Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I just want to go to I guess the facilities and, you know, looking at what we have in Hay River it's turned into a therapeutic model, and there was a number of renovations that went on over the years. And I don't see anything in here. So I just ask if those renovations are now completed, or are we expecting some additional ones in the near future? Thank you.

Thank you. No further questions.

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I see where you're going with this, and like I walk it pretty often. I'll always take the roadway, well wintertime, the shortcut, short way. Summertime, the longer way. But the other thing I guess is if there is a new trail, and maybe I missed it, but will there be lighting on the new trail as well? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I guess, you know, it is $400,000 and I would ask if there was any consideration, you know, to using signage that says, you know, this isn't no pedestrian, you know, foot traffic allowed on that road and direct them to the new or redone path there that's over to the west. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that many of the artisans are actually bringing in hides from, like, Saskatchewan and Alberta because they don't have access to them here. So, you know, it's important that, you know, that they have access to tanned hides but also they need access to the raw hides as well. And this is where harvesters come in. It's important that we also provide incentive incentive to harvesters if we expect them to bring the hides out after a successful harvest. So, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to working with the Minister of ENR to work out a program that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's important, and we need to support and encourage those artisans who hold the traditional knowledge of tanning moose and caribou hides. These traditional tanned hides are a much sought after commodity here in the NWT. And this practice goes handinhand with culture, arts, and tourism. So we need to provide a form of compensation for those tanning their own hides. We know it can take up to three weeks and many hours. And the artisan ends up either using the hide for themselves or selling it sometimes at a deflated price, and they deserve more.

So Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government needs to do more to help the artisans of the NWT in accessing traditional tanned hides.

Mr. Speaker, over the last several years I have met with numerous artisans who have voiced the same concern that concern is the lack of access to traditional tanned hides which they require to make a variety of products. Many of us here are familiar with these products which include earrings, slippers, crow boots, gauntlets, mitts, vests, jackets, gun cases, and more.

Mr. Speaker, when those who purchase Indigenous fashions that require hide and fur, they...

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I understand that, you know, you can't have a mixture of youth and seniors I guess, and in the time that I spent in the correctional centres visiting. You know, like I had lots of friends like, I had friends in there and I'd go visit because they had good food there. And so I'm just wondering if, you know, you've got, you know, one or two people in Fort Smith, say, in the facility there, is there any way to incorporate youth at risk that maybe aren't going to school, somehow, to use that facility as well to provide, you know, some education, because I suspect that...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just I guess we're talking about the Minister mentioned about bed usage and the difference I guess the between how many beds we have and how many are actually being used. Have we seen a consistent decline over years in bed usage, or does it fluctuate quite a bit? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I see the estimated completion date is 20242025. I'd like to know if we're still on track for that as we have not started taking down the old H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital. Thank you, Madam Chair.