Mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the GNWT is more than $1 billion in debt, and we are at 96 percent of the debt limit. Yes, we are in fiscal restraint, and I commend the Cabinet for its effort to meet the needs of the people. The Cabinet has done its best to work with the people and especially our colleagues on this side too. I know not everyone is going to agree, but the Cabinet Ministers listen and work with us. That is a good thing. Not only that, but some of us Regular MLAs make budget requests and feel that our requests and proposals were listened to by the government. We are glad to see the government working with Indigenous governments as well in creating bilateral agreements.
I am thankful under Premier Simpson's leadership there is a good working relationship with Indigenous governments such as Tlicho government. And as noted before and as an example, we see their working relationship, you know, working with the Tlicho government trying to create the Tlicho administrative region, and Housing NWT is working with Tlicho government to possibly transfer 14 market rental units as noted, transitional addiction recovery program, and other programs that will help community members suffering with addictions and mental health.
Mr. Speaker, for the first time we will have a midwife position in Behchoko. Hopefully that will make a difference for young parents. Although, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and recognize our ancestors who were -- many of them were midwife and delivered a lot of babies with no pay. I would like to recognize them as I am speaking here.
Mr. Speaker, I know we cannot close the municipal funding gap with this budget though. Although I am confident that in the future we can identify areas of saving which can then be redirected to close the municipal funding gap more effectively. One of MACA's goal is to help create and maintain healthy communities. Healthy communities lead to healthy people. It is an exercise in prevention.
Mr. Speaker, if we cut funds for communities, we are creating pressure to displace people from the communities and have them migrate to Yellowknife or to other larger regional centre. When you talk to certain people in Yellowknife on the street, many times you will find they are from the communities -- from a community. Their needs were not met in the communities, in their small communities, and now the cost for their care in Yellowknife is dramatically increasing.
With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, the funds allocated to small communities for capital operation and maintenance is not enough, and small communities are suffering and struggling. In the future, the government will have to take more time to work with us on this. I will support this budget but look forward to working with the Cabinet Minister to make appropriate changes reflecting the needs of the small community.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank everyone here, our colleagues, and staff for helping and working with us as these past two weeks have been hard on all of us. It was a stressful time for us. And when we return in fall, there's going to be one research staff that is not going to be here, so and she is moving on to something better. And I wish her well, and I know we will miss her. And I want to wish everybody to have a good, safe summer. Thank you.