Good morning, colleagues. I just want to say thank you to Ruth Carol, the Gwich'in translator, for doing the open prayer today. It's Friday, so hopefully we have a really good day and a good session. Thank you.

I'm going to move on to Ministers' statements. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to provide the Legislative Assembly with this fall economic and fiscal update. I will also use this opportunity to outline our progress towards the goals set out in our fiscal strategy.

Our work towards restoring balance through this government's fiscal strategy meant that we started the fiscal year with the GNWT's largest-ever projected operating surplus. We have been trimming longstanding unfilled public service positions, consolidating programs that were inefficiently split between departments, and identifying underspent funds that could be reduced from our budget. We are well underway with the fleet management program and a lease space review.

However, Mr. Speaker, despite these efforts, the fiscal situation facing the Government of the Northwest Territories is dire. Despite the hard work departments have done to find value for money, the actions taken under our fiscal sustainability strategy have not been enough to absorb the multiple fiscal challenges that have arisen since the tabling of the 2024-2025 Main Estimates.

Efforts to maintain the resiliency of the energy grid, rising costs within the health system, and wildfire expenditures have resulted in our total debt being projected to reach $1.74 billion. As a result, we will breach the $120 million buffer below the federally imposed $1.8 billion limit as outlined in our fiscal responsibility policy. We are, therefore, in the process of requesting a borrowing limit increase from the Government of Canada.

Requesting a borrowing limit increase is necessary to ensure we have the capacity to respond to expenditure shocks that have become more frequent. However, seeking this flexibility in our borrowing room does not mean that we can ease off on our own efforts to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability. We will continue to evaluate the value of all programs and services, keep a close eye on public sector growth, and find innovative ways to achieve efficiencies.

Mr. Speaker, we are all acutely aware of the impending diamond mine closures but for now, the Northwest Territories' economy remains stable. Over the last three years, since the 2020 lows caused by COVID-19 restrictions, the economy has broadly recovered. Indicators such as household spending, public expenditure, and resident employment have expanded to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Even after the sharp shocks of last year's severe wildfire season, the economy was resilient enough to fully recover to pre-wildfire levels by December.

Mineral exploration investments and appraisal spending intentions are up 27 percent in 2024. However, exploration spending is no guarantee of an operating mine, and the North remains a higher-cost jurisdiction compared to more southern locations. Further, we are forecasting real gross domestic product to shrink this year due to overall slower activity in the mining and oil and gas sectors. That said, other economic measures remain robust, including high employment and a fall in consumer price inflation to less than 2 percent.

The upside of having an economy heavily weighted toward the public sector across all levels of government is that government spending and public sector employment continue to stabilize the economy. In addition to the rise in exploration spending, the GNWT supported the new commercial fish plant in Hay River, which is now open. We have also provided financial support to communities affected by the summer wildfires and barge cancellations, helping local economies remain resilient in the face of ongoing climate shocks. We must continue to help all Northwest Territories communities enhance their distinct economic strengths and address labour shortages, both for skilled and unskilled workers.

Mr. Speaker, we finished 2023-2024 in better shape than expected, primarily due to federal disaster relief funding. However, we still ended the year in a deficit position due to the tremendous financial pressures created during the summer of 2023. Although the cash position going into the 2024-2025 fiscal year was an improvement, it did not actually improve the 2024-2025 fiscal situation as some federal funding expected this year was received last year.

Mr. Speaker, you will recall that we started this fiscal year with the largest projected operating surplus in history $294 million. This was expected to fully cover the 2024-2025 capital budget without the need for additional borrowing, and we hoped to use it to pay down some of our short-term debt. It is fortunate that we worked to achieve this surplus because, once again, the fiscal shocks of various extreme events have reduced our forecasted surplus to $67 million. One such extreme event is the ongoing low water situation. Since the 2024-2025 budget was released in May, the situation has worsened. Marine Transportation Services lost almost $14 million in revenue due to the canceled barge season, and increased costs associated with resupply challenges are being felt across multiple departments.

Low water has also impacted the Northwest Territories Power Corporation's, or NTPC's, generating costs. These impacts were magnified by reliance on diesel during the overhaul of the original Taltson generating facility, a project that was well overdue. This project was on time and on budget until the 2023 wildfires caused the evacuation of key personnel and damaged NTPC infrastructure. Getting the work back on track has led to cost overruns, which are now projected to reach $31 million. Between the costs of diesel backup and the Taltson overhaul, NTPC needs to borrow another $75 million in short-term debt.

While not as severe as 2023, this summer saw yet another challenging fire season, with two communities in the Sahtu evacuated and several others across the territory under evacuation alerts. We also continue to face significant cost pressures to maintain stability in the health care system, which is treating more patients, many of whom have more complex needs.

In order to absorb all of these impacts, we currently project that we will end the fiscal year with $700 million in short-term borrowing. This increase in short-term borrowing, combined with the additional $75 million required by NTPC, brings our total authorized debt to $1.74 billion, just $60 million below the federally imposed $1.8 billion borrowing limit. As noted earlier, we have begun the process of requesting a borrowing limit increase to ensure we have the necessary room to absorb further expenditure shocks.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, and will emphasize again: Even in the face of these challenges, I remain optimistic when looking at the long-term potential of the Northwest Territories economy and our ability to restore balance to the GNWT's fiscal health.

The recent trip to Ottawa with the Council of Leaders highlighted the strength of collaboration between governments in the Northwest Territories. This collaboration does not detract from the many challenges we face at home, but it is through collaboration and cooperation that we can raise the profile and prosperity of our territory.

Commodity markets may be depressed at the moment, but this buys us time to deliver foundational infrastructure that will make the Northwest Territories a stronger candidate for large-scale mineral resource investments. It also allows us time to highlight the investment stability in our co-management regime for land and natural resources. Finally, this time gives us the opportunity to continue seeking national attention for strategic investments in key projects that will support critical mineral value chains.

We are also seeing much needed attention paid to the vast stretch of border that faces international waters toward Russia and China. While this poses a defense risk today, it is also an opportunity for multi-use infrastructure investments that will not only enhance the North's strategic capabilities but also benefit people on a day-to-day basis, strengthening the region overall.

Finally, within our own fiscal house, we remain committed to the Restoring Balance fiscal strategy, but we will take the time necessary to ensure we get it right. We still have promising suggestions from the GNWT's public service in progress, and others already being implemented. While the short-term fiscal situation is tight, we will avoid kneejerk actions that could unnecessarily disrupt government programs or services causing more severe impacts on residents, businesses, or the overall economy.
We continue to seek opportunities to lapse unnecessary spending in 2024-2025, aiming to end the year in better fiscal shape than we are in now. A key focus as we move forward with Restoring Balance is addressing health care system sustainability, which remains an area of high financial risk and high need. In line with the government's mandate, a large part of determining sustainable service levels is defining our core programs and services. This work is being led by the health care system sustainability unit within the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. They are taking an evaluative approach to the health and social services system, focusing on determining sustainable service levels and exploring opportunities for greater efficiencies.

Mr. Speaker, we knew there would be significant fiscal challenges coming into this Legislative Assembly, and we know we have difficult choices leading up to next year's budget. We are also keenly aware of the obligation and expectation to achieve the priorities set by this Legislative Assembly. Within that priority framework, we remain committed as a government to supporting immediate needs in times of crisis, maintaining core programs and services for residents and communities, while also being vigilant in creating and enabling long-term growth opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister of Finance for her Minister's statement. Any further Ministers' statements?

Moving on, Members' statements. Go to the Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to use my Member's statement to come back to some of the matters raised by me and other Members, of course, in the June session.

Mr. Speaker, many of us had some excitement coming into the election almost a year ago and about where the Aurora College was going in the context of transition to a polytech. And, of course, it wasn't until after being elected sometimes when you find out what really is happening behind the scenes that you find out actually that they're still working on the transition plan but the transition plan isn't funded and things they want to do but they need a mandate. And in our conversations during the June session, it was realized that the new mandate letters were being signed in July of the summer that just had passed. That said, Mr. Speaker, of course, the important part is is we want to make sure the Aurora College for the students, for the North, the economic impact, and of course certainly the educational opportunities that will come with a college that transitions into a polytech, are well disbursed and well realized for all Northerners, Mr. Speaker.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, the issue of the mandate letter as quoted in unedited Hansard was, when I asked would the Minister make it public, she had said she would make it public, she's a fan of transparency based on legislation of course, so obviously if there's something she can't table or make public, I'd like to know why, but I do respect it if that is the case. But that said, there is elements of its mandate letter that could be probably transitioned and hence I look forward to asking those kinds of questions in question period.

At the same time, I'd also asked about funding, and I -- again, I'm not alone on this particular issue but, I mean, as they always say, you know, a vision is just a dream without a plan and if we don't have a plan, you know -- sorry, money -- without money, we don't have a plan -- sorry, is what I was trying to say. And of course to bring it all together; in other words, Mr. Speaker, we need a plan, we need money, and we certainly need a vision, and all of this is for not if it doesn't find a way to coalesce.

So, Mr. Speaker, recognizing that I believe that it can no longer be funded by using leftover dollars from the education program or the diploma social worker program and hoping for those types of dollars, it just won't be sustainable. We need dedicated line items that support this. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions at the time with respect to this particular matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'll move on to the Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 51st Street encampment could have happened anywhere in Yellowknife. It just happens to be in my riding. The encampment started out as a group of folks not being welcomed at various locations prior to staying in this empty lot. To its credit, the GNWT quickly worked to find a location that they own near the downtown core. The solution is far from ideal least of all because the site will soon be an active construction site. I want to take this time to thank the residents of the neighbourhood for being extremely patient and compassionate and providing myself and the Premier with your feedback that created more safety and dignity for everyone. I appreciate that the GNWT looked at how to find spaces for precariously housed residents with NGOs who often knew them and their histories and took the time to get to know each one of these folks and what they need. EIA has just sent an update recently that there are two people that remain and one who visits infrequently.

Mr. Speaker, everyone in Yellowknife is part of our community regardless of their access to housing. Everyone deserves dignity and a safe place to sleep. As we have heard from the Salvation Army in their presentation to standing committee, finding safety is starting to become difficult in Yellowknife shelters. When speaking with the Premier and his staff, he noted that the encampment was a point of urgency in finding solutions discussed in the GNWT's Homelessness Strategy. I'm heartened that Cabinet felt compelled to seek more funding for transitional and supportive housing across the territory when they were in Ottawa last week. But some of what I hear from folks who are involved with, or in some cases were not invited to, the working group that were seeking solutions for the encampment is that the GNWT continues to be cagey about how we are working to expand options in a meaningful, timely way. Many folks are also wondering how we got here when we have known for a long time about the lack of sustainable options and spaces that NGOs can provide.

Mr. Speaker, I'm barely scratching the surface of this issue. I'll note that the point-in-time count of underhoused folks that the city of Yellowknife has conducted this fall is not available yet but will be soon. The city's housing needs assessment interim report points to trends that aren't going away. A continued strain on existing housing stock means more people are a whisper away from precarious housing than we want to admit. I'll have questions for the deputy Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the town of Norman Wells issued a humanitarian state of an emergency October 15, 2024. Under the Emergency Management Act, a declaration of an emergency would mean the price of fuel could be fixed by the responsible Minister and there may be opportunities for federal support. The following summary explains the trigger mechanism for the declaration and the items in the Act that concern the prices of fuel in section 17.

Mr. Speaker, section 17(1), paragraph 1, the Minister may procure, ration, or fix prices for food, fuel, equipment, medical supplies, and other essential supplies.

Mr. Speaker, under section 18(1) of the Act, if a local authority is satisfied that an emergency exists and may exist within the community, the local authority may, by resolution, declare a state of an emergency to exist in all or part of the community.

Mr. Speaker, under section 14(1), I will be asking the Minister responsible supporting the declaration and state of an emergency then invoke the Emergency Management Act, the procedures in both the Act and management plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to sharing the questions at the appropriate time to the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from the Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to inform the Assembly and the residents of the Northwest Territories of a program that is bringing hope to the people who are struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. It has been many years since we have had a program of this nature and that is giving hope to our residents of the North here in the North.

Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in wellness Department of the Gwich'in Tribal Council has taken the lead in developing this program in the North for Northerners. In the past, I have spoken to a number of people who have expressed interest in attending a treatment program to deal with their personal issues but travelling hundreds of kilometers to a totally different culture was not an option for the select few. This program is being held at the Rachel Ranger Camp, a half hour boat ride north of Inuvik. It keeps the participants close to home and in familiar surroundings.

Mr. Speaker, the addictions program is facilitated by Mr. William Greenland, a Gwich'in who grew up in Inuvik and has worked in the field of recovery for a number of years throughout the North. There are other facilitators who are also involved in one capacity or another, but a collaborative approach will make this program a success.

Mr. Dennis Allen, another descendant of the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in who grew up in Inuvik and has worked in the field of recovery, is also available for support. With their familiar surroundings, the people from the region, the participants will be more likely to complete their program successfully.

Mr. Speaker, this past spring the Standing Committee on Social Development had the opportunity to visit and tour the site while it was being renovated. The facility is quite impressive. The Gwich'in Wellness Camp will indeed serve its purpose to the willing participants with great hospitality and comfort for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank and congratulate the Gwich'in Tribal Council and all the funding agencies in meeting the needs of our residents when the need is most needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Next on my list here I have the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about change management, and today I want to continue that thread and speak to the state of the Aurora College transition. Despite reassurance from the board and president that they are committed to the transition, every indication and metric I see is clearly communicating that the transition has ground to a halt and, if anything, is in the process of being openly reversed. Responsibility for this lies on both the Ministers and the board's shoulders, but there were a number of critical change management elements missed along the way when GNWT was firmly in control. One is anchoring the change firmly throughout the corporate culture of the organization. It is clear this never happened, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, CBC News shared a story detailing how research chairs were hired, immediately encountered significant internal barriers to carrying out their work and ended up leaving the organization in short order.

Another fundamental change element is clearly articulating a vision, Mr. Speaker, and despite years of work and some apparent progress, it's clear the vision didn't stick during the hand-over process. This part rests with the Minister of education who is responsible for articulating a mandate to the board. The college's current mandate expired in July, and we are yet to see a new one. The Minister needs to give clear direction about the vision for this project and steps needed for it to succeed. If the direction is that we are proceeding with the transition, we need to be decisive about it. If not, at least tell us that's the case so we can have that unwanted conversation. Personally, I want to be clear that I am not supportive of continuing to fund the college in its current form. We already paid for the analysis. We already found that the college wasn't working. Continuing with status quo is never going to change outcomes, and we owe the students of the NWT better than that, Mr. Speaker.

To end on a positive note, I want to share a glimmer of hope. The former research chair, quoted in the CBC story, noted he still believes there is a lot of potential for knowledge economy growth in the NWT, and I've heard that message from so many people who are working in this field here. The potential is there, Mr. Speaker. The question now is whether we have the vision and wherewithal to grasp it. I will have questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Next on my list I have is the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take a moment today to celebrate the fact that one of our northern icons, Sharon Firth, will be inducted into the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame tomorrow during their tribute to Canadian women in skiing this weekend. A world-renowned cross country skier, Sharon was a Member of Canada's cross country team, alongside her late sister Shirley, for an incredible 17 years. Together, they competed in countless national and international championships and had the historic honour of being the first Indigenous female athletes at the Winter Olympics. Not only is Sharon an incredible athlete but she's also a dedicated public servant and activist. She and her sister are also residential school survivors and share the trauma many Indigenous children face growing up in the North.

Born in Aklavik to Gwich'in and Metis parents, Sharon was introduced to cross country skiing at a young age thanks to the territorial experimental ski program, and the rest was history. Through their hard work and dedication, the Firth sisters constantly trained through the cold winter days, that we're all familiar with up here, and would soon come to dominate the sport for decades. They have since become the first Indigenous women awarded the Order of Sport, and Sharon herself has received the Order of Canada, the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. While Shirley has sadly passed, Sharon has continued to offer her expertise, training, and nurturing successive generations of talent and informing public policy regarding recreation and sport. Thank you so much, Sharon, for all that you've done to bring northern and Indigenous athletes to the world's attention. You are a pioneer, a trailblazer, a role model, and my friend. And I know you still have much more to contribute to the Northwest Territories, and I know we all stand together in this House to congratulate you. Thank you, Sharon.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that climate change is turning the North into a different world but sometimes we forget that the rest of the world has been dramatically shifting, too, in terms of energy systems, infrastructure, and the global economy. In order to avoid being left behind with dinosaur technologies and costs we cannot bear alone, we have to change with the times. And that means taking more responsibility and leadership in terms of our carbon emissions and setting a climate target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Previously, we had set a target of reducing emissions by 30 percent by 2030. So what's wrong with that? It sounds ambitious enough, right? But that path we were on meant that we could do virtually nothing and just wait for Diavik mine to close. Do we really want our climate strategy to simply be let the diamond mines close? Do we want that to be our economic strategy? The thing is that Rio Tinto has already committed to a net-zero climate target across its global operations by 2050. De Beers has committed to net-zero by 2030. For the critical minerals sector, both private financing and federal government dollars are increasingly dependent on net-zero targets.

Lazy climate targets are not helping industry. Lagging behind on clean energy makes the NWT one of the least attractive jurisdictions for modern mining. If we see mining as a big part of this territory's future, then we have to embrace a net-zero future. Both the federal government and the majority of Canadian provinces and territories, including the Yukon, have already committed to net-zero by 2050. Increasingly federal funding is being tied to net-zero targets so if we don't set ourselves on this clean energy path, we are missing out and we're isolating ourselves. We desperately need ways to bring down the cost of power, and the NWT needs to commit to a net-zero power system by 2035 for the NWT Power corporation to benefit from a new federal tax credit.

Back in June, this government committed as part of budget negotiations to set a net-zero target by 2050. This means we have to confront head on the challenge of facilitating clean energy solutions for transportation, heavy equipment, and industry. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as I was saying, we need to confront head on the challenge of facilitating clean energy for transportation, heavy equipment, and industry, which together make up 84 percent of the territory's emissions. There are solutions, and I will continue to push this government to pursue them. We can do this, and we must do it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Next on my list I have is the Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the future for public housing in the Tlicho region.

Mr. Speaker, it is a priority of the 20th Legislative Assembly to ensure sustainable financial resources for housing programs and projects. When we talk about public housing, we mean programs that provide income-based rental housing for the residents most in need, like elders and families with little or no income. But residents are saying NWT Housing is not functioning the way it is supposed to.

Yesterday, Behchoko Ko Gha K'aodee held a public hearing on housing in Behchoko. Residents had a lot of feedback for NWT Housing. There were complaints that policies and procedures were not being followed; there are not enough tenant relations officers to assist residents; and, the waiting list for the community of Behchoko has over 130 people on it. Mr. Speaker, one resident put it this way: Why would housing board members have a meeting when there is no available housing to allocate to people? The waiting list needs to be cleared.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Government of the Northwest Territories has different programs in place to help with these types of programs, like the homelessness assistance fund. I know the Minister of housing has committed in the past to reviewing instances where tenants have arrears on a case-by-case basis. We need to do more.

I would like to know the plan for public housing in Behchoko, Mr. Speaker. The housing stock is old. A family of seven in my riding have said that their unit has mold. Other houses are boarded up. With the other problems tenants discussed yesterday, it's too much. People want to know what the plan is. I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Next on my list I have is the Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take the opportunity to extend thanks and express gratitude. As we have reconvened for another sitting, I would like to thank my constituents. Without their faith in me, I wouldn't have the privilege of being here in this Chamber today. As I've stated before, I am honoured and humbled to be here to serve all my constituents and all my riding of the Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank family and friends from all over the NWT for their support, calls, and reaching out with when my daughter was hospitalized in Kelowna this past summer. Specifically, I would like to thank Alison de Pelham, executive director, and all the chiefs of the Deh Cho First Nations. I would like to thank Rosa Wright and all the people in Fort Simpson, Linda Kraft, Harry Sapp, and Trish Landry of Fort Providence, and the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Kelowna General Hospital who provided care for my daughter. The love and support that poured out in the community to my family during a difficult time, it really meant the world to me and helped get us through.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my husband Norman, my adult children, my mother, and all our extended family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to item number 4 on the agenda of the day, return to oral questions. I'm going to go to the Minister of MACA.

We're going to continue on. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

And if we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery. Mahsi for being here.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've just made my statement, so we know what my questions are about. Mr. Speaker, why has the Minister of education not sent a new mandate letter to the Aurora College board?

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm currently working on that mandate letter with the Aurora College board of governors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just to be clear, is the Minister committed to transitioning Aurora College to a polytechnic university and supporting the college in proceeding with the facility's master plan?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have said it in this House before, I've said it to the board of governors before, I am absolutely committed to this transition. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker; we're keeping it short and sweet today. Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister has a textbook on change management on her desk because I handed it to her myself. Mr. Speaker, has the Minister considered employing change management principles in setting her direction to the board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member knows the way to my heart is certainly through books, and I appreciate that. My role within the post-secondary system and through the Aurora College Act has definitely changed between the last Assembly and this one. My role is certainly one of oversight over the post-secondary education system whereas the board of governors really has control and oversight over Aurora College's programs as well as their operations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake. Final supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, considering the board does have that responsibility, Mr. Speaker, what measures is the Minister taking or considering in holding the board accountable for results for the funding they receive from the government for transition, for operation of the college, all of it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly using all of the tools that I have at my disposal. Currently, at the end of September, I met with the board to actually sit down and hear what their priorities are, what their concerns are, how their year in operation has gone, and to sit down and figure out, okay, where do we align and ensure that we align on the transformation of Aurora College. They have informed me that they are certainly committed to this and that they want to be able to continue to work closely together on this collaborative process and to continue to meet regularly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Similar to my colleague who had just spoke a moment ago, I want to further follow up on the mandate letter specifically. So it appears we're working well together on this type of concern and initiative. My question would be is that if the former mandate letter expired in July, had the department not been working on it previously? Because it doesn't seem as if there was -- there shouldn't be an overlap period of gap within -- in other words saying there's no mandate or no one's doing any mandate or following any mandate. So I'm asking the question, why wasn't there a transition letter for the transition mandate letter included and started and initiated in July; what is the delay? Can maybe the Minister enlighten the House as to that. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, thank you to the Members for keeping the conversation on Aurora College alive and well in the House. There was no gap, or there is no gap because the previous mandate commitments stand until the new one is stood up, and so the previous one continues to exist until the next one is put in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate it's status quo, you know, as in the -- they're using inertia to move forward, but the fact is that we're concerned about the direction, the firm and clear direction of the mandate letter to give them the direction and plan and commitment to do the transition from a college to a polytech. Can the Minister confirm in the House today that it will be absolutely crystal clear that the transition into a polytech is part of the moving forward mandate letter? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the mandate letter that currently stands, that was the previous one that would have expired, so to say in July but still stands today, does very clearly say establish a polytechnic university. As it is very much the will of both myself as Minister of education, as well as the board of governors, I would fully expect for that to be a clear priority laid out in the mandate letter going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I would appreciate in the context of transparency if the Minister would share that letter with Members because I don't believe we have it and if we do have it, it's the old government kind of context because I certainly don't have a copy of it. So we're going on what we understand.

Mr. Speaker, the next part of the mandate letter is will it be funded for a transition to a polytech? Because currently, if we're following the old methodology, they're using money left over from the education diploma -- or sorry, education program as well as the social work diploma program. So they're using leftover surplus money to fund something that should have a dedicated line item. So in other words, will it be funded specifically with the target line item that does that needed work? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the Member's first question in regards to sharing the existing mandate document, it is available online, and I would be happy to send the link and share it with my colleagues on the other side of the House.

In regards to the question around funding, I can share with Members that at the meeting between myself and the board of governors at the end of September, concerns were raised about the funding that they do receive for the transformation, and those conversations are ongoing. I need to know from the college what it is that they're looking for. Because any type of additional funding would certainly require me to go and plead that case to the financial management board, and given our fiscal context, we would need to make sure that those asks are weighed against the additional asks of the people of the Northwest Territories and Ministers. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member of Yellowknife Centre for final supplementary.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'm not -- I'm familiar with the mandate online but I'm more referring to the mandate letter specifically, just to be clear. So in my view, they're two things but if they're the same thing at the end of the day, then I'll let the Minister clarify.

My last question, just very quickly, Mr. Speaker, is will the Minister be willing to table her mandate letter to the college before the House for transparency and table it in a method that it can be consumed by the public for everyone to fully appreciate what direction and support they're getting from the Department of education. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to both table and share publicly and online the next mandate agreement between myself and the college. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list here I have is the Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have legislation at our disposal. My follow-up first question to my statement is addressed to the Minister of MACA. Will the Minister of MACA accept the humanitarian state of an emergency issued by the town of Norman Wells? Mahsi.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has received the local state of emergency that the town of Norman Wells has declared. To say that we have a documented support of that local state of emergency, we don't, but we are supporting -- as a government, we're doing everything we can to support the region. We have our staff on the ground working with the town of Norman Wells, regional superintendent. We have all our departments -- I can't speak for anybody else, but I will speak for myself to say that our staff have been very engaged in this in trying to help the situation there in Norman Wells. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for those comforting words. The residents of the Sahtu very much appreciate the words of support and acknowledgement in receipt of that state of an emergency declaration.

The unique opportunity is here. And my next question, will the Minister of MACA provide this notification to the federal public safety Ministers while they are in Yellowknife today or tomorrow or whenever they leave? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Declaring a local state of emergency or state of emergency doesn't guarantee us federal funding. My counterpart, Minister Sajjan, Minister of public safety, is not here. And I have spoken to him recently as yesterday in regards to the issue in Norman Wells. We have had discussions on this. Unfortunately, this type of emergency does not fall under the federal regulations or the federal disaster -- federal assistance arrangement. So we are continuing dialogue. And the Minister has committed to reaching out to his counterparts to see if there's any other solutions for the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that reply. Would the Minister provide a briefing or backup documents specific to the state and the discussion happening between his office or this government and the federal government and provide that to my office and the mayor of Norman Wells? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm more than happy to share any correspondence I've had with the Minister. I'm also willing to sit down with the Minister, give him a briefing on what discussions our department's had with the community, and also any of my federal counterparts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister. That information to the leaders would be beneficial.

Now for the public residents, will the Minister support a press release on the state of emergency and the actions taken and future actions to be taken? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have an issue with releasing any information on the work we've been doing. I think we've been pretty open and transparent right now with everything we've been doing, so I'm more than committed to work on a press release that we could use, both as the MLA for the Sahtu and the department, to share with the residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Deputy Premier elaborate on the plan for the temporary on-the-land healing camp that EIA staff spoke of with the CBC earlier this week? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of EIA.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the encampment that took place in Yellowknife this summer, and continuing to now, there was an opportunity to engage directly with the community of individuals relying on that for sheltering, and it gave an opportunity for EIA to identify a cohort of folks who are looking for an opportunity to be in a more transitional type of shelter. And so it's with that in mind that -- and in a lot of discussions with the NGO community here who supports folks who are underhoused that they were able to identify an opportunity to use this facility that is outside of Yellowknife, for up to approximately 30 people, provide some limited programming out there. I do want to clarify it's not a healing camp in the way that we might sometimes think of it. It's a much shorter timeframe than that. But it will be offering some programming and be a facility that can at least be on the road towards a transitional type of opportunity for people. Thank you.

Thank you. In terms of the encampment and its residents, I want to note that NGOs really stepped up to the plate with possible solutions. So aside from this camp that the deputy Premier just spoke of, what, if any, rental options have been pursued with NGOs in absence of any secured federal dollars to date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NGOs have been extremely valuable partners. Indeed, the camp that I mentioned earlier as a transitional opportunity wouldn't have arisen and wouldn't be possible without NGOs coming forward and making themselves and their skills available. So there's been a lot of discussions and a fairly exhaustive look at different options here in Yellowknife. It involved not only the NGO community and their facilities, at least one of which is able, with some additional funding, to expand their beds, but also looking at local developers, you know, hotels, large scale landlords, small scale landlords, all -- even territorial parks. So there's been a real comprehensive look at the different assets, but also a look at whether or not those assets would truly be appropriate and serve the needs from a person-centered approach for the people that are requiring supports and assistance in their housing right now. So with that said, it really was an opportunity to look at what's here, to try to be efficient with what's here, and to keep in mind that NGOs, while they're being at the table, can't be expected to step up without some more supports and investment in them. So without, you know, significant new dollars coming in, that was part of the discussion around what could be done with the camp and then also sort of a medium-term solution and longer term solution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I caught the words people-centered approach in that response, and that's really good to hear. I'll probably have more to speak about that in the days to come. But as the deputy Premier knows, the folks who are in the encampment do need wraparound services. And that is something that we are limited in our actions right now.

What preliminary actions, then, does EIA see as crucial to address the core need for effective transitional housing in Yellowknife, our regional centres, and small communities? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is certainly not an easy one, and I want to acknowledge that from the get-go, that the efforts to deal with what became a crisis situation this summer interrupts the ability to plan for the future. And we're well aware that we need to get out of the cycle of responding to crisis in order to actually plan in a careful way to deliver the services we need.

Working towards a place where integrated case management which has become integrated service delivery can be expanded, expanded out of Yellowknife and, in fact, even expanded within Yellowknife, those will provide the opportunities to, again, be person-centered, to be delivering transitional housing in a way that responds to the needs of those who need it and to engage with communities so that when communities are being brought in to an expansion of integrated service delivery, it's with solutions that the communities are asking for and in a way that the communities are ready and with what they need rather than having supports or programs given to them that might not actually meet the needs of their underhoused population. So that focus on integrated service delivery and doing it in line with the ongoing community work, that's where this is starting from. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to Great Slave for your final supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think the Minister has anticipated what I wanted to say next. So in the Homelessness Strategy, the goal of establishing functional zero of homelessness says that in less than two years that there will be goals set for each community to reduce homelessness. That was a year ago. That gives us one more year on the timetable. So what is the GNWT seeing right now that they want to take steps in the next three years left of this Assembly to help us reach functional zero? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And it is similar in some ways to what I had just responded to, that functional zero for each community will be set by each community not for each community. In other words, it's identifying what population is able to find some form of appropriate housing appropriate to where they are at and meeting a person where they are which may mean that there's often going to remain some number of people within a community who are effectively without formal shelter or may be transitioning between shelter. But functional zero ensures that everyone has a place for where they're at in whatever their journey might be. But, again, that does have to happen with communities. So that engagement is -- I understand is underway, and I certainly can commit to providing a more detailed timeline -- I don't have that here, but a more detailed timeline to the extent that we have it and, again, just knowing that that may shift based upon the needs of communities. But we can certainly provide a more detailed timeline from our perspective, and I'll commit to getting that to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is the Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. So given this government's commitments to strive towards a net-zero climate target by 2050, what plans are underway for this government to commit to a net-zero power system by 2035 in order for our power corporation to benefit from the federal clean electricity investment tax credit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm quite pleased to talk about the clean energy investment tax credit because it is an interesting thing that there's an opportunity here for the North, for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, to be seeking this tax credit except that we have to make a nonbinding commitment to be on net-zero.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make that commitment. I'm happy to simply make the commitment, but it certainly is going to be pretty challenging for the Northwest Territories or, frankly, probably any part of the non-connected to the North American energy grid communities, the three territories, to reach that. But we could certainly make the commitment if that's what it takes to unlock a little bit of tax credit funding.

Obviously, getting there, Mr. Speaker, is going to take significant investment. We certainly have the opportunity to look at Taltson facility, whether or not it would be operational by 2035 would certainly bring 70 percent of our population onto clean energy. The challenges will be different in communities that are more isolated, through the Sahtu and the Beaufort Delta. And certainly what would it take at that point? Well, Mr. Speaker, at that point, we're going to be looking at probably new technologies, different technologies, and working with Indigenous partners through those regions as to what opportunities they see for investment as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So given that the vast majority of our emissions come from transportation and industry, what does the Minister believe are the key opportunities to introduce clean energy into the NWT transportation sector, particularly the long-haul trucking and the heavy equipment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this certainly is a more difficult area to decarbonize effectively, particularly long-haul trucking. Some of the more heavy equipment machinery used in mine sites, for instance, might be looking to electrify, and there's certainly some efforts to do that underway. Elsewhere, again, challenges in terms of the climate here in the North do impact the battery capacity. One of the more promising opportunities would be in renewable diesel. Once again, though, Mr. Speaker, the way that this has unfolded through Canadian approaches thus far, there's not a strong market for renewable disease that is Arctic grade. I am happy to say that we are looking at this again and reexamining whether there's some opportunities to help incentivize that market or bring about some of that market here to the North. We would need a supply, and we would need it to be at an affordable price point that doesn't overly displace the fiscal capacity. But that would certainly be part of the modeling that we need to undertake to reach a net-zero. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So on the subject of clean fuels, one of the key federal funding opportunities for clean fuels is the Indigenous clean fuels fund. So what conversations are underway with Indigenous governments regarding those funding opportunities through the Indigenous clean fuels fund? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, let me say I would say not enough conversations. I hope there's more attention paid to these opportunities. It would be expectational to see this kind of funding flow to Indigenous governments here within the Northwest Territories. I know I've mentioned it in passing at Council of Leaders of meetings and in opportunities, for example sitting with colleagues at the Taltson steering committee, and department officials certainly do point their counterparts and colleagues to the 2Y2 Indigenous single window funding portal that exists with the federal government. But, again, any opportunity to raise their profile of this more here in the North, this is a chance to bring money into the North and a chance to bring about economic reconciliation and putting some of those dollars and power into the hands of Indigenous governments. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go back to the Member from Yellowknife North. Final supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So in terms of industry reducing emissions, we have the large emitters fund that industry has already been paying into, and it's supposed to be designed to help industry reduce their carbon emissions. So what have been the barriers to industry fully tapping into and expending those dollars that are sitting in the large emitters fund? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure that it's barriers within necessarily that are preventing this. There is some -- certainly some requirement that the funds would have to be, for example, 5 percent change from the baseline of the operation which, if it was for the whole of the mine it might be easier, but when it's for a specific portion of operations that actually can turn into a fairly significant number. And another challenge being that it actually needs to have some sense of provability and not be a test or a trial or a research project. So you know, again, certainly very happy to say that there has been use of this with respect to the solar farm, I believe, recently at Diavik. We're hoping that there may be some interest from one of the other mines in another project and very happy to try to work with them to ensure that there are, in fact, not barriers to advancing the use of this money towards energy emissions in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us how many tenants relation officers are currently employed in in the region? Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to clarify, in the region -- with the question, does she mean the Monfwi riding? Just need some clarification, Mr. Speaker.

My Member's statement is on Tlicho region so I'm talking about Tlicho region and in Behchoko. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the clarification. Based on the information from Housing NWT, with the housing authority in Behchoko we have four maintenance positions and four administration positions within the authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker for that information. Can the Minister give us the average time a person is expected to be on the waitlist for a public housing unit when we have four maintenance people working there? So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, I can't provide an average time on the housing waitlist. I know there's -- from what I understand with the information, there is over 135 families on the housing waitlist for Behchoko, but I don't have an average time waitlist. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have a lot of people on the waitlist for housing, and we know housing is a crisis in the whole of the Northwest Territories. But I think in Tlicho region, we are experiencing the worst, especially in Behchoko, so. And we have four admin staff, four maintenance people, and we have lots of houses that's in great need of housing repair, and we have about at least over ten houses that are boarded up. So with that in mind, can the Minister say how much time or money the Government of the Northwest Territories spends on collecting housing arrears and how much it costs to keep track of all these internal billings? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The time and money to collect and look at housing arrears is something that the work four administration staff do within the housing authority. But to let the Member know that we are working on a territorial housing needs assessment, and this information will hopefully be provided by spring with Housing NWT. But that includes all the unit condition ratings, the information from the bureau of statistics, internal reviews, working with housing authorities.

Something else that we're also doing with Housing NWT in the Member's riding is we're working with the Tlicho housing working group on any housing issues within the riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi on your final supplementary question.

(audio) that response. So how much money is the department spending on collecting housing arrears to keep the office running? That's what I was trying to get at. Is it necessary for the NWT Housing to exist? You know, because we're not getting anywhere with them.

So my final one, will the Minister commit to visiting Behchoko to see the conditions in some of the housing stock? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister, I think it's important that I visit the communities, go into people's homes to look at the existing conditions that they live in public housing, and I have told the Member I am open for a visit and willing to go with her into Behchoko and to go to people's homes to talk to them about their living conditions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Next on my list I have is I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in continuing with my -- with questions to support schools, working families, students, teachers, I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment how the department is working to support schools. And, of course, this requires coordination across multiple departments because there are a lot of requirements so we might jump around a bit, but I'm confident the Minister can answer it.

First off, there's a youth mental health crisis in the Northwest Territories, and our schools are on the frontline. So what are we doing to support them and now that we've tweaked the child -- the youth child counsellors program, we've seen changes to therapeutic -- or to the clinical services offered in schools. We've been taking a look at this. So what are we doing to ensure that these new supports, the way we've changed are working and that if schools need additional support, that it will be there for them? Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of ECE.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, both at the officials level, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has regular meetings with the education bodies themselves, and twice a year I get together with the education body chairs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Therapeutic services are another aspect that is important in schools as there is access to occupational therapists, speech language pathologists. These are highly technical specialized roles that schools need to provide supports to students. They currently don't have access to these. How is the Minister going to ensure therapeutic services are provided in all of our schools in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret, I think, to anybody in the Northwest Territories that access to therapeutic services absolutely is important part of access to education. However, I'm not the Minister of health and social services. But I will continue to point out the need for the access to therapeutic services within our schools. Thank you.

Thank you. To that point, one of the issues is the referral process that gets kids from the school to the health system. This is going to take someone to streamline that process and make it easier for that to happen. I suggest the Minister's in a good position to figure out who that person is if it's not herself. So would the Minister commit to working with school boards and health authority to streamline the referral process for students to get them the care they need? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a subject area that is very important to me, very near and dear to my heart. I can confirm to this House that the Minister of health and social services and I have started conversations to work through this. We recognize this as a challenge, and I can commit certainly to continuing that conversation. And I am also meeting today with the NWTTA and will continue to meet with education bodies, and I will continue to make myself available. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake. Final supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister's going to make herself available, but I'm going to keep asking these questions and I hope it's more than availability. We need some answers, we need some solutions, we need to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, another issue is there's no -- currently, the quality of school infrastructure is up to the school -- most school boards to care for in Yellowknife themselves. The GNWT owns those buildings in other communities and for other school districts. But there's no dedicated funding for technical assessments. Since the pandemic, many of those assessments have fallen behind. Will the Minister work with the Department of Infrastructure, again, to find a way to ensure technical assessments are provided for all schools in the Northwest Territories on a regular basis and that that informs our capital planning? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to talk about technical assessments today with the Member. This one definitely bridges a relationship between my portfolio and one of my colleague's portfolio over in infrastructure. So Yellowknife schools were not originally included in the assessments for many years because they're not technically GNWT assets. However, because the GNWT funds the major capital upgrades, those buildings have been put back into rotation. And I can confirm for the Member that multiple Yellowknife schools are on the assessment schedule for next summer. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go on to my next on the list is from the Mackenzie Delta.

Okay. I'm going to go to the Member from the Deh Cho. No questions.

I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very excited. Mr. Speaker. It would be nice to end today -- well, we're not ending today per se, but, you know, work towards the end of today on a positive note. And the reason I'm bringing this up, in my Member's statement yesterday I talked about the naming of the Whitford building, Mr. Speaker. And there's not a specific guideline through the EIA or housing that says how do we need name buildings that are non-office buildings, but let's follow the office building process and protocol. And section number 5, Cabinet may approve a public engagement process, so may, to solicit name and ideas for owned buildings. But it also says that they could do it on themselves through their own process. And, of course, I want to highlight one sad note which is they only like to name buildings after people who are deceased sadly.

However, that being said, encapsulating everything I said yesterday in my Member's statement and today, would the Minister of housing be the champion to announce today before this House that she will go forward and advocate at the Cabinet table that we name the 53rd Street building, the barrier-free building, the Whitford building from now and onto the future? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member puts me in a very awkward position because I want to be respectful to the memory of Mr. Tony Whitford but there is a process that we have to follow. There are policies we have to follow. So I'm willing to have a discussion within Cabinet to talk about this, but I can't make the announcement today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, item -- guidelines, checkbox number 5 says may create a process. So in other words, you don't have to have a process. We could have the political courage and excitement to do the right thing, Mr. Speaker. So I'm asking the Minister if she doesn't want to be the champion today -- that gives you a little bit of room -- maybe she could highlight before this House what process she speaketh of. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd have to look at the information to find out what exactly is the process to naming the building, the step-by-step process. We'll follow that process, and I'll work with the Member to ensure and provide him updates with the process itself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife Centre. No further questions? Thank you.

Next on my list here I have is the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, while I generally appreciate the rosy disposition of the Minister for ECE, I have to express a bit of confusion. Mr. Speaker, the college is bleeding staff. They're missing milestones. There's no public statements on the indications about the transition so I have to say I'm a bit confused. The Minister seems to be quite confident about the transition, but all the public indications are showing that it's not going well. So, Mr. Speaker, if things are going well, where are the results? Where's the urgency? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister of ECE.

Mr. Speaker, I didn't particularly hear a specific question the Member wants me to answer other than where is the results. But I want to respond.

Absolutely, it is my goal to lead the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. That is what I've signed up to do, and that is what I'm doing. If I stand here and talk about doom and gloom, I'm not exactly leading people into prosperity, leading people into the next stages. I absolutely support, which is what I have said -- I support the transition and transformation of the Aurora College into a polytechnic, and I will continue to support that project as long as we are funding it, as long as we are -- as a government are funding it and expecting it. And that is through dollars that we approve in this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And while I appreciate the answer, the Minister's also responsible for mandate and direction, so it's not just dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I've heard things such as the college has been approached by entities offering to build housing, offering to provide a campus even, and the board has been rejecting these offers. What is going on, Mr. Speaker? How could a board committed to transitioning to a polytechnic possibly want to turn away from such opportunities for this kind of collaboration? Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to accountability. What is the Minister's relationship with the board, what is the Minister doing to ensure that the board is advancing this transition at the pace that we need it to advance knowing that it is already off track? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm in a bit of a difficult situation here where I'm being held responsible, really, for operational items. And I'm not in charge. I do not have the authority over the operations of the college. However, what I do have control over is the mandate agreement which we set together which we're in the process of setting right now. I also have control over the accountability framework which was just put in place and I intend to use. I also do have control over the funding framework of post-secondary institutions and Aurora College, and I intend to use that as well. These are the three key tools that I have at my disposal and have authority over and will use in this process. That accountability framework is a key piece, and that was just put in place this summer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister concerned about the milestones that the college is facing? Does the Minister share my concern that the project appears to be significantly off track and that does not appear to be reversing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is always a red flag whether we miss any deadline whatsoever. It is always a red flag. We make deadlines which are commitments to the people of the Northwest Territories and the public. That is definitely a concern of mine. Thank you.