Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I'm perplexed because we have artisans who are looking for hides with which to, you know, to, you know, make items for sale to tourists and that. And we talk about the harvesters support programs. So one of the issues, one of the problems is that they don't have access to moose hide and caribou hide, and that's because I don't think there's an incentive to bring that out of the bush, and it's left there. So I guess I'd ask the Minister is there any incentive to harvesters to bring their moose hide and caribou hide out and so it can be accessed by artisans? Thank...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And in just a response to the Minister, I do promote those supports that are out there and as well, I get people coming in to my office and provide that type of support as well, even though I'm not qualified. But people just need someone to talk to sometimes.

So Madam Speaker, will the Minister confirm if our communities will see additional staff to assist in providing mental health supports to those in need and how it will unfold? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. These questions are for the Minister of Health. Madam Speaker, during this pandemic we have seen a rise in youth suicide in our communities, numerous drug overdoses, those amongst our youth, rise in family violence, increased substance abuse, shaming on both sides of the vaccine debate, and we actually placed people on waiting lists to get mental health supports.

Madam Speaker, will the Minister confirm if her department has tracked mental health issues experienced by residents arising out of this pandemic? Are there metrics that we can use to direct us to relevant...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 81, just looking at adaption plan and climate change community adaption, and we're looking at roughly $378,000 combined there. And I'm just wondering here, because I guess when I look at what we're talking about or what we're trying to achieve with this, you know, we look at you know, it takes into account sharing of information and investing in infrastructure, looking at that, setting building codes to ensure that, you know, buildings are not going to get damaged, addressing possible health effects, supporting regions that are vulnerable to climate change...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Now that I know what section we're on. Contaminated sites, I'd just like to ask about strategic oil and gas and what's happening with that and where in the department is it if we're looking at remediation, if the Minister could respond to that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would ask the Minister, will there be an opportunity for those that were impacted to be either reinstated in their positions, or at least have the opportunity to reapply and be rehired when that policy falls off the table? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So can you tell me for them to keep their positions, was it mandatory for them to have the vaccine?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess, you know, I have a lot of people come to my office, a lot of artisans selling goods, and a lot of those goods are made with commercially tanned hides. And I ask them all the time, why don't you use traditional tanned hides? Because we can't access the hides. No, we're not some of the hunters, harvesters, aren't bringing them out of the bush. And maybe they do it in Fort Simpson but I get people from Providence, Simpson, all over, come to me to sell stuff, and it's an issue.

So what I'd like to see, I guess, is that as part of this is that we provide that we can...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I've heard from parents who are concerned, you know, with the mental health of their children at school. So will the Minister confirm how her department will address mental health supports in our schools, and is she working with the Minister of Education to address it? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, will the Minister tell us if her department has an action plan going forward to address mental health issues attributed to this pandemic? Thank you.