Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess my concern is that, you know, this government goes to the federal government and seeks funding for initiatives that we want to undertake. And now we have to go back to the federal government and tell them that we can't complete the work that we promised we're going to complete in a timely manner. So I guess I would ask the Minister does she see that as an impediment now to securing, you know, federal funding for the new initiatives? Because if we're not spending the money on what we're supposed to and finish those projects, is the government -- or does she think that the government's going to be a little more reluctant to fund our projects, and has she had actually any discussions with her counterparts? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, one of the sources of, you know, concern that's been raised has actually been colleagues in the federal government who have said, you know, why aren't you spending more? What are you spending? You know, and they want to have accountability for the dollars that they are committing to the Northwest Territories. So if there are projects that are delayed or stalled, again for a variety of reasons, but it may well -- but for whatever reason it may be that attaches to any particular project, you know, they would rather know that when we have a properly sized budget that they can then be held accountability to deliver upon and be more focused on the reasons that a project might get held back. So it's not to say that some of these projects won't still face some sort of delay but, you know, we're not looking at a monster-sized envelope that is more likely to see that.

Federal departments have been consulted, certainly a lot of officials-level conversations have been had. I know myself and Minister Archie have had conversations when the federal Minister of Infrastructure was here. And the messaging actually was, you know, figure out what you can do and to focus on that. So I actually think this will be a positive signal to them. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, again, you know, I've got a real concern because I look at, you know, some of the projects that are getting pushed back and just as an example, you know, the extended care facility in Hay River backed to 2027-2028, you know, and then I see that well, they're going to reevaluate. Well, I'm not exactly sure what that means.

You know, we talk about -- you know, we've had flooding. We talk about dredging. And, you know, we're going to be looking for money for that. Are we going to get turned down because of our inability to -- you know, to complete what we're supposed to complete. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. I'll take that as a comment. Did you have any further questions for the Minister or any other comments?

That was just a comment.

Thank you. Are there any further questions, comments? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. A couple questions: the reduction that you have here, we have got a total capital budget of $328 million. In regards to my riding, this fiscal year with $3.4 million for public housing repairs with no homeownership repairs in the communities, I am just wondering like, and my colleague, Mr. O'Reilly talked about the -- you know, the percentage in terms of highways and versus housing etcetera, my question to the Minister: is this budget here carved in stone, or can that be adjusted? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, this is the proposed capital budget. So that's -- it's before the House now for discussion, and, you know, that's exactly the point here. It's not approved before it's approved by this House. So, you know, that's precisely the discussions we are to be having over the next short while. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Also during the budgeting process back in March of this year, there were some discussions that was happening in regards to monies made to a committee, about $5 million worth to housing. I'm not really sure exactly, I've never seen no breakdown of this $5 million as to where the money's going and who's getting this $5 million. Can the Minister maybe just elaborate a little bit on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that the MLA is referencing discussions that were had between myself and colleagues on the other side when we were preparing the main estimates and passing the main estimates. And I certainly can, you know, provide -- I believe this information has been provided, but I'm happy to go through it again.

There were increases, at the conclusions of those discussions, made to various program budgets within Housing NWT. It was, I believe, $6.6 million that was committed in addition, as part of the main estimates' discussions, to fund projects that are specifically directed where they -- money that goes out to constituents, goes out to residents. So, for example, you know -- I'm drawing a blank. But, you know, things where people can do their own constructions, they can do their own renovations, they can do their own upgrades, and that money has moved out $4 million and then ongoing. So anyways, I certainly can provide confirmation of what's gone out one by one if that would be of assistance. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, I mean, as I said, certainly that's the point of bringing the matter here is for us all as an Assembly to have an opportunity to discuss how to spend the public dollars we are responsible for as a collective. And certainly, you know, some budgets could be adjusted, and maybe there is, you know, money made -- I know there's going to be probably requests to increase some areas. I would just sort of keep in mind, or urge people to keep in mind, that if we are increasing the overall plan, then we are again adding dollars into the plan that we know we will not spend all of that. We already -- over the last ten years have never spent anywhere near $300 million, and this one already is over $300 million. We will no doubt have some carryovers from that. So if there's requests to increase, then two things to be kept in mind: One, not all of it can be delivered upon. But two, it does mean we're then having to take on the debt to deliver it, particularly, you know -- well yes, we would have to take on the debt to deliver upon it and increase the borrowing plan, which puts us closer to the borrowing limit. So again, everything's to be discussed. But just to keep in mind what the consequences of those discussions are. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Madam Chair. When I was elected back on February 10th of this year, two years earlier the GNWT went through -- elected all the MLAs for this Assembly, for the 19th Assembly, and they had a meeting where they brought all their wants and needs for their constituency and the NWT. When I came in, I never had that opportunity and I looked at some of the capital plans. So for N'dilo, Dettah, Lutselk'e, and Fort Resolution, we do have our own wants and needs as well. But I just want to -- we brought this issue to the Minister a few years ago with chief Marlowe, and he raised the issue in Lutselk'e in regards to the dust problem in that community. If there's a way we can look at that, either start developing some kind of chip seal program for that community so we could address the dust problem. And that dust problem's been there for a long time and hasn't been really addressed. And then that's the same thing in Fort Resolution, in the community of Fort Resolution. We should really take a look at doing a chip seal program in that community. And that's a concern. But overall, Madam Chair, if we could take a look at this, then maybe I'll be in favour of voting in favour of this budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Are there any further general comments to the capital plan? Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, just in regards to, like my colleague, Mr. Johnson, I am liking the new format of the spending on our -- and I see so much that says Nunakput on it, so I'll be supporting this for sure. And it's good to see. But just a couple of questions I do have with the contracts that we do have out, the numbers I got start off with the Mangilaluk School.

We have a contract that's out. We asked for reports I guess, on who's hired, like for community, because I know there's not too many community hires in the community of Tuk. And it's all seems to be outsiders, so. And we asked for a plan, a scope, business scope for the project and we haven't received it yet from the contractors and it's been going on two years now. I just want to make sure that our government is making sure that they're staying on top of it in regards to getting that plan so my leadership could see it because my leadership's asking me the same thing. So I think if anything I know that the department did go into the community, but I know that they were busy taking a look at the site so they were too busy to meet with my leadership. So I think on the next go around, I think if they're able to come into the community to meet with my leadership through the mayor of Tuk and the hamlet, the community corporation, I think that would be a good thing just to try to work together because it's too big of a project in the middle of a community. It's a good project that's well needed, and -- but I think that has to be done.

Number two, the upgrades on the Tuk-Inuvik Highway. The upgrades that we have, how much -- you know, there's a couple of sections on there where it's flat for the permafrost. It's getting more dangerous. Frost heaves are coming up when it gets colder now; it just pops up out of nowhere. So we're looking at the cost -- how much it's going to cost our government and to make sure that they're, you know, talking with the contractors on that road to make sure that they're doing the sections that mostly needed for safety, public safety, and to keep that road upgraded for years to come.

And our liquefied natural gas. I see it in here for M18. From my understanding that M18 is being put into mitigation in regards to our permission to go on Tuk 71A lands, which were -- our land claim is signed and you're on Tuk 71A lands as being the people of Tuk own that land and access to it -- access to that gas. I want to know where we're going with this in regards with my Minister in regards to seeing what's going to happen. Because if we're a land claim group, we already were signed since 1984. This is a good news story because one, we're going to -- we're going to service Inuvik with natural gas. We're not getting it all the way from BC. Safety aspects on the Dempster Highway. And it creates jobs for the community. But we have to find a way to get and push that issue in regards to making sure that M18 is a go and not being stalled like they did with the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. That's really -- for myself that's like a slap in the face as an Inuvialuit beneficiary that you're on our land. You want our -- and we're going to give you our gas? We're resource rich and cash poor. And our people, we have to work together as a government, with the Inuvialuit, as a community corporation, to get this project off and running in the right direction. So that's all I have to say. But thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. And just a reminder to all of the great comments, I hope you say them again when we have the Minister and the witnesses in front of us to bring those issues out and possibly get some more detailed answers.

I will go now to Member for Thebacha and then Deh Cho.