Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I appreciate the answer and I'm, you know, pleased to hear, I guess, you know, that the local governments and municipalities are on the radar of this government for some form of reimbursement or assistance as well. But, you know, the cost of firefighting or the cost of fighting these wildfires, we know, they take a toll not only on this government, but the people of the NWT as well, to the point that I'm hearing now that some of our residents will not return.

The Minister also stated that the Premier discussed costs with the Prime Minister. Can she confirm if there...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Member for Yellowknife North had asked for a high-level breakdown of costs. And I'd like to see that include what went out to local, regional, territorial, and businesses outside the NWT as well because this is something is this something, I guess, that the Minister can be provided? Because firefighting, really, in when we look at it is beneficial to part of our local and regional and territorial economy, and I think that, you know, when we're looking at it as much as, you know, we you know, we don't want to see fires because of the destruction they...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. And that's all.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I just want to, I guess, a couple comments and, you know you know, the Minister's now asking and this government's asking for another $75 million to continue with the fires, you know, the firefighting efforts going on, and rightfully so. There's a lot of work going on to you know, to support the you know, the firefighters, you know, there's probably cost of equipment and the support to those at the front lines as well. And I think this is just a start of what the ask will be. But, again, you know, I understand as well is that, you know, there's no asking here...

In favour.

In favour.

In favour.

In favour.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a comment, I guess. You know, I look at this jurisdiction that we're in. You know, we're limited to, you know, revenue raise or raising ourselves. We count on the federal government for a big majority of the funding that we do have. And, you know, when we have disasters such as this, and multiple ones like in Hay River, over, you know, over 15 months, you know, it takes it takes a real financial impact on the territory. It takes it on the government. It takes on you know, on individual businesses and everything. And I think that, you know, when the federal...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Of the $75 million ask, I guess, will a portion or what portion of it will be used to offset the costs incurred by local governments, you know, as of today because most of the you know, most of our local fire departments are volunteers but they are using local personnel, they are volunteers there, they are using local equipment and infrastructure as well. So, again, like Ms. Cleveland said, is that, you know, we got to make sure that, you know, their costs are covered as well because this is going to, you know, set us this whole fire season is going to set the NWT...