Rocky Simpson

Like I said, for Hay River, that is a very important industry, and for, I think, communities around the lake. We have got stock there. We don't have to feed it. It is just waiting to be caught and go in the frying pan, so we have to take this seriously. The other thing is that I guess I am concerned that sometimes the expertise we use within the communities, we use the bureaucracy and the bureaucrats who don't quite have that expertise, but they may think they do. I want to make sure that we actually have somebody who knows, who can provide us with some sound advice on how to proceed with this...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess before my time runs out I had better talk about the fish plant. Basically, where are we on the construction of that? Are we making any headway, or have we begun looking at it again? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The other issue, I guess, is we do have that agricultural strategy in place, and I am hoping that we do something with it. In talking to some of the growers in the area, one of the problems they have is that, in the South Slave, there is no access to land. It is a big problem. They are allowed a little portion there, and they tried to move out past their lot lines there, and I am sure that Lands will go after them at some point for that. I am just wondering if there is anything that we could do in the South Slave to allow some lands to be opened up, even if it is on a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to meat inspection, in the past, we had a pig farm there in Hay River, which provided that for sale, and there were regulations in place at that time. Are those regs still relevant to what we have in this mandate? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arnica project is a good project in that it brings in federal dollars. The other thing it does is: it will create employment and also provide some opportunities for contractors. Most importantly, it provides 42 extra beds for people who need housing. Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister of housing if she will commit her department to develop a policy setting a process that would ensure future proponents accessing federal housing programs are provided timely assistance with completing such applications. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. I want to end this on a positive note and say that I am pleased with the Minister of NWT Housing Corporation's commitment to meet with all parties at one table in order to expedite this project. I will look to her to offer the same courtesy and resources to the Hay River Family Support Centre for their shelter project as well as those communities looking at similar projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a comment. Actually, I am under the non-insured health benefits, the Indian Affairs, and that is the care we get. Thank you, Madam Chair.

---Laughter

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess things have changed with workers nowadays, that includes the doctors and nurses, and people want quality of life. In the past, you could count on doctors and nurses to work 20-hour days. I think those days are gone. Having locums come in here, and nurses, I think that is going to be the standard for a while, and I agree with my colleagues that we can't throw them out to the wind. We should be planning how to best use them to our advantage. Firstly, for quality healthcare for our residents, and the second thing we worry about is the cost.

I guess I am wondering...

Thank you, Madam Chair. In talking about messaging and getting the message out there that we are open for business, I believe that we have to send a positive message. If we keep saying that we have no money, we can't do anything, then I don't blame people for wanting to come here. With the mining industry, I know I made a statement a while back, and I got a few nasty notes from some of the guys. They have to realize that the resources in the Northwest Territories are owned by the people of the Northwest Territories, this government, and Indigenous groups. When mines are developed and put on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for health a couple of questions. I am going to go to something that was brought up in the last Assembly, and it was to do with dialysis. In the North, it's an issue getting that service, and in Hay River, we have a dialysis unit, and it's kind of running at half throttle. We're looking after eight people when we can be looking after 16, and it's partly due to funding.

What I'm hoping the Minister of health -- I've got three questions for her. I'm hoping that the answers will just be one word, "yes," "yes," and "yes." We need...