Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to mitigation costs, how much work I guess -- or do we really know what that cost will be because I guess when I'm thinking about mitigation, I'm thinking about the berms and the items like that, I guess, that we haven't really identified yet. Do we have any idea what that number may be? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

So each resident is up to $75,000. But then on top of that then it's the town and the reserve. And we're working with Public Safety Canada on those costs. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So using, I guess, Hay River and the reserve as an example, I suspect there will probably be a bit of berming going on there and we haven't really seen much happen up to this point. Is that because -- is it because we're looking to the federal government to provide that cost, or are we just costing out what that damage or what that requirement would be? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you. It's kind of a combination. We have to get pre-approval from the federal government as part of it and then also the costing there. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As we move into spring here, which will be fairly close, in the building season, in Hay River, and the reserve as well, people are actually -- you know, they're getting anxious to get to work on their buildings. They're still waiting to discuss some of the -- you know, the -- I guess to reconcile the adjuster's confidential report with the mitigation assessment reports. And it's not -- and it's not something the pathfinders can actually provide them with that, really, with that support. It has to be somebody with, I guess, a little more technical background and probably somebody with a little more authority. So are we looking at increasing the staff in the next little while while we get into spring to support the pathfinders and be able to deal with the more difficult damages? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Yes, so we do have one technical person that we have besides our pathfinders. But we also have the five regional people out there. And so right now we're not looking at increasing the support system there. However, in saying that, if the need arises and if that's something that we have to look at, then we will look at that. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Like, I have a number of people, I guess, coming into my office, and I'm providing them with some of that technical assistance as well because they're knot quite sure, you know, where to start. So I think that I would like to see the department actually look at maybe what they could do to provide some additional support in the community.

With respect to technical support, like Mr. Jacobson was alluding to, is that when people come in, at least into my office, there's an engineering firm in Hay River so I usually, you know, contact them and let them know that, you know, one of the residents might be in touch with them, because I think it's important there is that some of the residents they just don't have the technical expertise, they don't know where to start, so they need somebody to kind of walk them through it. And I know that government doesn't want to do it because of liability. So we have to make sure that they have that help. And the question that came up was can the monies allocated to damage on their property be used for that technical expertise as well? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Yes, so we've reached out to the federal government to see if these are actual -- we can do it that way as part of our costs and we're just waiting back -- to hear back from. I'm hoping that it is -- we're going -- they're going to say yes to our cost to it. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I think it's important that -- you know, that we do have on the MACA's side somebody there that could actually provide some assistance when they are looking at the two assessments. Like, you have the one which basically gives you an idea of what it costs to actually do the repairs to the homes as is, then you have another assessment which is actually engineered or mitigation report. And the two sometimes don't -- like I say, don't reconcile. And, you know, one's saying this is, you know, it's going to cost a hundred thousand dollars to fix it up. And then you have an engineering report that says, no, the place can't be fixed up; it can't be moved; it can't be lifted. And we need somebody on site, you know, probably sooner than later, to address that with the people that are having that issue. And that's kind of why I'm looking for somebody to be there. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Yes, so the individual we had who was out on annual is back now, and he'll be into the community more often to help address these type of things. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In terms of timing for people to complete their damages to their homes, has anybody in the department talked to -- I guess, keeping tabs on how client -- or how the homeowners are making out? I suspect we're looking at going into next year as well to complete and maybe even the year after that. So I'd hate to see that, but I have a feeling that's what's going to happen so how are you tracking that? Thank you.

So we are tracking it, and I'm going to give the bad news. It's going to take more than just one year. In the riding I represent, we're still just finishing up on homes right now. So it could be up to two years, and we're hoping it gets done quicker but right now we are tracking those and making sure we're updated moving forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.