Statements in Debates
Mahsi, Madam Chair. Page 197, the Northern Wellness Agreement, I know that it gave large sums of funding to First Nations groups to deal with their wellness, their healthy child development, mental wellness, and healthy living. Are we going to see any further funding in this area to help the First Nations groups deal with wellness programs? Mahsi.
Mahsi, Madam Chair. I am looking at page 189, addictions treatment facilities. The 2019-2020 actuals were $2,482,000, and moving on from there, they are flat-lined at $2,096,000. I am wondering if there was anybody sent out during the 2020-2021 fiscal year and if that is the correct number. Mahsi.
Mahsi to the Minister for that answer. I spoke about tourism potential for the hamlet through an aggressive campaign of incorporating signage from the border leading up to the community. The hamlet has the right to advertise the falls as their own as these are in their background. They also have the right to compete with campground attendant contracts. Can the Minister commit to having their officials meet with the Hamlet of Enterprise to discuss these tourism initiatives, including discussion on the campground contract opportunities?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Enterprise is a proud community, and many residents lucky enough to find local jobs are counting their blessings. My question to the Minister is: in light of the gas bar business coming up for sale once again, is it possible to explore ownership of the business by the Hamlet of Enterprise? Mahsi.
Mahsi, Madam Chair. I was looking at your production of granular materials, although I don't quite see a line item for it. I had a question in that area. I'm not sure if that's saying that the GNWT reduces their own stockpile for granular material because I would really hope to stimulate local economies in our communities along the highway systems, whether the department can consider working with local development corporations for the supply of the granular material. It creates much needed employment and ripple effect for the business opportunities to the mechanics and everybody else. It hires...
I'm assuming, since there are no line items for these coming up for 2021-2022, this program is defunct or no longer available? Mahsi.
Okay. Moving on to another one, it could be similar, but there is the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program. I'm just wondering if this is where the personal support workers were funded, under this program? Mahsi.
Regarding that funding, I was provided a table where it showed funding that went to First Nations. Some of them were getting, like, $190,000 and stuff like that. Is that one-time funding to them to last them five years? Is that the way this is working?
Okay. All of my other questions are not budget-related, so I have no further questions on that. Mahsi.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I spoke to the fact that Enterprise is the first community on Highway No. 1 from the border. It's sad to say there is no visitor information centre at Enterprise. I mean, goodness, we have all the ITI staff in Hay River, all the business advisors, and no one is speaking tourism business opportunities to the Hamlet of Enterprise. This is potential employment for the residents of Enterprise where there are limited jobs. Can the Minister commit to having all available staff meet with the Hamlet of Enterprise to realize the tourism marketing potential and associated businesses...