Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As I understand it, this is an opportunity that might well provide the opportunity for there to be development of that industry by developing the regulations themselves. This is the opportunity to, as a starting point, create those regulations, create the policies and the processes associated, and then once those are in place, have available a training program so that there could potentially be, then, an industry that would support more locally produced, harvested foods. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you. I'm shocked that the government is working ahead on a non-existent industry to put regulations and policies into place. I thought that it worked the other way around; you had an industry that needed regulating, rather than creating regulations for something that doesn't exist. Maybe the Minister could explain that to me. I'm missing something. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is to support a position with Health and Social Services where they can undertake this project. There certainly are quite a number of harvesters in the Northwest Territories right now who are able to harvest food, but then aren't actually able to turn around and provide that to anyone outside of, perhaps, immediate family, lest they are contravening regulations and not meeting health and safety requirements. That's the target group here. It's meant to provide an opportunity to spread food around that is coming in, that exists already, and as such, to address food insecurity by making that resource available in a broader way. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

No, nothing further on this section. Thank you.

Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I guess I just want to say that, on the meat inspection issue, I know that the Northern Farm Training Institute does raise animals. I was there this past weekend. They are interested in trying to market some of that meat. They've tried to do it in Yellowknife at the farmers' market here, but they weren't able to do that. I visited another operation, potential operation, by Mr. Russell Chase, who would like to breed rabbits and sell them, but can't do it right now. We have to fix this issue in terms of building food security here, so I support this. I did want to ask questions about funding for Child and Family Services. It's almost $3.7 million. I support this, but I'm just a bit concerned about how we're going to roll this out in COVID pandemic times because I think some of this would normally result in hiring and training extra staff to take on some of the work. This is largely in response to the Office of the Auditor General's review of Child and Family Services, so have we considered how this is going to roll out during the pandemic? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to put a number to it, this is funding that will support 20 positions, including significant front-line positions as well as support staff to help ensure that the front-line workers aren't doing their own background administrative supports as well as support to develop cultural safety and curriculum development. As far as the recruitment, Madam Chair, part of the problem was just in the process. The authorities have developed a human resources recruitment and retention plan, and that is expected to make the process of recruiting and retaining staff more streamlined, and as they are going through that process, implementing that process, implementing an ongoing centralized process for hiring for Child and Family Services, I can report that they have reduced vacancies from a 25-percent vacancy down to a 6.3-percent vacancy, and that number includes a drop that has consistently remained, even between January and May, we went from 7.6-percent vacancy down to 6.3-percent vacancy, between January and May. I don't have the social background on why that might be or the psychological background on why that might be, but I am happy to say that that does seem to be the trend that we're experiencing right now. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. The Minister is full of good news today, and that is sincerely good news. I appreciate the work on that, and I do want this money to be well-used. The next line item is $2.6 million. This is for continuing to roll out the child and youth counsellor program. I think the Deh Cho has already been done, if I remember correctly, and I think it might be the Tlicho region. Now it's Yellowknife's turn, which is good, but I've heard some concerns here because some of the Yellowknife schools already had some individuals doing some of these functions. There was some concern that there were delays in implementing and rolling this out and so on. Can the Minister tell us what she's heard, and how this is going to roll out during the pandemic, as well? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Just to give a bit of very brief context, it looks like we have a bit of extra time, 2018-2019 saw the establishment in the Tlicho and Deh Cho regions; 2019-2020 saw a rollout to the Sahtu and the Beaufort-Delta; and now, 2020-2021, we are expecting or assuming, if there is approval, rather, it would go to Yellowknife. As far as the Member is mentioning the concern that I acknowledge exists around security for staff who were already doing some of this work in some of the schools and some of the school districts, I can say that there is a priority right now within hiring for these positions. The hope being that, if that does get priorities for immediate action, that will decrease any lingering uncertainty that might be still experienced by those staff members wondering what is happening for the upcoming year. Hopefully, with the year being a bit uncertain, there are some backup plans within NTHSSA that if, in fact, there may need to be more positions filled, depending, that we can, then they can then do that, and they would have a backup plan for coverage. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. One of my questions was asked so I'm just going to keep moving down the line item to the $2.6 million for mental health and wellness counselling. I would just like confirmation if that is the child and youth care counsellors. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Sorry. The $2.616 million. Sorry, Madam Chair. I am trying to read too many notes at the same time. Yes, that is the child and youth care counsellors, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My last question is just in regard to the very last line item for Alcoholics Anonymous and Wellbriety. I just want to confirm that that is program funding that is offered in all communities and not just Yellowknife.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Madam Chair, I'm not sure if it's offered in all communities. Let me see if I can get a number that will perhaps break that down a little bit further as to what communities that is being offered in. Madam Chair, beginning in 2020-2021, there is support that is expected to be available in 15 communities. This is meant to provide the community training for five communities in the first two years and then to go from there, reducing over time. Thank you, Madam Chair.