Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when questioned last week about treatment centres for the NWT, the Minister of Health stated: "If there is a need for more bricks and mortars healing, then that needs to be a priority of this Assembly and it's something that we need to talk about together."

Mr. Speaker, one of this government’s mandate items is to: "Increase the number and variety of culturallyrespectful communitybased mental health and addictions programs, including aftercare."

Mr. Speaker, this mandate item directs government to consider communitybased mental health and addictions programs...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to change up here a bit, and I want to talk about the or the ferries. And I'd like to talk I guess about specifically the Abraham Francis. My understanding is that vessel is only rated at 40,000 kg so this limits the number of loads the weight and loads coming across whereas you got the Louis Cardinal, which is closer to Inuvik, and it's rated for 64,000 kg.

So my understanding is that is it possible my understanding it is possible to lengthen the Abraham Francis which would then allow you to increase that to 64 which will make it a lot better to a lot...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I'll just have to I guess work with my colleague from the Deh Cho and we'll have to push that, and also colleague from Thebacha. Can't forget her. And try and get some of the Metis organizations to maybe access some of that funding. Thank you. That's just a comment. Thank you. That's all.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I thought I saw somewhere on there that with respect to repairs to the equipment that was purchased from NTCL that there was that was part of the reason for the losses? Can you speak to that a bit. Because there is you know, there was a lot of equipment that was purchased, and I'm just not sure how you know, how much of it has actually been used for operations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I know that, you know, we've got artists out there, you know, and some of them have passed on, like Don Cardinal; we have, you know, other ones there as well, like, Antoine Mountain, Archie Beaulieu; we got Colinda Cardinal; we've got, you know, Sonny MacDonald, and, you know, they've got you know, they've got well, we see his work sitting here near the Speaker's chair. And I think that it's you know, we could we talk about that, you know, that you know, the the museum can provide supports but we've talked about that for a couple years, and I still see...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The next one is there was a line item there for or there is one for Tulita Solar Project and, you know, that is done by the looks of it. And is there any other is there an indication that or is the department looking at any other projects? For instance, wind. Because Hay River being on the lake, it would be nice to see something being done with, you know, in respect to that in the South Slave. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, again I just want to reiterate that, you know, that we do have northern businesses that do invest a lot here in the territories. You know, we have a lot of people up and down the Valley that are looking for work. And so I think it's very important when you do your assessment, you know, that we use that as a consideration as well. And I can understand the risk assessment. You know, I've got you know, I don't really have a problem with that because we don't want any major spills, especially in, you know, in our rivers or in any waters. So but, you know, just...

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I think that's an important area, you know, that some focus should go on just because of rising costs and, you know, in Hay River, for example, you know, last couple weeks ago, a lot of people got propane bills for a thousand plus dollars for a month. So, you know, it's getting a little bit scary out there for residents.

The next item is the incremental Arctic Energy Alliance programs. We showed revised estimates at 3,831. Now we're down to 1,585. Just explain that; thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess the other thing about bringing it over the top is that, you know, it I suspect it'll impact, you know, the opportunities for jobs, opportunities for northern business as well. You know, we've got a number of fuel suppliers or middlemen here in the territories. And I wonder if that's taken into account as well as, you know, the impact on employment, the impact on business opportunities? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I just want to be clear, this isn't for me, because I usually just power along on my own power.

The next one here is business support program. Can the Minister just elaborate on what that actually is and give me some examples? Thank you.