Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I ask that you bear with me. Mr. Speaker, current legislations limits the Minister only direct the South Slave Divisional Education Council. There is no requirement for the South Slave Divisional Education Council to provide bussing or to follow any direction coming from the department, which is very evident by their refusal to fund the bussing shortfall in Hay River when they were sitting on the $3.3 million surplus at the end of 2020. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister if he will meet with the South Slave Divisional Education Council and the Hay River District...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, current legislation states that an education body may provide transportations to students for them to have access to the education programming. It is interesting that this government is pushing to have student grades comparable to the rest of Canada at the same time allowing barriers to exist that removes the child's access to learning. I would ask the Minister if he is prepared to have his department review the legislation and propose a change that would make bussing mandatory and fully funded in communities such as Hay River where the commute becomes a...

Mr. Speaker, it is essential that the Hay River District Education Authority, South Slave Divisional Education Council, and Department of Education come up with a solution to ensure bussing is available at no cost to students in Hay River. The distance students must travel remains the same and that reality must be taken into account when addressing funding for bussing.

Mr. Speaker, if the South Slave Divisional Education Council is not willing to step up, then I would suggest they step down or be removed by the Minister of Education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I thank the Minister for that response, you know, and I guess what I'm after is I want to know, you know, if that the people are being looked after for immediate needs right now, because I know that many of them have probably, you know, used up whatever funds they had just, you know, leaving their home. There's always a cost associated with it.

I'd also ask the Minister if she can confirm how long her department is with assessments or has it even started on the buildings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Questions for the Minister of MACA. Can the Minister confirm how much financial assistance in terms of a cheque or cash has been paid out to individuals that have been impacted by the flooding. As it's been almost two weeks now, and I'm just wondering, you know, how much action with respect to payments that we have seen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have read correspondence between the Hay River District Education Authority and the South Slave Divisional Educational Council. I have read correspondence addressed to the Minister from the Hay River Metis Government Council, West Point First Nation, and Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre. What I found interesting is that the South Slave Divisional Educational Council is all about having the Hay River District Education Authority cut deeper into education programs and services while they're unwilling to look at their own budget. The teachers, the Hay River...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I ask this Assembly, what is an elementary, junior, senior high student's life worth? Well, Mr. Speaker, the South Slave Divisional Education Council answered that question and put that value at $70,000. It is that number that forced the Hay River District Education Council to make the decision to suspend all bussing services for all schools in Hay River for the 2021-2022 school year.

This government expects students to attend school. For those that come from affluent families, it may not be a challenge. But for many in Hay River, it will require a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, our government is touting the Disaster Assistant Program, which is not all that it appears to be. It has severe limitations with respect to the amount of compensation for damages. It is really a payor of last resort. It is not clear on how payments or reimbursements are to be made. There's no timeline for the payment or reimbursement. And all this can be confusing to someone who is traumatized and just looking to survive.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to employing and making program navigators accessible to those affected...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The flooding this year has appeared to have not only caught communities off guard but this government as well. It was the people of the NWT that stepped up and provided immediate support to the flooding victims, and we must recognize and thank them for taking on that responsibility.

It is now time to show compassion and to refocus our priorities and look after those that cannot return to their homes or businesses. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of MACA to confirm what resources and support her department is providing to ensure those families in Jean...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the flooding victims, Michael McLeod, our MP for the NWT was quoted as saying, People can count on the federal government, that they will be there to help, and they will be there to help right to the end.

I will hold our Member of Parliament to the federal government to that promise. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm what ongoing conversations are taking please between her department and the federal government, and do those conversations include immediate financial support to flood victims? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.