Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go to highway operations. I'm thinking about Highway No. 1 from the border into Enterprise. There's no shoulders on that highway. I'm wondering if the department is looking at widening that portion to ensure that we have a highway that's safe and allows the amount of traffic that goes over it, to go over it safely. Thank you, Madam Chair.

That's fine. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to move over here to marine operations, which I'm not sure if MTS is part of that. Anyways, what I'd like to comment on here is: in Hay River, a good portion of the operation is there. The facility is there, and ships are there. One of the problems we run into is the access out of the harbour. I'm wondering if there is any consideration given by the department to take a look at possibly dredging that harbour to reduce any cost associated with damage to the vessels because I know that this spring, I think MTS set one, there's one boat that start sailing out...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to turn to MTC, now. Who actually owns that? Is that part of MTS? Is that part of this government, or are we in a joint venture with somebody from Nunavut? Can you just maybe elaborate on that? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer, and I would still like to see some numbers. I don't want it to the penny. I just want a general number. The reason why is that we do have people who come up from the South to support what this government is doing with respect to Aboriginal people. At the same time, they bring family members down, and they're taking beds away, possibly, from Aboriginal residents, say in extended care, or whatever. I guess I just want to know what's going on. In saying that, it seems that we just continue on, and I want to know from the Premier or the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. That takes into account lower water levels? Because my understanding is that, with double-hulled barges, you're going to have maybe two feet, maybe a little bit more, drawn. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Yes, the total amount is good. Can the Minister confirm the total estimated expenditures for all departments for the year 2020-2021? She can either break them down by department, or she can give me the total.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to these double-hulled barges, are they going to be used on the Mackenzie River, or are they only for ocean-going? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories is home to approximately 45,000 people, with just over half of the population being Indigenous. The other half of the population consists of people who come from elsewhere.

For thousands of years, the Indigenous people of what is now the NWT governed themselves. Indigenous people possessed governmental jurisdiction over lands, including property rights. European settlement, colonization, and commercial interests resulted in the erosion of those rights. Fortunately, those rights were never extinguished, and yet today the Indigenous people are...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Talking about other items, what do the other items entail? Thank you, Madam Chair.