Debates of Feb. 22nd, 2019

This is page numbers 4981 - 5018 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was community . View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

New Federal Infrastructure Agreement

Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Retirement of Carl Lafferty from Public Service

Regional Wellness Council

2019 Northwest Territories Community Survey

Income Security Review

Mental Health Services in Hay River

Protecting Northwest Territories Tourism Brand

Indigenous Languages Funding

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Thomas and Denise Manuel

Mental Health Services in Hay River

Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Senior Planning Study

Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Income Security Review

Wise Women Awards

Regional Wellness Councils

Supporting the Tourism Sector

Indigenous Languages Funding

Resident Nurse in Tsiigehtchic

Bill 31: Northwest Territories 9-1-1 Act

Tabled Document 353-18(3): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 526-18(3): Dempster Highway Windbreak at Km 4

Bill 36:

An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act

Bill 37:

An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Hon. Glen Abernethy , Mr. Beaulieu , Mr. Blake , Hon. Caroline Cochrane , Ms. Julie Green , Hon. Jackson Lafferty , Hon. Bob McLeod , Hon. Robert McLeod , Mr. McNeely , Hon. Alfred Moses , Mr. Nadli , Mr. Nakimayak , Mr. O'Reilly , Hon. Wally Schumann , Hon. Louis Sebert , Mr. Simpson , Mr. Testart , Mr. Thompson , Mr. Vanthuyne

The House met at 10:00 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

Page 4981

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

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Minister's Statement 152-18(3): New Federal Infrastructure Agreement

Ministers' Statements

Page 4981

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past 15 years the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked in partnership with the federal government to help meet the infrastructure needs of community governments. These efforts have helped community governments access federal funding, in accordance with our current mandate commitment in this area.

Mr. Speaker, federal investments in community government infrastructure have been significant. Since 2005, the federal government has provided over $170 million in gas tax funding, supporting a total of 293 projects in our communities. As well, through the capacity building component of the gas tax funding, we have also been able to assist with the development of community capital plans and implement the current Asset Management Strategy.

Since 2014, under the Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Plan, a total of $38.7 million in infrastructure projects have been approved, supporting a total of 33 projects. This includes investments in recreation facilities, road upgrades, and the construction of water treatment plants.

Since 2016, the Clean Water and Waste Water Fund of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan has seen a total investment of $51 million toward 29 water treatment and sewage system projects in communities across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, in early January 2019, Municipal and Community Affairs released an initial call for applications for Phase II funding to community governments for the solid waste, road upgrades, and energy-efficient programs and to Indigenous governments for the cultural spaces program. Applications for the initial call must be submitted by March 1, 2019. Municipal and Community Affairs will review and process the applications received before submitting to Canada for final approval.

Municipal and Community Affairs will work with the NWT Association of Communities to ensure the application and selection processes are fair and consider the federal eligibility criteria along with territorial priorities.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is helping to address the infrastructure needs of Northwest Territories communities. The Municipal Funding Policy Review completed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs in 2014 helped quantify the infrastructure needs of each NWT community government. We have increased the annual funding support provided to community governments for community infrastructure by $2 million, beginning in 2019-2020.

We administer federal infrastructure programs, and we support community governments in asset management and capital planning so they can make the best possible use of the funding available. I look forward to working with Northwest Territories community and Indigenous governments to continue the administration of these critical federal infrastructure agreements, as well as moving forward on important initiatives such as the Asset Management Strategy. By working together, we will be able to meet more of our communities' needs for the benefit of all our citizens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 152-18(3): New Federal Infrastructure Agreement

Ministers' Statements

Page 4982

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Members' Statements

Page 4982

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to do a Member's statement on a winter road to Lutselk'e. I had just been thinking about it and thought I would talk to the Minister briefly and advise him that I would like to talk about the benefits of a winter road to Lutselk'e.

I recognize that we are getting late into this season to be able to construct a winter road. I think most of the winter roads are already constructed. A little bit different here, if there was an opportunity to put a winter road in next month, the situation is a bit different than other winter roads in that the majority or all of the entire road into Lutselk'e would be on the ice, on the Great Slave Lake.

I also recognize that there is a shorter time frame because of the size of the lake. We had looked at this previously, Mr. Speaker, and there are pressure ridges that do become created. Once the ice freezes, and because of the size of the lake, there are pressure ridges. At that point, it becomes unsafe to continue. For a period, Mr. Speaker, for a short period, maybe two, three weeks, maybe even as long as a month, there is a possibility to open up a winter road.

I wanted to speak to that, about the benefits to tourism. In fact, I find that, if there was a winter road into Lutselk'e and there were people who wanted to use that winter road, like the local community or even tourism, to drive down that road. The other factor would be that at some point, if this becomes part of the process, part of the winter road construction by the Department of Infrastructure, Thaidene Nene Park, once approved, there would be a good opportunity for a gateway.

There are many economic factors. There is the cost of air freight and also the large infrastructure, like the health centre, trying to get the foundational materials for the health centre in this winter so that there would be less to haul in on the barge going into Lutselk'e. Mr. Speaker, thank you.

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Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Members' Statements

Page 4982

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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Retirement of Carl Lafferty from Public Service

Members' Statements

Page 4982

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy and sadness that I have learned of Carl Lafferty's retirement, the regional superintendent of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. His dedication and service throughout the past 16 years as an employee with the Government of the Northwest Territories has been greatly appreciated by myself, along with all residents of the Deh Cho.

Prior to his work with the Department of ENR, Mr. Lafferty worked as a park warden with the federal government for 12 years. Mr. Lafferty felt the need for a change, as being a park warden involved a lot of travel. Once he received a call to accept a position with ENR, he accepted the opportunity.

From April 2002 to October 2009, Mr. Lafferty worked as a renewable officer, too, as well as the manager of wildlife and environment. In late October 2009, Mr. Lafferty was asked by the deputy minister to take on the role of regional superintendent. With Mr. Lafferty 's operation and field experience, accompanied by his First Nations status, a direct appointment to regional superintendent was offered in November 2009.

Upon completion of the past 16 years, Mr. Lafferty stated that his best times were conducting highway and river patrols and interacting with and meeting new people. What he will miss most is working with the GNWT staff and public. What really drives the work? Dealing with complaints and resolving issues to provide satisfaction to community members. When I asked Mr. Lafferty what his greatest accomplishment was, "I'm still here," meaning you need to have tough skin, as it is a difficult position to be a leader.

With his retirement date fast approaching, Mr. Lafferty has begun the process of obtaining his heavy equipment operator's ticket. His goal is to have an opportunity to work on a few big projects around the community, such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway, while doing small jobs around the community.

I want to thank Carl for his years of experience in the Nahendeh communities, the Deh Cho region, and the NWT. Carl will be sadly missed. Carl has set an example for all of his colleagues and staff throughout, with the exemplary work ethics, dedication, and commitment that he has shown in his career. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Retirement of Carl Lafferty from Public Service

Members' Statements

Page 4983

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu .

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Regional Wellness Council

Members' Statements

Page 4983

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services spoke yesterday on the Regional Wellness Council and their continued efforts in shaping and improving our healthcare system. Mr. Speaker, I totally agree with this administrative structure. Who better to include, as community, parents, and public members, to improve healthcare but the people who reside in small, remote, urban communities?

Mr. Speaker, it is not expected of RWC members to possess medical qualifications, but as mentioned by the Minister and the roles and responsibilities as identified within the members' handbook, it is preferred. However, Mr. Speaker, there is always continuous room for education on the various systems and services available for healthcare. One suggestion is allowing routine Regional Wellness Council sessions in the surrounding communities that they represent.

Mr. Speaker, a campaign and positive initiative taken by the Sahtu Dene Necha Ko Long Term Care Facility in Norman Wells is sponsoring ASIST, or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, an excellent suicide first aid development course advertised for March 12 th and 13 th of next month.

Mr. Speaker, later I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on future operational campaign strategies. Mahsi.

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Regional Wellness Council

Members' Statements

Page 4983

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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2019 Northwest Territories Community Survey

Members' Statements

Page 4983

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 2019 NWT Community Survey is now under way, and many residents around the NWT will either be getting a survey request in the mail or a knock on the door. The household survey covers topics such as housing, employment, education, and language, and I want to encourage everyone who is asked to participate in this valuable data collection event to do so.

The survey is being carried out by the NWT Bureau of Statistics. It will include a sample of households from the six largest communities, Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, and Behchoko, and a census of all households in the other communities.

In Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Inuvik, letters were dropped at selected households, requesting them to complete the survey online or to arrange an in-person interview or a phone interview. Outside these four communities, interviewers are conducting the survey in person.

The survey intends to collect data from 8,000 of the 17,500 households in the NWT, a formidable slice, and the Bureau of Statistics hopes to have preliminary results at the beginning of November.

Why is this survey important, Mr. Speaker? It will yield valuable information than can be used for planning programs, identifying emerging issues, and monitoring progress on issues at the community level. In other words, this is the evidence for evidence-based decision-making.

This data is available for use by anyone; NGOs designing or evaluating programming and businesses doing market analysis for business planning. All levels of government, that is, federal, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous, can use the information to design and improve services for their constituents and clients, and this kind of high-quality detailed community data is vital for our access to federal funding.

Data collection is on now and continues into March, and I want to encourage all NWT residents who are asked to take part. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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2019 Northwest Territories Community Survey

Members' Statements

Page 4983

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Income Security Review

Members' Statements

Page 4983

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Education, Culture and Employment offers a number of programs to support our residents in several ways. These programs include income support for post-secondary students and seniors and income assistance for low-income families and children, with additional amounts for people with disabilities. Many recipients of support programs say that accessing them can be difficult, discouraging, and demoralizing. The processes for income assistance, in particular, are very rigid and prescribed in regulations providing very little flexibility in response to client needs.

The Minister of ECE has committed to an administrative review of income security programs. Discussions with non-governmental organizations have begun. My understanding is that the review is to be completed and changes implemented before the end of this Assembly. To be clear, I support this approach.

One of the most significant issues with income support and income assistance programs is that the amounts offered to recipients do not keep up with the cost of living. Regular reviews of the amounts linked to the Consumer Price Index or some other method of automatic adjustments for the cost of living would be a far better approach.

A major issue that surfaces for me in my constituent work is the treadmill of debt that traps some recipients. In some instances, income assistance recipients work, then lose their jobs and are penalized with reductions in their rent, food, and other allowances. Recipients are left between benefit periods with nothing to live on and often fall behind in their rent. Structurally, the system fails these people and builds desperation and worse.

Some jurisdictions have tried a basic income guarantee approach. There are various ways to structure basic income guarantee and different ideas on who should receive these sorts of payments. One of the major benefits pointed out in these initiatives is the elimination of the clients' endless application and reporting requirements and a reduction in the bureaucratic superstructure required to administer all of this monitoring.

We need to look at a pilot project on basic income guarantee in the context of our overall efforts to reduce and eliminate poverty consistent with the Anti-Poverty Strategy. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Income Security later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Income Security Review

Members' Statements

Page 4984

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North .

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Mental Health Services in Hay River

Members' Statements

Page 4984

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

An eight-month-long wait list is ridiculous. It shouldn't be allowed to happen. The wait time to see a counsellor in Hay River is more than two-and-a-half times longer than in Yellowknife; it is eight times longer than in Behchoko; and it is 20 to 30 times longer than in Fort Smith, which is just down the highway. How is that even possible, Mr. Speaker? It boggles the mind.

I understand that, for very urgent situations, there are at least some same-day appointments available, and those experiencing mental health emergencies are supposed to receive appointments within four weeks. However, Mr. Speaker, it can be hard to ask for help, and many people resist seeking help until their situations become emergencies to them. Making them wait another eight months is inhumane. Who knows what could happen in those eight months? People's mental health issues could cause them to lose their job, damage relationships, develop addictions, and worse.

From what I have heard, the staff at Community Counselling in Hay River are good at what they do. They strive to deliver the best service possible, and they have even undertaken some new initiatives to help the community, like offering an eight-week, mindfulness-based, cognitive therapy workshop to help adults prevent recurrent episodes of depression. They are providing services that I would argue pay for themselves. I cannot imagine being a counsellor is easy, and I am sure the lack of resources makes it even more difficult.

We need to support these people, or else we will lose them and we will foster a revolving-door environment, which is a terrible thing when it comes to client care. We need to address this situation now, before it gets worse.

Mr. Speaker, I hear lots of talk from the government about the importance of good mental health, so I want to know why this situation was allowed to get this bad and what is going to be done to fix it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mental Health Services in Hay River

Members' Statements

Page 4984

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Protecting Northwest Territories Tourism Brand

Members' Statements

Page 4984

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have all been glad to see how tourism has grown in the Northwest Territories in recent years. Being a world-class tourist destination is not only great for the economy, it's also a point of pride for us Northerners, who love the splendour and beauty of the people, cultures, lands, and waters of this place we call home.

This came about from strong initiative and vision from some of the original tourism operators, people who struck out on their own when the idea of tourism marketing was in its infancy. Government shared in that vision and offered significant support for marketing the NWT as a spectacular tourist destination. Now, it's a reality, and you can't go anywhere in this town without tripping over herds of royal blue and bright red parkas.

Mr. Speaker, this boom has a result. The number of tourism operators is growing rapidly, and our government is appropriately supporting this new sector. For example, we have opened up Loop C at Prelude Lake to provide operators with a new place where their clients can take in the aurora. That is great for new operators, but it does raise some concerns, Mr. Speaker. When does support for industry become an unfair subsidy? Operators who years ago made huge investments and built this industry from scratch may be legitimately upset that up-and-coming competitors are being subsidized by public money.

Then there is the question: with all of this new interest, so many operators here, how do we spread the wealth outside the capital? How could we take advantage of the increased interest in this industry to encourage new opportunities in other spectacular parts of the NWT?

Mr. Speaker, this new successful sector capitalizes on the wonderful qualities of our unique location in the world. We need to take steps to protect our world-class Northwest Territories brand. The industry must be managed to make sure that the people selling and marketing the NWT as a destination are doing so with respect for our land, our cultures, and our people. That way, we can assure that success continues for future generations. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Protecting Northwest Territories Tourism Brand

Members' Statements

Page 4985

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput .

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Indigenous Languages Funding

Members' Statements

Page 4985

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. I would like to continue the discussion of how government can support our Indigenous languages across the territory.

Mr. Speaker, recently I looked at the analysis of federal funding for languages in Nunavut that broke it down to dollars per person. Based on their first language, the funding for a French student was around $420 per student, and for Inuktitut it was, ballpark, around $4.30. Mr. Speaker, this gap demonstrates that our government must do more to invest in Inuktitut.

Mr. Speaker, we need to close this gap, not only to fulfill our commitment as a government to language revitalization but to meaningfully pursue reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, when the next federal funding agreement is negotiated, that is what we need to push for. We also need to walk the talk on our own budgets, and, above all, we need to keep working with Indigenous governments and community groups when we do it. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

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Indigenous Languages Funding

Members' Statements

Page 4985

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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Indigenous Languages Funding

Members' Statements

Page 4985

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake , that Minister's Statement 151-18(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Indigenous Languages Funding

Members' Statements

Page 4985

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

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Indigenous Languages Funding

Members' Statements

Page 4985

Some Hon. Members

Question.

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Indigenous Languages Funding

Members' Statements

Page 4985

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried.

---Carried

The Minister's statement will now be before Committee of the Whole. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4986

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to recognize our interpreters, Mr. Tom Unka, interpreting in Denesuline Chipewyan language, and Maro Sundberg, in Wiilideh Tlicho language. I would also like to recognize two Pages from Wiilideh, Joshua Drygeese and Ben Colas. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4986

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Member for Sahtu .

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Acknowledgement 19-18(3): Thomas and Denise Manuel

Acknowledgements

Page 4986

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to announce my in-laws, Thomas and Denise Manuel, celebrated their 60 th wedding anniversary this past February 20, 2019. The celebrations were held in Fort Good Hope and enjoyed by the family, community of Fort Good Hope, and the guests from the surrounding communities. Here's wishing you many more years of happiness together. Mahsi.

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Acknowledgement 19-18(3): Thomas and Denise Manuel

Acknowledgements

Page 4986

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Hay River North .

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4986

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services about the eight-month-long wait list in Hay River to receive mental health counselling services. How many staff are allocated to the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority community counselling office, and how many of the staff are actually in the office? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4986

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4986

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for his statement. I agreed with pretty much everything that he said, that this is a problem, this is something we need to be fixing, and it's unacceptable to have these kinds of wait times. I do take a little bit of a disagreement with his comments that these issues have fallen on deaf ears. I do not believe that to be the case, and I think the staff in the authority and in the territorial authority are working hard to resolve some of these challenges and to improve services to the residents of Hay River, so I do take offence at indicating that these issues have fallen on deaf ears.

In Hay River, Health and Social Services has three vacant community counsellor positions, and full staffing complement is six, so we are down a number of positions in Hay River. There are three mental health and addictions counsellors, two community counsellors, community wellness workers, and one clinical supervisor. As the Member indicated in his statement, the clinical supervisor position is currently vacant. The mental health and addictions counsellor and community wellness worker positions are also currently vacant. We are actively recruiting for a clinical supervisor as we speak.

We are actually intending to do interviews for the position next week. We just completed hiring the one vacant mental health and addictions counsellor position, and we expect that that person will be starting in March.

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4986

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

I did not mean any offence, but when I bring these issues up, I know the Minister listens, I know the department listens, I know the authority listens, but I need to see some results. Otherwise, I have to make those kinds of statements. It's good to hear that some staffing is occurring. What are the challenges to staffing? Why did we get down to this skeleton crew? I know it's been going on a long time, so what are the challenges with staffing this office?

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4986

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

When somebody says the issues are falling on the deaf ears, usually to me that means that he is suggesting or somebody is suggesting nobody is listening. I am happy to hear that the Member does acknowledge that we are listening and that work is happening in this area.

When it comes to staffing, the Hay River Health and Social Services is currently reviewing the job descriptions for the mental health and addictions counsellor positions to make sure that the required qualifications that are identified do not create any unintended barriers to staffing those positions. They are also exploring the possibility of a mentorship model with applicants who are either recent graduates or have experience but don't necessarily have the academic criteria.

They have also been actively recruiting for these positions, both territorially and nationally. They have posted positions on the website for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, national organizations, Longwoods, Indeed.com, Facebook pages, websites. They have gone to university job boards that offer the programs. Staff are also reaching out to colleagues for who might possibly be interested. I know that they are also reviewing the current program delivery model in order to improve wait times, service delivery, and staff retention.

Just to be clear, and I think I said this in response to another Member's question, these are what would be considered non-emergent cases. I do acknowledge that cases evolve over time, but emergency cases are triaged and they get supports right away.

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

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Page 4987

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Yes, as I mentioned, emergency cases are heard. They receive appointments within a month. That is a pretty fast and loose definition of "emergency."

I know that the health authority is a separate legal entity, but they receive their money through an allocation through the Department of Health and Social Services. We are ultimately responsible for them. Can the Minister reallocate some resources from the public service, from his department, to help with this backlog in Hay River?

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

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Page 4987

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Although Hay River Health and Social Services is technically outside the public service at this time, we would still like to bring them in, which I believe may actually help with some of our recruitment challenges in that area. We do consider them part of the team, and we do work closely with them.

The territorial authority has reached out to other NWT regions for assistance in Hay River. Fort Smith has agreed to accept some of the referrals to help with the wait times. Fort Simpson has agreed to offer some level of clinical supervision until such time as we can hire somebody. Unfortunately, the rest of the NWT, when it comes to community counselling programs, are facing significant shortages as far as staff, as well, so this is a territorial issue.

Hay River certainly has the longest wait times and they are certainly feeling the brunt of this, but we are working hard to address that, and the territorial health authority is working closely and offering expertise and support from other regions.

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

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Page 4987

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Hay River North .

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4987

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has mentioned a lot of the things that are happening. I have spoken with the CEO about this and the public administrator, and I know some of the things they are doing. I know there is work going on behind the scenes, but when can we expect this situation to be solved and put it behind us, and when can we know that we are going to go forward and people are going to be able to receive the services they need in a timely manner? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

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Page 4987

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

When it comes to providing services through staff in positions that have high turnover, we can never say with certainty that this problem will be gone. We may be able to resolve it with a full-stocked complement of staff, but if turnover occurs again, we could have some blips. That is why working with the other regions is so important.

Community counselling services in Hay River, as the Member said, at 35 weeks is inappropriate, and we need to work together with our partners to bring that down. There are apparently about 55 clients on the wait list. The authority is managing the wait list based on a priority or a risk assessment process and offering programming from group programs, which keeps clients connected with the community counselling services and provides them with the tools that they need to manage some of their situation.

There has been lunchtime and evening mindfulness group sessions, as one example of the types of things that are happening. Hay River has entered into a contract with a licensed psychologist until March 31 st to assist with the clinical supervision to support staff, assist with the wait list, assist with the recruitment and review of current programs and delivery models. They have also been referring eligible clients to take advantage of the employee assistance program available through the GNWT.

There are also Health Canada programs that referrals are being made to, and the health authority is recommending that anyone who needs mental health support and is not able to be seen through the existing counselling program to come to the health centre or go to emergency if it is an urgent situation.

There are a number of things that are happening. We are working hard to close this gap, and we will continue to do so.

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Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River

Oral Questions

Page 4987

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Oral Questions

Page 4988

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in the sitting, my honourable friend from Yellowknife North asked the Minister responsible for Infrastructure some questions surrounding security delays of the YZF Airport. At that time, the Minister identified that the Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority staffing was the biggest problem and the cause of these delays.

A recent CBC article, on February 20 th , had a response from CATSA on these delays, and they said that an additional security line was never part of the airport renovation plan that they submitted to the agency, and if the government wants additional screening lines, it needs to present a business case that would include staffing and those extra levels of resourcing. I would like to ask the Minister: has CATSA been engaged and been asked for the things that they are saying they were never asked for? Is their information correct? Thank you.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

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Page 4988

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure .

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Oral Questions

Page 4988

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The CATSA system, they set their own levels of service, Mr. Speaker. As I said in the House the other day, we are tracking the number of people who are going through the line-ups. I have said that the reduced wait time is down by 30 percent. We engage CATSA regularly, because we have to engage them on when we did the expansion for the space for them and put in the new CATSA Plus system, so those discussions are ongoing.

I am sure the Member is going to have a number of questions, but when we talk about CATSA Plus setting their own service levels, our understanding, based on the information that we have right now, the rating that we have is 1.2 lines for the CATSA Plus system. For us to get to two lines, there is going to have to be a significant more amount of traffic that has to take place for us to work with them to make a decision to install an extra line. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

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Page 4988

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

That is a bit more clear, that there is some policy behind it. Is that what CATSA is saying? Has the proposal been brought forward to the Crown corporation for an additional line? Because that is what the people want, and I don't know if the Minister has done it.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

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Page 4988

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

I am not sure if the Member is listening to what I am saying. I am saying CATSA Plus sets their own service levels. Right now, there is a 1.2 rating for the lines. To go to two lines, there is going to have to be a significant increase of traffic. As I said in the House the other day, we are monitoring the amount of traffic that is going there, the wait times. We are doing it manually. We are going to put in an automated system to be able to collect this data to be able to say, you know, CATSA, it clearly states that we need to have two lines in the Yellowknife Airport.

Until we get that documentation, how can I just say I am going to put in an extra line and request for this information? It is no different than us answering questions on that side of the House. We have to have data, and I have to have data for CATSA Plus.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

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Page 4988

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

If the Minister doesn't have the data, then how does he know that security lines have been reduced by 30 percent? His officials are telling the City of Yellowknife it is going to be 60 percent. He is telling this House it is 30 percent, and now he is telling this House he doesn't have the numbers to justify additional expansions of security time. How is the Minister getting his information?

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Oral Questions

Page 4988

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

As I said, clearly the Member is not listening to what I am saying. We are collecting data out there. Our data has clearly told us that the reduction of wait times is down by 30 percent. We are doing it manually. We have a person sitting there collecting that data. We will get this information more clearly when we put in an automated system. We are at 1.2 lines right now. There have to be two lines to have more significant more traffic at the Yellowknife Airport for them to make a decision to install two lines.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Oral Questions

Page 4988

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

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Page 4988

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am listening to the Minister. I don't know if he is listening to my questions. He is providing some answers, but I'd like to know if he can produce this information. Will he table the numbers he has so far so the public can clearly understand exactly what the issues are and why we can't get this enhanced system that, again, people are asking for? Thank you.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Oral Questions

Page 4988

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

I don't have a problem tabling any of this information. Clearly the Member is playing on words, here. We are doing our due diligence to try to improve the system. We are working with CATSA Plus. I want to get even more information out there for the general public, and I want them to know this. When we work with CATSA's system, we have to supply the space for free. We have to supply the electricity for free. We have to supply the heat for free. It's not like this is just some ad hoc thing we're doing. We are trying to improve times at the airport for the general public.

As I said, there is a lot of pressure on the system. I said yesterday in the House that we are working with CATSA Plus. There is definitely a deficiency around the number of people who are employed out there. We work with them closely. I mentioned the type of signage and stuff, and that we have worked with CATSA Plus to improve wait times and try to get people through the line-ups faster. Some of these people who are travelling through our airport are definitely not savvy travellers. They're not on an airplane every week, like some people are, and we are working with them closely to improve these things.

It's not just something where I can snap my fingers and ask the federal government and put another line in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 595-18(3): Yellowknife Airport CATSA Security

Oral Questions

Page 4988

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4989

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Standing Committee on Social Development received a presentation from the NWT Housing Corporation about the senior planning study. I have to say I am very impressed with the quality of the work done by the corporation. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain why the corporation's primary focus is on the communities of Hay River and Yellowknife when, if you look at the projected seniors population of 2028, we have four communities that will see seniors' populations increase over 90 percent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4989

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4989

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank and welcome the Member's comments about the public presentation that we had with committee yesterday. As Members know, seniors are one of the fastest-growing populations not only in the Northwest Territories, but right across Canada. In terms of the question that was asked, in terms of Yellowknife and Hay River, they are the two largest seniors' populations in the Northwest Territories, and we do know that there is existing seniors' infrastructure that will require replacement. I have said that in the House before.

I just want to remind all Members that we have also invested over the last few years in building seniors' complexes in the communities of Aklavik, Fort Liard, Whati, Fort Good Hope, and Fort McPherson. As I mentioned in a statement that I addressed last week and in answering questions this week, we are going to be developing community housing plans, and looking at the priorities of the communities and getting their input into where we need to invest our dollars.

I'm looking forward to that, meeting with our leadership and community members, and I do appreciate that the Member is concerned with the results of the study. We look forward to using that study to look at how we are going to invest dollars going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4989

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I understand that we are going out and doing community housing plans, and that's really good, but there are 33 communities, and some of the communities are seeing elders' populations grow, increase drastically, here. I spoke in this House about elders in the Nahendeh riding who want to stay in their home communities and prefer their own homes. However, O and M costs may be difficult for them, and they would like to maybe stay in a housing unit. Will the Minister be willing to look at adding fourplex units for communities in the NWT Housing Corporation's plan, should communities show a demand for this type of infrastructure before the housing plans are done?

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4989

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

During yesterday's public presentation, we did get some discussions back and forth about the respect for our elders. I think all 19 of us, and anybody in this House, do respect our elders and want to promote and work with them to live as long as they can in their units. Yes, obviously, we would be looking at fourplexes in the communities, should the communities want to pursue that. It would be energy efficient over the existing designs that we have had in the past, and also it would reduce the cost of construction.

So as we work with communities and leaders developing these community plans, I would be more than open to looking at these fourplexes. As I mentioned, we want to keep our elders living in their units as long as we can, and also providing those units in the five communities that I mentioned previously, and having respect for our elders, their knowledge and what they can continue to provide to our youth and our communities.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

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Page 4989

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I couldn't agree more with the Minister. Elders are very important, and they are our foundation. I am greatly happy to hear that the Minister and the corporation are looking at that, and they will look into it maybe even before community plans are done, if the communities come forward. My next question is: in some of the smaller communities, we do not have contractors or tradespeople. In other regional centres, contractors do not find the projects big enough that are happening in these small communities to bid on, so we can see projects delayed or not done at all.

Can the Minister advise if the corporation has looked at this challenge and thought about a possible solution, such as using the local housing authorities' staff to help deal with these types of concerns?

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4989

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Yes, we have looked at that. We know that there is a concern in some of our smaller communities that don't have contractors or anyone who can do a housing maintainer program or do repairs for some of our homeowners, and even our elders. We do provide support through our care prevention maintenance programs, as well as seniors' aging in place programs, as well as other resources that we can bring to the table.

As we discussed yesterday and as I have said in the House, we are going to be looking at a northern housing summit, and in the public meeting yesterday I did say, once that is all settled and confirmed, we will be putting out an invitation to committee to come and listen to that, but it's something that we are looking at and will be addressing and providing those services to the communities. I thank the Member for bringing that up, because that is something that we have seen and we are going to be looking at addressing.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4990

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4990

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister for all his answers to this point, and I think it's great to see that the corporation is looking at this and trying to help our elders in the smaller communities, so that's a very positive step. During the presentation, and now on the Floor, the Minister spoke about a northern housing summit. I found this to be very exciting when we were at the presentation and here on the Floor. Can the Minister please tell the House where the summit will be held, when will it be happening, and who will be invited to the summit besides the Standing Committee on Social Development? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

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Page 4990

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Once the dates are finalized; we're just going through a draft agenda right now. All of our staff and our stakeholders are pretty excited about the summit. It's going to be the first one that has ever been held in the Northwest Territories. We have been providing that information to Indigenous governments. We also have met with the Seniors' Society and the NWT Disabilities Council to have them come and do a presentation. Right now, we are looking at having the summit up in Inuvik, mainly because, as I have said in this House, we have had a very strong partnership with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

They have worked on partnering with us in our capital planning and the work that we've done, and we want to showcase the work that they've done for the NWT Housing Corporation. So we are looking at Inuvik. Once the dates are finalized, I will share them with committee. Once again, we did do an open invitation to committee, and we can actually open it up to all Members, but we are working with the stakeholders that have an interest in our housing needs across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 596-18(3): Senior Planning Study

Oral Questions

Page 4990

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4990

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I talk about the possibility of a winter road to Lutselk'e on Great Slave Lake. I would like to ask the Minister if the Minister would do an internal look at the possibility of constructing a winter road on the Great Slave Lake to Lutselk'e. Thank you.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4990

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure .

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4990

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answer would be no. The reason it would be no is because the Member has already asked a couple times about us having a look at putting an ice crossing in to Lutselk'e, and there are significant challenges around that, around safety and construction and maintenance. We believe that this will outweigh the possible benefits of putting something like that in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4990

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I believe that they have constructed a winter road in to Lutselk'e in the past. It could be an opportunity to look at it again. I would like to ask the Minister if he would at least take a look at it and maybe have some of the officials who do their ice profiling and whatnot to look at something and have a discussion with the opportunities with such a road with the community.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4990

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

I can certainly get my staff to give me a quick update on it. From what I know about ice roads being in this portfolio now for the last three-and-a-half years is: we have significant challenges, even with the Great Bear Lake Deline crossing. It has given us a lot of grief over the last couple of years. Even on that one, with the very short ice crossing that is there, it has very similar challenges that we have on Great Slave Lake, with pressure ridges and stuff, as the Member has clearly stated in his Member's statement. We are planning to look at rerouting the overland route for that in the future.

With that said, you know, these challenges that we have on Great Slave Lake are probably even bigger than what we are having on Great Bear Lake. We have an ice platform that is especially large and easily shifts. There are great concerns about safety around that, and safety is our number one priority.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4990

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

The reason I am asking the Minister if he will discuss with the local people is that what I am told by the people in Lutselk'e is there is a short window, a small window, maybe, or a short time frame in which the road would be okay. It could be as short as two weeks, like I indicated, and it could be as long as a month before the pressure ridges start to come.

Again, I am asking the Minister: he said he could get the staff to look at it again. I am asking if there is at all a possibility that maybe it would not be an ice road that would be constructed for regular traffic, but maybe something that would be done to haul in, say, the health centre, should that be ready to receive materials for the community. I would like to ask the Minister if he would look at the possibility of looking at this from a special type of situation where there would be a short time frame versus a regular, full ice road that is usually constructed to the other communities that need ice roads?

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4991

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

As I said, I can have a quick conversation with our staff. Everything that I have talked about previously on this particular type of project, and particularly on Great Slave Lake, as I said, the safety standards and pressure ridges and unpredictable situations that could happen on Great Slave Lake, the department clearly told me that they do not think that it would meet our current safety standards. I can have that conversation internally with our department and get back to the Member on what the possibility would be. At this point, it clearly shows that this would not be possible.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4991

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4991

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can understand the liability insurance and everything that the government has to do, realize, or have in place when they are building ice roads. Would the Minister consider supporting maybe a local group out of Lutselk'e to be able to construct an ice road that could be used for the community as a test to see how long the ice road would last? I mean, it changes season to season. I realize that. Would the Minister be willing to, again, maybe have his department discuss a possibility of supporting a group in Lutselk'e to construct an ice road from here to Lutselk'e? Thank you.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4991

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

As I said, there are some serious concerns of safety around this, as I said. As a Minister, I am not quite prepared to look at it. If we were to even discuss having someone in Lutselk'e have a look at this thing, it is going to cost some money. That would have to go through the budgetary process. That is a discussion that I can have with the Member going forward. That is going to be up to the 19 th Legislative Assembly, if we were to look at budgeting for something like that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 597-18(3): Winter Road to Lutselk'e

Oral Questions

Page 4991

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

Oral Questions

Page 4991

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . I spoke in my statement earlier today about the ongoing administrative review of the income security programs. My understanding is that the review is to be completed and changes implemented for the end of the Assembly. Can the Minister give us an update on the work? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

Oral Questions

Page 4991

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

Oral Questions

Page 4991

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we have done so far with the Income Support Program: I know that our department regularly reviews the Income Support Programs to make sure that they are updated regularly, but I have taken it a step further. I have actually met with all of the NGOs, as many as possible that I could, recognizing that time was not on my side in this endeavour. I met with the NGOs. Every NGO was invited to bring one person who is accessing income support at this time so that we can have a voice from them. "Nothing about us without us" is my philosophy.

Since we compiled that information, we have provided a "what we heard" report. We have sent out a request to MLAs and to Indigenous governments to ask them for feedback on our Income Support Program. As soon as we get that feedback and as soon as this session is finished, it is one of my major priorities to get tackling. Again, we don't have a lot of time left in this Assembly. We will be looking at short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. I am going to start knocking off those short-term goals. People know me for doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

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Page 4991

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. It is all good news. I do sincerely appreciate her work on this area. I have repeatedly mentioned the need to index our Income Security Programs. Of course, those include income assistance, student financial assistance, seniors, and benefits to people with disabilities. We need to index those to the cost of living. Is the indexing of income security payments an element of the current review, and will recommendations be made to introduce indexing?

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

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Page 4991

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

At the current time, right now, we don't do the indexing, but we have made a number of enhancements to the programs just in the last few years. We have increased our senior citizen supplementary benefit. We have increased the NWT child benefit. We have improved our senior home heating subsidy. We have extended our rental allowances for single applicants. Then, of course, in our proposed mains for 2019-2020, we proposed an increase for disabled and age allowance for people. I am looking forward to the results of all of the MLAs and Indigenous governments. If that is a concern, then I am looking forward to seeing it in the surveys from the MLAs.

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

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Page 4991

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for that. I will certainly be recommending indexing, and the Minister knows this. I have also mentioned problems where income assistance recipients find themselves where they don't actually have any money to live on because of windfalls or wages from previous benefit periods, recalculations, and so on. Is there any consideration being given to repayment plans, much like rental arrears plans, to reduce the hardship of drastic benefit reductions?

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

Oral Questions

Page 4992

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

I am actually quite disappointed to actually hear that question, because it is a major concern for me. People cannot afford to just get penalized if they are on income support. They are some of our most marginalized populations. We need to work with them. It is not okay to just cut them off. I inquired with the department, and my understanding is that we try to work with them so that there is not a financial hardship. The minimum repayment is $25 a month. One of the critiques that I did hear from the NGOs, and I am thinking that is part of our problem, is that we are not good at communicating, and I think that goes across a lot of departments. Right now, we are looking at our communication.

I want people in the public to know that, if you have to pay income support back, come to us. We want to support you and make a repayment plan. We will try to make it within your financial means. The lowest amount will be $25 a month. I am hoping that that is affordable for people. We should not be penalizing the most marginalized in our population.

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

Oral Questions

Page 4992

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

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Page 4992

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Minister for that. I have discussed with her constituent issues and raised this issue with her. We have clear cases that we have discussed together. I have constituents who get cut off, and they have nothing to live with. We have to fix this, and I hear the commitment from the Minister to work on this. I expect all of my colleagues to give her suggestions on how to improve the system, because we shouldn't be cutting people off.

I have supported the Minister in this administrative review, and I hope it includes indexing, but we need a more systematic approach, Mr. Speaker, one that is around a basic income guarantee. I am wondering: can the Minister tell us whether she has considered a basic income guarantee pilot project here in the Northwest Territories, and when is she prepared to see that happen? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

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Page 4992

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

I think yesterday I talked a little bit about things I've been called, and not being called easy and not being called lazy. One thing I have been called is, and I don't even know where it comes from, but I have been called a little bit of a socialist, and within that system, the guaranteed basic income would fit very well.

I do adhere to it. I had asked the department about it, and my understanding from the department was that there wasn't a lot of research on it that showed it work. I am not accepting that answer, Mr. Speaker, so I have asked the department to go back and look at that research again and show it to me.

My worry is that I believe in it. I think it may be the right way to go, but I am also concerned about the time that we have left in this Assembly. I am doing the research now. If my findings prove that it is viable, then it will be in my recommendations for the next Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 598-18(3): Income Security Review

Oral Questions

Page 4992

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4992

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. International Women's Day will soon be upon us, and traditionally, it has been the time that the Status of Women Council announces the annual winners of the Wise Women Awards. There weren't any awards last year, and I haven't seen a call for nominations this year. I am wondering if the Minister could tell us what's up with the Wise Women Awards. Thank you.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4992

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4992

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Wise Women Awards is a very important event. It recognizes the contributions that women have made in society. We did talk about it. I met with Violet Camsell-Blondin, actually, on January 15 th to talk about many things. That was one of them.

We had talked about different things. They were talking about maybe changing the time to coincide with October, with Women's History Month. That is probably why you haven't seen anything in the paper now. My women's special advisor has been working with them to look at alternative fundings. We have applied to a few of the mines. We have got a commitment from one of the mines. One of the other mines has asked for more clarification on it, so we are in the process of doing that for them. They can also access some of the money through the Women's Initiatives Grant.

The other thing that I should say that they are talking about is not doing it in the capital, because it limits us. It is more expensive, and it limits the amount of people. One thing that I have learned in the last three years is how community-focused people are. You have an event. It doesn't matter what it is; they come out in hordes. They come. There are big meals. There are gatherings. When we only do it in Yellowknife, those people are limited. Status of Women was looking at actually changing format a bit and having those women recognized in their home communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

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Page 4993

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

I have some follow-up questions. I just want to be clear that it is up to the Status of Women Council to have independent fundraising for these awards. Do I understand that correctly?

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

I take it I wasn't clear enough. The Status of Women Council will be able to access funds through the Women's Initiatives Grant, which is from the GNWT, Government of the Northwest Territories. The special advisor who works with my position, with me, is working with the Status of Women to assist them to write proposals to the mines to access additional funding for that.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Could the Minister tell us, of the awards that she is familiar with through her ministries in the last three years, which other awards the organizations are fundraising for?

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

I am a little bit confused about the question, but I will try my best to answer. Many organizations apply for the Women's Initiatives Grant. We only have $50,000. We try to allocate them, usually, around $5,000 each, sometimes more, depending on the number of proposals and the needed requests. Many of those organizations, Mr. Speaker, access additional funding for their projects. It is not unusual for many people to look for lots of opportunities for funding, and I encourage that. People need to look for funding as many ways as they can.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This government gives out a tremendous number of awards. We recognize people who speak Indigenous languages. We recognize volunteers. We recognize firefighters. We recognize people with the Premier 's Awards. As far as I know, no one is responsible for fundraising money for those awards. They are part of the department's budget. I am wondering why the Status of Women is being treated differently in being told that they need to write proposals to corporate funders in order to host the Wise Women Awards. Thank you.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

When I first assumed this position a few years ago, actually, I had made the wrong assumption, I guess, that the Status of Women actually worked in closer partnership with myself as the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. It was very clear from standing committee that they wanted us to have a hands-off approach and let the Status of Women be their own entity.

I heard that loud and clear, so I have been walking on very thin ice with them in trying to be supportive versus directive. They are not a government department. They are an independent agency, so, therefore, there would be differences. There are other agencies that I am sure provide other events that aren't 100 percent sponsored by the GNWT, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 599-18(3): Wise Women Awards

Oral Questions

Page 4993

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu .

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement, can the Minister of Health and Social Services confirm if the Regional Wellness Councils plan to engage joint meetings with community-based chief-and-council groups? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

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Page 4993

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said a week or two ago, I had some responses around the Regional Wellness Councils. They do have the ability to set their agendas, and if they wanted to have some meetings with other groups, they would certainly be able to do that. It is my understanding right now that that has not been done. None of the Regional Wellness Councils have established or set up meetings with other bodies to share information or to talk. It's not a horrible idea. I will certainly raise it with the territorial authority and the board chair as a potential opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4993

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thanks to the Minister for that response. Awareness of services is a really essential and concerning discussion when we go back to our communities. My next question, Mr. Speaker: can the Minister confirm if there is a human resource career and training strategy in six of the regional centres?

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

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Page 4993

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I am not 100 percent sure what the Member is asking. I do know that the territorial authority does have some human resource functions to help them do some strategic planning to ensure that they are supporting their staff. They work closely with the human resource department of Finance to do recruitment and retention, to do staffing. I am not sure exactly what the Member is asking. Within the strategic plan, there is talk about the recruitment or retention of hard-to-recruit allied health professionals, nurses, social workers, and others, but as far as an individual plan by community or region, I am not 100 percent sure if that is what the Member is asking.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

I will ask the question again. There is a regional training plan here, or a sessional plan, for each of the six RWCs that are looking at employment opportunities, training opportunities on their respective area for that particular Regional Wellness Council.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The Regional Wellness Council across the Northwest Territories are there to provide us insight, wisdom, and make recommendations on ways to improve the delivery of programs and services in their regions and the communities.

Recruiting and retaining professionals is certainly an issue that affects everybody in the Health and Social Services system. I have reached out to Indigenous governments and, for the Regional Wellness Councils that I have met with, we have talked about trying to find ways to encourage local people to pursue health and social services careers.

The Regional Wellness Council members themselves, we do provide training to them on their roles and responsibilities on the Regional Wellness Council. We don't work to help them get employed, and I am not sure if that is what the Member is saying. I am not 100 percent sure I understand exactly what the Member is asking me, but as far as getting advice and direction on how to encourage young people to pursue those careers, we are certainty open to them for advice and their wisdom.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4994

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Sahtu .

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then I will work with the Minister on training plan opportunities within the department for the Sahtu area, for example. My last question here: can the Minister confirm if there is a plan in place for traditional medicine awareness campaigns in the Sahtu, for example, or in any of the other regions, how traditional medicine and being researched and engaged into some of the systems that they would apply for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

This is an area that traditionally over the years hasn't been followed up on or addressed. I made a commitment within this government to work with Indigenous leaders and interested stakeholders to bring traditional healing and wellness into our health and social services system. We work closely with the Indigenous governments here. We put together a working group who actually helped us develop some terms of reference for the creation and establishment of a traditional wellness or a traditional healing advisory group, and we have put that working group in place.

Their role is to provide us advice and recommendations on how to incorporate more traditional healing wellness medicines into our system of health and social services here. They are in early days. We haven't received information or a report back from them, but we look forward to what they are going to be able to produce, and the advice and guidance they can provide us around traditional healing, wellness, medicines, those types of things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils

Oral Questions

Page 4994

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . I spoke a little earlier today in my statement about the growing tourism sector and how well it is doing in terms of diversifying our economy. I would like to just start by asking the Minister: what is the department doing, or has the department reviewed the growing tourism sector with reference to how fast the sector is growing? How are they measuring it? What metrics are they using? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4994

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on, you know, a lot of comments that we have had from Members when we were in committee around data collection and stuff, the Department of ITI has definitely stepped up our progress around trying to get more data and build them into our business plans and stuff going forward, so there is more information for everybody.

For the tourism industry, we track how many people are coming to the Northwest Territories. You have clearly heard me saying in the House how much money has been spent and how much is spent by individuals from different demographic markets in the Northwest Territories. This is the type of information that is going to help feed into our 2025 tourism plan going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4994

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

I appreciate the Minister sharing some of that information. Maybe I will take that a little bit further and just ask: the Minister referred to good information and good data being collected. Can he share a little bit more with, you know, where would a budding entrepreneur find this information? Where and how is it being collected? If I was a new start-up business and I wanted to find this data so I could feed it into my business plan, how and where do I find this kind of information?

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

You know, depending on what industry or part of tourism that this operator would want to go into, be it fishing or big game hunting or aurora viewing, we have all this type of data within the department from the number of people who come to the Northwest Territories from different regions, as I have said, different demographics, the money that they spend, the number of viewing days that are possible with aurora viewing, these sorts of things. We continue to grow that database.

I suspect that, if an entrepreneur wanted to get that information, which would be good advice -- and I think the Member is asking the right question, if you are going to go into this industry, you need to do your homework -- they can certainly just come directly to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to get that information.

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Minister for providing that reply. Mr. Speaker, we know that there is a major increase of new operators, especially within the Yellowknife region. With that influx of new operators comes some questions and concerns about safety, and in particular, public safety, so I would like to ask the Minister: with regards to road safety, cold climate, conditions on ice, and even going out on trails, what kind of qualifications and training and licensing does a new operator require?

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

As I have said in the House before, we are one of the only jurisdictions, and few jurisdictions in Canada, that need to have a tourism operator licence in the Northwest Territories. We have had some concerns, I guess, is the way to put it around how some of these operators have been operating, particularly around the Ingraham Trail, so we have attached a safety plan that has to be presented to the department to be able to access your licence. So anyone who is operating, and particularly in the North Slave region, where the Member's riding represents, they have to have these two permits in place to be able to operate in the Northwest Territories in a safe manner.

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the reply from the Minister. The Minister indicated that he is aware that some of these concerns have been raised. He indicates that there is training required in order to get these permits. Let's say we have the permits now. What is the department doing to monitor the tourism operators to make sure that they are actually, in fact, doing what they should in terms of protecting public's interest? Does the department go and do random checks, or is there some kind of form of inspection that they undertake? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

As I have said in the House before, we have implemented where the licence owner has to have identification on their vehicle, a licence plate of sorts, to say that they are a certified operator in the Northwest Territories. We have upped our patrol, particularly around the Ingraham Trail. The safety issue there is something that we have been dealing with ever since I have been the Minister. There are different things. We are doing our pilot project this year around getting to operators into some of our parks during the winter season to get them off the road.

The Member clearly heard concerns from his constituents out on the Ingraham Trail about people just stopping their buses along the Ingraham Trail, turning their lights off for aurora viewing. This is a big concern of ours, along with a multitude of extra traffic that we have there with resupply of the mines. So this is a great concern of all of ours, and we are working on these things to try to improve customer safety, but also to provide a better experience for the visitors to the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 601-18(3): Supporting the Tourism Sector

Oral Questions

Page 4995

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput .

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the lack of funding for Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories, and I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Mr. Speaker, my question is: does the Minister believe that there is an imbalance in the way Indigenous languages are funded compared to French language in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

Page 4995

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

Page 4995

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to be careful how I state this one, because I don't want to start a war between French people and Indigenous people.

There is a difference. There is a difference based on constitutional standing of French in Canada and the rights right across all of the territories and provinces within that. It is one of the two official languages for Canada, so that is recognized. All of the work that we are doing with Indigenous languages is exactly around revitalization because we are losing them. It's a concern of mine. It should be a concern for every Indigenous person in the Northwest Territories and across Canada, and I know it is.

It's also my understanding that it's a concern for the federal government, and they are trying to work closely to try to support Indigenous communities, so I am hopeful. I know we are coming up to a new election, but I am really hopeful that the next government will also carry that torch and will promote more to support not only Indigenous people but Indigenous language, because language is culture.

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

February 22nd

Page 4996

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

I am not trying to play favourites, or anything like that, but knowing that the new bill that is coming out from the federal government does not really give the federal government obligations to work with Indigenous peoples on a closer basis. Mr. Speaker, last year, the federal government under the current agreement for French-language service and Indigenous languages will be 2019-2020. Mr. Speaker, my question is: has the department started to plan for what it wants to achieve for future generations?

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

February 22nd

Page 4996

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Yes, we are actually planning at this point, now. Right now, we are looking at the money that we got, its impact, how it's used, and the outcomes, and we are using that information as well as working with our community partners to look at the new negotiations that will be coming. We are conscious that there will be an election, though, so we are hopeful that whatever government comes in will support this initiative, as well. We are working closely. We are looking at outcomes, and we are looking for as much support as we can get.

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

February 22nd

Page 4996

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

I appreciate the outlook from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of Indigenous languages in the territory. I know that sometimes it can be difficult working with many Indigenous governments. We all need to take ownership when it comes to language and culture. Mr. Speaker, another question about negotiations for federal languages funding: how does the department work with Indigenous language stakeholders when it's working with Canada to develop agreements like this?

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

February 22nd

Page 4996

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

This was before my time. It's a great initiative, and I am going to support it right through, is we have regional Indigenous language coordinators in every region, and their responsibility is to work closely with Indigenous governments and to lead and manage their regional Indigenous plans, their language plans. As well, we have the Aboriginal language revitalization boards that we work closely with. Those groups are used to consult with, to give us advice, and to provide their opinions as we go into any kind of negotiations or any kind of programming around Indigenous languages or Indigenous services.

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Question 602-18(3): Indigenous Languages Funding

Oral Questions

February 22nd

Page 4996

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 603-18(3): Resident Nurse in Tsiigehtchic

Oral Questions

February 22nd

Page 4996

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have follow-up questions from my statement yeste