Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And hopefully maybe I can get that number by break time.

Will the Minister confirm what programs are available to selfemployed persons or companies to help offset loss of revenue while evacuation orders in place? Because there was a number of companies and businesses in Hay River that haven't been operating for a couple of weeks and then to get started up again, it takes you another few days as they get employees back. And, you know, the owners, you know, more than likely whether they're paying themselves or not, I don't know, but I know that they've lost revenue. Thank...

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...

Just one quick point, and it's not that difficult to get people in the room. All somebody has to do is say that they're going to make it happen, and that's what we did before. We just said this is going to happen and we got everybody in the room, and and something came of it. That's it. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And, you know, I guess I kind of agree with the Member for Great Slave that this is a bad plan. And when you look at this, we're looking at a business model here. We're looking at an industry that pulls off, you know, maybe a million dollars a year, $1.5. We're putting in two point we probably put $20 million roughly into a building, we're putting another two point some million dollars into operations, and maybe this is for the first year. Like, it just gets to be it gets to be out of whack.

We don't have a lot of fishers out there. But what the fishermen want like, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if any payments have been disbursed today? How have they been disbursed. Is it by direct deposit, EMT, Canada Post? What is the timing between application and disbursement of payments, as there are many evacuees needing the funds now and asking when they should expect payment, and I just need to know what to tell them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, evacuees see what Alberta evacuees received and are expecting no less. Alberta evacuees received $1,250 per adult and $550 per dependent child, and the payment was not incomebased.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Finance what was the rationale for settling on a payment of $750 per person, and why was it based on income disruption and not an actual cost incurred as this may exclude many evacuees? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Rule 5.6(2) be amended by adding the following after Rule 5.6(2)(c): "(d) shall not refer to any matter on the Orders for that day."

As a part of making Assemblies more familyfriendly, some legislatures across Canada allow a parent to bring an infant into the Chamber. Committee believes the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly should continue to make efforts to make this institution more familyfriendly and recommends:

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 1.9(4) be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we now have a picture of the devastation the fire caused to structures and homes on K'atlodeeche First Nation lands. This event follows in the footsteps of major flooding last year from which residents of K'atlodeeche and Hay River are still feeling the financial impact and are once again having to dip into what savings they may have to cover evacuation costs.

The current financial support of $750 per person offered up by this government, although welcomed, does not go far enough for those already dealing with the high cost of living. It excludes many and...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, you know, I understand there's, you know, there a lot of work to be done. There's a lot of moving parts here. And, you know, we have we have the fish plant, which, you know, we need production. We need fishers out there who are really producing because we need to fill that plant. However, we don't have that right now. We have some fishers that are interested in you know, in taking their fish to the plant. We have others who are just interested in selling local and locally, and they get good money for that as well. So you know, when we talk about how much it's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that we do get money out to the evacuees as soon as possible because there are many that are without right now and, you know, they're short on money and they need our support.

But, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if this program is to be used for future evacuations and will the amount distinguish between those evacuees from isolated and non-isolated communities? Thank you.