Thank you. Again, before I go back to the Member from Monfwi, I've been reminded that if we could just focus on page 169 to 173 and look at the key activities. I'm going back to the Member from Monfwi.

Thank you. So now since we're talking about jobs in -- or active positions here, and, you know, every position is important to all the regions to sustain the region. So I just wanted to ask the Minister right now, because she's with us here, so what work are they doing to move jobs to support regional employment? Some -- as decentralizations of program and services, is it on their budget for the next fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So with respect to the Department of Finance, Mr. Chair, we are increasing positions in the Beaufort Delta and in the Sahtu to help support the FESS, or Financial and Employee Shared Services. And, you know, again, with respect to the broader GNWT, Mr. Chair, I mean, there's -- that's not an item that necessarily is under the priorities of the Assembly other than obviously wanting to, of course, ensure broadly the opportunity for ongoing economic development and -- but, yes, so I don't have a new priority or a new mandate item that is relating to that.

From the perspective of human resources, lastly, Mr. Chair, there is, again, as I mentioned earlier, the remote work policy is one that we would certainly like to see ongoing and increased uptake of. So, again, employees can, from the point of potential recruitment and certainly early on in the process of considering a position, request to have it considered if they could be under the remote work policy which is -- for Northwest Territories based work allows people to work on a regional position or a headquarters position without leaving a small community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Yeah, that's -- I have no more further questions regarding this topic. Thank you.

Sorry, Mr. Chair. I didn't have a question.

Thank you. Okay, thank you for that. That was the first round. Is there any Members that want to speak up for the first round that haven't spoken yet? Okay, I got a request now for -- to go to the second round. And I'm going to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I wanted to ask about the Northwest Territories child benefits. The limits are -- or when a family exceeds $30,000, the benefit is reduced and then it's completely eliminated after $80,000. Why is the limit set so low? Of course, the Canada Child Benefit is much higher and benefits a higher income bracket and has been a key instrument in reducing child poverty in this country, to the lowest its ever been. And now I acknowledge that this benefit helps greatly. I was pleased to support increasing it in the 18th Assembly. But it still is quite low. And any increases to this, we're going to see direct benefits to reducing poverty in our communities. So what's the rationale for capping it at 80,000 or -- and starting to cap it at 30,000? Thank you.

Thank you. To the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that's the first time I've had that question asked of me in any setting. I don't have an answer right now, and I'm happy to certainly take it back and likely confer with ECE who would have a role in ensuring that we are providing that kind of level of service to residents. So, again, happy to take that away and see if there is some room or opportunity to support residents differently or better. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.

Great. Well, I guess we could talk about it a bit more, but it's a very good benefit. You know, like, this is -- yeah, I would encourage the Minister to look at ways to increase it. These things are great. They -- you know, we're -- they -- they're going to benefit people staying in the North, in -- you know, taking the edge off the cost of living, and, you know, in particular in communities, smaller communities as well, that's money that's going in to help people pay for groceries, for school lunches, all that stuff. And this seems like a no-brainer to me because it's a really easy way to get money into people's pockets.

I'll ask about the cost of living tax credit as well. Is this benefit income tested? Thank you. Yes.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The cost of living tax credit is a line item available to all Northwest Territories residents. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. So is there a -- same question, I guess, around the calculation. Like, when's the last time we looked at this and to see if it's meeting the needs of northern families? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, first time I'm giving -- having received that question and certainly happy to see if there is an opportunity here to go back and look at how it is administered, what cutoffs there might be. You know, again, Mr. Chair, I don't have that level of detail here as being -- as it's under the grants and contributions detail. So, again, can't say a lot to it now. I didn't anticipate that this would be a subject of questions. So, again, happy to look at it if this is an opportunity. Again, certainly can take that away and give it a bit more work. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would be happy to talk tax policy with the Minister of Finance. I am a big fan of how we can find ways to change our tax policy to incentivize investment in the Northwest Territories, to grow the financial services sector, and to keep people in the North. So if she's willing to have that conversation -- I mean, I think -- let me make it a direct question.

Is the Minister willing to look at this as part of her sustainability efforts and her department's efforts to raise revenue -- or sorry, well -- yeah, maybe -- well, yeah, let's say, like, as part of revenue options, as part of sustainability options, because tax policy could be a very powerful tool to, again, encourage investment and economic growth. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Tax policy is also a fairly complicated area so I'm not necessarily going to brainstorm here but appreciate the interest in the space. And absolutely, I, you know, had the benefit, a consensus system of sitting, myself and the Premier, with Members of -- all Members of committee last week and it was a positive conversation about these kinds of ideas and issues and would certainly be happy to have that type of conversation continue. Thank you.