Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes the policies, at least some I've looked at, they're very vague and, you know, they may just be a couple of lines.

So will the Minister confirm if a student bussing policy lays out responsibilities of the DEA, bussing contractors, students, and parents or caregivers, and the GNWT as well? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start off by wishing my daughter, and the Minister of education's sister, Chelsea, a Happy Birthday today. Hopefully her coworkers are spoiling her, in Calgary.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the 41st K'amba Carnival is on and runs from Thursday, March 2nd through to Sunday, March 5th. It is an event that brings friends, family, and tourists together and is a great way to usher in the start of soontobe spring weather.

Mr. Speaker, to pull this event off requires ingenuity, dedication, and countless hours by a...

That's all. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I see an opportunity there, I guess, for Indigenous people, especially when you're looking at, you know, whether it's, you know, berries or whatever it is that's grown naturally or in the Northwest Territories, and like I say walking tours and that. So, you know, there's a real opportunity I think there. But just, I was just trying to get a sense on the, you know, run of the mill of agriculture that is, you know, that we see from the south that's moved into the North, that's all. So more of a just a comment. But I'll just go on here.

The other thing that we don't...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to question about the Canadian Agriculture Partnership. You know, we see the increase there from 488 to 1220, and I'm just wondering, you know, we're spending that kind of money and what benefits or when we will we see benefits from money spent in agriculturaltype partnerships or initiatives? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to go to I guess back to the fishing. And we have the revitalization strategy so I'm just wondering if there will be any more additional funds allocated to advancing that strategy and efforts to increase, I guess, the number of fishers into the territories or into the industry? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's going to take staff to run that plant so I'm just wondering if the Minister can tell me if staff recruitment has taken place or if something's in the works. Thank you.

 Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is for the Minister of ITI. I didn't give her a heads up on it but I know she will answer these ones; they're pretty easy. I'm just asking about the status of the fish plant in Hay River and a possible opening date? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just on economic diversification and business supports, I see that we went from 349 down to nothing. Can you just talk a bit about that and give me some idea of, you know, when we talk to diversification, what are we looking at, I guess, on a smaller scale for communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, one of the issues, I guess, well after the flooding is that, you know, location of land that was being used for agriculture. And so some of the people actually are looking for different areas to secure so they can continue. I guess one of the issues is going through the consultation with the Indigenous groups. So is your department, I guess, working with Lands to try and identify and maybe secure lands for people who want to continue farming that are outside of the flood zone? Thank you.