The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. To the motion. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Madam Speaker. Again, we can always make compromises and I think this was a good example in the last couple days how all 18 of us worked together and looked for solutions to find ways to pick away at our mandate items. We have some lofty goals, and we're doing this through a pandemic. I'm really happy that we earmarked some allocation of funds for housing and for MACA. I'm very glad to work with our colleagues. It was good to see that chemistry happen and make those things happen. I'm very happy for that.

In terms of the appropriation act as a whole, again, it's one of those things that I don't want to say upsets me; I'm disappointed. We need to see more for our small communities. There needs to be more evenness throughout our infrastructure items. I said in the House before, in the last, I'd say over 100 years ago, 80, 90 years ago, there was a depression. The Great Depression happened and what a lot of the governments did, too, is they put money back into their infrastructure projects to keep people working. Again, I'm starting to see that trend again happening. I'm hoping that happens here because this is going to be a tough time for the next while, and we're going to find ways to keep people working, keep people housed, keeping the food on the table and not just in the larger centres and our regional centres but in our small communities, as well. That's what we need. With that, I won't be supporting this motion, but I just wanted to say that, moving forward, I'm hoping we can find more equity. I want to say marsi cho to all my colleagues.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

MR. ROCKY SIMPSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm going to vote in favour of this motion. We have to work with what we have. We have a lot of issues out there, and I think a lot of them were raised and addictions was one of them that I think that we as a government really have to take seriously and put some effort into and some financial backing. I look at housing in Hay River; there is a real shortage, so I'm glad that there is money going into that so we can access some of that co-investment dollars, rapid housing and so on. The other thing when I think about this budget, I think about Hay River requiring a new waterline or at least a waterline repair. We also need a new water plant. We need new pipes in the ground. Some of them are probably as old as me, so there you go. I think that what we did here is we compromised. It was consensus government maybe not at its best, but I think it worked. I think we should be proud of what we did here and move forward. I'll be voting in favour of the motion. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

To the motion. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wanted to speak briefly to the collaboration that was already described, and I appreciate that. The collaboration sometimes to the outside, to the public, isn't necessarily obviously or transparent. It's one of those things that we don't want it to be seen as something that happens behind closed doors; it doesn't. It happens between MLAs. It happens between the people who have been elected here and the conversations that are being had between Cabinet and between all of the Regular MLAs. Those conversations started all the way back in the summer. There have been presentations between the department, multiple departments, in fact; there have been multiple conversations, both in terms of individuals coming to me and then, of course, on behalf of committee. I do want to emphasize that collaboration, it really is quite a meaningful thing. There were a lot of conversations that were had, and that was what ultimately made this capital estimates better, made it strong, and it made it more representative.

Madam Speaker, we cannot possibly do all things all at the same time. That is not possible, and it's not financially feasible or not fiscally responsible. We have to recognize and remember that there are needs across the whole of the Northwest Territories. We lag behind. The age of our infrastructure and the simple lack of infrastructure is a fact across the entire Northwest Territories, and we cannot let that hold us back. We cannot let that hold back the future prosperity of the Northwest Territories, and that prosperity depends in turn on having healthy people, educated people. I am happy to say that the capital estimates include funding for schools; for health centres; for the fish plant in Hay River; lots of investments in parks; include transportation corridors, including in MLA Norn's riding, we have advanced a project. This has really been an opportunity to look across the needs of the territories and try to find ways that we can collaborate and do the best we can with what we have.

It is ambitious, Madam Speaker. It is ambitious. Fortunately, we do have the procurement review that is going to be taking place in advance of the timing of these capital estimates so that, hopefully, we can make the dollars that far going to be spent here more sticky into the Northwest Territories, if that is how the procurement review unfolds, and also ensure that, when we have this plan roll out, we are really delivering on all of our promises to ensure prosperity in the Northwest Territories, as I say. I am very happy, again, that we are able to vote on this today. I am looking forward to support, and I am also wanting to reflect that it was, at times, difficult but, ultimately, a consensus process that brought us here today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. To the motion.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. The Minister has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

All those opposed, please stand.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the recorded vote are: 14 in favour, two opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 22 has had third reading. Third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Margaret Thom, is prepared to enter the Chamber and assent to the bills?