Kieron Testart

Member Range Lake

Kieron Testart was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Range Lake.

Mr. Testart was born on March 22, 1985, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was raised in the Northwest Territories, first residing in Tuktoyaktuk and later in Yellowknife, where Mr. Testart now lives with his family, his diverse background and wealth of experiences have shaped his commitment to community development and effective governance.

Mr. Testart was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kam Lake in the 18th Legislative Assembly, where he demonstrated a keen understanding of the issues facing his constituents. Beyond his legislative roles, Kieron has contributed significantly to the economic development of the region. Serving as the Director of Economic Development for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation from 2021 to 2023. Mr. Testart’s commitment to education and language advocacy is evident in his role as Program Coordinator for Canadian Parents for French from 2020 to 2021. His efforts have extended to policy analysis within the Government of the Northwest Territories and serving as Deputy Sheriff from 2009 to 2014.

Academically, Kieron holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Lethbridge (2004-2009) and a Certificate in Parliamentary Governance from McGill University (2017).

Married to Colleen, he is the proud father of Corbin, Eve, and Leander. In addition to his professional pursuits, Kieron finds joy in various hobbies and interests, including a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport, a love for film and theatre, grassroots activism, and an avid curiosity about international affairs.

Kieron's commitment to community extends beyond the political realm. As a dedicated volunteer, he has been actively involved in various capacities, including serving on the NWT Federal Liberal Association Board of Directors since 2011, contributing to the Liberal Party of Canada. His volunteer experience also includes a position on the NWT Branch Board of Directors for Canadian Parents for French from 2014 to 2020 and mentoring youth with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada in 2014-2015.

Range Lake Electoral District

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Social Development
Public Accounts
Procedure and Privileges
Kieron Testart
Range Lake
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Extension
12150
Constituency Office
Email
Email
Phone
867-447-0439

Statements in Debates

Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Last fall during the capital budget discussions, there was an agreement to bring forward a $15 million notional plan for NWT Housing to build new housing units, and that has -- we've been told that that's now become a -- not a notional plan but an actual $50 million plan. So where can I find the $50 million plan in this budget? Thank you.

Question 541-20(1): Funding for Increased Costs for Yellowknife Drinking Water Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you to the Minister for that. Can the Minister relay that to the mayor of Yellowknife, just let them know that the tree shaking will begin to commence earnestly to get this project done. Thank you.

Question 541-20(1): Funding for Increased Costs for Yellowknife Drinking Water Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Infrastructure if she is able to consider the needs of the city of Yellowknife for clean drinking water as an extraordinary funding request and the GNWT take carriage of the pipeline -- water pipeline replacement? Thank you.

Question 536-20(1): Municipal and Community Affairs Support and Cost of Yellowknife Drinking Water Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the department provide 100 percent of the CPI needs for the city of Yellowknife?

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too want to welcome some of our guests today. Martha McLellan, she's a Range Lake resident; and, Kathryn Barry Paddock, and also a Range Lake resident. And I'd also like to recognize Mika Cameron. She was an important educator in my life coming up in the Northwest Territories. Thank you for being here today.

Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you. And just to be clear, like, I understand the Minister's intentions here and that there is a -- we're all on the same page that we want to build these homes and we want to invest more, and it's the resourcing question and a dollar question. But don't be afraid to disappoint me, right, because when you say we've got a $50 million -- like, last year, we negotiated a $50 million plan. And earlier this year, when we were -- well, I can't say what we were discussing earlier because it was in-camera but earlier this year, we got different information, and now again we're back to a zero...

Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

So has it gone from $150 million notional plan to a $50 million incremental plan, is that correct? Thank you.

Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Okay, well, I had other totals there that I was looking for clarification on, but if the Minister doesn't want to answer that, that's fine. I'm going to go back to this incremental plan.

So is it $50 million -- sorry, is it $150 million of new spending, or is it $150 million of total spend -- of current spending that's just being wrapped up into an incremental plan? That's really the crux here. Are we spending more on housing or the same on housing? Thank you.

Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you. Sorry, can the Minister just confirm, an implementation plan? Oh, incremental plan. Okay, can I understand what that means. Because it's gone from -- sorry, I said $50 million. It was $150 million, but our understanding was to be $50 million a year. That sounds incremental to me. Is it not that; is it something else? Thank you.

Committee Motion 74-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Delete $5,250,000 from Department of Education, Culture and Employment – Departmental Summary, page 29, Defeated
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I support the motion under consideration by the House -- or by the committee. The Member, I think, has laid out the rationale for it quite eloquently which is we're all very aware that this decision was made unexpectedly. Well, not -- the decision was made unexpectedly but the rationale behind the decision has been known I think to the college, to the Minister, to the department for quite some time. But the timing of it was, of course, surprising to this House and to the department. So when we see something like that, I think it's -- we have to be...