Jackson Lafferty

Since truth and reconciliation, 94 recommendations came out. More specifically on number 20 and 21, it's been well over five years. This government should have been prepared. When the first TRC came out what were the plans in place? I'd like to know from either the Premier or Minister of Health and Social Services what partnerships has this government explored with the federal government to follow up on the call to action number 20? What have we learned from our neighbour Nunavut's very successful federal engagement in pursuant of their new treatment centre for their territory?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, I'd like to talk about how we receive funding. I'm talking about billions of dollars, and it's very difficult. Sometimes, it's really difficult to get an addiction treatment centre here in our homeland. Instead, I'm going to talk about the treatment centre [Translation ends]. Why can't we as a territory with our billion-dollar budgets find a way of providing residential addiction treatment here in our homeland in the Northwest Territories instead of spending $2 million a year sending people south?

Mr. Speaker, our sister territory Nunavut is...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Caroline Wawzonek told this House on June 3rd that COVID made digital connectivity even more important and also urgent. She said, and I quote, "I certainly do expect I will be making faster progress on this and maybe would have before the COVID happened." Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask Minister Wawzonek about the faster progress that she mentions. What are the implications of the faster progress for Internet and Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about the Worldwide Web today. In these socially distanced times, with travel and human contact limited by COVID, the Worldwide Web takes on an even greater importance. The Honourable Caroline Wawzonek touched on this on June 3, 2020, when she mentioned the heightened importance of digital technology in a COVID-dominated world. Mr. Speaker, just imagine how people in isolated communities such as the Tlicho communities of Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti, in this time of COVID, imagine how they feel in their nursing stations, in their schools, homes, even government...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, we have to think short-term and long-term. Short-term, in my view, is connecting to Whati. I'm just wondering if the Minister and her department, at the federal and Northwestel level, has there ever been consideration of, once Whati is connected, Gameti and Wekweeti are also in line for the discussion to move forward as a long-term objective of this government? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

That's great news about Whati. It's still in the works, and if we wait for Northwestel, we may not see the Internet. There is a CRTC federal counterpart, and as you know, the federal drags its heels, as well. This is an area that we need to push forward. As the GNWT, the Minister has made it a priority, a commitment in this House, so I would like to ask the Minister: the government has given fibre optic services to Tulita, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson, and Wrigley. Some of them are small communities. In the interest of fairness, when will the Minister of Finance extend those...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I'd like to acknowledge the interpreters that we have here. For myself, for Tlicho, the interpreters are Maro Sundberg and Harriet Paul. I'd like to thank them. I have to say we do speak the language, and we do pass on the message. I'd like to also acknowledge the rest of the interpreters. Thank you. [Translation ends]

If we can find $82 million for a 12-kilometre fibre optic line down the Mackenzie Valley, I'm sure we can find it, too, for my region. Why can't we find an extra little bit that would help households, schools, and nursing stations and businesses to now enjoy the benefits of this line that their very own tax dollars built, for my riding in Monfwi?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When we are MLA, we do ask questions. When we speak standing in the House here, it's on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. Today, I am asking the Minister of Health and Social Services. There were recommendations made through the TRC. [Translation ends].

Focusing our attention on what is happening today, obviously, we are here to hold government to account. Obviously, we are asking questions on behalf of people of the Northwest Territories. It's not our words. It's their words, trying to get some answers out of the department. I have a different...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available].

Mr. Speaker, last week, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services for a status report on progress relating to a promise made in this House on May 29, 2020, when the former Minister was in charge. The problem was that the department was studying the idea of providing residential addiction treatment here in the Northwest Territories as opposed to sending Northerners to southern institutions. The response last week was that a promise had not been followed up on. In fact, the Minister at that time denied any knowledge of it.

To...