Michael Nadli

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if the Minister is familiar with the Yukon Gold, but it's a customized-- or basically a tailored potato that was seeded in part of the Yukon. I'm kind of looking forward to maybe coming up with a unique northern spud.

---Laughter

I think the Minister outlined in general that no applications have been received in terms of providing assistance for community members at the local level. Can he explain how can residents and communities access funding for greenhouse projects and other local initiatives under the Northern Food Development Program?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, northern agriculture is a success story waiting to happen, and residents of the Deh Cho want to be part of the localfood movement that is enhancing the health and sustainability of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided].

Mr. Speaker, an enterprising resident of Fort Providence wants to put locally produced food on the shelves at northern grocery stores. He is trying to spearhead an initiative that would eventually see locally grown produce in our stores all year. With support from the Northern Farm Training Institute and community...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the deputy explain whether that initiative could be focused on specifically individuals that are being reintegrated, or is there an effort to look at perhaps people that are going back into the community and working with their families? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister has stated that, in terms of evaluating the merits of continuing the New Day program, there could be an effort to redesign the program. Could the Minister explain: if indeed it goes down the path of redesigning the program, to continue, would it have a local community or else a territorial focus? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t hear a commitment from the Minister. Will he commit once again to support the review of medical travel at the same time with the view of support and follows to be involved and besides their spouses, during the moment of delivery of their children? Yes or no? Masi.

I thank the Minister for acknowledging that. Our challenge with supporting family, yet from small communities, pregnant women have to be brought here for their own safety and wellbeing at Yellowknife, and they stay here for extended periods of time, and they’re separated from their children. Can the Minister explain, how does the department support fathers to ensure that they could be with their spouses during the special moment at delivery?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Escort support of pregnant women is limited. I have had several constituents come to Yellowknife to have their baby, and not one of them had their spouse there to help them. It’s not because they did not want to; it’s because we do not have the support in place for fathers during the delivery of their children. Mr. Speaker, it is a very special moment in the lives of families when a woman delivers a baby. I think we can all agree that we try to make it as comfortable as we can as an experience, in that special moment when a child is born. Mr. Speaker, this government has...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.