Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been a few months here since flooding occurred in Hay River, and people want to get back in their homes. So Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister what is the staff complement and duties of those persons currently assisting residents and businesses affected by the flood in Hay River? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for MACA.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is presently eight MACA declared solely to the 2022 flood recovery effort. We have a director and a finance officer in Yellowknife, and we have six pathfinders; four in Hay River and two in Yellowknife. In addition, there's excessive support being provided by several staff at Yellowknife, or headquarters, and the South Slave Region as well as other GNWT departments, including Environment and Natural Resources, Infrastructure, Housing NWT, and Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Minister for that. It's interesting that, you know, we have eight people really on the ground looking after $200 million roughly, which is probably bigger than some departments. So either we're going to have to reassess how we're managing things internally.
Mr. Speaker, what restrictions have been I'd like to ask the Minister what restrictions have been placed on disbursement of funding under the DAP program by the federal government? Thank you.
Thank you. Municipal and Community Affairs is providing disaster assistance recovery from the 2022 flood consistent with the GNWT Executive Council Disaster Assistance Policy with two federal government programs. The disaster Assistance Policy is a governmentfunded program that may be implemented after widespread disaster to ensure essential community functions and covers the essential basic needs of residents and businesses. Disaster assistance is limited to essential items, the loss of which was either preventable or noninsurable. It is not an insurance program to recover all losses and provide assistance to restore eligible items as per predisaster conditions. The GNWT policy is modeled on the federal government's Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, or the DFAA, and is designed to help maximize financial assistance available for the DFAA.
There are numerous requirements that MACA must follow laid out in the GNWT's Disaster Assistance Policy and the federal program. Our pathfinders are in place to help residents and businesses with the process to assist disaster assistance and to answer their questions about their requirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounded like that was just kind of a generalization so there wasn't any really specific answer, I guess, with respect to, you know, any restrictions by the federal government. But I'll move on.
Mr. Speaker, residents and businesses are concerned that they are required to cover the cost above the advanced payment received for damages and then submit receipts for reimbursement for the other half. The only way for many to accomplish this is through a loan as many do not have the funds available. I'd like to ask the Minister is this a federal or GNWT requirement, and what are the options if one does not have the funds and cannot obtain a loan? Thank you
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, residents and businesses may receive an advance up to 50 percent of the damage identified in the damage assessment that were completed with each resident and business. Those who have unique hardships, where they are required to pay specific costs in advance or are unable to access other finances and have no other options, may be eligible for an advancement up to 100 percent of their anticipated costs for repairs. GNWT pathfinders have been working directly with those individuals who have indicated that they meet the criteria in additional assistance. Individuals should contact GNWT pathfinders' assistance for their unique situations. Mr. Speaker, again, if the situation's unique, please have them reach out to our pathfinders, and we're more than willing to work with these individuals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the problem with that analysis is that, you know, you may have a group of people who were able to get loans and ended up paying having to pay interest, and, you know, and then you've got another group that get turned down and they won't be stuck with any interest. So that's something I'd like the Minister to think about.
Mr. Speaker, here's a million dollar question: Will the Minister with technical staff commit to coming to Hay River and meeting on site and in an office setting with residents and business owners who are working through the DAP process? And October 27th and 28th of this year would be acceptable dates. Thank you.
Wow, the Member's telling us when we can do it, and it's really good. I think there may have been an email exchange back and forth between the Member and myself. But just so people are aware, MACA has been meeting frequently with residents in Hay River office and on site, on their properties. These meetings are occurring on an ongoing basis with our pathfinders as well as senior management for those individuals who completed situations.
Mr. Speaker, I have to applaud the Member from Hay River North, Hay River South, and the Deh Cho for reaching out and working with us, and having these conversations and inviting us to that. So as the Member has said, that date works for our technical staff on the 27th and 28th. We will work with the three Members to set up what type of meetings we'll have with them so that we can meet the requirements of impacted residents on that.
As for myself, with my schedule, I'll work with the Member when I can get into the communities. And again, I really have to stress I have to thank the three Members. I've had displeasure of dealing with floods myself last year, and I applaud them for the work they're doing for the residents. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
