Colleagues, all those in favour, eight. Opposed, zero. Abstentions, seven. The motion has been passed.

---Carried

Motions. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know if everyone is even aware in this House, but the tariffs have been paused until April 2nd. So this whiplash is, I think, driving everyone nuts. The goalposts keep moving, and I think our entire nation's becoming traumatized. And this is exactly the kind of thing that our new-found enemies, who used to be our allies, want from us. So I'd like to -- I'm sure the Premier has been, as he has been through this whole time, in contact with the Prime Minister, Northerners are looking to their government for stability at a time when it's -- chaos is the only word I can think to describe it. Can the Premier provide an update to this House on Canada's tariff response. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand from the news that President Trump has put a pause on majority of tariffs that he was imposing on Canada, a pause on all the tariffs on the goods that are -- that fall under the Canada, US, and Mexico Agreement. I understand also from the news that the Prime Minister has said that the retaliatory tariffs will remain despite that pause because the goal is to end all tariffs and the threats of tariffs. And so I know I don't want to be bouncing back and forth, giving different direction to departments, depending on what the President says on a given day, and so from my understanding the Government of Canada is staying the course. But this news broke as we were coming down into the House, I believe, and so I haven't had an official update as of yet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier just confirm that the measures he's already laid out - taking the American products out of liquor stores, the tearing up of the Starlink contracts, and the other measures he's already laid out to date - are those going to be held in force -- are those going to be maintained? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not tearing up contracts. We're ensuring that as we move forward and contracts end and where we can get out of contracts at no cost to the people of the territory and at no -- and in a way that doesn't impact the safety of residents or staff, that we're doing that. So all of that said, the direction that has been given to departments has not changed. I don't want to flip flop back and forth depending on what the news of the day is, and so the direction remains the same. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to hear that. Mr. Speaker, the President, also in his recent address to both chambers of congress -- both Houses of Congress said that the American government would initiate retaliatory tariffs I believe on April 4th. So is there any -- does this situation relate to -- or do our counter-tariffs relate to that declaration? I don't know if there's been an update since then either. I know it's -- again, it is a very fluid situation. If the Premier doesn't have a clear update, that's fine, but obviously this is very concerning for my constituents and for all of us here in the Northwest Territories and Canada. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I don't have an update for the House on that. And, you know, I want to ensure that people understand that, you know, despite the actions of, you know, an individual in the United States, whether -- despite the fact that person might be the President, that, as a country, we remain steadfast in our unity and our approach to dealing with this situation. And, you know, people might be shaken by the removal of the tariffs today and the removal of some tariffs yesterday and the addition of other tariffs. But we're not shaken, Mr. Speaker. This is what we're in for the next four years. We need to realize that. We need to stay the course and ensure that we're doing what we can to further insulate our economy, territorially and nationally, from the whims of the American president while moving forward and supporting each other. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECE in regard to my statement earlier on income support. Is the Minister looking to make changes to the income support program in the future? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the income security programs for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment underwent extensive review and changes in the 19th Assembly. We were able to implement those changes just last year, so they still have not undergone a full year in the new system. And so I think this is a time where we are certainly watching to see how those changes are being implemented so that we can establish if changes -- further changes are needed in the future. Thank you.

One of the questions I had was when will these changes -- how will -- what time do you anticipate the changes will take effect and be the changes that are going to be used in the income support program? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So these changes took effect last year, in the fall of last year, and so they're still certainly in their infancy as people get used to them and as we see how they're impacting communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Deh Cho.

I don't know if the Minister will have this information now, Mr. Speaker. But can she tell me what changes were made. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So overall, there was more money afforded to the program. One of the most distinctive changes was that persons with disabilities and people who are elders and seniors were placed into their own separate program, and so now there's the income assistance for persons with disabilities and seniors, and there's the income assistance for adults' program as well. The income assistance for adults' program is for persons who are 19 to 59 years old. And within the income assistance program as well, people -- there were other exemptions that were income exemptions that were included in the program, and then there was also exemptions for earned income that was included as well. So people who are wanting to start working more are able to keep more of their earned income today, so it acts as kind of a grace period as they're working their way out of needing that support on a month-to-month basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member's statement, my questions today, as mentioned, are to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. To the Minister, has the Department of ECC been involved in the environmental assessment for the line 490 replacement project in Norman Wells? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department is participating in the environmental assessment process for both the Imperial Oil line 490 replacement as well as the overall operation of the Norman Wells program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question to the Minister is to what degree is the department involved in the 490 process specifically? Mahsi.