Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday the Regular Members of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning issued a media release to give our view of the budgetary process now underway, and to propose some priorities for measures and public consultation. I would like to add that information to the record here by speaking of it. The government's media release of February 9, 2016 said, “The GNWT is committed to working closely with MLAs to identify practical solutions to the fiscal challenge,” and that “The GNWT will develop proposals and share them with MLAs for input prior to the preparation of business plans.”

Yet Regular Members are concerned that government has decided on a course of action, a concern that is exacerbated today when we hear the Finance Minister say he is not looking at any new taxes, $150 million in cuts, and a freeze on senior government salaries, none of which were agreed with by this side of the House. The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning’s media release of February 16, 2016 called on government to ensure effective public engagement on government budgets to ensure spending and programs are aligned with the 18th Assembly's stated priorities, to create new sources of revenue, invest in infrastructure projects and economic incentive programs, and fund cost-saving efficiencies within government. The committee is asking the government to balance new revenue generation, program efficiencies, and cost-saving measures to ensure a change of course is not detrimental to our economy. Key among these recommendations is the need for public consultation. The previous Finance Minister went to the public last fall on budget preparation. But note that he did not consider at that time how to increase revenues. The picture has changed since last fall, with the closure of Snap Lake and loss of the federal Territorial Formula Financing funding, to the tune of $10 million. Now is the time to consult, before the June offering of the full operating budget, and there is a model convenient to hand. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, faced with the recent crash in oil prices, moved swiftly to public consultation on budgetary measures. They recognized their fiscal situation was not temporary. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. They recognized their fiscal situation was not temporary and that before setting a direction that would be long-term, they would ask the citizens their views. They are asking citizens to identify a combination of measures to increase revenues, reduce expenditures, eliminate waste, and establish fiscal targets. Citizens have many choices for participation. They can comment on a discussion document, attend public discussion sessions and town hall meetings, host their own meetings, and make submissions online. In order to focus their comments, residents were asked to comment on three main questions:

What three things could government stop doing in order to save money?

What three new things could government do to raise money?

Array

How can government be more innovative or efficient to provide quality services at lower costs?

These are the questions we need to ask the residents of the NWT, and since we can expect our fiscal situation to be as equally long-term as Newfoundland's, we need to build public support, ownership, and partnership in making our fiscal approach work. These questions align very well with the priorities called for in our committee's release. As this government points out and Newfoundland realized, our financial situation is not going to change in the short term. Government needs to move forward in partnership with civil society. It's not too late for consultation, and budgeting can't begin without it. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Section 46(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that the Legislative Assembly shall elect a Deputy Speaker;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly wishes to appoint a Deputy Speaker;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. R.J. Simpson, be appointed as Deputy Speaker. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. R.J. Simpson, be appointed as Deputy Speaker. At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

My final question for the Minister is whether the government is prepared to increase the level of clinical support available to people whose mental health and addictions have made them homeless? That's the staff to go with the housing piece.

My question for the Minister responsible for Homelessness is whether the government is prepared to match the federal contribution of $306,000 annually to Housing First in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was delighted to hear in the opening address that the government wants to create solutions to address homelessness, so my questions today are for the Minister responsible for Homelessness. Does the Minister support Housing First as a solution to chronic homelessness in Yellowknife?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize today Ms. Lydia Bardak. She is a constituent in Yellowknife Centre and a tireless worker with the population of homeless people that I spoke about in my Member’s statement. I commend her for all the work that she does on behalf of those that need it, and I'd also like to introduce my partner and recognize my partner, Janice McKenna, and my mom, Ann Little.

Mahsi. This explanation as simplistic, but the solution is simple because it provides a direct response to a well-documented problem. The good news is that the community advisory board on homelessness in Yellowknife is developing a plan to implement Housing First. There is a group of dedicated people who want to make this program work. The challenge is that the money available for this program is inadequate for the number of clients who need it. I will have questions today for the Minister responsible for Housing about how the territorial government can assist in setting up Housing First in Yellowknife. It is time for the government to make an investment in ending homelessness so that healing can begin. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.