Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Mr. Speaker. It has been almost a year since all of the craziness of COVID began with us here in the Northwest Territories. While we have been largely unaffected by COVID in terms of actual numbers of COVID cases, there have been many hidden consequences resulting from this pandemic. The restrictions that were put in place to keep us safe from this disease also keep us apart in many other ways. We have seen the impact of this: rise in addictions, mental health, and social services.

In the past four months, my family and I have lost five significant people in our lives. In November 2020, I...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. It's only logical that Northerners undergoing addictions treatment do better when their treatment takes place here in the Northwest Territories. Regrettably, the government fails to understand this fact. That failure shows in the amount of money spent on southern-based treatment. I am talking about payments totaling as much as $2.3 million a year to six southern providers, which the North does without. Regrettably, that is not the only case of the government's failure on the addictions treatment front. Where the Department of Health and Social Services provides for on-the...

Madam Chair, obviously, that is good news. A lot of my communities have benefited from wood stoves. I serve four communities, almost 4,000 people, and when the Minister is talking about 54, that's 54 throughout the Northwest Territories possibly. Even my communities, obviously, there's an outcry for wood stoves. A lot of our people are not employed in the community, and they're struggling. Power went out 20 hours in Whati. Some communities were fortunate they had wood stoves, but a lot of them didn't have a wood stoves. Those are real challenges, real stories.

Yes, Arctic Energy Alliance, there...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. It has been well over a month since we had a public forum in Behchoko, and part of the discussion we had was with the Minister's senior staff, as well. They agreed that we need to formulate partnerships to deal with these particular issues. It has been over a month, and we are still talking about, potentially, we can work on this. I would like to see an action plan in place during the life of this Assembly. Could that be established between the partners? Of course, working along with the Tlicho government because they are the ones who initiated the discussion. Could that be...

I did not hear much of an answer there. Highway safety, as the Minister indicated, we need to put that into actions; less talk, less study. We have experienced a tragic accident on the highway numerous occasions, and here we are still deliberating in the House about restrooms along the highway. There is urgent need. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how else I can relay that message, the importance of having those restrooms along the highway. Just putting into action on the general standards for providing public toilets or restrooms on the well-used highways like Highway No. 3, has her department, the...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, while I stand here, I want to talk on behalf of the elders. A lot of the elderly ladies have spoken to me of how the road comes, and also, whenever we have an all-season road, a lot of the elderly ladies are very concerned about how come they don't have safety, on behalf of the elders. Mr. Speaker, I will speak in English. [Translation ends]

I want to speak about the issue that, for reasons you will soon understand, rarely makes it to these hallowed walls. Some might be tempted to laugh, but it's deadly serious, as you will see. It's about toilets, Mr...

Masi, Madam Chair. Arctic Energy Alliance and other programs, there's always a threshold. Not everybody qualifies. Some people are making just beyond the threshold, and they don't qualify for a wood stove. Those are the individuals I'm voicing for. I'm certainly hoping that the Minister will seriously consider these areas. Madam Chair, the next one I have, obviously, is Community Access Program at $1.48 million. I know it goes directly to the communities. As you know, COVID-19 hit us over a year now, and there've been a lot of cabins built on my area on Highway No. 3. I'm assuming those are...

Masi, Madam Chair. Just probably a couple of areas. First is the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh talked about the cost breakdown. I'd like to see that, as well. Provide the list for the last five years. The community contribution, it does vary on an annual basis based on the application. For the last five years, we should have a good idea who got what. The $12 million previous years, last five years, if there could be a breakdown of funding contribution, that would give us a good idea of where the money is expended, either Yellowknife or outside Yellowknife, and the regions, as well. If we could...

[Translation] Yes, there are questions I have. I am talking about the elderly ladies, the elderly ladies. I am talking on behalf of what I was told. The Minister, we have to respect. Though we always say, "Let's work with one another; let's work with one another," that is not what I am hearing. These words of the elders are very important. [Translation ends] This is not an outhouse we are talking about. We are talking about restrooms along the highway. Will the Minister commit to coming back to this House with plans and funding for the construction of at least a minimum of one or two public...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When I did the Member's statement, the one on behalf of the words of the elders, the words of the elderly ladies were talking about while they were standing, just like them standing here, asking the government. Because we are asking questions on behalf of the elders, the Minister of Infrastructure, I have a question for you. [Translation ends] The Minister of Infrastructure talked about engineering in her statement earlier. I would like to ask questions about this, the sorry inconsideration her and her department has for hundreds of people driving back and...