Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is related to my Member's statement though on the border check point. For the number of occupants who cross the border, I am certain we could quarantine all of them for 14 days, but that would have stretched the amount of available rooms in the nearby hotels, and the nearest hotels are in Hay River. Can the Premier provide information as to the data collected from the vehicle occupants at the check points? Mahsi.

The amount of crossings by private vehicles is very alarming, considering the Northwest Territories does have a public health emergency and a declared state of emergency during this pandemic. There are news reports of Alberta residents and alleged drug dealers gaining entry into the NWT. Perhaps this is an indication of our lax check point procedures. Does the border check point ask for the identification of all the occupants of private vehicles and transports?

Mr. Speaker, the Chief Public Health Officer prohibited all travel into the Northwest Territories to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This was March 21st. There were exceptions to allow persons deemed as essential services in and out of the territory, such as long-haul truckers, health and social services providers, federal and territorial wildlife officers, peace officers, forest firefighters, and the list goes on and on.

The Emerging Wisely document, the phased approach to lifting restrictions, was aptly introduced, and phase 1 was in effect in time for the May long weekend. I know many...

Mahsi for that. It's been about two months since closing our border and providing a check point to screen people and recommend self-isolation. In this time, check point procedures should have paid particular attention to all occupants in the vehicles and tested them for the coronavirus. Every day that I enter this building, I am temperature tested for signs of the fever, and I haven't even crossed the border. Will the Minister commit to providing more stringent controls and enforcement officers to check points in light of this pandemic?

Yes, maybe. Something about that emerging leaders program, my work with Infrastructure as a project officer, I did take the first level of that training, emerging managers program. My manager at the time allowed me to go, but that is as far as it got. The other two levels were off-limits to me. So it's mostly geared for people who are in actual management positions, to enhance their roles, and stopped a person like me. I am a prime example. I can tell you I applied for a manager position. I was not even considered for an interview or any transition, so there are problems within the departments...

We always have post-secondary students who are looking for work and stuff. It's good to bring them into the folds and job-shadow people, even for the summer, so it gets their interest up. I am wondering if you can provide me a breakdown just to show me how many are actual Dene people in your positions there. Mahsi.

My question was specifically to the corporate management, the active positions on page 233, the 37 that are listed there. I am aware that the other positions you are noting are further ahead. I am not getting there yet; I'm just looking at these positions here, just to see how many are P1 Indigenous people you have in there, and if there are any succession planning or apprenticeship programs, or to bring in people into that corporate management division. Mahsi.

Yes, thanks for all that. Just to let you know, it was like a secretive group, you know. I was asking questions of the corporation. I guess some members were getting upset because I was asking questions of it when I was working out of Hay River. I was asking, "Where is this? Who is on the board? When do you guys have meetings?" Apparently, what they do is they send emails to each other. Because I was asking questions, it turned a lot of them off, against me. I could not believe it. You know, asking questions and the administrator, she does the finances and stuff, and I asked questions of her...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I am looking at page 228, specifically the Deh Cho Bridge Opportunities Grant. It states that the grant is for the purpose of creating community benefits and economic opportunities related to the Deh Cho Bridge. I know they get I think it's $200,000 on a yearly basis. I had asked the questions, I think, through emails previously.

I believe the agreement states that, in the eighth year, it can be up for renegotiating, or maybe to negotiate the parameters or the criteria. Right now, it's strictly for somebody who gets a business licence, and they are getting free funds, free...

You mentioned the GNWT leadership program. I am wondering what program you're mentioning there. It's not the associate directorship program? Can you elaborate? Mahsi.