Debates of Oct. 26th, 2016

This is page numbers 1155 - 1186 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 communities .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

New Transportation Corridors

Federal Infrastructure Programs

On-Going Implementation Of The Economic Opportunities Strategy

Housing Engagement Survey

Market Rental Housing In Fort Providence

Impacts Of Junior Kindergarten On Existing Early Childhood Education Programs

Shared Arctic Leadership Model

Health System Transformation And Physician Recruitment

Recreation, Sport And Physical Literacy Policies

Impacts Of International Trade Agreements On The NWT

Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Norman Wells Regional Long-Term Care Facility

Environmental Liabilities And Remediation Plan For Con Mine And Surrounding Area

Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs' Capacity To Support Essential Services For Communities

Northern Farm Training Institute

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Sport And Recreation Funding

Physician Recruitment

Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Question 396-18(2) Market Housing In Small Communities

Remediation And Environmental Liabilities At Con Mine Site Communities

Norman Wells Long-Term Care Facility

Question 399-18(2) Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs Capacity

Single Persons’ Housing Strategy

Slave Geological Province Transportation Corridor

Bill 8:

An Act To Amend The Children’s Law Act

Tabled Document 174-18(2): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 37-18(2), Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project

Tabled Document 175-18(2): Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowance Fund Financial Statements For The Year Ended March 31, 2016

Tabled Document 176-18(2): NWT Human Rights Commission Budget For 2016-2017

Tabled Document 177-18(2): Summaries Of Members' Absences For The Period May 31, 2016 - October 12, 2016

Junior Kindergarten

Motion To Amend Motion 26-18(2)

Recorded Vote

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 1:29 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Good afternoon, Members. Ministers' statements. Minister of Transportation .

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Minister's Statement 91-19(2): New Transportation Corridors

Ministers’ Statements

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to capture opportunities for investment in transportation infrastructure by working to secure funding to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway, make an all-weather road from Highway No. 3 to Whati, and improve access into the Slave Geological Province. Today I would like to provide an update on the progress made by the department on these projects where work continues to steadily advance.

The Department of Transportation believes we have a significant opportunity to move these projects ahead by securing federal funding either through Phase 2 of Canada’s long-term infrastructure plan or through P3 partnerships. The recent Canada Transportation Act Review Panel Report also recommends investing in these key strategic corridors. Infrastructure investments help us connect communities to new social and employment opportunities, reduce the cost of living in the territory, improve our resiliency against the impacts of climate change, and increase access to natural resources.

Each of the three proposed NWT transportation corridors projects will help us capture these opportunities to the benefit of our residents.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation continues to make steady progress in advancing the all-season road to the community of Whati. Our government has been working in close partnership with the Tlicho Government for several years to advance this 97 kilometre road, which will provide year-round access to residents of Whati. This road will also benefit nearby communities by significantly increasing the length of operation of the winter roads to Wekweeti and Gameti and helping to address a key impact of climate change in this region.

Our government is also working with the Government of Nunavut on a proposed route that would extend from Yellowknife through the Slave Geological Province to Gray’s Bay in Nunavut, and have set up a joint working group to collaborate in accelerating this project in both jurisdictions. The road will also support economic development in the region by increasing access to mineral resources and boosting investor confidence.

The Tlicho All-Season Road is currently undergoing an environmental assessment by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, and we are also awaiting a final decision from P3 Canada on our funding application for the project. The GNWT is continuing to work with the federal government to provide any additional information they require for their decision-making process.

Another important project for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, is the next

section of the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells. The $700 million business case for this project was submitted to the federal government under the National Infrastructure Fund of the New Building Canada Plan in 2015.

Mr. Speaker, we have also made significant progress on developing an access road into the Slave Geological Province, with the ultimate goal of linking to all-weather road and port in Nunavut. A route has been identified that will provide the greatest economic benefit to the region and the NWT. We are currently assessing the economic feasibility and P3 potential for building an all-weather road along this route and will continue to update Members on our progress.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway continues to be on time and on budget. The highway has been under construction since 2013 and earlier this year the north and south sides of the project met for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the project. This winter, the contractor will be entering its fourth and final season of construction; the highway is expected to open to traffic in the fall 2017. This is an incredibly exciting time for the communities of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk and for the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Transportation has already started working with the two communities and Aboriginal governments, other GNWT departments and Infrastructure Canada to plan opening celebrations. Events will start in early 2017, with a ceremony to mark the closure of the last winter road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, followed by an official ribbon cutting in November 2017, with a tourism-focused celebration led by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment in June of 2018.

Mr. Speaker, improving the territorial transportation infrastructure will remain one of the priorities of this government as part of our commitment to improve the quality of life and lower the cost of living of our residents, support businesses and employment opportunities, and maximize opportunities to realize our economic potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 91-19(2): New Transportation Corridors

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs .

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Minister's Statement 92-18(2): Federal Infrastructure Programs

Ministers’ Statements

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the Members on how the Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories are making investments in our communities that will bring economic opportunities for residents and businesses and revitalize municipal infrastructure.

On September 6, 2016, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, and the Northwest Territories Deputy Premier , Robert C. McLeod , signed a bilateral agreement for the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and Public Transit Fund. This agreement will see the federal government providing over $50 million through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund to support 29 projects. Combined with territorial and municipal contributions, more than $68 million will be going towards rehabilitation and improvements to community water and wastewater systems across the Northwest Territories.

Approved projects include rehabilitation and replacement of piped infrastructure in Yellowknife, Fort McPherson, Norman Wells, Fort Smith and Inuvik; improvements to water plants in Tulita, Nahanni Butte and Jean Marie River; and upgrades to sewage lagoons in Whati, Fort Resolution, Lutselk’e and Detah. These projects will ensure that our residents have access to clean and reliable drinking water, and have efficient wastewater systems to protect our environment.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to leverage available funding through the New Building Canada Plan to invest in community public infrastructure. The New Building Canada Fund was introduced by Canada in 2014 and will provide $185.8 million for infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories. Thirty-eight million of this will be through the Small Communities Fund to help smaller communities build projects that deliver on local needs.

To date, 16 communities have had projects approved under the Small Communities Fund, including a new arena and recreation centre in Hay River, a fitness centre in Fort Simpson and chip sealing in Norman Wells. With the assistance of Municipal and Community Affairs and Public Works and Services, the communities of Paulatuk, Gameti and Wekweeti are combining their Small Communities funding with Municipal and Community Affairs Community Public Infrastructure funding to construct new water treatment plants.

This project will be managed by the Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the communities and will result in all Northwest Territories communities having water treatment plants that comply with national guidelines.

Also in 2014, the federal government legislated the Gas Tax Fund as a permanent source of infrastructure funding for municipalities. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a commitment in its mandate to pursue new federal funding for the enhancement of community government infrastructure, and implement the asset management framework through the Gas Tax Agreement to ensure that all community infrastructure lifespan is extended and new infrastructure is delivered in a manner that takes into account new building technologies that assist in climate change adaptation and energy efficiencies.

The Government of the Northwest Territories signed a new administrative agreement which expanded the types of eligible projects and incorporated an annual increase to the funding. In addition to water and wastewater, communities are now allowed to use their Gas Tax funding towards other categories such as public transit, solid waste management and sport and cultural infrastructure. Since this new agreement was signed, Northwest Territories communities have invested approximately $30 million in over 100 projects.

Consistent with our mandate commitment, Gas Tax funding is being leveraged to implement the Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy, developed in partnership with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and other community government representatives. Municipal and Community Affairs has purchased the licence for an asset management program, Web Work Azzier, for Northwest Territories communities and the first group will begin training this winter, with the remaining communities phased in over the next three years.

Communities are faced with increased pressures to deliver better programs and services to their residents and invest in infrastructure. This asset management strategy will help them extend the lifespan and service potential of community assets and maximize their limited financial resources. Communities will also have the tools to take into account new building technologies that assist in climate change adaptation and efficiencies.

These federal infrastructure programs have also reduced some of the infrastructure funding deficit identified in the Municipal and Community Affairs Community Government Funding Review. Investing in community infrastructure is vital to the quality of life for our residents and we are proud of the working relationship we have established with the federal government and municipal governments to achieve this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 92-18(2): Federal Infrastructure Programs

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Minister's Statement 93-18(2): On-Going Implementation Of The Economic Opportunities Strategy

Ministers’ Statements

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, as investment and residency in the NWT grow we will be able to expand and diversify our economy outside of its resource sector in areas like tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and the traditional economies. While the GNWT is working to create investor confidence in the Northwest Territories, we are always investing to diversify our economy and to grow our communities. This work is being guided by the NWT Economic Opportunity Strategy which we published two years ago. The strategy emphasizes increased support for entrepreneurs and opens the doors to new partnerships and ideas.

It highlights growth areas in regional economies and investments and supports needed by NWT residents and their businesses.

The responsibility of guiding this work rests with the Economic Opportunity Strategy's government committee that contributed to its development: The NWT Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, CANNOR and the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Industry, Tourism and Industry. The collaborative approach taken to implementing the Northwest Territories Economic Opportunity Strategy confirms that all government departments and strategy partners have a role to play in developing a new economic environment for the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, of the 117 recommendations put forward in the strategy, 92 per cent have been addressed. In fact, many of the actions and investments recommended in the strategy are now part of the government's mandate. Implementing them supports our commitment and highlights the role that this strategy can play in promoting economic growth and diversity in the NWT. Earlier this year, the Economic Opportunities Strategy Governance Committee identified 10 priority areas in which ITI will be advancing initiatives and investments, and I would like to highlight these for Members today.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to expand the agricultural sector by developing and implementing an Agriculture Strategy. Developing this sector is a priority and we look forward to introducing a formal strategy shortly to support and guide its growth based on our public and stakeholder engagements, and the direct input of this Assembly.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has also made a mandate commitment to finalize and implement a Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy. We will be advancing a plan for the Great Slave Lake fishery to promote and revitalize commercial fishing in our territory in response to this commitment.

Mr. Speaker, our work to identify a viable, balanced and made-in-the-Northwest Territories approach to advancing oil and gas development in the NWT results from our mandate commitment to develop a long-term strategy to attract oil and gas development in our territory. Work is ongoing with the input of Members, Aboriginal governments and organizations, industry representatives and the public.

We have committed to developing a Northern Manufacturing Strategy and look forward to collaborating with industry and the Northwest Territories Manufacturers' Association to develop a formal strategy for the manufacture and sale of made-in-the-Northwest Territories products and to enhance the value-added processing of materials sourced in the NWT like diamonds and biomass fuels.

We will complete and implement Economic Development Plans to diversify and capture community and regional economic opportunities in each of the five regions. We will work to advance economic opportunities made possible by the installation of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Line. Finally, we will continue to invest in the success of our Tourism Plan 2020, the NWT Mineral Development Strategy, and the NWT Film Strategy and Action Plan.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Economic Opportunities Strategy was created to guide the government’s programs and actions to develop the economic potential in all regions of the NWT, to strengthen and diversify the NWT economy, and to advance and enhance the quality of life for all NWT residents. The Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to this strategy and its vision which continues to be reflected in our mandate activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 93-18(2): On-Going Implementation Of The Economic Opportunities Strategy

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.

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Minister's Statement 94-18(2): Housing Engagement Survey

Ministers’ Statements

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, housing costs are a major component of the cost of living, which we all know is very high here in the Northwest Territories. Bringing these costs down is a priority. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation will be putting out a housing engagement survey that will help us find out how we can design and deliver programs that better meet people’s housing needs.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation’s current strategic plan, Building for the Future, was created based on feedback received from residents. That feedback let us make changes to several of the Housing Corporation’s programs and activities in order to improve housing conditions in the Northwest Territories.

Although changes were made, people still have difficulty obtaining and retaining housing. As well, the Northwest Territories has a core need of 20 per cent compared to a national average of 13 per cent. This prompted a need to complete a thorough review of all policies and programs based on input from those using and providing the programs to ensure that they are meeting the needs of residents in an efficient, effective and appropriate manner.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is conducting a survey entitled "Engagement on Strategic Action Renewal." This new survey will continue to build on previous positive changes by getting further public input. This engagement survey will help the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation deliver on the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly through a complete review of all policies and programs and a renewal of its strategic actions for the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, there are many families in Yellowknife who struggle to obtain and retain housing. Community visits throughout the North have provided the opportunity to listen to community and Aboriginal governments, as well as community members, regarding housing issues. Members have also raised housing concerns on behalf of their constituents. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs lists food, clothing and shelter as basic critical needs to people’s wellbeing. Housing is a critical component in people’s ability to thrive.

In the Northwest Territories, safe housing is especially important in light of the remoteness of our communities, and our housing programs need to support people as they work towards self-reliance.

A recurring theme throughout the community tours has been people telling me about their housing issues, explaining that their situation is different than others. This reinforces the belief that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing housing issues in the Northwest Territories. Hearing from communities, including community organizations -- Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to finish my Minister's statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Minister's Statement 94-18(2): Housing Engagement Survey

Ministers’ Statements

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hearing from communities including communities organizations and Aboriginal governments through this survey about the solutions to housing as they see in their communities is critical. While housing is complex, be assured that this survey will assist in ensuring that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation plans coincide with the goals and the strengths of each individual community and work towards stable housing for all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, this survey will help the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation ensure its policies and programs are meeting the needs of residents and ensure that we're meeting the goal of providing affordable, adequate and suitable housing for all Northwest Territories residents. This survey will ensure that best practice principles are met and that the people who utilize the services will define their own housing needs and define their own solutions to address these needs.

The survey will be distributed to Members this week for their input into the questions and the format. It will then be distributed via Survey Monkey, paper format, and through personal assistance through local housing organizations and Government Service Officers. Please, take

part in the survey and help the Housing Corporation focus its short-term activities on creative housing solutions and investments - which is especially important in these challenging fiscal times – and on long-term solutions as we work towards creating strong and sustainable housing for residents and communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 94-18(2): Housing Engagement Survey

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Colleagues, I'd like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery. We have with us special guests, Honourable Nick Sibbeston, Senator for Northwest Territories, former Member, Minister and Government Leader , known in those days as Premier and his wife Karen. Welcome to the Assembly. Hope you enjoy the proceedings.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 94-18(2): Housing Engagement Survey

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho .

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Market Rental Housing In Fort Providence

Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Through its Market Housing Program, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is mandated to provide housing units at market rent to "critical staff" in non-market communities. This includes the community of Fort Providence. Here in the House, on March 3rd, we heard that the Housing Corporation currently has 133 market rentals across most non-market communities, and that the corporation plans to increase their stock to 205 units within the next year. But I'm hearing from my constituents, and observing in the communities in my riding, that this program is not working in our small communities.

In Fort Providence, two modular units were intended for delivery. One was delivered in January 2016, but has sat empty for almost a full year. As for the second unit, it was not delivered after local businesses expressed their concerns that importing units into the community would disrupt the local market. For example, two local businesses already provide rental property.

Mr. Speaker, further, as a few of my colleagues have talked about right here in the House, bringing in modular units may help the housing corporation keep costs down, but it doesn't do much at all for local employment. In contrast, Mr. Speaker, consider recent renovations to the seniors' home. For that project, local people were employed for the duration of construction. Mr. Speaker, there are projects that help both the government and our small communities, and there are projects that don't. I'll have questions for the Minister later today. Mahsi.

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Market Rental Housing In Fort Providence

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Impacts Of Junior Kindergarten On Existing Early Childhood Education Programs

Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my riding, two young women recently graduated from Aurora College's Early Childhood development Program, along with another of their colleagues who graduated from Yukon College. These women are a northern success story. Gwich'in women who studied and trained in the Northwest Territories and Yukon; then took their skills home to our small community to care for the next generation through the Aboriginal Head Start program. But Mr. Speaker, the government's plans for junior kindergarten has left these Northerners concerned about both the children in their care and their future job prospects.

The administrators of Aboriginal Head Start in Fort McPherson were told that junior kindergarten would resume at Chief Julius School a full year sooner than they had expected. AHS staff members have also been put on three-month contract, in case junior kindergarten results in Aboriginal Head Start layoffs.

The department's study of junior kindergarten found that many long-term providers of early childhood programs, including Aboriginal Head Start, quote, "felt that their programs had been valued or respected." When small-community residents were surveyed, only 23 per cent said they had been provided with information that helped them understand junior kindergarten. We were told that things are different now, but Mr. Speaker, I'm not so sure.

The department has advised Aboriginal Head Start administrators that they, quote, "may need to refocus on younger children if there aren't enough kids for both programs." But, Mr. Speaker, this is not a simple thing. Such a change would alter staff-to-children ratios and require substantial staff re-training and program redesign. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Impacts Of Junior Kindergarten On Existing Early Childhood Education Programs

Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Mr. Speaker, and in my riding where AHS has helped Aboriginal children learn and grow - to get that essential "head start" - for two decades, we are not assured that immediate entry into the school system through junior kindergarten will serve our children better. The department says participation in junior kindergarten will be optional, but Mr. Speaker, that choice won't be meaningful if other community-based programs are driven into a different operations model - or out of operations altogether.

The government's mandate commits to supporting quality early childhood development in collaboration with existing organizations. Junior kindergarten has a great potential, but collaboration must be meaningful and it must respect that different communities have different needs. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'll have questions later today.

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Impacts Of Junior Kindergarten On Existing Early Childhood Education Programs

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput .

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Shared Arctic Leadership Model

Members’ Statements

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Having the full and meaningful capacity to contribute to important dialogues is very different than simply having a "seat at the table." We must move beyond the "seat at the table" approach to one that truly supports and enhances Inuit capacity to contribute nationally and internationally. In the spring of this year, the Inuit of Canada wrote to Minister Bennett and also submitted a proposal to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada with a request to recognize this inflation when determining the level of funding for circumpolar priorities.

Mr. Speaker, adequate resourcing of Indigenous organizations will ensure the capacity is present to address the substantial issues before us as we encourage you to include this as a fundamental foundational aspect of the report.

A Shared Arctic Leadership Model has meaningful relations between Inuit and the Crown at its core. We must recognize what we have done to date has not generally served Indigenous people well. All people involved from politicians to the technical and working level need to generally care about the improved social health outcomes for Inuit. Mr. Speaker, at this time I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Shared Arctic Leadership Model

Members’ Statements

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues. Mr. Speaker, as I continue, the current methods used to uphold the duty to consult are different than Inuit

interpretation, and this hampers reconciliation and a renewed Crown to Inuit relationship. Real partnership and leadership means that Inuit are a part of the actual decisions being made. It means that our input is valued directly at the decision-making table rather than only through consultation beforehand. This will enhance the quality and outcomes of decisions being made that directly affect the lives and wellbeing of Inuit and Indigenous people across Canada, Mr. Speaker.

A positive example of this would be to build on the structure of the Arctic Council where Inuit are engaged as permanent participants and are at the same table as member states. This would, however, benefit from enhanced core funding directly from the federal government to Indigenous organizations. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations . Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

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Shared Arctic Leadership Model

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Health System Transformation And Physician Recruitment

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to do my Member's Statement on an important part of health transformation; the recruitment of doctors.

Mr. Speaker, at one time I envisioned a health system having a full slate of doctors in all regions and a full complement of specialists in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services continues to improve its infrastructure across the NWT, including the Stanton Territorial Hospital renewal, new health centres in Hay River, Fort Resolution, Fort Providence, to mention a few. These projects are huge investments. It would be even better if we could have these facilities staffed with our own doctors.

Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding that the health system is still utilizing doctors from other jurisdictions. I further understand that it is difficult for the system to hire doctors that are prepared to live in our regional centres. I feel like we would have much better success if we were hiring fulltime doctors that could divide their time between Yellowknife and the regional centres.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many full-time doctors we have in the regions, but I'll use Hay River as an example, since many of my constituents access health services there. If Hay River requires five doctors and they're only able to fill three positions, instead of bringing several doctors from outside the NWT, the doctors for Hay River could be filled in Yellowknife. Therefore, the system could potentially hire four doctors who live in Yellowknife and each of them be half-time doctors in the Hay River Health Centre.

Mr. Speaker, the same concept could apply to Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, and Norman Wells. I believe that the Tli Cho doctors already live in Yellowknife. If they choose, the doctors could live in any one of the communities and work half-time in Yellowknife, that would also work.

Mr. Speaker, offering a doctor that chooses to be in Fort Smith an opportunity to work in their field of expertise in a hospital setting at Stanton from time to time would also be ideal. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line here is that we are a lot further ahead if we draw on a territorial pool of doctors even if the majority of them were to live in Yellowknife. We cannot continue to rely on locum doctors from other jurisdictions. Having exclusively territorial doctors would be a good thing for the local economy, the housing market, and of course healthcare for the clients they serve. Thank you.

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Health System Transformation And Physician Recruitment

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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Recreation, Sport And Physical Literacy Policies

Members’ Statements

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide some feedback on the recreation, sports, physical activity and physical literacy policy that is presently being looked at by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Like everybody in the system, I'm a strong supporter that this policy needs to be developed so that we have a policy that is made for Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage the department to take a more inclusive approach to developing this policy. Policy needs to be drafted by consulting the sport partners, the communities, recreation and sport organizations within the communities and schools. As well, the department has to include GNWT policies such as the poverty action plan and the mandate of the 18th Assembly in this policy.

Mr. Speaker, I understand the importance of linking it to the national policies and framework, but this policy needs to build on the strengths of the sport and recreation sector and the hard work that is being done in the communities and at the regional and territorial associations/organizations. Mr. Speaker, this policy needs to make sure that it includes those outcomes and goals that are linked to our desired outcomes and actions. I firmly believe a good policy will help us prevent the issues we are facing today.

It is my understanding the department is working on a physical activity strategy in isolation of others who work in the field. It has been brought to my attention that various associations in the sport and recreation world are not happy with this development. They are concerned that creating another strategy could and would overlap the current policies and create more confusion on the goals, strategies and rules in the future.

Mr. Speaker, the physical activity strategy needs to be included in one policy that addresses the sport, recreation, physical literacy and physical activity components for the Northwest Territories. It has been strongly recommended that this process include consultation with all partners who have a vested interest this policy. I firmly believe that a new policy that includes all of these areas would be responsive and valuable policy that will guide the work of the department and all organizations for years to come. Later on I'll have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs about this policy and the Western Canada lottery program funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recreation, Sport And Physical Literacy Policies

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Impacts Of International Trade Agreements On The NWT

Members’ Statements

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, my statement today is about trade agreements. For decades now, Mr. Speaker, trade agreements have been front page news. Back in the 1980s the Canada - U.S. Free Trade Agreement came about, and then evolved to include Mexico, and became NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement. Recently, there's passionate talk about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. But Canada is involved in more than three or four agreements, Mr. Speaker. Canada has a history as a trading nation. We are a member of the World Trade Organization. Global Affairs Canada's web page lists trade agreements with more than 15 countries around the world.

Mr. Speaker, whenever there's a Canadian political leader making the case for freer trade, an equal number of loud voices argue against it. It's true that no agreement will be perfect, each will have its pros and each will have its cons. On the plus side is opportunity, economic growth and jobs for Canadians. Since the signing of NAFTA, North America's GDP has doubled and Canada has over four million more jobs. The European Union represents almost $18 trillion in economic activity, and CETA will give Canada preferential access to that market. Bigger markets, more trade, job growth and a higher standard of living, all these are benefits of freer trade.

On the downside, you can't get something without giving something up. To have access to other markets, Canada has to give up access to ours. That can mean job losses in some sectors. Others raise the concern that trade agreements can make it harder for Canada to protect the environment, manage our greenhouse gas emissions, improve our public health care system, or improve agreements with Indigenous Canadians.

The question is not whether there will or won't be trade agreements. As my colleague noted earlier, it's important to be heard nationally and internationally. Mr. Speaker, the question is will we in the NWT raise our voices to protect our own interests? We need to be at the table making our voices heard, ensuring our values are protected in trade negotiations. We need to be actively promoting a made-in-the-North approach in areas that will affect our interests, economy, jobs and way of life. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I'll have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Impacts Of International Trade Agreements On The NWT

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Members’ Statements

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has committed to introduce legislation in the spring of 2017 to effectively legalize marijuana. During the meantime, they are looking at regulations with respect to production, distribution, and retail sale and consumption of marijuana. The market is adapting to pending changes, drawing in national and international investment that is already roughly created a medical marijuana industry valued at $200 million, and one that may grow 20-fold in the next five years. To give you a clear example, Mr.

Speaker, on October 6th a publicly traded marijuana company, Canopy Growth Corp., jumped to a record high, soaring as much as 17 per cent that day, and overall their shares have climbed 84 per cent this year. Clearly, marijuana is now considered by the business community as a commodity of great potential, and not an illicit drug; nothing exemplifies this more than the announcement by Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest pharmacy trade, just yesterday having formally applied to be a distributor of medical marijuana.

Mr. Speaker, clearly the market is ahead of the game on this, and Canada's governments must now follow suit. The benefits to public safety and the revenue potential are simply enormous. A CIBC report earlier this year estimated the size of the national recreational cannabis market at up to $10 billion, and if properly regulated they anticipate $5 billion in new revenue from marijuana taxation. With regard to regulation, there are three main options; mail order from licensed growers, private sector storefronts based on existing dispensaries, and stores run by provincial/territorial liquor store systems.

There are pros and cons to each, and I'm sure they will be discussed in this House further, but when the time comes for implementing a regulatory regime this government, and it will be this government who will have the responsibility of balancing between maximizing taxation revenues and limiting harm to the public.

In Colorado, legislation has existed since 2014. They faced an initial increase in consumption among teens and adults, then long-term stabilization with no increase from the rates prior to legalization. What's troubling, though, is while other than the initial increase, teen usage has not gone up, nor has it gone down. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Members’ Statements

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this government will need to implement a prevention and public awareness strategy aimed at assuring that we keep marijuana out of the hands of children. This government will also need to consider whether or not it implements an age restriction higher than the restriction currently in place for alcohol. The OHM has recommended the minimum age be set at 25, to not inhibit brain development, and though I'm hesitant to entirely concur at this time, I look forward to the debate on how we provide least harm with the greatest opportunity at creating a growth industry for the Northwest Territories.

Minister, like our federal counterparts, I believe it's time we grow up and admit there are better policies at our disposal in regard to cannabis than prohibition. It's time we take this market out of the hands of criminals and maximize the benefits to both business and government coffers. It's time to regulate, not restrict; to prevent, not punish; and to stimulate growth, not hinder it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu .

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Norman Wells Regional Long-Term Care Facility

Members’ Statements

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my statement is in regard to the Sahtu Regional Health Centre, a long-term care facility in Norman Wells, a building very much needed and welcomed by the local community and surrounding communities. Mr. Speaker, we had the opportunity to tour this facility back in March 2016, and I thank the Minister and the Minister's staff at the regional and territorial level for arranging this tour. The facility is approximately 4,000 square footage, with 18 beds.

Mr. Speaker, the new facility will have approximately 45 positions to deliver services. Once the facility is in operation, the Town of Norman Wells and the surrounding communities will expand, and demands such as housing will be anticipated. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time on staffing, recruitment, and start-up. Mahsi.

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Norman Wells Regional Long-Term Care Facility

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Environmental Liabilities And Remediation Plan For Con Mine And Surrounding Area

Members’ Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, monsieur le President. The Con headframe has been in the news lately as part of the closure and reclamation plan of that site. I've expressed concerns about the closure plan for the Con Mine for many years as a private citizen living nearby. This was a productive gold mine that made significant contributions to Yellowknife since 1938, but I’m seriously worried about the environmental legacy it will leave behind. Water treatment alone will likely be required for hundreds of years, as will inspections and maintenance of the tailings pond covers and other structures, and a hazardous waste site will be left at the mine.

This is a complex site that will eventually be surrounded by our expanding city. We need to get it right. GNWT has surface leases covering a large part of the mine site that require the area to be returned in a condition that is satisfactory, without spelling out precisely what that means. Will our government accept the land back if there are perpetual care requirements, including monitoring and maintenance? Who will pay these costs that may not happen for decades or hundreds of years into the future? How will we be judged by future generations if we do not take care of our land and water?

There are also some contaminated lands in the area that are not covered by the current surface leases at the Con Mine. The Negus Mine operated from 1939 to 1952 and was then purchased by the adjacent Con Mine. There is an extensive tailings pond that was associated with the Negus Mine that remains largely uncovered. Half of it is under the closure plan for the Con Mine and the remainder is owned by Imperial Oil Limited. Tailings continue to blow around the area and have elevated levels of arsenic.

During the review of the Con Mine closure plan in 2014 and earlier, I raised the issue of who owns this land, what if any remediation requirements there may be, and when it would be remediated? The GNWT Department of Lands undertook to respond but never did. The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board also wrote the Department of Lands on March 30, 2015, on this same issue, but there is no evidence of any response.

All of this speaks to our lack of policy, standards, regulations, and laws to properly ensure that mine sites are closed and remediated in a satisfactory way, and I have raised this issue many times in this House. Saskatchewan has had an Institutional Control Program since 2005. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Environmental Liabilities And Remediation Plan For Con Mine And Surrounding Area

Members’ Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, Saskatchewan has had an Institutional Control Program since 2005, where properly remediated sites are accepted back by the government with payments into two funds to cover monitoring and maintenance, and then unforeseen events. More than two and half years after devolution, we still do not have a proper closure and reclamation regime in place to prevent public liabilities for future generations. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Environmental Liabilities And Remediation Plan For Con Mine And Surrounding Area

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs' Capacity To Support Essential Services For Communities

Members’ Statements

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report from the Office of the Auditor General delivered a message about the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs that's both loud and clear: the department is not delivering enough support to communities that provide essential services to their residents. MACA can't simply transfer money to communities for drinking water, waste management, fire protection, and emergency preparedness and hope for the best, especially when the health and well-being of residents is at stake.

But that's more or less what's been happening. The most shocking finding for me is in the lack of support for community fire protection. I'm quoting from the report here: "The department did not know which communities had fire departments and if existing fire departments met the requirements of the Safety Act or could be considered responsive, including which had a sufficient number of trained firefighters." The department has known about this problem since its last assessment in 2010-2011, but has only started to respond to this crisis since this audit began.

Mr. Speaker, MACA has a responsibility set out in law and policy to actively monitor the delivery of all of these services. Yet time and again, the Auditor General found that MACA had received or was working with incomplete information from communities. The department requires accountability from communities but doesn't follow up if reports aren't provided, or to verify information given and then used for departmental planning. In some cases, the department knew about the gaps but hasn't been diligent in closing them. The consequences are that residents' safety is threatened in NWT communities, with out-dated emergency preparedness plans and stockpiles of hazardous waste.

Mr. Speaker, the department agreed with the 13 recommendations of the Auditor General, but that's obviously not enough. When the issues raised by the Auditor General are combined with those that result from the glacially slow efforts to revise and create legislation, I see a systemic problem. It shouldn't take years to follow up fire protection issues or having to wait until the next Assembly to revise the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. The department either has too few resources or too large a mandate to meet its legally mandated responsibilities. If ever a department was in need of a zero-based budget review, it's MACA. I'll have questions for the Minister.

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Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs' Capacity To Support Essential Services For Communities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Northern Farm Training Institute

Members’ Statements

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Northern Farm Training Institute, or NFTI as it is known, on successfully completing its first full year of operation, which included planting, growing and selling crops, raising livestock, and training 42 students from across the Northwest Territories.

NFTI began in 2013. Back then, the institute would hold short courses on other people's farms. It quickly became clear that there was an appetite for more in-depth training. Three short years later, NFTI is providing that training in spectacular fashion. NFTI’s campus is now the largest farm in the territory and includes a barn, greenhouse, classroom, student accommodations, as well as goats, sheep, cows, pigs, and more.

In total, NFTI has trained 127 people from 28 communities and outside the territory as well. Training now includes short one- or two-day courses, as well as longer internships. In addition, the Institute is used for research by southern academics and hosts conferences which draws attendees from outside the Territory and the country.

However, Mr. Speaker, the most exciting thing about NFTI is the potential it has to transform our territory. Students don’t just learn how to plant seeds and harvest crops, they learn everything they need to know to start farms in the North and turn those farms into sustainable businesses. We’re not just talking about community gardens; we’re talking about food and economic independence for Northerners. Not only will food security be enhanced in our small communities, where it’s desperately needed, but it will create wealth and that wealth will stay in those communities.

Where conditions are right for larger-scale farming, like in the South Slave, NFTI will no doubt be one of the leaders in growing the industry and helping diversify our Territorial economy.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say congratulations to NFTI. The territory and the South Slave is lucky to have them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Northern Farm Training Institute

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my constituency assistant, Liz Wright. Also, the chair of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, Joe Tetlichi, and the secretary/treasurer of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, Deana Lemke. As you know, the Porcupine Caribou Management Board is the only wildlife management board that has a management plan for caribou, and I'd just like to thank them for all they do for the Porcupine Caribou on behalf of my constituents. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Yellowknife North resident and executive director of the NWT Seniors' Society, Barb Hood. I'd also like to take this opportunity to recognize the Yellowknife Seniors' Society's executive director, Kim Doyle. Thank you, and welcome to the House.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Nick Sibbeston, senator, lawyer, MLA and former Premier of the GNWT Legislative Assembly, and also a former member of the Sacred Heart Residential School, a survivor from Fort Providence. I would like to welcome him to the House. Mahsi.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Nick Sibbeston, who is a constituent of mine, and his wife, Karen. Welcome to the Assembly. As well, I'd like to recognize Kim Doyle, who is a friend of mine. Welcome to the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Those that we may have missed in the gallery, welcome to the Assembly. It's always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, looking at some documents given to various partners regarding the Western Canada Lottery Program Funding Framework. I notice the department is looking at a five-year average and not a three-year average on giving their supplement, or their funding. This doesn't seem fair, as the lotteries during the 2012 to 2014 fiscal years were not as successful as the past three years. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister direct her department to go back and do the recalculations based on the past three years' deal that they had with the Sport and Recreation Council? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs .

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, at this point we won't consider to go back and look at lowering the average of the years, and that is based on knowledge that we have. The Sport and Recreation Council used to control the funding, and their contributions for 2014 to 2017, so that was the three years, were based on ticket sale projections that were not achieved. This resulted in reduced contributions for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. So using the five-year base for the funding is actually more appropriate; people can more count on what they're getting.

So we have promised to every organization that they will actually get the same amount of funding they got last year regardless, and we are projecting that there will be more funding for the organizations based on the tax savings that we will be taking in. So at this point, no. We will look at it after a year or two, but right now we will not do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for her answer. I'm a little disappointed that they won't look at it, because I know the lotteries and they seem to continue to grow. So I'm hoping that at least we can look at it a couple of years down the road anyway. In looking at the proposed allocation of lottery dollars, it seems to be weighted heavily towards the sports sector. This needs to be explained. Can the Minister please explain how the lottery dollars are being invested and the rationale used by the department to make these decisions?

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

As the Members may know, taking in the lottery funding into the governance of the Northwest Territories is a new endeavour that we're doing. It is basically to save the taxation that may come out if we leave it within an independent organization. So that will result in hopefully about $1 million in savings that we might have had to pay for taxation. So like I had said previously, we have promised that the Sport and Rec programming will receive the same amount of funding for this year, and probably more.

Given that many of the organizations that we work with actually provide both sport and rec programming, the department will monitor future allocations and make necessary adjustments in the future.

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I would like to, again, thank the Minister for her answer. The funding framework that I have received from various organizations, I've noticed that 80 per cent of the lotteries over $5.1 million will be allocated towards multi-sport games. In my opinion, this doesn't address needs for more inclusive and substantial sport and recreation physical activity programs. I firmly believe that we need to develop a more inclusive program for women, girls, and older adults.

Will the Minister have her department re-look at this decision of putting the money back into new initiatives that look at these areas of concerns, plus maybe some arts and culture programs that can be offered by these organizations?

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Yes. At this point, yes, we will be. We actually have already called a meeting of the five sports organizations, so we're going to sit down, we're going to talk about the overlap that there may be and gaps within services and to try to help them with their long-term planning and also the planning that we need to do within the MACA, Municipal and Community Affairs, itself. So, yes, I can commit to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I'd like to thank the Minister for her answer. I believe these organizations are going to be very happy to hear that. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke about the consultation process. I firmly believe the consultation process will improve this important area of our lives, and the residents of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister make a commitment to do a thorough consultation process in the developing of a new sport recreation and physical literacy and physical activity policy with the five partners and their members?

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

As stated previously, we've already called for the -- or we will be calling for the five partners to come together and work on issues that we're facing. So, yes, I will commit to having the department work with the sports and recreation organizations on the development of a wide sectorial policy in full consultation with the organizations.

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Question 390-18(2): Sport And Recreation Funding

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marci Cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member statement, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell this House what the status of the recruitment of doctors in regional centers is today? Thank you.

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recognizing that it's somewhat fluid, I can give the Member a bit of an update of where we are today on physicians. In Fort Smith, there's 4.5 positions of which one is filled by a local physician. In Yellowknife, there's 29 family practitioners, 26 are filled by local physicians. In the Tlicho, there are two family practitioner positions. Two of them are filled, but those physicians happen to be located in Yellowknife and split their time between the Tlicho and Yellowknife. The Sahtu, there are two family practitioner positions. They're both vacant at this time.

In the Beaufort Delta, there's nine family practitioner positions established, three and a half of them are filled on a full-time basis by local practitioners. In the Deh Cho, there's three family practitioner positions. None of them are filled by local practitioners at this time. In Hay River, we have five family practitioners positions, two are filled by local practitioners at this time.

In a number of the cases, Mr. Speaker, we have regularly recurring physicians. For instance, in the Deh Cho we have a physician who isn’t permanently residing in the Deh Cho or at Fort Simpson but returns on a regular basis, so it's a repeat locum. We do utilize locums from time to time to address things like shortages, when some of our staff physicians go on holidays, take training development. So there's always a need for some level of locum physicians. Ultimately it's our goal to hire and fill all these positions, preferably in the regions where the positions happen to be located.

But since we've moved to a territorial authority, we have the ability to have our physicians move around to provide backfill. I think the Member's statement was very clear and the direction he outlined in his statement is the exact direction that we're moving towards as we speak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I'd like to thank the Minister for that response and I'd like to ask the Minister if all of the specialist positions at Stanton are filled at this time?

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, to date, or currently, there is 21 established specialty positions located in Stanton, 16 of those are filled by resident physicians. On top of that, we have a number of unfunded physician specialists who come in from time to time. There isn’t enough demand to justify a full-time specialty in some areas. So we have some locums who come up on a regular basis, as well as the 21 that we've established.

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if, aside from the Tlicho doctors, if there are other doctors that are splitting their time between Yellowknife and the regions.

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Not at this time, Mr. Speaker. This is early in the life of the new territorial authority, but this is some work that actually started a number of years ago. I think the Member was actually Minister of Health and Social Services when we started exploring the possibility of territorial physician services. With the advent of a single authority, we have the ability to actually roll that out in a little bit more thorough manner. In the past we had a situation where we had one authority competing with another authority for physicians creating competition within the territory itself.

Now, they're working together, and I can say the Territorial Medical Director has just recently been working with the Medical Director in the Beaufort Delta and together they're participating in a recruitment drive in Vancouver to promote rural physician services and try to gain and garner interest in the Northwest Territories as a place to come and practice. Whether you're in Yellowknife or in one of our more remote locations, Inuvik, Simpson, Norman Wells, examples.

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Maybe the question will be obvious, but I'd like to just get in on the record. Has the Minister seen an improvement in recruitment as a result of a new direction that the department is taking with health transformation?

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, we’ve really only moved to the single authority for the last couple of months. We need a bit more to time to assess, but I can say that the work that the Member started when he was a Minister to bring more of a territorial model together in allowing physicians in one region to have credentials in institutions like Stanton did actually help us to recruit some physicians and hire them in remote locations recognizing that they can also have some privileges in locations like Stanton. Working together as a system and having the doctors across the territorial system has helped.

By moving to a single authority we believe we have more opportunities to continue to enhance that important work that was begun in the last Assembly.

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Question 391-18(2): Physician Recruitment

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about trade agreements and their impact on the Northwest Territories. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . Mr. Speaker, can the Minister describe what steps his department is taking to convey the NWT's interests to the federal government with regard to international trade negotiations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal government is involved in a number of bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements, and with that being said, they involve the Northwest Territories, they communicate with us in the provinces, and we have representatives, ITI has representatives, at the table with the federal government to engage on these processes and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

The response is appreciated and it's good to know that we have representatives at the table. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister describe the economic benefits his department believes can come our way through freer trade, and if he could provide specifics it would be appreciated?

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

These trades we believe will help benefit the Northwest Territories because we are such a small domestic market, and we are reliant on trade to advance growth opportunities in the Northwest Territories in sectors such as fisheries, forestry, manufacturing, the tourism industry and traditional harvesting in another big one. We believe that these free trade agreements will give us access to larger markets.

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Minister for his response. Mr. Speaker, some folks are concerned that trade agreements can limit our ability to protect our local economies by removing protections. How does the Minister believe that would impact our ability to buy northern through programs like the Business Incentive Program?

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

It's my understanding that the threshold in most of these agreements is such a high level that in won't affect a business' policy or the manufacturer's policies.

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

I appreciate the Minister's reply, but I'm not sure on some of the agreements that's the certain answer; however, I can work with him afterwards with regards to clarity on that matter.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, there are also concerns that trade agreements can constrain us from environmental protections. They say if a company from a TPP country claims our environmental regulations compromise its profits that company can sue our government. We know in the North at Selwyn Mine, for example, has Asian interests and that could potentially fall under this scenario. I'm interested, Mr. Speaker: how would the Minister respond to such a scenario? Thank you.

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

The previous Minister wrote a letter to the federal Minister requesting that Global Affairs Canada hold consultations in the Northwest Territories and we believe that federal Ministers are very willing to come here and do that. They haven't set a time when they want to do that. I believe when the Global Affairs Canada comes here to hold consultation with us that would be a good time to engage in a question in this type of scenario.

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Question 392-18(2): Impacts Of International Trade Agreements

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Health . Does the Minister support a marijuana regulation regime for the Northwest Territories that both allows us to capture more taxation revenues and keep our kids safe from a substance that is very much out of control under the current prohibition regime? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, within the Government of the Northwest Territories the Department of Justice is the lead department on the NWT Working Group, which includes the Department of Health and Social Services, Finance and Transportation. There are a number of departments that are involved in figuring out the GNWT's response to legalization of marijuana. The federal, provincial and territorial governments have actually formed an interdepartmental working group and the GNWT has two members, one from the Department of Justice and one from the Department of Health, on that intergovernmental working group.

Mr. Speaker, we are paying close attention to what the federal government is doing; we're getting briefings from them at every opportunity when they offer to present them. From the Department of Health and Social Services’ perspective, we understand that there's a desire to legalize marijuana here in this country.

Moving forward, we're just trying to make sure that the federal government is aware and is working to ensure that residents in Canada, including the Northwest Territories, remain safe; that marijuana stays out of the hands of children; that appropriate resources will be available to educate people on the harms of smoking marijuana; and that individuals who have been authorized by their health practitioners to utilize marijuana still maintain safe access.

Mr. Speaker, when the federal government did their initial call, I sent a letter to Minister Philpott indicating our willingness to work with them obviously but encouraging them to seriously support the provinces and territories, preferably with financial resources, to get out in front and do some public awareness on the harms of smoking marijuana. Smoking a carbon-based product whether it's marijuana or cigarettes isn't good for you; we need to make sure that the public are aware.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

I appreciate the Minister informing this House or keeping this House up-to-date on our federal engagement of this issue; however, my questions are more precisely about what this government's response will be to this new regime. It's not a question of should we support, it's a question of how do we manage it once the law changes. So I'm wondering what the Minister has launched or what this working group the Minister's department is a part of has launched in terms of looking at research or modelling studies here in the Northwest Territories for how this is going to work after April 2017.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

As I indicated, there is an interdepartmental working group doing this analysis. We are paying close attention to what some of the other jurisdictions are doing. Some of them are already moving forward with some regulations and I've had an opportunity to talk to some of the other Ministers of Health who have the same issues, and they've indicated that although they're moving forward on regulations they understand that that's cursory or initial and we won't really truly have an idea of what those regulations will be or should be until the federal government comes forward with their legislation.

Coming forward and passing the legislation to legalize marijuana is one thing. It will happen on a certain date; it's been suggested April. It doesn't mean it goes live in April. There will be plenty of opportunity to actually work with the provinces and territories and come up with some regulations. In the Northwest Territories, that's going to take a number of different departments.

Some of the regulation similar to regulating alcohol and distributing alcohol will be done by the Department of Finance, and there will certainly likely be some provisions that may need to be adjusted in legislation which will involve all the other departments. So we are working closely together, watching what's happening in other jurisdictions, collecting data, so that we're ready to move once we have a better sense of what the federal legislation looks like.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you to the Minister for that very thorough response. I wonder, though, with all of our legislative priorities and privacy this government in a very large mandate document, do we have the capacity to accommodate a significant shift like this? The Minister just spoke of involving three departments, and if not more, in making all these changes, so is this working group analysing the kind of capacity it's going to take for our government to get up to speed? I would hate for Northerners to be in a legislative lurch while this change takes place and our government to be playing catch-up.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I think this government has demonstrated an ability to get work done on a fairly regular basis, especially when issues that we have not necessarily been the lead on bringing to reality have come forward, things like medical assistance in dying, a federal initiative that resulted in a significant amount of work being done by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Government of the Northwest Territories. When this legislation comes down, we will do our due diligence, we will collect the data, and we will make sure that NWT residents aren't adversely affected by those changes and that they have access to legal product in this country in a safe and responsible way.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you again to the Minister for that. I look forward to working with this government on that issue. Finally, a more technical point: does the department or the working group currently have any recommendations on the legal age or the minimum legal age is 25 or 19 or something else, or is it too soon to make that determination? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, those ages were recently thrown out by the federal government's working group that's out doing some analysis right now. I don't personally have -- I haven't seen any scientific data to suggest the appropriate age. I would say that some of the suggestions around that age seem to have some value recognizing brain development and ensuring that youth develop safe and effectively. So at this point we have no opinion one way or the other but we will keep ourselves informed and see where it goes.

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Question 393-18(2): Regulation Of Legalized Marijuana

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a follow-up to my Member's statement; I have a few questions for the Minister of Education . Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my statement there's a lot of concerns how junior kindergarten will affect Aboriginal Head Start in the communities of Fort McPherson and Aklavik within my riding. In Tsiigehtchic there's not as much concern there because we do not have the program there. But I would like to ask the Minister: how can the department assure my constituents that junior kindergarten will not affect Aboriginal Head Start? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

We have had some concerns from the Aboriginal Head Start program, specifically in Fort McPherson. We received letters addressing some of the concerns that were raised at a meeting with the Aboriginal Head Start staff. Our Director of Early Childhood Programs and the program coordinator went in, we met with the school. The junior kindergarten being offered in McPherson was an option and the school decided to opt in this year. We didn't ask them to, but it was an option for them, they decided to do that.

We've informed Aboriginal Head Start staff throughout the whole Northwest Territories that -- we had a meeting with them on August 24th and with the Public Health Agency of Canada as well and they informed all the staff that program dollars wouldn't be affected with the implementation of junior kindergarten program.

With our early childhood program operating subsidy increases that we announced earlier this year, say, if, let's say Aboriginal Head Start students or programs take in infants then they'll get more money as well that will offset the four-year-olds in that program, so there shouldn't be an impact on the programs operating together. Our junior kindergarten program in Fort McPherson is run a half-day as well as the Aboriginal Head Start Program in Fort McPherson I believe is also running half-days, so it offers the families full programming for a full-day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, since junior kindergarten has been discussed, you know, one of the major concerns I've always had is we're taking on an extra grade, yet without any additional funding. How does the department expect to manage this as we move forward? As you know, the cost of doing business always rises in the territory, and with added teachers and assistants, how will the department manage this as we move forward?

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

We have had some training courses for people in the junior kindergarten program; we're also doing web seminars to update our staff in that area. In the Member's riding we currently hold junior kindergarten in all three communities and we also have 28 families in Aklavik, McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic that currently have their children enrolled in a program in one of the three communities. So in terms of the training, we're continually doing the training for the staff to address those issues.

As I mentioned, on October 4th we had some of our staff, regional staff, go in and speak with the principal, the teachers, about some of the issues around training, as well as the support for the program itself in the community.

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I realize a lot of training has been done, but are there any actually added funds to DEAs to follow through with the junior kindergarten?

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Later on we're going to be hearing a motion here in the House, but as we mentioned, one of the recommendations that came out of the report earlier this year is we're doing surveys, we're seeing what's needed in the communities, what resources are needed, and as we continue to hear those updates and talk to all the schools through that survey we will be coming with a plan, implementation plan and any other needed funds. We're going through our capital business plan and in there we did have some funds that were allocated to the communities for capital expenses, and we'll continue to look at those as we move forward.

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has said that the goal of our entire school system is to strive to be as culturally-appropriate as possible. How will junior kindergarten achieve this and how can the department be confident it'll do a better job than the Aboriginal Head Start? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

One of our mandates is to do early childhood programming throughout the NWT in partnership with existing childhood programs. We do support Aboriginal Head Start, we do fund them, I believe the Community of Fort McPherson is going to get around somewhere over $25,000 this year. Part of the department is we do promote Aboriginal culture, traditions and values into our programming, right from JK to grade 12; you can see that directly in our Northern Studies programming, and moving forward in Northern Studies 20 and 30 as well.

So it's very important for us and we continue to support Aboriginal Head Start through funding and continue to support the work that they do. Junior kindergarten will also incorporate some of the cultural values in learning as we move forward throughout the Northwest Territories.

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Question 394-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Impacts On Aboriginal Head Start Programming In Mackenzie Delta

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput .

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about an Arctic Leadership Model, and I have questions for the Minister responsible for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Premier is, will the Premier engage in Arctic Council activities advocating for Indigenous peoples' involvement for the Arctic Leadership Model? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Honourable Premier .

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories actively participates as part of the Canadian delegation of the Arctic Council and their continued advocacy for a strengthened capacity of the permanent participants. As a government, we will continue to work with Canada on areas of common interest, however there is not a separate or formal role for territorial governments in this forum, however we do have officials that participate and we attend as there is an identified role for our presence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

I appreciate that response. My second question is what will define the positive change in the

chapter for the Arctic?

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I have had the opportunity to discuss with Mary Simon on her work on the Shared Arctic Leadership Model. Ms. Simon is still working on her report and recommendations for Minister Bennett, which I believe will be delivered in December of 2016. We see a great deal of potential in the Arctic, but it requires a broad range of support from Canada, including support for communities and Indigenous organizations.

A key priority to further positive change is to continue to enhance our control over our own destiny as Northerners, including transitioning important legislation like the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act from Canada to the Northwest Territories. I should also point out that the IRC benefitted from the resource revenue sharing component of the devolution agreement. It's our understanding that Arctic Council and Arctic Leadership Models are two separate, and potentially unrelated, activities both led by Canada. As the Member knows, Arctic Council is international, the Arctic leadership model is a domestic process led by Mary Simon for Minister Bennett.

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

I appreciate the response from the Premier . Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Premier is what are the GNWT's key priorities to address and strengthen the resilience of our communities?

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Question 395-18(2) Arctic Leadership Model

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The Government of the Northwest Territories' vision for a sustainable Arctic is one of balance. The Government of the Northwest Territories is focused on advancing social, cultural, environmental and economic priorities of the Northwest Territories. It is this balance of priorities and collaborative approach to working with our Aboriginal government partners as well as Canada that will allow the people and communities of the Northwest Territories to become stronger, healthier and, therefore, more prosperous.

The best way to demonstrate Arctic sovereignty is to have healthy sustainable communities in the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories is focused on encouraging prosperity and self-sufficiency of our people and communities. The role of the territorial government in achieving this is authority over land, water and resources and working in partnership with our Aboriginal government partners and Canada to ensure all communities have access to the same high level of programs and services.

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