Caitlin Cleveland

Thanks very much, Madam Chair. I am with my colleague from Yellowknife North: this is a very exciting page. Your comments about how ITI considers themselves allies to northern entrepreneurs and business community was not lost on me. Without further ado, the Great Northern Arts Festival was unfortunately, like many of our festivals, cancelled this year. I'm wondering, with the line item of $25,000 that was associated with that, what is ITI's plan for that money now? Thank you.

That makes me very happy to hear because our public servants are definitely in the driver's seat when it comes to making sure that northern procurement stays in the North and benefits northern workers. Would the Minister be willing to commit to quality-based procurement rather than lowest-bid rule while the department works to modernize its procurement policies to ensure that benefit retention to northern businesses and northern workers exists?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My final question for the Minister today is just: how has COVID affected your five-year tourism plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Infrastructure. My first question would be to ask the Minister if she'd read the report from the standing committee of the 18th Assembly, but we have discussed it. I know she has read it. What I would love to know is what her position is on the recommendations contained in the report. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I think this is a very much needed change in the legislation. I am proud of this Legislative Assembly for putting this forward. My one concern would be in terms of how this Assembly understands why we're putting this forward and what the intent of this is, but in future Assemblies, how do we ensure that the intent of this is consistent, both within this Assembly and to future Assemblies with different Speakers and a different team. I think I am satisfied that this is going to go forward to the rules and procedures committee where that will be discussed. Thank...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just looking at this line item and the substantial value of $66 million, I'm wondering how much of that ends up going to northern companies and staying in the North when we're hiring people to either do that maintenance or we're paying companies for office leases and such. Thank you.

I appreciate that answer from the Minister. I would like to move on to our front-line workers, if possible. Compassion fatigue is a real thing, and I think that it is something that our front-line workers are experiencing throughout the Northwest Territories right now. Many of our front-line workers were recalled from March Break, annual leave was cancelled, and they've been working non-stop at a very high-stress time. With a limited number of mental health counsellors, nurses, and physicians that we have in the Northwest Territories, how does the GNWT intend to support the needs of...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am slightly concerned that we might be putting too much emphasis on digital supports when it comes to helping people with mental health. My first question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is: we've heard of extreme benefits, even in this House from different Members, of connecting with knowledge keepers in times of need. I'm wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services has looked into on-the-land mental health clinics for Northerners during COVID. Thank you.

Bringing home a new baby today would bring a whole new level of fear and anxiety with it for new moms, heightened anxiety as parents work to keep their tiny infant safe, increased stress as parents are potentially further isolated from their support networks. How has support for new moms changed since March?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mental health experts have cautioned that the fear of COVID, mounting death toll, economic downturn, and uncertainty is fueling a mental health crisis. What I would like to know is: how has the Department of Health and Social Services changed mental healthcare through COVID?