Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to ask the Finance Minister some questions. The Minister spoke about freeing up money to match federal investment. Yesterday, the Premier spoke about continuing to pursue, to support our strategic infrastructure corridors. Can we have some clarity on what kind of long-term projects we have for this $150 million? I think that's where the frustration comes from, Mr. Speaker, is that if we wait until the business plan cycle hits us, we have no idea where we're taking this government, and that's really what this conversation about the fiscal policy of this government is about. Where are we headed and when is the investment coming?

Masi. Minister of Finance.

I know exactly where I'm going, where my colleagues are going, and that's advancing the mandate priorities. Our concern, and my concern, is that we are not doing that as effectively as we can. Economic diversification, making business capital available to entrepreneurs, these are things that take cost. Correcting the serious problems with addictions, with housing, these are things that take cost. Ultimately we invest today to lower the cost in the future.

That's exactly the debate we're having right now, Mr. Speaker. My question is, are we taking our leadership from Ottawa on infrastructure investment? I hear again and again, we're waiting to match dollars from Ottawa. Are we driving this process or are we waiting for guidance from Ottawa? Because Ottawa is willing to spend, Mr. Speaker. So if the Minister can be clear on that, where the priorities are coming from?

That was very beautiful, and the Member likes to throw this kind of stuff out there, but he knows as well as I do, and anybody that's been a part of this Assembly for a while knows that we work in partnership with Ottawa. We try to put ourselves in the position where we're partners with them and not just take handouts from Ottawa. No, they don't dictate to us what projects we put on the ground, but we work with them. That's good leadership, good government. We work with them as an Assembly, and when I say Assembly, I mean all 19 of us because a lot of the decisions we make here through our budgeting process are decisions that are made through this Assembly.

So, Mr. Speaker, we do work with Ottawa, we are partners with them, and as a small jurisdiction and, having been to a number of FPTs with our larger counterparts, we have to go down there and put ourselves in a position where we're partnering with them. They're making investments in the Northwest Territories; we're putting our share of resources towards those investments, so we don't just sit here and wait with open hands for them to give us some money. We are partners with them and continue to do so.

Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled "Capital Estimates, 2017-2018, Government of the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four documents I'd like to table. First is a news release that reads, "Northern Premiers confirm united stance against carbon price" that's dated July 21, 2016. The next item, Mr. Speaker, is a news story from the CJCD website, "MLAs surprised by reported talks to save Robertson Headframe."

Third item, Mr. Speaker, is another news story, "Feds stall Mackenzie Valley Highway" from News North dated September 26, 2016. The last item is taken from the CBC website, Mr. Speaker. It is "Yellowknife airport improvement fees could fund more parking, new terminal." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabling of documents. Pursuant to section 68 of the Access to Information Protection of Privacy Act, I wish to table the “2015-2016 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.” Masi.

Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Notices of Motion

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the Legislative Assembly recommends the appointment of Ms. Deborah McLeod of Yellowknife as Director of Human Rights during good behaviour for a term of four years as recommended by the Board of Management, and further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Item 16, Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills.

Colleagues, before we move into Committee of the Whole, it is with great sadness that I advise Members that our former Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and former Premier of Alberta, Mr. Jim Prentice, died in a tragic plane crash last night. Mr. Prentice was a frequent visitor to, and a friend of the North. On behalf of all Members, I wish to express our sincere condolences to Mr. Prentice's many friends and family at this difficult time. Masi.

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. We have Tabled Document 143-18(2), Capital Estimates 2017-2018, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of Committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, Committee wishes to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There's a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable.

--- Carried

I will stand and report progress.

May I have the report, Member for Hay River North?

Report of Committee of the Whole

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Do I have a seconder? Member for Kam Lake.

--- Motion carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House adjourns until Monday, October 17, 2016, 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 11:32 a.m.