Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. Next question here. You know, I guess last week we had the agri conference here in Yellowknife. So I'm just wondering, you know, we talk about agritourism and that. How much interest is there by the Indigenous governments or persons or businesses, I guess, in providing that type of service? Because, you know, when I look at it, when I look at tourism, and it doesn't seem that's something that Indigenous people may want to do. So I'm just and I may be wrong, so I just want to be corrected if I am, to see if you know, how much interest there is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm that he will have his department ensure that all DEAs have in place a comprehensive student bussing policy that sets out the rules and responsibilities for the DEA, bussing contractor, students, parents or caregivers, and any other, you know, people or things that would be included in there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes the policies, at least some I've looked at, they're very vague and, you know, they may just be a couple of lines.

So will the Minister confirm if a student bussing policy lays out responsibilities of the DEA, bussing contractors, students, and parents or caregivers, and the GNWT as well? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start off by wishing my daughter, and the Minister of education's sister, Chelsea, a Happy Birthday today. Hopefully her coworkers are spoiling her, in Calgary.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the 41st K'amba Carnival is on and runs from Thursday, March 2nd through to Sunday, March 5th. It is an event that brings friends, family, and tourists together and is a great way to usher in the start of soontobe spring weather.

Mr. Speaker, to pull this event off requires ingenuity, dedication, and countless hours by a...

Thank you, Madam. Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to reply to the last tabled budget of this 19th Assembly. I have to ask myself, what in the three plus years have we accomplished for those people who are struggling with addictions, mental health, unemployment, high cost of living, education, and homelessness as it is support in these areas where a difference can be made in one's life.

At the start of, and during my time here, I was not naive in thinking this government would provide everyone with everything they ever wanted. It was my intent first and foremost to provide residents...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One area that is of interest to me, and there's a few of them, buildings I guess, around the territories is the makerspaces. And it would be nice to see some of that rolled out into some of the other regional centers and maybe, to some extent, to the smaller communities as well. Is there any thought, I guess, or has there been any thought in how to address that and promote that from the department's side? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And one thing I mentioned earlier today was support for retail businesses. I know in Hay River I've talked to a number of them and a lot of them are suffering, I guess, you know, because of COVID, because of the flooding. And, you know, some are, you know, talking about actually closing up shop. They're finding it difficult, you know, to find to get goods. They're finding it difficult to compete against, you know, the big box stores, you know, with online shopping and that. So I think it's we need to do something to provide some support for it, and that was what I was...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to question about the Canadian Agriculture Partnership. You know, we see the increase there from 488 to 1220, and I'm just wondering, you know, we're spending that kind of money and what benefits or when we will we see benefits from money spent in agriculturaltype partnerships or initiatives? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to go to I guess back to the fishing. And we have the revitalization strategy so I'm just wondering if there will be any more additional funds allocated to advancing that strategy and efforts to increase, I guess, the number of fishers into the territories or into the industry? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's going to take staff to run that plant so I'm just wondering if the Minister can tell me if staff recruitment has taken place or if something's in the works. Thank you.