Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was pretty well the only question I had. And I'd like to thank the Minister for the work that the department has done to make this happen. Like I say, you know, in the last probably 20 years we haven't seen anything happen with the channel, and I think people in Hay River will be pleased to hear, you know, the efforts that the department and this government has made to make this happen this year. So more of a comment than anything. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a lot of work has been done on this, but the question is has any money been disbursed yet and, if not, when will it be disbursed? Because people are still calling, they're still waiting and, you know, hopefully within these next few days we'll hear some good news that or I'll hear some good news that somebody actually got something. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, with the roll out of any type of funds, there's always a cutoff date and I just want to make sure that, you know, that any evacuees do not miss that cutoff date because there was some confusion as who may or may not be able to actually apply. So I'd ask the Minister is there a cutoff date for making applications under the Evacuee Income Distribution Support Program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this school year ends, I would like to recognize and congratulate all those students from Hay River, Enterprise, West Point First Nation, and K'atlodeeche First Nation, who are graduating from Ecole Boreale, Diamond Jenness Secondary School, Chief Sunrise Education Centre, and Aurora College.

Mr. Speaker, we can all appreciate and acknowledge the commitment and sacrifice these students put in to achieve their status as graduates. That chapter has now closed, and it is time to take that next step, whether it is to further their education, join the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was kind of worried there that I might not have time, but.

Mr. Speaker, from the start of this 19th Assembly, I have talked about dredging. People want to call it harbour remediation, they want to call it harbour restoration, whatever. But really it is removing the silt from the bottom of the channel in the harbour so that boats can come in and out. It's not just me that has talked about it. You know, the Member for Hay River North, when he was sitting on this side, he did the same thing. And, you know, Mr. Bouchard, when he was here, he did the same thing. But we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I'd like to say thank you to the United Way for all they've done throughout this event, you know, and the support they provided to KFN and Hay River residents. So, Mr. Speaker, the United Way now, I understand, is responsible of disbursing funds raised for evacuees of KFN and Hay River.

Can the Minister confirm how this will be achieved and will the Minister commit to provide a staff person to temporarily assist the United Way, if need be, because I understand, you know, they kind of run on limited staff and volunteers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for those persons that made application for the Evacuee Income Distribution Support Program, can the Minister of Finance confirm if there is a telephone number, as of yet, that applicants can call to follow up on the status of their application? Or if not, is there another option for evacuees to confirm the status of those applications and payment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate that reply because in talking to some KFN members, they were under the impression they could not apply. So that's good to know.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit her department to quickly reviewing the applications as they are received? They are one page, so I don't think there will be too much difficulty in doing that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I went home to attend a meeting to discuss the operation and opening of the new fish plant in Hay River. Discussion on the subject lasted for four hours and was very informative and positive. However, another topic that arose outside that discussion was that of the Evacuee Income Disruption Support Program.

Mr. Speaker, fishers, and other selfemployed business owners, have been affected by the evacuation order imposed by the Town of Hay River and K'atlodeeche. They have not only lost wages but lost business income as well and are unsure whether...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, now the question is where is the money? Or show me the money. Will the Minister commit her staff to getting the evacuee income disruption support payments out as quickly as possible to applicants? And one thing that they've been asking for is to provide a telephone number on the application so applicants can actually call and talk to a real live person about the status of their application and payment. I constantly get emails and calls about that, and I haven't been able to answer them. So please give me a phone number so that I can give them and one...