Caroline Cochrane

If I could defer that question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment because it's about schools? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, that is a better question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, if I could defer the question to that Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of departments that actually provide support. I will start with a couple. ENR offers a Take a Family on the Land program that is new, to help people because of the COVID-19. There is also the COVID Regional Training, Mentorship and Support Program. That, again, is on-the-land for people to access. MACA has quite a few things. MACA received, I believe, $1,583,000 to distribute to sports organizations so that they could continue with services and make sure they were sustainable throughout the pandemic. They also provided community governments through...

Land withdrawals have a purpose, like I said. They are reviewed every time that they expire. The goal of the land withdrawals is to preserve the encumbered land for eventual identification and selection in the land use process. I am not going to commit to developing a strategy, Mr. Speaker, because there is kind of an unspoken strategy. There are three areas that are usually talked about with Indigenous governments and the Governments of Canada and the NWT, and it usually goes around royalties, land, and cash. Those are the three areas. That is the strategy, and Indigenous governments, as they...

I do want to take a moment and say that, when the Member was doing his statement and he talked about how being in isolation can be really stressful on people, I hear you. I agree with you. I had two of my children who were in isolation when they came back from school, and I know it was tough on them, as well. Mental health is critical within that.

People, if they want, they can actually talk to any of the isolation staff who know how to access the navigator. In extreme cases, when disturbances have been found in the isolation centres and the RCMP have been called, they also know how to reach...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When COVID-19 first struck the Northwest Territories in April, when we started to put things together and brought in our isolation units, I can't say at that point that we actually had those processes in place. Since then, we have partnered with the Department of Health and Social Services for what is called a "navigator." That person is responsible for when people are identified that they need any help, whether it be mental health, addiction, or other supports. Those people actually will provide the services and try to navigate the people and help to refer them to...

I know that the Minister of Lands is looking at the lease-to-own policies within his department. However, I do want to say that, in regard to land leases, we have to recognize that the priority is on resolving the outstanding negotiation. That is the priority and has to be the priority, but I am willing to listen to the Member more if the Member wants to come and meet with me at any time to hear what his issues or his concerns or his recommendations are. However, again, my priority is on the land claims and the rights of Indigenous governments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will start by saying that we did put in the mandate to settle two land claims in this government, but if we can get two, that is not where we are stopping. I just want to make sure they are clear with that. That is a goal. It does not mean the end. Yes, you can get land outside of the formal land claim process. Land is transferred from lease to fee simple sometimes. However, you need to be careful because there may be conflict in interests. Land withdrawals are there for a reason. They are there to make sure that the land is guaranteed so that, when Indigenous...

My assumption is: no, they haven't got the mental health first aid training or are specialized in mental health. It is a specialty field, in all honesty. It's my background, as well. However, what I can say is that the employees who are at the isolation centres do know that they have access to the navigator, and also the people who are staying there also are provided the information that they can access that service if they wish. It's a volunteer service.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 239-19(2): Business License for Lutselk'e Dene First Nation-Owned Frontier Fishing Lodge;" and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 274-19(2): Support for Residents Impacted by Flooding." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.