Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has now been 11 months since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. That is nearly one year we have been dealing with this global health crisis, a crisis which has disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life in one way or another. I know that, in any pandemic situation, the core mission of a government is to protect its citizens and to combat and eliminate the disease that is plaguing the planet, which in our case is COVID-19. However, secondary to that objective is to help the economy to stay afloat. To help the economy, we as a government must stimulate the business community with much-needed aid and assistance.

Just yesterday, the Premier cited $120 million worth of federal funding that the Government of the Northwest Territories has received to date to help with the effects of the pandemic. On the surface, that sounds like a lot, but when you break it down, it does not amount to a lot of financial aid spread out: $86 million went to the COVID secretariat; $28.8 million went to the airline industry, which is much needed; $1.583 million went to MACA for sports; leaving $4.3 million for incidentals, not necessarily going to small- and medium-sized businesses. All sectors of our economy have taken a huge hit as a result of this pandemic, and many businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized, are struggling to survive.

Right now, the NWT does not have a long-term economic stability mandate. According to the Conference Board of Canada, the economic sectors hurting the most right now in the Northwest Territories are mining, oil and gas, tourism, accommodations, and the food industry. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted