innovative solutions. I think it dovetails quite well in the coming reality of carbon pricing and green economy solutions to Northern...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Northwest Territories geological survey has a significant decrease in its budget. Can the Minister speak to what that represents? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 6318(3), Main Estimates 20182019, with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment as the department under consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do have our territorial nominee program. Is there any overlap with the territorial nominee program administered through Education, Culture and Employment that we can use to expedite this process? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One thing we're learning from these pilot projects, this basic guaranteed income, is that the best way to help someone get out of poverty is to ensure that their cost of living is taken care of without a lot of strings attached or government oversight. It allows them to get a job. It allows them to pay for food. Right now, we're clawing back a lot of income. I just don't understand what the hold-up is. Can we take a sample size of recipients of income support and start modelling this kind of effort, even on a temporary basis so it's a low-cost approach that still gets...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the Chair of Committee of the Whole leave the chair to report progress.

I will just conclude with my remarks. I respect that we need to do work on this. Again, I acknowledge the Minister has made that commitment. In considering the budget, which is the work that we have put ourselves to, I just want to make sure that, if we have known costs coming at a future date, that we are accounting for them in this budget. That is my number one concern, but if the Minister is going to do it by way of supplemental appropriation, we will deal with that at a later date, and I accept that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the committee would like to consider Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, with the Department of Finance as the department under consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Have we prepared for that eventuality and set financial resources aside, or will we be forced to dip into borrowing to pay for these additional costs once the legislation is passed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a vast territory and a geographically dispersed population, so bringing together all youthful voices into a youth council like this, I think, really speaks well to public policy objectives.

In addition to reporting back to the House, can the Minister commit to reaching out to schools, to Indigenous groups, and to young people in the general call for their thoughts and input into the development of a youth council so that we can get a sense of what it looks like from their perspective and what they want this council to do for this government? Thank you.