R.J. Simpson

It's good to hear that they are paying attention to these changes. Next, I would like an update on this fish processing plant that has been talked about for a few years now in Hay River, and I am looking for any information we can find. Are there blueprints? Is there an estimated cost? Do we know when they will break ground? The last I heard, it was supposed to be this spring.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, the life of an MLA can get quite busy. That is true if you are a Regular Member or a Minister or even Speaker. There is a never-ending supply of constituency issues, policy issues, legislative issues, meetings, appearances, travel, and so on, and with so much going on we always run the risk of losing focus on why we are here. That is why it is important that, once in a while, we take a step back and reflect on what our role really is.

Despite the diversity of our responsibilities and the complexity of many of the issues we deal with...

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 1-18(3), North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns. I would like to report progress and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

That is an expensive piece of infrastructure. I would like to ask about the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. Last year, the feds commissioned a report on possibilities for the future of the corporation, and I was wondering: can the Minister give us an update on what that report said and how the conclusions of that report may affect the industry in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those who pay attention to our proceedings know that I start every sitting with a discussion of commercial fishing. I spoke at length about this issue, so I am going to forego a big introduction and get right down to business. I have questions for the Minister of ITI about the implementation of the strategy for revitalizing the Great Slave Lake fishery.

I apologize in advance, because I am going to be bringing this up a lot during this sitting. A quarter-century ago, my dad did work on the revitalization strategies for the commercial fishery in the Great Slave Lake, and...

Thank you, committee. We will begin our consideration immediately.

As I have said, we are beginning our consideration immediately. We have already taken a break earlier. First, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 2-18(3), Report on the Review of the 2015-2016 Public Accounts. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, which wrote the report. Mr. Testart, do you have any opening comments?

Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Testart.

I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. Committee, before we begin with our committee business, I would like to continue our farewell tribute to our deputy clerk, Mr. Doug Schauerte. As we know, Doug is retiring after 31 years, and as the chair of Committee of the Whole, I would like to personally thank him for his guidance over the past two years. The first formal meeting I ever chaired was on the floor of this House, and so needless to say, I have relied heavily on him, and I greatly appreciate his support. Likewise, Doug had his hands full as the clerk for the Standing Committee on...

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Sebert, to the motion.