Rylund Johnson

I look forward to seeing that public dashboard and what kind of scientific evidence is put on there, as well as seeing the transition modelling. I hope to see that sooner rather than later. A request: often, when our government publishes data, they don't actually do it with a data set or give you access to the open data. Sometimes, it's just a PDF. Sometimes, it's a nice graph, but, obviously, there is always some underlying data there. My question for the Minister is: in that public dashboard, can we contain access to the actual underlying data in an open format?

I appreciate that answer. My concern here is that all of these things work together, and if we are closing schools, people lose childcare. If we are losing day homes, people lose childcare, and it's important that, if we're asking people to continue showing up to offices when they could be working from home, but they don't have childcare, we are putting them in a very difficult situation. My question to the Minister of Finance is: are people remote working now, those who are able?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, I think it's important to situate ourselves in the global context. We have seen what being unprepared looks like. We have seen the data from Italy, China, South Korea, the United States, and other jurisdictions in Canada. I think we all recognize that, in the Northwest Territories, we are fortunate that we are seeing this pandemic reach us last; however, we also recognize we are one of the most vulnerable jurisdictions.

Over the coming months, I'm sure we will hear the term "flatten the curve" multiple times. This refers to making...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that we have provided a 25 percent increase to compensation and benefits, I believe, for Health and Social Services, to allow some of our nurses to -- there will likely be overtime. Can I just get a sense from the Minister, if the coronavirus increases and Health and Social Services goes beyond the budgeted amount, does that become a cash flow problem? I want to make sure that they have access to resources to deal with this and how would that work if they spend this money. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to ask a single question. My understanding is that the grants and contributions for all departments have been funded yearly. Can I confirm that, for Environment and Natural Resources, the full amount for the Community Harvesters Assistance Program is being funded? The annual amount is being funded in this interim budget?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am seeking unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

I appreciate that answer. My concern here is that remote working requires some logistics. We have to build the technical capacity. I believe that we should start doing this now. We should start piloting sending different sections of departments who can work from home to do it. I'm not talking about front-line healthcare workers, obviously, or essential services, but we are the largest employer in this territory, and I believe that many of our workers should be working from home now. If we are closing schools and daycares and closing mass gatherings, it does not make sense to have 5,000 public...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Earlier, we heard that all departments do have response plans, and I am glad to hear that we have been working on this for a number of weeks. My question is: at what point in those response plans do we start telling GNWT employees to not attend work?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that we went through the effort to fully fund all the grants and contributions, because I think, given the nature of the coronavirus, we will see a strain put on a number of those. I know that applies to numerous departments, but I just wanted to speak to this one specifically. Our Chief Public Health Officer has said that a good way to social distance is to get people out on the land. That is what CHAP funding is for, so I was just hoping that I could get a commitment with the Minister of Finance to have a conversation with ENR about getting this funding...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that, notwithstanding rule 4, when this House adjourns on Monday, March 16, 2020, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, May 26, 2020;

AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to May 26, 2020, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the...