Check against delivery
Good afternoon, and thank you for being here today.
I would like to welcome Madame Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, and MP Michael McLeod to Yellowknife Airport, the largest airport in the Northwest Territories and the gateway to our communities and southern destinations.
YELLOWKNIFE (February 10, 2019) - After two days of mediation convened by Mediator Vince Ready, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers have not reached a tentative agreement.
However, the parties have agreed to submit their outstanding issues to Mr. Ready for binding recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a mandate commitment to use the Land Use and Sustainability Framework to establish the Thaidene Nëné protected area in partnership with Indigenous governments and the Government of Canada.
I can inform Members of the Legislative Assembly that we have made significant progress toward the establishment of the protected area with the negotiation of a draft Establishment Agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes the need to advance the territorial vision of land and resource management in accordance with the Land Use and Sustainability Framework and we have made a mandate commitment to evolve our legislative, regulatory and policy systems by developing and proposing a variety of Acts including a Mineral Resources Act.
Le ministre de la Justice, Louis Sebert, a annoncé aujourd’hui la nomination de Donovan Frederick Molloy, c.r., au poste de juge à la Cour territoriale des Territoires du Nord-Ouest. Cette nomination entre en vigueur le 20 février 2019.
Diplômé avec mention de la faculté de droit de l’Université du Nouveau-Brunswick en 1992, M. Molloy est reçu au Barreau de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador en 1993.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on our government’s recent work on cannabis public education and community health engagement.
Northerners have told us that they want more evidence-based, culturally relevant information on the health effects of cannabis. In response to that call, the Department of Health and Social Services has been working in partnership with other Departments and agencies, as well as the federal government, to ensure that NWT residents have access to the information and resources they need in order to make informed choices.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories made a mandate commitment during this Legislative Assembly to continue to develop and advance initiatives to displace diesel generation in the NWT including advancing the Taltson Hydroelectricity Expansion project.
Le premier ministre Bob McLeod a publié aujourd’hui la déclaration suivante en réaction aux événements de la réunion de circonscription de Yellowknife Sud le soir du 5 février 2019 :
« Je suis déçu de ce qui s’est produit lors de ma réunion de circonscription hier soir. Les réunions comme celle-là sont l’occasion pour mes électeurs de faire entendre leurs priorités et leurs préoccupations. Il ne s’agit pas d’une tribune où mener des négociations qui ont leur place ailleurs.
Le ministre des Finances, Robert C. McLeod, vient de déposer le budget de 2019-2020, qui s’inscrit dans les objectifs financiers du gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (GTNO), soit gérer avec prudence les dépenses dans des circonstances économiques précaires. Le budget prévoit des dépenses de 1,873 milliard de dollars en appui aux priorités de l’Assemblée législative et pour le renforcement des programmes existants.
Les recettes prévues sont quant à elles de 1,933 milliard de dollars, pour un excédent de fonctionnement de 60 millions de dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the 2019-20 Budget for the Government of the Northwest Territories. This Budget continues to invest in our people and our territory to achieve, as set out in the very first sentence of the 18th Legislative Assembly mandate, our vision of a territory where all our people, communities and regions share in the benefits of a healthy, just, sustainable and prosperous society.
