Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi to the Minister for her answer. I just want to say this with no prejudice or disrespect to my Yellowknife colleagues: what is noted is that the majority of the public service jobs are in Yellowknife, and the many new positions that are being created are being located in Yellowknife. Can the Minister explain why this arrangement continues with no regard for the outlying communities?

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I understand the current Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy began around 1976 and was related to a report from the Commissioner of the day, the late Stuart Hodgson. The report was the Hodgson Report, and it set out to achieve training positions for Native Northerners in order to meet the objective of increased Aboriginal employment in the public service. This led to the creation of the Office of Native Employment. That office developed a discussion paper in which it was noted the difficulty in employing Aboriginal people in numbers...

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I would like the residents of the Northwest Territories, especially the elderly and the sick, that I do care for their health and well-being. The issue here is: are we doing prudent spending on behalf of the people so that we can save dollars that can be used towards the small communities in terms of buying ventilation equipment, buying all of the necessary items that are required for PPE for all the COVID-related issues. With Alberta travellers coming into our territory, it's a big concern because we are on the highway system, my community. I have four communities on...

Initially, when this was brought back to our attention back in, I think it could have been June or this past summer, I think I was totally surprised about what was forming in terms of COVID for $87 million. That was the price tag put to this project at that time. Then, in subsequent questioning to the Premier on the floor of the House, I wasn't getting answers to many of my questions. Probably one of the biggest ones I had was: was there any absolute thought given to this process? Was there a think-tank group to look at ways we could do this without breaking our bank because as things progress...

Mahsi to the Minister for that one. 911 service is a lifeline to many who are in life-threatening accidents within communities but more importantly to accidents beyond community boundaries and beyond the current cellphone range within the vicinity of a community. Will the Minister commit to providing this Assembly and the residents of the Northwest Territories an action plan showing all milestones to the development of cellular service extensions?

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. My question to the MACA Minister is related to the cellphone range extension beyond the communities. Has the Minister engaged the CRTC in any way on this important initiative? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I don't believe the CRTC provides funding for these types of initiatives, but rather rulings regarding current regulations. Will the Minister commit to looking at all possible cellular extension options besides monopolies and find funding sources? Mahsi.

Mahsi to the Minister for that answer. The Minister had indicated extending the cellphone range was a priority for the GNWT. Can the Minister share the action plan to address this very important safety initiative?

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Back in December 2019, I had enquired with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs regarding extending the cellphone range as there are current limitations that restrict our duty to provide for the safety and well-being of our travellers using the highways or waterways. Madam Speaker, there are many residents who traverse well beyond municipal boundaries. There are hunters and trappers out on the land year-round. There are fishermen plying the rivers and lakes, eking out a living setting and checking nets. There are a vast number of travellers out on our highway...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the Premier for her actions and work moving forward. I know you state that the Prime Minister does care for the North, but all the funding to cover COVID issues does not come from the federal government alone. It has been left up to the territorial government to find funds from other programs and services to continue the secretariat. I'm just wondering the scenario that I had before. If we had taken employees from within, this would have helped our bottom line tremendously. I'm just wondering, what is the COVID secretariat hoping to accomplish or change that will...