Budget Talk Ideas

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OpenNWT's Budget Talk Ideas is designed to allow NWT residents to discuss priorities, ideas and suggestions for the upcoming GNWT budget. Although this website is not an official GNWT consultation, it does allow for public discussion and input to help the GNWT decide how and where to invest our money.

What happens next? The Ideas portal and Budget Survey will be open until midnight on May 18th. Your ideas, survey results, votes and discussions will be submitted to the Department of Finance as part of their budget dialogue. OpenNWT will also send a summary report to all MLAs. Information on individual submitters/commenters will not be sent to the GNWT. We’ll also send along some statistical information (number of submissions, categories of ideas, etc).

The Ideas site will remain online after the submission closes to be used as a reference tool. The information sent to the GNWT will be available on this website.

Take a look at ideas submitted by others, add your own or vote on others. You can make a new account to use the website, or sign in using your existing Facebook, Gmail or Twitter account.

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Total Votes: 1

Up Votes: +1

Down Votes: 0

Rewrite the Class 7 Drivers Test into Common Language

Suggested by JTuko on May 26, 2016 - 0 Comments |

Rewrite the Class 7 drivers test in common language. The current test does not assess an individual's understanding of knowledge, skills and proper attitudes for driving, it tests reading comprehension. Not being able to pass the Class 7 drivers test limits many employment opportunities for people, particularly in communities.

Total Votes: 8

Up Votes: +8

Down Votes: 0

Hand out 3 to 6 month prescriptions and reduce the # of health care appts. for recurring chronic drug issues like diabetes

Suggested by PreviouslySubmitted on Apr 12, 2016 - 0 Comments |

This idea was previously submitted to OpenNWT as an idea for reducing public spending. OpenNWT moved the post here.

Total Votes: 2

Up Votes: +2

Down Votes: 0

Institute a GNWT wide student cumulative file for all schools instead of 8 individual ones to save on the cost of printing so many

Suggested by PreviouslySubmitted on Apr 12, 2016 - 0 Comments |

This idea was previously submitted to OpenNWT as an idea for reducing public spending. OpenNWT moved the post here.

Total Votes: 5

Up Votes: +5

Down Votes: 0

Have 1 GNWT main website instead of many individual Departmental ones

Suggested by PreviouslySubmitted on Apr 12, 2016 - 0 Comments |

This idea was previously submitted to OpenNWT as an idea for reducing public spending. OpenNWT moved the post here.

Total Votes: 1

Up Votes: +1

Down Votes: 0

Medical Travel Scheduling

Suggested by JTuko on May 26, 2016 - 0 Comments |

Schedule medical travel so that patients do not have to stay extra nights/weekends due to flight schedules. If flights to communities do not run on weekends, then do not schedule appointments on Monday's or Friday's.

Total Votes: 2

Up Votes: +2

Down Votes: 0

Save $10M-$15M annually with opt-in bi-weekly deferred leave

Suggested by Account on May 17, 2016 - 0 Comments |

The GNWT could potentially save somewhere between $10 million to $15 million (or somewhere around 150 full time PYs) by implementing an opt-in program for employees to take one day of deferred leave bi-weekly. From a financing perspective, it would work similar to the current deferred leave program, but without the cost needed to fill the employees' position while they are on leave. A comparison is below: Comparison: GNWT Deferred Leave Program ....Hours worked: … Read more

Total Votes: 1

Up Votes: +1

Down Votes: 0

Institute a correspondence school at all Aurora Campus for basic training programs to expand revenues so people don't have to leave home

Suggested by PreviouslySubmitted on Apr 12, 2016 - 0 Comments |

This idea was previously submitted to OpenNWT as an idea for reducing public spending. OpenNWT moved the post here.

Total Votes: 1

Up Votes: +1

Down Votes: 0

Hire more people to be Teacher Assistants and Librarians in our schools, particularly in Yellowknife and the larger communities.

Suggested by Garth on May 8, 2016 - 0 Comments |

The cost to the government for positions such as this is less than anticipated increased transfers from the Federal Government. The cost is about $90,000 per position while the government receives $30,000 per person. In addition, there will be increased profits by local businesses because of more customers. The average family is 3.7 people which means hiring more teacher assistants will increase government revenues by more than the cost of hiring them. Schools in Yellowknife and the large… Read more

Total Votes: 5

Up Votes: +5

Down Votes: 0

Change MACA Legislation to Allow for Bed Tax

Suggested by Jon Snow on Apr 12, 2016 - 0 Comments |

Yellowknife needs more money for its growing tourism sector. In 2015, more than 40,000 tourists came through Yellowknife. Traditionally, NWT Tourism has in part promoted Yellowknife in its marketing and advertising but it bond to promote the entire NWT equally. Becuase of this City of Yellowknife or a Destination Marketing Organization for the city needs to step up and promote Yellowknife. In order to do this, more money is required. A hotel or bed tax/levy would bring in this money. A si… Read more

Total Votes: 3

Up Votes: +3

Down Votes: 0

Improve efficiencies of NTPC

Suggested by LMLittle on Apr 25, 2016 - 1 Comment |

The public corporation is well-known for poor O&M decisions that cost northerners millions.In the face of climate change,the need for smart energy management and options,and cost of living issues,a smart audit is needed with enforceable recommendations. It is past time to reign in a poorly run public corporation.