Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions will be for the Minister of health. Over the last few days the community of Hay River has been swirling with rumours that the NWT border is going to be thrown wide open as of Friday and that anyone will be able to enter the NWT. It's going to be a free-for-all. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services please outline what is going on with the border at this time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. One other issue that comes up with that is the location of the plant. Can the Minister tell me what the location is, and if there are any alternate locations? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to discuss the issue of racism, as the death of George Floyd has placed it front and centre in the news. When I look at what is happening, not just around the world but in Canada and the Northwest Territories, I am deeply disturbed at what people of colour are being subjected to. It is easy to think of this as an American problem, that Canada is somehow better or that we don't have this problem in the North. The truth is that, if you were to ask any person of colour in the territory, or even this room, whether they have been subjected to racism, the answer...

In the NWT, our curve is flat. Our neighbour to the south has flattened its curve. At this time, it's important that, as we are relaxing restrictions, we take into consideration the need to support the economic recovery as soon as possible. The departments appear to be working in isolation of the Chief Public Health Officer. I would ask the Minister: what input did the Department of Infrastructure, ITI, education, and housing have in developing the Emerging Wisely plan? If they had none, does it not make sense to include them in planning as we re-establish the economy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my statement, I constantly receive calls from constituents about southern workers coming into the NWT and not self-isolating, not self-monitoring, and not wearing proper PPE. Residents are becoming short tempered and discouraged at what is taking place. We need added staff to monitor and provide enforcement in Hay River. Can the Minister provide me with some guidance as to what I can tell the residents of Hay River to alleviate their concerns about those not self-isolating and how they will be dealt with?

That was a mouthful. Response time by Protect NWT has been an issue, so I would ask the Minister: have we added or considered adding additional staff to Protect NWT to address the slow response time to questions because, evidently, there are a lot of requests?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would again like to raise current issues surrounding the monitoring and enforcement of the COVID-19 orders established by the Chief Public Health Officer. I continue to receive numerous calls about persons, businesses, and visitors not following the Chief Public Health Officer's orders in the community of Hay River. I have been informed time and time again that we continue to have drug dealers and others snubbing the orders while we put these people up in hotels at this government's expense.

In addition, the community is experiencing an influx of southern workers who...

No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions I have are for the Minister of health. Employees continue to find Protect NWT forms to be inconsistent. When Protect NWT is questioned about the forms, they do not always have the answer. The answers provided create additional confusion. NWT employees are trying to follow the process but find it easier to operate from the south due to less paperwork and less issues entering and exiting the NWT. I know of NWT employers who are laying off northern workers and operating out of Alberta. Can the Minister commit to having Protect NWT forms reviewed for...

I think we all appreciate the work that the staff has done, as well. Mr. Speaker, if we are to open our borders at some point, it is imperative that the responsible department consider increasing our monitoring enforcement staff in communities at NWT entry points. This is crucial. Once the borders open, will the Minister commit to additional staff being added to monitoring and enforcement staff?