Jackie Jacobson

Once they put that first step into the Northwest Territories, who is going to pay that hotel bill in regard to the 14-day isolation plan? Is it us? Are taxpayers in the Northwest Territories going to pay, or is it going to be the person who is coming in out of province. Who pays?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I just want to follow up on the Member for Yellowknife Centre's questions in regard to the 14-day isolation time for workers coming into the territory. We opened it up today for all Canadians to come into our territory with a 14-day isolation. I need clarification in regard to that because it's contradicting Dr. Kandola's healthcare plan for the territory. Can I have just clarification on that? Are all Canadian citizens allowed to come to the territory for the 14-day plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I'm rising in the House to recognize Nunakput's class of 2020 graduates in our communities. There is nothing better than hearing parents and teachers celebrating the accomplishments of our students who have completed their school studies and onto new endeavours. Graduating in high school is a big deal. It takes study and a commitment. Graduation in the North is a bigger deal than what it is because of what we have to do is travel outside of our home communities in our riding. Sometimes, travelling and living outside the communities for our studies, graduation...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just am really thankful for that, the Premier committing to help and assist and making sure that the Cabinet and herself commit to getting additional funding that might be available for this coming summer as soon as possible because we are still in the midst of COVID-19. We are still in a pandemic. People are still really scared in regard to COVID-19, and just making sure that they are taken care of. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think they ran out of money. Even a modest bump in funding, Mr. Speaker, would help our community and the lowest income people who need to get out on the land. The GNWT has done an analysis to determine how much funding would be needed to assist residents to comply with public health orders to getting them back out on the land and supporting them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Emerging Wisely across the Northwest Territories: has the GNWT considered providing additional funding through the Community Harvester Assistance Program or other means to assist families to go and get out on the land? I will ask Madam Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have your cellphone number.

---Laughter

I am really happy to hear that. I need to know. It was all front-end loaded in regard to when this happened and everybody, and the money was flowing in regard to the communities and for the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in. Everybody got their funds to go and get out on the land, but now I guess we are mid-COVID-19. Is there any more funding that is going to be announced to our local communities or to our local hunters and trappers and harvesters?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Emerging Wisely across the territory: the Chief Public Health Officer recommended residents of the Northwest Territories spend time out on the land to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 as part of the Emerging Wisely plan and the current COVID-related health restrictions, to strengthen family bonds, to improve mental health, and participate in traditional lifestyle out on the land. The schools are closed. Hunting season is going on right now with goose hunting back home and fishing. The season started.

Dr. Kandola's orders are to spend time in the great outdoors...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just that being said, with our EDOs in our communities, I think we should be passing that information on. I'll be doing that in regard to, like, a co-op between the communities, and see what they want to share, if possible. People used to come in, like tourists, and they would buy your whitefish and dried fish, and stuff like that, so just giving them an opportunity to sell their products or trade into communities, I think that's really good, to start like a little co-operative between communities.

One other question I do have, my last question, is: is there a...