Frieda Martselos

Acknowledgement by the Government of the Northwest Territories is extremely important in this file. It's a way of acknowledging the missing and murdered women, and it's a designation that would be unique. It shows us that we care. I'm not asking for it to go to a committee because I just saw the whole thing with the Victims Assistance Fund. A lot of families are still hurting from a lot of the whole events that took place, and justice hasn't been served. I want you to think about that as the Minister of Justice. I think it's extremely important that we acknowledge this. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have been going back and forth with the department, and I think that it has happened since I got elected in October, and I think that bureaucracy is slow. We have a member that had a very awful disaster in Fort Smith with the tornado. It is a big concern for myself and for the family involved in that community. A conclusion to this file is really important.

Mr. Speaker, as our government prepares for the second wave of COVID-19 and for future pandemics, will the Department of Human Resources commit to making a contingency plan for the future that is more mindful of summer student employment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Would the Minister commit to prioritize the hiring of summer students wherever possible across the Government of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In any normal given year, by this point in time, the Government of the Northwest Territories would have already hired hundreds of students within the Summer Student Employment Program, employing students from all across the territory from mid-April until the end of August. However, COVID-19 has derailed virtually all employment opportunities that would normally be afforded to our northern student population. Mr. Speaker, according to a News North article from May 18, 2020, the Government of the Northwest Territories has so far hired only 98 summer students for the 2020...

[Microphone turned off].

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have been here eight months now. I don't know when we are going to stop using the excuse of being a new Minister or a new whatever because I voted for a lot of the people on the other side. I voted for them because I knew they had capabilities. Using the excuse all the time that they are a new Minister and not being able to answer the questions is no longer an excuse. Are we going to be doing this until Christmas or next year or whenever? I just want to make sure that we are all clear on that.

With that, I am excited about this page, also, 203. Business Development...

Can the Department of ENR confirm whether the NWT does, in fact, have the latest technologies and equipment that is needed in addressing the wildfire safety of all of our communities and resources?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of ENR explain the last time that the NWT Fire Centre has received any major updates to its operations facility? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Could I ask the question now? Okay. I'm just wondering, Madam Chair, the SEED money, the allocation by region of the funds. Thank you, Madam Chair.