Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister mentioned outhouses, and my ears perked up. That is one of the problems we usually run into. It's usually during the spring. They get used during the winter. We have wooden outhouses. Of course, the wood just absorbs the smell, and usually, they fill up. The thing is, what I would like to see is we consider looking at concrete washrooms, because it's easier to go in and wash them down. Of course, it will still smell, but it won't be embedded in the wood. Is that something that your department would consider? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It was mentioned about safety, as well. What plans does the department have to ensure that, when the fishers go out, there's some safety component to it? Because we know what happened in the past, especially last year. It was a tragedy of what happened. In looking at that, I read an article, probably that was done 15 years before, by Alex Morin, and he said exactly the same words as to what actually happened out there. He said, ""This is going to happen," and it happened. I just want to make sure that those fishers who are out fishing are kept safe. What are we doing...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The other concern that I have, as well, are the opening dates and closing dates of the park. People are constantly wanting to have access to it during the winter for skiing and snowshoeing and whatever, but we seem to keep them locked out. Has there been any consideration by the department to possibly have those accessible during the off-season, at least to local residents? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I just want to revisit the fish plant, the proposed fish plant. Have we revisited how we're going to approach that? Are we looking at receiving stations in, say, for instance, Yellowknife? The Member for Yellowknife North had indicated there are fishers here doing quite a bit of fishing, so we may need a receiving station here. With respect to all this, I just want to make sure that we do the right thing. It would be nice to have a big shiny plant in Hay River, but, if it's not the right thing to do, then I would like to have what we need in Hay River and then...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Even if we cut them in half or something like that, I think that the people of the territories would appreciate that.

The second question I have: if the border was to open, will the management of the parks be operating any differently? I suspect, even if we did open the borders at some point, that visitors coming in are going to have to self-isolate anyway. I'm just wondering what that's going to do with the parks. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to start off with the BDIC and the development component of the BDIC. To my knowledge, since the amalgamation of the lending side and the development side, the development side has really done nothing. In the past, they have joint ventured with, say, the Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas, Dene Fur Clouds, and Acho Dene, I think, Crafts, as well.

I guess, unlike my colleague from Yellowknife North, I know that these partnerships have a positive impact on the residents, even though they operate at a loss. I think that it is important that we realize that, in the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The first question I have is: when the parks do open, are we doing anything with the rental fees that go with it? Are we going to be waiving those during this period? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Yes. I'm not sure if this is general or not, but I think so. Bringing LNG into the territories to service communities. Are we doing anything in that area, as well? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Probably in the past five years, maybe it was five years ago, there was some work done on some older wells in the Hay River region. Has there been more monitoring of some of those wells and if there looks like there will be any work done on them in the next while? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister also commit to have her department review the processes used when purchasing any such assets for MTS? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.