Yes. Thank you. This is really a heartbreaking situation for elders. They tend to have a smaller social circle as they age, and COVID, of course, has made that even smaller. This is really not a budgetary issue. This is an issue of public health, and what I have heard the Chief Public Health Officer say is that, when most of the population has received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, it will be possible to relax internal restrictions, internal in the NWT, and that may include things like visiting long-term care centres. Right now, that does not happen because it is considered to be too risky. That is why there is only one designated person who goes in. In terms of this budget generally, this budget does not provide for spending related to COVID because we do not have any money that is related to COVID that goes beyond the end of this fiscal year. However, if the situation drags on and it looks like finances are an issue, I think that we would certainly revisit this area.
Julie Green on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 26th, 2021. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th, 2021
Page 2173
See context to find out what was said next.