Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I was talking about rapid testing. We said we had a death in the community, and we have six family members sitting in a hotel in Inuvik. I want to know what's happening with rapid testing across the territory. On December 22nd this past year, NWT Health and Social Services said, "All NWT communities have access to rapid COVID-19 testing that can deliver preliminary results to patients in as little as 15 minutes." Can the Minister confirm these rapid tests are available and which communities they are available in? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to ask the Premier. Madam Premier, I need help here. People from our communities are hurting. It's the last thing they need to be doing is paying a $2,000 bill for 14 days in a hotel room. They need help. I am asking for help here. We need to show a little bit more compassion and leadership in regard to this. It's not only them. There are other families who are hurting, not only the family that I am talking about. It's other families that are hurting. It should be looked at, reassessed, and say yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your hard-working Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide its Report on Bill 3: An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act and recommends it to the House.

Bill 3, An Act to amend the Public Highways Act, clarifies the duty and liability of the Government of the Northwest Territories with respect to primary highways and an incident occurring on highways the GNWT does not construct, maintain, or control. On March 13, 2020, Bill 3 had its second reading in the house and was referred to Standing Committee on Environment and Economic...

I thank the Minister for that. When the seasonal worker goes in to get a reassessment in the LHOs, local housing authorities, are they able to do that right then and there when they are asked, or do they get told to come back another day? That's the problem we've been having. Is the LHO able to do that assessment that day?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I'd like to bring up the rental assessments for our local housing authorities back in the Delta or across the territory. I'm getting a lot of constituents coming into my office and asking why aren't they able to go and get their rental assessment redone and have it done soon because the high cost of living back home for all your bills, your power, your food, everything that comes up with that. That being said, when they're going in, it's not being done.

Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Minister today to pass on to make sure all local housing authorities are given...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act, be received by the Assembly to be moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Could the Minister commit to me today that she will talk to the LHOs in the Delta, in my riding, to make sure, when somebody is going in to get an assessment, that they work together with them to get that assessment done? Because the cost of living is a lot more than it is here in Yellowknife, and anything helps, like I always say, for the constituents that we represent. If the Minister could just commit to working with our local LHOs in the Delta for that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just hearing that debate, you have to remember we work for the people of the Northwest Territories, and we have to respect everybody in the House in regard to working together. Today, Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of housing. We have seasonal workers in the communities who are coming home from work. When are they eligible to get the reassessment done on their rent? How quickly can we get that done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to give my condolences for Jana Blow in her passing in Tuktoyaktuk last week. Speaking to her mom, Barbara Panaktalok, she is survived by Barbara; her brothers, Ellery, Ross, Darcy, and Dale; her sisters, Lennette, Tina, Amanda, and Eva; her two daughters, Dana and Bobby Joe; and her grandchildren, Ricky Lee, Nicky Anne Kikoak, Jared Adam Kupon, Jolena, Selena, Marie Mabel, Jace, Anne, Joe Dale, Josie, Amelia Lena, Haisley, and Joe Matthew. Jana leaves behind nine grandchildren. She is predeceased by her dad, Joe Blow, a well-respected elder, and her...

I want to thank the Minister for that. That travelling team that she just brought up, they should be sent into all communities, other than the central locations. The smaller communities are needing it. You know that, Mr. Speaker; you live in a small community. What we have to do is we have to start trying to help them, in regards to trying to heal them and trying to move forward because this COVID-19 has been hard on everybody. I want to thank, again, the Minister, and when are we going to get these travel teams into Nunakput since she brought it up?