Frieda Martselos

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...

Maybe it would be a good idea if the Minister did a bit of research on the way the National Capital Commission handles monuments and designations. There are certain specifications that are required, and I think it's something that you could put toward your committee. I think it should be based here in the capital because this is where the government sits, and I think that acknowledgement of the missing and murdered women on this anniversary is extremely important. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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.

Madam Chair, I would like to have the definite allocations by region. I also want to specify that we have had in the past in different regions. We used to have a neutral board before, an arm's-length board that looked after the disbursement of loans. I think when you have an arm's-length board that it's more of an input from businesspeople. I think that it's something to look at. I am not saying you have to do it, but I would like to see the options that we make sure that neutral, objective decisions are made for people, ordinary people, medium business, and large business. It's very important...

Mr. Speaker, I know that ENR staff are amazing. Does the Department of ENR consider it a priority to update and upgrade the current Territorial Fire Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister explain when the last time an evaluation was conducted to determine whether the Government of the Northwest Territories is providing our firefighters with the best resources available for addressing wildfires?