MLAs breaking from session Tuesday to return home will now face worried constituents and businesses preparing for COVID-19.

As they return to their constituencies to offer support, such as grocery runs for the elderly, members will have to reckon with community health and the economic fallout stemming from the crisis. All of that is on top of only $600,000 in federal government assistance money that Premier Caroline Cochrane said was insufficient on Monday.

Residents are SA国际影视传媒渘ervousSA国际影视传媒� and taking precautions for COVID-19, NWT MP Michael McLeod said, while insisting money announced last week was simply initial support. There is more to come, he said.

Out of the $1 billion Ottawa earmarked for COVID-19 last week, $500 million is dedicated to health care, he said, which was then divided up on a per capita basis.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is because they had to get the money out as fast as they can,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淩ight now this is a way that each province and territory can get some money that they can put toward health-care needs. More than likely weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to need more.SA国际影视传媒�

He added the federal government hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 seen what the territorial government was requesting. While the premier said it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 enough, he said, SA国际影视传媒渋t isnSA国际影视传媒檛 enough to do what? We havenSA国际影视传媒檛 seen their plan.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the priority was to keep the economy SA国际影视传媒渁floatSA国际影视传媒� and ensure SA国际影视传媒渢hat people can afford to survive.SA国际影视传媒�

Unemployment insurance will need more flexibility, he said and other businesses will need support, adding that he recognizes tourism will take a hit. To co-ordinate response, McLeod said heSA国际影视传媒檇 been advising Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.

SA国际影视传媒淲e recognize that weSA国际影视传媒檝e got a short window and we got to make sure weSA国际影视传媒檝e covered all our bases,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e announced some money. These are early steps. These arenSA国际影视传媒檛 final steps.SA国际影视传媒�

Cochrane told MLAs Monday that NWT Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek was set to discuss possible support with the federal government that afternoon.

SA国际影视传媒淲e do know there will be a downturn in our economy. We know that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a downturn in our economy across Canada,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e are trying to plan not only about the financial restitution of business, weSA国际影视传媒檙e also trying to plan about keeping our supply chain open.SA国际影视传媒�

She told MLAs the federal government knows the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 needs and the territory is doing its best with limited resources.

MLAs run community supports, push for more resources

Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson said on Tuesday that heSA国际影视传媒檇 heard from tourism operators crunched under halted international travel, all while other businesses in Yellowknife decided to close operations.

Johnson, who campaigned on a universal basic income, said the federal government should aim to provide that support as an emergency measure while the economy faces a possible recession.

Other MLAs, such as Rocky Simpson of Hay River South, are suggesting additional crisis measures like scrapping utility limiters and evictions to meet the circumstances.

For his part, Johnson said the territorial government doesn't have the resources to fully respond to the crisis.

The initial $600,000 from Ottawa isnSA国际影视传媒檛 nearly enough, he added, saying it was SA国际影视传媒済oing to be eaten up in overtime over the next month by our nurses,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Health care and emergency response planning, in addition to support for vulnerable community members should be a priority, he said.

Johnson, like Yellowknife CentreSA国际影视传媒檚 Julie Green, has also offered grocery and medication runs should constituents self-isolate.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut at this point ISA国际影视传媒檝e been finding most people have support networks around them. I think that just speaks to the strength of Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Steve Norn agreed that $600,000 isn't enough to meet the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 needs.

He also repeated his call for care packages to be given to Elders in small communities with limited health resources.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have to understand a lot of our small communities are close knit. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e always in close proximity with each other,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to take some discipline to really look after our Elders.SA国际影视传媒�

As a freshman assembly readies itself and the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 response system, he encouraged residents to follow the guidance of NWT chief public health officer Kami Kandola.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of us did not anticipate this coming in as an MLA. But a lot of this is unprecedented terrain weSA国际影视传媒檙e going into right now,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Another first term member, Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler, said the Beaufort Delta SA国际影视传媒渨as already in an economic crunch" but will now take another hit. Small business owners and their employees, she explained, needed help "to pay their bills to keep their roofs over their heads.SA国际影视传媒�

Beyond calling for support, Semmler will be meeting with Beaufort Delta leaders to address the issue over the coming days, she said.

Semmler, a former nurse in Inuvik, said there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 capacity in the health-care system for a spike in cases. Keeping mutual distance and staying informed on best practices is the way forward, she said. 

SA国际影视传媒淚f we take this serious for the next month, we should hopefully be able to keep that curve flat,SA国际影视传媒� she said.