Caitlin Cleveland

No, I appreciate that. I just want to clarify something that the Minister just said. If somebody is vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine, does that have an effect on their need to self-isolate for medical travel or any other reason? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. No. I appreciate that, and I appreciate the commitment of returning with information as to whether or not we are covering that or if that's being covered by Alberta because I think it will add a significant cost to our medical travel, especially if people are then coming home and then having to then self-isolate again. That would mean a month of self-isolating for people after a medical travel appointment. Is the department of health offering any kind of financial assistance to people who end up in a situation where they are having to self-isolate for a month...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Yes, it is a budget question because there is a cost to having to self-isolate in Edmonton afterwards, and my next question is going to be: who pays for it? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister alluding to the fact that she is willing to work with other departments. I think it's important to see, for other departments, what role they play within that process and how their involvement in that process affects the overall timelines, as well, so I appreciate that. It would be amazing if we could get our mineral exploration back to the level it was in the mid - to early 2000s. That would be very exciting. It feels different when the North is exploding with economic development. Everybody has some bounce in their step. There is...

In my Member's statement, I spoke briefly about the Fraser Institute and their survey of the mining report. I am wondering if ITI has a desire to address the concerns outlined in this report, and if so, how will the GNWT effectively increase transparency and consistency in the NWT regulatory process?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Sorry, I am breaking up my questions more today because I got some flak for that last time. There was discussion last year about a project tracking system in order to be able to track the carryovers that are happening. My assumption would be that this would come out of the O and M budget through department management, and I am wondering if that is budgeted for within this year's O and M through department management. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, mining has always driven the North's modern economy. When I was growing up, you were most likely either the kid of a mine employee or of a public servant. Today, mineral resources and the public sector are driving our territory's workforce and cash flow. Although the NWT is rich with opportunity, mineral exploration is stagnant. Natural Resources Canada estimates that mineral exploration in the NWT fell 54 percent over 2020, and while all mineral spending across Canada dropped during COVID-19, the NWT fell from the seventh highest in ranking across Canada down to the 11th.

Mining...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. That makes me happy to hear. I think that it's important for us to have fulsome conversations about things that are important to us. We talk a lot about addiction. We talk a lot about after-care. We talk a lot about FASD and front-line service providers. A lot of that is found within that budget. I think it would be nice if it was not something we had to switch to go find and that it was all together in the main estimates process. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services is currently negotiating with the federal government in regard to a new agreement to increase NIHB travel subsidies for the Northwest Territories. The reason I ask is, in November of 2020, Nunavut was successful in increasing their support for medical travel to the tune of $20 million, so I am wondering if we can expect the same wonderful, wonderful announcement in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate that. I just wanted to make sure that no assumptions were being made there. My next question is in regard to the Metis Health Benefits. I am wondering if the Minister knows how many people are covered by the Metis Health Benefits.