Kieron Testart

Thank you. I mean, I have issues with, like, the debt ceiling in the first place. I think it's a -- it makes sense -- if you're a territory it makes -- an autonomous governing territory, it makes a lot of sense if you're basically a province, which we are. So anyway, we have to do what we have to do.

Is this going to affect -- we currently have the -- the GNWT has a double A minus credit rating from Fitch and an AA2 from Moody's. Is this going to impact our credit rating at all? Thank you.

Thank you. My -- I have $80 million in my head on, like, a general kind of subsidy. I don't know if it wraps up everything in that, but that's my recollection from perhaps the main estimates. But does that number sound accurate at all? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Asked and answered so I'll cede my time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When is the last time the supplementary reserve was not exceeded from what it was initially budgeted at in the mains? Like, is there any time in -- that the officials probably -- because I don't expect the Minister to know this. But is there any time that it hasn't -- that it's been kept to what we've -- what the ledge has voted it at? So right now it's $35 million. Has there ever been a time when supplementary expenditures have been kept underneath the limit that's set by the main estimates? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The supplementary appropriations are rarely a subject of significant debate in the House because they are -- you know, they're required to address money that's already been spent. But I think given the uncertain times we're in, given that there's a push for fiscal sustainability and fiscal discipline especially so we have resources to invest in the right priorities, I think it's appropriate to kind of take a look -- a deep -- a more careful look at how money's being spent. And there's some -- everything in here is very important. I'll be clear on that. And no one would...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was planning to speak to this, which I will do now, I suppose, so if the Member will kindly give me his -- yes, his time.

So the -- during the course of debate on this line item, the Minister offered to -- I think the quote my learned friend has written down, happy to bring it back to Members. So some questions were raised to the Minister around the power rate subsidy. There are a few questions, and her own evidence before the committee or words in the committee where we can work more with Members, you know, we can take some more time to get more information...

Can the Minister explain her budget, then? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'd like to move a motion that we don't have planned, so we need to take time with staff. Essentially, I move that the activity directorate under the finance operational expenditures be deferred until a later date. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, the reason I'm confused, people are confused, is because we have a date of February, which is a month not a date, and we're unclear on how people will be prioritized. So, again, for people who have lived in the North, who have contributed to the North and whose permits are running out, are those people going to be prioritized? That's what the chamber wants. That's what our residents want. That's what business owners want. Can the Minister commit to that or at least -- at least give clarity that that is the top consideration that is going into this...

What would be the cost to eliminate the -- like, to mitigate the rate increase? Like, what -- what's the dollar amount of that subsidy that would not -- would kind of not require this rate increase? Thank you.