Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just I think I'm in the right spot here hopefully. Environmental stewardship stewardship and climate change? Oh, sorry, I think it was the next one.

Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I guess it's safe to say that, you know, if somebody's required to fly and a requirement the federal requirement is you have to be vaccinated, then it is mandatory to have the vaccination for that position if you want to keep it?

I just want to go on here, is how many Indigenous employees would have been impacted?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I'm pleased to hear that, that you're willing to work with it because what I will do is I will send the artisans over there because what I proposed to them was that if they get the hides, that ITI then pay them to actually tan the hide, because I know how much work goes in to tan a hide. Like, it's not just a week's worth of work. It's longer than that. It's two weeks. Could be three weeks. And it's fairly intensive. And it was to provide the artisan a little extra money if they're tanning their own hides. So that's just a comment.

I'd just like to move on to personnel...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these questions will be for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, this government has been talking about postpandemic recovery since early last year. Then we finally saw the Emerging Stronger document. A lot has changed in a year, and I'm hoping those sitting across from me have revisited that document to make sure it is relevant and includes all areas of the economy and social systems with emphasis on those that were hit the hardest.

Can the Premier please tell the businesses and residents what, if anything, has changed in our Emerging Stronger document, which I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, knowing that another severe variant may rear its ugly head, from lessons learned does this government have a plan in place or that addresses business relief and support and social supports if we find ourselves taking a step backwards in this pandemic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our GDP fell approximately 6.6 percent in 2020, mostly due to lower production with resource development. We saw losses in the tourism industry which impacted tourism operators, regional airlines, accommodation establishments, restaurants, and others. On the flip side, we saw an increase in retail sales, such as food, building supplies, and liquor while government and government contracts sustained much of our work force through this pandemic. Can the Premier explain what the real financial impact of the pandemic has been on our economy so far? Should...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Emerging Stronger document talks about lessons learned. Now a year later, can the Premier tell this House what lessons were learned, what gaps have been identified, and how are they being addressed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past several months, I've had the opportunity to talk to numerous constituents, including those vaccinated and unvaccinated about current COVID restrictions and posed the question to them, should the public health emergency end and restrictions lift? The overwhelming response was to end it but with the caveat that we must ensure the safety of the vulnerable.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister tell the people of the NWT at what point will she no longer invoke the health emergency, and is she willing to do that today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these questions will be for the Minister responsible for Health.

Mr. Speaker, a special advisory committee on COVID19 has agreed on the following criteria to determine whether jurisdictions are ready to lift restrictions, and this criteria includes COVID19 transmission is controlled, sufficient health capacity, test, trace, and isolate cases are there, expand healthcare capacities exists, supports in place for vulnerable groups, workplace preventive measures, avoid risk of importation of cases, engage and support communities to adjust to a new normal.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to hear that there is a plan in the works and that we'll hear something this week. I think constituents and people throughout the territory will be happy as well to actually hear something.

Mr. Speaker, we have seen COVID19 variants with the latest being less severe than others. Now I hear there's a B2 I think, coming out that may be a little more severe and can transfer 1.4 times more quicker than the B1.

So can the Minister tell the residents of the NWT what is her department's plan if another variant surfaces that causes severe health issues...