Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you Mr. Chair, I just want to repeat I know something that the Minister has heard me say before, but I think it's really important to repeat, and that is that there are existing federallyaccredited fish plants in the Northwest Territories already. And I just want to essentially hear a commitment from the Minister to ensure that when they're going through these talks at federal tables that that is recalled and advocated for so that we're not inadvertently pushing out people in the business sector who have had a tremendous amount of investment into this sector already. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I’m going to pick up where MLA Nokleby left off which was in agriculture there.

And just in terms of the grants that are available to different people involved in agriculture, what I have heard is that the reporting requirements or expectations are a little bit too onerous for the value of the grant. And so I just wanted to kind of leave that there. I do understand from the agrifood association that that is something that they have been following up with the GNWT on, and so I think it's worth noting just so that we can ensure that these dollars get out...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 56, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act.

Bill 56 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 20th, 2022 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

On October 16th, 2022, the standing committee held a public hearing and a clausebyclause review of the bill with the Minister responsible for the Housing Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 56, An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Housing...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, too many Northerners are falling through the cracks of the government's siloed approach to service delivery at the cost of residents' mental health, ability to survive and thrive, and the GNWT's bottom line. The government needs to provide wraparound clientfocused supports that meet residents where they are at. Our success relies on government departments working together. We hear over and over again that the answer is integrated service delivery. But we also hear from the GNWT that we are years away from actually implementing integrated service...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to squeak in one last question, and that is in regards to the manufacturing strategy.

One of the things that came out of the procurement review was a recommendation to actually implement the recommendations that came out of the manufacturing strategy. So I'm wondering if the economic diversification and business support team have the dollars to and resources, rather, to actually implement those recommendations and what recommendations we can see implemented before the end of the 19th Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I absolutely agree with the Minister and think that there is ample opportunity for business development across the territory and absolutely support that. I just want to make sure that we don't have legislation at the end of the day that cuts out people who maybe are not directly affiliated with the plant but who also support the plant. Which brings me to SEED.

And so, again, in terms of what one of my colleagues noted was the decline in SEED with the removal of the COVID supports. My concern is that with the economy where it is right now and the high rate of inflation...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So I see under commercial fisheries and contributions, there's a little bit of a difference, which I assume is that, that sunset there.

Can the Minister speak to whether or not there are any expected legislative changes required to the Fisheries Act coming forward from changes to the fisheries sector expected in the next year and if they have the resources to fulfill that work? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 20th, 2022, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

On February 13th, 2023, the Standing Committee on Social Development held a public hearing with the Minister of Justice and completed its clausebyclause review of the bill. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is the Northwest Territories and we do things a little different up here. The way we live, work, and govern together is different than southern Canada. It's a product of a different history.

Madam Speaker, the North continues to be a place of unrivalled opportunity. We're open for business, adventure, and life. We want to grow our population and our economy. During the budget address, the Minister of Finance stated the primary economic driver for the NWT economy will be government investment. I would agree that this is the case, at least for the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, one of the concerns that I have, and I understand that, you know, there's a process that Housing NWT follows, but the minor and major home repair program, as well as the home mobility and accessibility modifications program offered by Housing NWT, the first two are for health and safety related repairs for seniors aging in place, and then the second one is for people really to be able to access their home and use their home. And my concern is that the application period is isolated to April 1st through to November 31st. And, you know, we're all human...