Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that we do get money out to the evacuees as soon as possible because there are many that are without right now and, you know, they're short on money and they need our support.

But, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if this program is to be used for future evacuations and will the amount distinguish between those evacuees from isolated and non-isolated communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister explain to the evacuees what are the criteria for accessing the program, and is there some flexibility as not all persons evacuated but may nevertheless have experienced income loss? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, second by the Member for Frame Lake, that Committee Report 5219(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, be received and referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this fire is still being actioned although it's being held. We know personnel time out and replacements are needed. I ask the Minister, did the department bring in replacement personnel equipment from other regions or out of territory; and, what is the department's longterm plan for personnel and equipment considering the potential for fires this season? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and bear with me. It takes a disaster to spur government to action which, at times, there's a play book and other times there is none. A question being asked is could we have done better? The answer is almost always yes. However, when we are dealing with a disaster as it unfolds, we need to rely on those schooled to the type of disaster at hand, who have firsthand information of what is actually taking place on the ground as with this fire that happened in the South Slave. Having a front row seat to the fire on the K'atlodeeche lands, I was impressed with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, knowing that we have had an early start to the fire season, I ask the Minister what plans are in place to help communities with fire smarting, such as building fire guards around the community, or is that responsibility placed squarely on the shoulders of the community governments and who would fund such initiatives? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm the department was prepared to immediately action the fire on the K'atlodeeche lands; and, how long did it take to mobilize upon receiving word that there was an active fire that was becoming out of control; and, how effective was the response using ground crews and equipment, helicopters, 802s, Electras, and I understand they were even considering bringing in C215s. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the last two weeks for many residents of K'atlodeeche and Hay River has been emotional and traumatizing. Residents of K'atlodeeche had little time in which to evacuate as the fire approached quickly. As well, Hay River residents were also asked to leave in the early morning hours.

Mr. Speaker, many have expressed their appreciation for the work done by firefighters and emergency measures personnel throughout this distressing ordeal. They are the ones on the frontline, and I would like to say thank you to all of them.

Mr. Speaker, it is also important that we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a question for the Minister of Finance. What in the federal budget will support an offset for the added cost of the carbon tax increase? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, again, now I'm pleased to see this one as well because, you know, if we expect to increase the number of Indigenous people in the public sector, decentralization is going to be important. But when we talk about decentralization, we used to talk about it as, you know, moving a department or a part of a department. I think we have to look at, as it says here, as look at individuals and if we move individuals and they can still do the work, you know, we do have individuals working in southern Canada right now that, you know, that are seem to be it seems to be...