R.J. Simpson

From what I understand from the boards, this surplus is to cover unexpected costs, make sure they have a payroll for, you know, a month or whatever may be, so how are they expected to dip into these rainyday funds to cover the cost of implementing junior kindergarten? It's a contingency fund. It's not an operating fund.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke earlier about junior kindergarten. I just have some questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I'm sorry to spring this on him, but I had to change my topic at the last minute.

I've heard varying numbers about what it's going to cost to implement junior kindergarten. I was wondering what's behind this disparity? There was a press release by the South Slave District Education Council that quoted a significantly higher number than the $2.7 million that Minister McLeod today said would top off funding for junior kindergarten, so I would like to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've heard more about junior kindergarten than any other issues in my 14 months as an MLA. There are people in Hay River who are philosophically opposed to junior kindergarten or believe it is not needed in Hay River, but I found that most residents are in support of JK. Only if it's fully funded, however.

Today, we heard from the Finance Minister that junior kindergarten will be funded by the end of this Assembly. While I'm glad to hear that the government has moved from its position of drastic underfunding, I'm still concerned about the adequacy of this...

I also mentioned that the Great Slave Lake has been neglected by DFO when it comes to the investment in harbors. You look at any lake in the south that's utilized by the commercial fishing industry, especially one of comparable size, you'll see just how bad our deficit is. This lack of access points combined with the outdated quota zones means that fish around the Great Slave Lake have to travel much farther than competitors in the south, it means their wages and the cost for equipment is much higher. It puts them at an immediate disadvantage. Because of the low-level engagement to address...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about the infrastructure deficit when it comes to commercial fisheries in Hay River, so I have some questions for the Minister of ITI.

As far as I understand, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation is responsible for maintaining their commercial fishing infrastructure in the territory. Somehow, we let them shirk their responsibilities, and the fishermen are the ones who ultimately suffered. Now we're left with a packing plant that needs about $2 million in upgrades to bring it up to code. I'd like an update on the status of the negotiations with...

As MLA for Hay River North, I regularly attend GSLAC meetings, I meet privately with the NWT Fishermen's Federation president, I attend the NWT Fishermen's Federation meetings, I talk to fishermen in Hay River, and I know that these issues they brought to GSLAC. The issues with zoning aren't being addressed. When I went to my first GSLAC meeting, they brought up issues. We went to the second one, there were the same issues with absolutely no movement. If anything, there was a denial of doing anything. I've also hear, from the federation that when they talk to the bureaucrats they tell them, we...

It's good to hear that we're moving and it should be in within a week. If a deal can't be struck with Freshwater -- given their track record, I'm not sure one can be, but I'm still hopeful -- will the GNWT take the initiative and dip into that $1.4 million they've had set aside and build a fish processing plant in Hay River?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a lot of issues at the forefront right now that I could talk about, but I'm going to start with an issue that I need to keep at the forefront, commercial fishing.

Since 2014, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been talking about a strategy to revitalize the commercial fishing industry. This is exactly the type of work that ITI should be undertaking. They're not trying to create an industry from nothing. We have a resource. There are markets for that resource, and we have entrepreneurs to drive the industry.

There are many positive...

Question has been called.

---Carried

Thank you, Minister Sebert. To the motion. Mr. Testart.