Debates of Feb. 7th, 2025

This is page numbers 1615 - 1656 of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st 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 know .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer Or Reflection

Northwest Territories Personal Support Worker Bilateral Agreement

Renaming the Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Nominee Program

Home Insurance Rates

Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Substance Abuse Counselling Services in Small Communities

Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Illicit Drug Activity Impacts on Inuvik Housing

Proposed Deton'cho Renewable Energy Project

Cultural Sensitivity and Support for Funeral Costs

Celebration of Life of Marie Lou Pineda Leguerrier

Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

Renaming of the Northwest Territories

Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Home Insurance Costs

Aurora College Management and Oversight

Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Role of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

Improving Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Service Delivery

Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Improving Income Support and Housing Support Programming

Fiscal Sustainability Framework

Tabled Document 278-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, (2024-2025)

Tabled Document 279-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025

Tabled Document 280-20(1): Northwest Territories State of the Conservation Network 2024

Tabled Document 281-20(1): Report of the Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner Dismissing the Complaint by Deneze Nakhek'o (Daniel Richards) about Disclosure of Identifying Information about him by the Honourable Shane Thompson, MLA for Nahendeh

Bill 17: Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendments Act

Bill 18:

An Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 278-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2024-2025

Deferral Motion - Tabled Document 279-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025 - Deferral of Directorate, Department of Finance

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Hon. Caitlin Cleveland , Mr. Edjericon , Mr. Hawkins , Hon. Lucy Kuptana , Hon. Jay Macdonald , Hon. Vince McKay , Mr. McNeely , Ms. Morgan , Mr. Morse , Mr. Nerysoo , Ms. Reid , Mr. Rodgers , Hon. Lesa Semmler , Hon R.J. Simpson , Mr. Testart , Hon. Shane Thompson , Hon. Caroline Wawzonek , Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong , Mrs. Yakeleya

The House met at 10:02 a.m.

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---Prayer or reflection

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Prayer Or Reflection

Prayer Or Reflection

Page 1615

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

I'd like to thank Ms. Elias for the prayer and reflections this morning. Ministers' statements. Minister for Health and Social Services .

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Minister's Statement 89-20(1): Northwest Territories Personal Support Worker Bilateral Agreement

Ministers' Statements

Page 1615

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is committed to enabling seniors to age in place with dignity as close to home as possible. With an aging population and an increase in the complexity of health care needs, the demand for personal support workers is growing.

Mr. Speaker, personal support workers are essential to the Northwest Territories health and social services system, especially in more remote communities. They are professional care providers equipped with the training and expertise needed to work in critical programs like home and community care, long-term care, extended care, and supportive living. Today, I am happy to announce that Health Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have amended their Aging with Dignity Bilateral Agreement to include a focus on recruitment and retention measures for personal support workers in the Northwest Territories.

This amendment will provide an additional $5.3 million over five years, from 2024 to 2029, to strengthen and support the growth of the personal support workers workforce here in the territory. This funding will allow us to support these workers in two critical ways:

By hiring an educator within each health and social services Authority to provide ongoing training and support; and,

By enhancing education programs offered by Aurora College so that we can increase the number of qualified workers and meet labour market demands across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, as the only provider of a standardized and structured personal support worker certificate program in the territory, the Aurora College plays a key role in training personal support workers who can use their expertise to help residents age in place and remain in their home communities while delivering quality care based on best practices.

By enabling more training and support, we are working collaboratively to improve the recruitment and retention of personal support workers and provide the high-quality and culturally-sensitive care that residents of the Northwest Territories need and deserve. These efforts not only strengthen our health care workforce; they safeguard the quality of care for vulnerable people, promoting a more resilient and equitable health care system for Northerners, including Indigenous and underserved populations across the territory.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate of Aurora College's nursing program myself, I see the immense value in teaching and training Northerners to care for their fellow community members.

I would like to thank the health and social services authority and the Aurora College for their ongoing efforts to support personal support workers in the Northwest Territories. This agreement represents a significant investment in the health and wellness of Northerners now and for years to come.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 89-20(1): Northwest Territories Personal Support Worker Bilateral Agreement

Ministers' Statements

Page 1615

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services . Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre .

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Member's Statement 451-20(1): Renaming the Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Page 1615

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm always -- it's always a pleasure to go first, and I'm always ready when you call upon me to give my Member's statement because I've got lots to say.

Mr. Speaker, a few days ago, or I should say a few weeks ago, a former colleague of mine, Michael Miltenberger, wrote in the Northern News Services, and he talked about a very interesting thing. We did chat about, before his special

article went out, guest

article that is, and we chatted about is it time to have a good conversation about naming the Northwest Territories or renaming it a name that should mean something.

Mr. Speaker, a name can mean a lot of things and, of course, it is, as we all know for facts, it's a bunch of letters. Wherever you write your letters, wherever they're from. But a name is also about the meaning of what it represents, and that's really true, the genius of what a name is.

Now, the Northwest Territories has come upon its name based on colonial reasons and, in many cases, some would define it as a placeholder position. But no longer do we represent the Northwest Territories in its truest sense as it was defined. In other words, that land over there, somewhere in the North, on the west side. Now that was true to a time, again from the colonial overseers that governed this land that is, but many places have had the courage to reflect, say to themselves, should we have a name more reflective of who we represent and the people we represent in the sense of what it means to them.

Mr. Speaker, it was many years ago, as was pointed out by my good colleague, our mutual friend, the wonderful and most elegant Jeannie Marie Jewell who broke ranks with the times and said I want my riding named with a name that means something. And, therefore that riding had been renamed from the colonial name to Thebacha as we know it today. I think that was a bold step by certainly a bold leader.

Mr. Speaker, we've had the challenge before, in the '90s, where they said maybe we should talk about the Northwest Territories and give it a more meaningful name. Now, of course, I'll say it was my personal favorite because it almost is my name, which is the starring name that shot through the roof, was Bob. Now, I would never suggest we name the Northwest Territories Bob, and, of course, we got exactly what the person was probably intending, trying to be funny and hence it derailed a very important subject.

There have been many names suggested, such as Denendeh, Nahendeh, Utialuvik -- if I said it right -- but maybe more importantly, Mr. Speaker, as I finish as the time ticks away, is this is a conversation we should open and embrace and welcome some food for thought -- or thought for food from Northerners. Please write in and give us your thoughts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 451-20(1): Renaming the Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Page 1615

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre . Members' statements. Member from Range Lake .

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Member's Statement 452-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program

Members' Statements

Page 1615

Kieron Testart

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, the NWT has been sustained since time immemorial on the traditional economies of First Peoples who harvested the fur, fish, timber, and other natural resources that our land is rich in. But as our economy has grown, so has the needs of our labour market, and immigration has become an important part of our story. This is how the Northwest Territories has built a diverse community that it boasts today, because of this welcoming nature of our people that has encouraged migration from every corner of the world.

From France to the Philippines, Lebanon to India, these people come to partake in fur trading, mining, commerce, contracting, health care, and more. Indeed, the North has always had a need for hardworking skilled labour, unique from the rest of Canada, which is why it was so shocking that the NWT Nomination Program collapsed in recent months.

Last year, the program began to strain under the weight of so many applicants, first closing temporarily last July and now this year shutting down at the 11th hour thanks to a massive cut in available permits from the federal government despite a huge backlog of applicants who were expecting to submit their paperwork that very night. Now I am hearing from business owners in my riding, who are telling me their plans to expand, have had to be put on hold while concern continues to pour in from frontline workers that departments can't find employees who can support our services.

Community leaders and constituents are reaching out almost daily in growing fears as the date of work permit expirations creep closer and closer without any certainty that their paperwork will be processed in time. Collectively, they describe these circumstances as nothing short of chaos.

Mr. Speaker, our government did not build this program up for it to come crashing down overnight. The federal government must recognize that this is not the right way to treat families who want to live here in the NWT. Their human rights and rights as workers must be upheld. I am calling on our Minister to take action, and I know she is passionate about the subject as well, but to take action and ensure that this program will not only be back up and running but will be expanded to meet our growing needs.

Let's stand up for northern businesses and show the Prime Minister this program has been a success and prove to local businesses that our priority is their growth and give hope to new Canadians that they are respected members of our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 452-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program

Members' Statements

Page 1616

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Range Lake . Members' statements. Member from Great Slave .

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Member's Statement 453-20(1): Home Insurance Rates

Members' Statements

Page 1616

Kate Reid

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to echo some of the comments of my colleague from Frame Lake from our last sitting in the fall of 2024 and some from his predecessor from the last Assembly. Extreme jumps in home insurance costs are a serious issue for many constituents, and I'm left wondering what the GNWT can do to help mitigate these rates from rising out of sight.

The Minister of MACA noted last fall that the GNWT is part of a federal working group that's looking at ways to address problems with obtaining insurance coverage due to flooding, at the very least, and that NWT Association of Communities is also part of this group. This might be a good first step, but now folks who already have insurance are receiving renewals that are skyrocketing their costs and impacting family budgets.

Mr. Speaker, when such renewal came to my mailbox a few weeks ago, my family's home insurance went up by 82 percent compared to last year. After careful review, it's entirely due to the fact that my home is located in the Northwest Territories. I did not take out a claim against my insurance when we evacuated in 2023, Mr. Speaker. I'm highly fortunate that my spouse's family lives in Alberta, and we could stay with them for the duration. There's no other reason for this cost except our location.

I'm lucky, Mr. Speaker. My family's costs are relatively low, and we can still afford this jump; however, I'm concerned for homeowners who might not be so lucky and folks in my riding who are tenants, and there are many, whose landlords might be increasing rental rates to partially recoup costs. In recent weeks, a local friend of mine had a conversation that leads me to believe that 50 percent home insurance jumps are the norm right now.

Mr. Speaker, I tried to read the Insurance Act the other night, and that was a mistake. It's very dense. But from what I can glean, we really don't have many regulatory powers surrounding the insurance industry. What I hope we do have is a Cabinet who will advocate on behalf of Northerners in the face of yet another cost of living pressure. Sometimes it feels like we can never catch a break. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of Finance . Thank you.

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Member's Statement 453-20(1): Home Insurance Rates

Members' Statements

Page 1616

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Great Slave . Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho .

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Member's Statement 454-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1616

Sheryl Yakeleya

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [No translation provided]. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Aurora College recently announced that in June that they will be closing 19 community learning centres across the territory, including centres in the Deh Cho riding. Mr. Speaker, these centres offer many programs from basic literacy classes to courses at a grade 12 level. They provide adult learners with the space to complete high school credits, a place where instructors give in-person support, help people develop career plans, and help them make decisions about pursuing post-secondary education.

Community learning centres also put jobs in smaller communities, Mr. Speaker. They support residents who live far away from Aurora College's main campuses. Their location in small communities is in keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action highlighting the need to:

Provide sufficient funding to close identified educational achievement gaps within one generation;

Improve education attainment levels and success rates; and,

Respect and honour treaty relationships.

Mr. Speaker, these closures unfairly target Indigenous communities and will make education less accessible for Indigenous learners. Online learning does not work for everyone. Our people need more learning opportunities at home and in our own communities. According to the college, enrolments are dropping and there is an insufficient demand, but the 2022-2023 annual report shows that there were 489 students registered in their either part-time or full-time studies in small communities.

I understand the government doesn't make decisions for Aurora College, but the GNWT currently provides nearly 80 percent of the college's revenue. Small communities are not where you make cuts to education, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Thank you.

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Member's Statement 454-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1616

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho . Members' statements. Member from Monfwi .

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Member's Statement 455-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1616

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, [No translation provided].

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the upcoming closure of all community learning centres across the territory in June. We have heard that Aurora College is ending in-person adult education programs that learning centres provide to Tlicho communities like Whati.

Mr. Speaker, Aurora College received almost $46 million in grants and contributions from the Government of the Northwest Territories in 2024. We should be doing more for small communities, not less. There was no consultation about these closures. Our people would not have agreed. The community learning centres work closely with schools in the communities and gives adults a place to earn high school credits. At the very least, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment should have consulted with residents to evaluate each learning centre on an individual basis. We have not been told what alternatives will be put in place for the services that were provided.

Mr. Speaker, if Aurora College is unable or unwilling to provide services to non-post secondary adult learners, perhaps the funding should go to the school boards. There's 33 communities, and each one have school boards. They are the experts in elementary and secondary education. They have facilities, and they employ teachers. More partnership should be explored between the education authorities and the learning centres so that there are more opportunities for learners in the Tlicho region and other regions as well. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Masi, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 455-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1616

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Monfwi . Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake .

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Member's Statement 456-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1616

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we certainly didn't plan it out, but it looks like we're having a bit of a theme day today. I, too, am rising to speak about the closure of the community learning centres, and some concerns I have about the relationship between the Minister and the board and the president of Aurora College.

Now, Mr. Speaker, as my fellow colleagues have already articulated, and I don't need to repeat today, we heard the news about what's happening. What really concerns me is that this news dropped and there was no plan associated with it.

The college didn't articulate that, you know, this is a change that's being made, but here's how things are going to be done going forward or the department coming forward and saying, you know, we've spoken with the college, we've worked with the college, this is going to be a change but we do have a plan going forward for how we're going to fill this a gap, for how we're going to ensure the people in the communities are supported in getting the upgrading that they need in order to participate in post-secondary education. So it's really concerning.

I saw in the news the GNWT said they will be examining alternatives, but this is really something, if you're going to drop news like this, you want to see that the government and the board are aligned, that they're talking. As the Member from Monfwi pointed out, the board receives a significant amount of funding from the GNWT. There has to be alignment between the funder and the implementer of programming on what is being done with that money.

Mr. Speaker, we've also seen recently in the news the board speaking about their doubts about the polytechnic transition, about the work that's being done there. And so, you know, there was concern in Inuvik being raised by their town council what's going on with the campus there. There seems to be a lot of increasing disparity between what the Minister is saying the goals of Aurora College are and what Aurora College is doing and what the board is saying, and it concerns me that there is such a lack of alignment between the funder and the organization which implements the programming.

So what is going on here, Mr. Speaker? Aurora College has got to be a significant piece of our workforce development. We've set workforce development as one of our goals in the mandate. We've got to get control of this.

Last but not least, Mr. Speaker, we still do not have a mandate for the college. It's been seven months since the mandate expires. I know that the mandate does say that it continues until the next one is done. So I'll have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 456-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1617

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake . Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta .

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Member's Statement 457-20(1): Substance Abuse Counselling Services in Small Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1617

George Nerysoo

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The smaller communities are struggling with the lack of resources that are available to them in order to better their lifestyles. We have individuals who have expressed interest in abstaining from the use of alcohol and/or drugs, but they have to leave their communities to get counselling services to start the process. Most of the residents do not want to confide in someone that they do not know.

Mr. Speaker, the wealth of resources is within the community where the individual lives mainly because everyone knows each other, and they know where to seek help at a moment's notice. We have the greatest resource people from our communities. They see our struggles and are willing to assist where needed. There are parents, elders, who seem helpless because their children or grandchildren are stuck in a cycle of substance abuse.

Mr. Speaker, I've stated this before, back in the early 1990s, it took a couple from Fort McPherson to look at their present lifestyle and took measures to improve it because it was having a negative impact on the people that they loved. From there, other parents followed their example and took the steps to better their lives. Today I'm proud of their intentions for their immediate families, and now they are concerned citizens who want the best for the community as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, if we can provide funding to the communities who want a healthy community, then we should be targeting those communities. There are resource people who would be happy to serve as counsellors or mentors in trying to help our community members who are striving for a better, healthier lifestyle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 457-20(1): Substance Abuse Counselling Services in Small Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1617

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta . Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu .

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Member's Statement 458-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1617

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Due to previous engagements I will be leaving afterwards but I, too, will be joining the theme day on the learning centre closures. I wouldn't be doing my job, Mr. Speaker, if I didn't voice the concerns that I heard recently from constituents in the Sahtu. We are going to see, and layoff slips have been awarded, to nine positions, and the loss of training opportunities by this government and also the closure of these facilities is going to be a loss to the education foundation of each community.

There's projects in the horizon. How do we readiness our workforce in providing opportunity specific to take, for example, the $15 million capital commitment by the community of Fort Good Hope on building a manufacturing building that would produce homes. And as we know, we have a home crisis, a housing crisis, so here's a solution but we need to train our shortfall in trades.

So all in all, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to engaging with the Cabinet colleagues and Minister of education specifically on a solution to address this and aside from the direction given by the board of directors and the staff of the Aurora College. So I look forward to that deliberation. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will have no questions due to my appointment.

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Member's Statement 458-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closure

Members' Statements

Page 1617

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu . Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake .

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Member's Statement 459-20(1): Illicit Drug Activity Impacts on Inuvik Housing

Members' Statements

Page 1617

Denny Rodgers

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the ongoing drug issue in our territory. And I know my colleagues have mentioned it several times since this House has been elected, as well as the Premier alluded to it in his address.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak specifically to Inuvik and to one issue. We have one apartment building up there. It's quite a large apartment building -- it's three floors, I think it has somewhere around 60 units -- and every week I get at least, at minimal two, sometimes every day, e-mails, texts, phone calls, often videos, not only of the drug activity going on in that building, Mr. Speaker, but also the deplorable conditions in that building and how residents are having to live in there. And I bring this building up, Mr.

Speaker, because it's a three-storey building, and two of those floors are leased out to the housing corporation and we provide units in there. And a lot of the constituents that send me those e-mails are being sent from residents living in there; they're living in the housing units.

I know the Minister is alive to this. I'm sure she gets just as many e-mails and texts as I get, but I guess today what I'll be looking for is what can we do, what can the NWT Housing Corp do, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that those residents in there are safe? There are families in there. There are elders in that building. I know -- I've been through the building; I know some of the conditions they're facing. The RCMP, to their credit, have been doing an amazing job, you know, the best they can up there. I know they're busy. They've made several busts in that building, which is good.

Unfortunately, you know, a week later we see the same activity back in the same units in there again. And, again, I get those updates. And the tenants are sharing those updates with the RCMP as well, which is very helpful. So I'll have questions today, Mr. Speaker, for the Minister of housing on what the housing corp specifically is doing to combat some of this and to certainly combat the conditions in that building. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 459-20(1): Illicit Drug Activity Impacts on Inuvik Housing

Members' Statements

Page 1617

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake . Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Member's Statement 460-20(1): Proposed Deton'cho Renewable Energy Project

Members' Statements

Page 1617

Shauna Morgan

Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to close out the week by pointing to a spark of inspiration that we can hopefully all get energized about, if folks will excuse the bad pun.

This week Det'on Cho, which is the economic development corporation of the Yellowknives Dene, presented their plan to pursue a major renewable energy project that could supply much needed clean power to N'dilo, Dettah, Yellowknife, and emerging critical minerals operations in the region. We are well aware of how unreliable our Snare hydro system has become.

While Yellowknife has typically met about 95 percent of our electricity needs with hydro power, over the past five years we've experienced drought conditions, likely related to climate change, and as a result the Jackfish diesel backup generators have been much more than backup. They've been burning diesel more than half the time. And that reliance on diesel not only makes climate change worse and it impacts air quality, it's caused costs to skyrocket both in higher power rates for residents and tens of millions of dollars that this government has had to fork out each year in diesel subsidies.

Meanwhile, we have the economy to worry about. Diamond mine closures on the horizon and critical minerals companies with opportunities but not enough clean power to assure investors that this is a promising place to pursue. And instead of sitting back and looking to the GNWT to fix the situation, instead of looking to the government for answers, as is so often our default, this Indigenous development corporation has taken the initiative to find a practical solution.

Instead of being paralyzed with fear and anxiety about all that we lack, Det'on Cho saw the infrastructure gap as an opportunity, and they're moving to fill it. It's an opportunity for economic development in a diverse range of sectors, from the building and operation of the power installation itself, to the opening of critical minerals opportunities, the potential for storage or data centres, further electrification of transportation, and more.

These are the kinds of opportunities that we've been told for more than 20 years that the Taltson expansion would open up, if only we could just wait for those billions of dollars to fall from the federal heavens.

I want to commend Det'on Cho for not waiting, for taking this initiative, and showing ways that we could be practical, nimble, and cost effective in charting our renewable energy future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 460-20(1): Proposed Deton'cho Renewable Energy Project

Members' Statements

Page 1617

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North . Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Member's Statement 461-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Support for Funeral Costs

Members' Statements

Page 1617

Richard Edjericon

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. A fundamental aspect of a funeral respecting and honouring the deceased, the sanctity and reverence for a loved one's soul comes from when families in my communities gather to say good-bye. Recently, my community have come to me to place their concerns with the fact that caskets have been reused multiple times, disrespecting the deceased and causing anguish to the family during a time that they should be focusing on grieving together.

Just two years ago, my communities had a choice: To purchase caskets from Inuvik, Hay River, and Fort Smith. Today, there is no market but the monopoly the GNWT is enforcing, and the consequences of this monopoly is a lack of cultural sensitivity.

The lack of open market not only just disregards Indigenous culture and traditions but has led to very high costs for communities. Indigenous communities like my own in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh experience funerals and celebration at a large gathering so that they may grieve collectively and follow their traditions together as a community. It takes a lot of resources and planning to organize these funerals appropriately. And so without an open market, the cost of the casket, transportation, and all the services that go along with these ceremonies can be extremely high.

My community members can get support from their bands and from the *ministry directives. I know it goes a long way to get help with financial support from the GNWT, but the high cost and lack of choices due to this enforcement often limits how far they can get help. And there's still big gaps in the health and social services policy. Mr. Speaker, I would have questions for the Minister of health at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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Member's Statement 461-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Support for Funeral Costs

Members' Statements

Page 1618

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Members' statements.

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Member's Statement 462-20(1): Celebration of Life of Marie Lou Pineda Leguerrier

Members' Statements

Page 1618

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Good morning, colleagues. On October 3rd, 2024, God called home one of his angels Marie Lou Pineda Leguerrier. She passed away at her home in Fort Smith surrounded by her husband, family, and friends. Marie was born on April 17th, 1957, in the Philippines.

I first met her at the Northern Lights Special Care Home in Fort Smith when I went to visit some of the residents and some of her colleagues. I observed this lady walking fast but once she got to where she needed to be, especially with the elders, she became so patient and worked only at their speed and ability. She treated them with the utmost respect, compassion, and empathy. When I spoke to the residents about her, they talked about how caring she was and how she made it a point to get know their family, not just them. They would tell me she was their advocate and stood up for them.

About seven years ago, I got to meet her again. This time through Grace. Grace spoke very highly of her and considered her one of her best friends.

As I got to know her, she had an amazing career. She was a chemical engineer by trade and worked at an asphalt company in the Philippines. In 1987, she went to work in Hong Kong as a domestic worker for a couple of years. Then she moved to Edmonton but a short period later, she moved to Inuvik, NWT, to become one of the supervisors at Grollier Hall.

This is where Marie met her future husband Yves. She tells a cool story of how they met. She overheard Yves talking to a new co-worker about the need for some good winter boots, but the person didn't have any. So Yves gave him the boots. This was the start of their relationship. After the Grollier Hall shut down, she moved to Fort Smith, NWT, and married Yves in 1997.

Marie learned to bake, cook, make jam and jelly and can vegetables by cooking with her mother-in-law, as well as borrowing books from the library and later using the internet. She would give most of her baking to others, especially the residents and colleagues at Northern Lights Special Care. She loved to travel the world, and the last trip she took off her bucket list was the East Coast of Canada in July 2024 with a few of her close friends. Even though she was very weak, she endured and loved her last vacation.

They had a Celebration of Life at Northern Lights. A good friend of her, Gladys Rehm, did an amazing job celebrating her life. I have added it to my Celebration of Life and would like it deemed as read and printed in Hansard. Marie is going to be missed by us all, especially her husband Yves. They would like to thank everybody for their support during this difficult time.

Marie Lourdes Pineda Leguerrier

Born April 17,1957 in Iloilo city, Phillipines to Isidro Pineda and Brigida Corsiga. She has two brothers and two sisters. Her primary education was at a Catholic school and secondary at San Jose College.

She attended the University of San Agustin and got a degree in Chemical Engineering. She worked in asphalt and cement and then as a soil analyst in Hong Kong and a nanny as well.

She immigrated to Canada in 1989 and her first home was in Inuvik NT working as a Supervisor at Grolier Hall.

It was in Inuvik in 1991 she met Yves. They met in a bar. Yup a bar. She was there with her friends, and she overheard a guy (Yves) at the next table. He was talking to a guy who had come from the south and was not equipped with proper footwear for our northern winters. Yves said to him "l have a pair of winter boot you can have". Marie observed the kindness of this guy to just to give someone boots so they wouldn't be cold. She thought to herself, he must be a nice guy. That was the beginning of their story together.

Marie moved with Yves to Fort Smith in 1996.

She became a Canadian citizen in July of that same year.

Marie and Yves were married April 19, 1997, with Wade Johnson as best man and Angela Marsh as maid of honor.

Marie took the Care Aide course at the Arctic College and started her career working at the Fort Smith hospital and then moving over to Northern Lights Special Care Home.

She cared for dozens if not a couple hundred Elders over her 25 years. Marie did not see skin color, she treated them all with the utmost respect, compassion, empathy, and the very best care. She got to know the families, who was related to whom. She laughed with them, cried with them, and mourned them when they passed on and even than thinking "what more could we have done for them". She was generous with kind and encouraging words sprinkled with humour. She shared her love of cooking and baking, often bringing in a special dish for an Elder she knew they liked. The staff also benefited from her delicious food.

At work there was and understanding amongst the Aides "SHE DA BOSS" In a Good way. She had this walk/run and with her long legs we literally had to run to keep up to her. But with the Elders she was so patient and worked only to their speed and abilities. She advocated for the Elders and challenged a few of the "bosses" of the day to "do the right thing for the Elders". She also gave freely of her time outside of work hours. Volunteering at Northern Lights for special occasions or shopping for items the Elders needed.

She orientated dozens of Care Aides including myself. If they didn't get it, it wasn't because she didn't teach them. She had a no-nonsense way of getting things done. Tasks and Elder care were done in unison and to the highest standard. Except beds, she detested making beds, saying "there are more important things to do". Some of us would make deals with her. We would make her beds and she would trade us a task.

She also didn't believe in ironing uniforms or anything else. We would tease her as she came on shift pulling at her top to "straighten it out a bit". Saying to her "Marie, 25 cents for every time you come to work with a wrinkled uniform" she would just laugh and say, "here's 10 bucks for the week".

Now her handwriting was something else. It was a true mystery to figure out. Many times, having to ask her "what does this say"? After a while we could decipher it though. We teased her saying "you write like a doctor". She wrote like she walked...... just fast.

When she wasn't at work Marie enjoyed cooking her special phillipino dishes or baking some of her regulars like breads, pop overs and cinnamon buns (she made the best ones). She enjoyed experimenting with new recipes and making jam from her fruit trees. Her favorite foods were her country foods and chocolate (with a huge supply on hand at home and at work).

She always made time for her friends. She gathered weekly with her phillipino friends for a meal. Then they would watch their favorite Korean dramas together. Marie had friends all over the world. She got calls texts and Facetime calls from so many over the past couple months which she really appreciated.

A small group of us coworkers came together as friends. We called ourselves The Northern Lights Nutcakes and later shortened to just Nutcakes. We had the best times together gathering at one of our homes. Laughing, storytelling, dancing eating and often strategizing work situations to help improve our Elders care. We always ended each one praying together. We took several smaller trips together including Hay River, Yellowknife (to visit one of our previous NL Elders) and Canmore. Our most recent trip was to Nova Scotia for 2 weeks this past July.

We experienced so many places and things together and things just fell into place for us throughout the trip. Yves said he was glad we went ‘cause that was her "Bucket List" trip.

Marie was a good listener and thought a long time before answering. She loved a good joke, video, or story, adding her own little quip to it. She also enjoyed reading, gardening and online shopping for the latest kitchen gadgets or shoes.

Oh, my goodness how she loved her shoes. I found this out one day at work. Yves had called telling her their hot water heater was leaking and was flooding into the house. Marie ran out the door to check out the situation. She came back and I asked her how it was. She said, "Well it flooded the hardwood floors somewhat, but all my shoes are okay". She was worried about her shoes stored under the bed.... Not the floors. Yes, Marie had quite a collection. I later found out it was because as a kid they often did without shoes.

Marie travelled extensively over the years both with Yves and her sisters. She said she road a camel and an elephant adding the camel is way more stubborn. We laughed and noted we are sometimes like camels. Yes, she could be stubborn but lived by her morals and values and advocating for those less fortunate or could not speak for themselves.

Yves was the love of her life. They spent their time together doing things like snowshoeing, skidooing, fishing, quading, boating, berry picking, gardening, travelling, and spending time at their cabin. She and Yves would make Christmas cakes and deliver them to Elders at the home and around town. Apparently with lots of brandy in them.

Yves has been by her side including her battle with cancer, doing whatever he could to make her journey as easy as possible. Many trips to Edmonton and Yellowknife and then setting up their home to accommodate Marie's wish to be at home until the end. He welcomed her sisters and her friends into their home daily for the last 2 months. We are so thankful for this.

Marie was in her own home, listening to the familiar sounds and smells of the cooking she loved from her homeland. There was much laughter, storytelling, praying and dancing, yes even dancing. There were tears and heartfelt conversations as well. Often comfortable silence was all that was needed. We are truly thankful for this sacred time together.

Her sisters Ping and Cora were her best friends. Their nickname for Marie was "Ni Ning". Marie being the oldest and the matriarch of the family was highly respected. She spent time with them, going to the beach, fruit picking, travelling and bird hunting. I did not know she could handle a gun, good thing I stayed on the good side of her. Her sisters came to visit as often as they could. When they heard Marie was palliative they flew here as soon as they could. For the past 2 months they took care of cooking, cleaning, hosting friends of Marie's and of course her every need.

They wanted to make her last weeks' worry-free. Marie appreciated everything they did for her. Knowing that they would be with her till the end brought her great comfort.

Marie always considered her nieces and nephews like her own children. Children and grandkids of her friends and coworkers were always a source of joy for her. Keeping up with their lives, celebrating their achievements and welcoming new babies (she loved to pinch their cheeks). Always quick to connect with the little ones and watching them grow up in the community. Attending many graduations celebrating their success. Giving little ones advice like "you help your Mommy" or “be kind to your brothers and sisters".

As they grew, telling them things like 'you are so smart" or "you are very kind" or "you can do anything if you work hard at it". Praying for them when they needed it or upon request. She was an Aunty to many children in this sense including my granddaughters.

Marie was strong in her faith and never waivered in her belief that the Lord would take care of her. She had the longest prayer list, and her rosary was never far from her. It was this faith that brought her 5 extra years of being here with us. For that we are truly thankful.

She walked in a good way on this earth.

Marie passed away in her home surrounded by her family and friends. We loved her and were blessed to have had her in our lives and she will be truly missed. Now she is flying with the Angels and has a place in the Masters Bouquet.

Rest easy my friend.

On behalf of her husband Yves, family and friends, we would like to thank everyone for coming today.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Replies to Budget Address, Day 2 of 7. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake .

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

Kieron Testart

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I spoke about the Northwest Territories Nominee Program. I know that this has been an area of concern for a lot of my constituents, a lot of people in the community, both business owners and people in it the program who are worried if they're going to get kicked out of the Northwest Territories. I know the Minister's been active on this file. Can she update this House as to what people can expect when the new intake occurs for the NTNP program? Thank you.

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

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Page 1619

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Range Lake . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for providing me with the opportunity to speak to this.

I want to start by acknowledging that this would definitely be a very concerning time for people who are waiting for the opportunity to put their name into a very limited number of nominations that the NWT currently has. Our numbers were cut from 300 to 150 by the federal government. So we did put a pause on the program so that we could get together with some of our stakeholders and partners to reevaluate what this program could look like upon reopening it. And so what I can commit to people is that they will have time to familiarize themselves with what the program will look like before we relaunch it, and we will relaunch it here in the coming weeks. Thank you.

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

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Page 1619

Kieron Testart

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the workers who are already here and have expiring permits, I think those should be the priority. It makes sense that they're the priority. Will the Minister commit to prioritizing applications based on when work permits are expiring? Thank you.

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

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Page 1619

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is something that we've definitely heard from CDETNO, Chamber of Mines of the Northwest Territories, as well as -- or, sorry, Chamber of Commerce of the NWT and Chamber of Commerce of Yellowknife as well. But I want to be able to deliver the entire program and package to people so they're not getting information piecemeal. They're able to sit down, look at what the entire program will look like on relaunch, and be able to digest that information all at one time. Thank you.

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake .

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

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Page 1619

Kieron Testart

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I think -- I mean, I think that's a reasonable think people are looking for. If they're looking for clarity, they don't have it, they're going to be experiencing anxiety until they do. These are people who are worried about their future. We can kind of give them something. So can the Minister at least give me a very clear date when the full program will be available for the public to see so we can start easing those fears? Thank you.

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, right now, I can commit to the Member and to the public that this program will be reopened in the month of February and that in the, you know, coming week, we'll be able to inform the public as to what that will look like, but that is the extent of the commitments I can give on timing right now. Thank you.

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Question 446-20(1): Immigration Programs in the Northwest Territories

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Page 1619

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I'd like to cite my questions towards my Member's statement today and where I talked about the advancement of a potential conversation of renaming the Northwest Territories. So I'd like to specifically ask the Premier , who also is -- who works with the Council of Leaders.

Mr. Speaker, would the Premier be interested in raising the issue with the Council of Leaders to get their thoughts and opinions on is it time to start having this conversation about naming the Northwest Territories -- or I should say renaming the Northwest Territories to a name that's more reflective of its people? Thank you.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Member from Yellowknife Centre . Mr. Premier .

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Page 1619

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a Member of the Council of Leaders, I would say that the resources of the GNWT are better spent elsewhere at this time given all of the challenges that we have. That being said, I'll start having some informal conversations with some of the other leaders at the table and go from there. Thank you.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

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Page 1619

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say I'm not sure I should say thank you or maybe should start over and say what did that answer actually mean. So what does informal conversations mean? I'm simply asking for can the Premier put it on the agenda for something for folks to consume and consider and maybe get some feedback on it? I'm not looking for a special task force where we line up hundreds of processes and administration. Because if there's no appetite at the Council of Leaders for this kind of conversation, maybe now is not the right now. That said, it may be something for the future. Thank you.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

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Page 1620

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have an appetite to direct GNWT resources to this. This is the kind of initiative that would take significant consultation, in-person consultation in every community in the Northwest Territories, and so I'm the one who doesn't want to do this. I'll just put that out there. What I mean by having informal conversations with some of the leaders at the Council of Leaders table is I'll have informal conversations with them, and I'll see. If there's real opposition, then there's no point in putting it through the formal process of going to the secretariat and getting it up to the leaders' table just so we can all say that we don't want to do this. Thank you.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

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Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Mr. Premier . Member from Yellowknife Centre . Final supplementary.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

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Page 1620

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe then I'll ask this: Can I get some sense as to when the next Council of Leaders meeting is; furthermore -- because Members are really not involved in any of that stuff so we don't really know what happens at that esoteric table of conversations until much later. That said, can he make sure he informs me when the next Council of Leaders meeting is. Furthermore, can he also let me know when or who he's spoken to about this so I get a sense that at least the conversation is being had, and we can then take it wherever it goes next. Thank you.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

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Page 1620

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you. Later this month there is a short phone or video meeting with the Council of Leaders just to prepare for the meeting in June. It's mid-June, I believe. I will report back to the Member directly on the results of any conversations. I don't want to necessarily commit to putting people's names to those conversations unless those people want to have their names shared with the Member. Thank you.

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Question 447-20(1): Renaming of the Northwest Territories

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Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Premier . Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake .

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Denny Rodgers

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a follow-up to my Member's statement this morning on the Nova apartment building in Inuvik, I'd like to ask the Minister, I guess my first question will be has the Minister actually had an opportunity, or her senior staff an opportunity, to visit the Nova apartments in Inuvik? Thank you.

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake . Minister responsible for Housing NWT .

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Lucy Kuptana

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I've been in the building. I've had a number of family members live in the building. I understand the concerns coming from the MLA. Good thing to know, though, in the past week we've had the president for Housing NWT visit the building to look at it for herself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Denny Rodgers

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, and I thank the Minister for that, and I think it's amazing that the president has been up there, can see for herself what's happening up there. And, Mr. Speaker, this is no way a slight on the property owner or the developer up there. We're happy to have that building in our community.

I guess my next question is, then, so will the Minister commit to looking at putting these -- I know in some units, particularly in Yellowknife, I know in some apartment buildings they have security in there because we're dealing with a building where the door is often wide open, where there's things happening in the building, in the hallways, that shouldn't be. Will the Minister commit to looking at having full-time security in that building to ensure that the residents who are in there are safe? Thank you.

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Lucy Kuptana

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the president, Housing NWT, visiting the building, what she's proposed to do is meet with the landlords, the leaseholders, and have a discussion about safety and security in the building, amping that up because of all the illegal activities happening within the unit and the concerns from the tenants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT . Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake .

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Denny Rodgers

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Excellent, that's great news, great to hear. Can the Minister kind of put some timelines around when she anticipates the president and the owners of the building will be meeting to kind of start putting that plan in place and then follow up obviously with what comes from that plan? Thank you.

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Lucy Kuptana

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the urgency of this concern and considering the activities within the housing -- or the building itself, I've asked the president of Housing NWT to have a discussion over the next month. So hopefully we'll hear something within the next few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik

Oral Questions

Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT . Oral questions. Member from Great Slave .

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Kate Reid

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Finance . Is the Minister familiar with how many insurance companies that provide coverage in the NWT are increasing their property insurance rates beyond regular average increases prior to the 2023 wildfire season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

Oral Questions

Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Great Slave . Minister of Finance .

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that to my information there's 150 individual insurers that are licensed under the Insurance Act. As for what each or every one of them may or may not be doing with increasing rates, I don't have that information. The Insurance Act gives me the ability -- or gives the department the ability to regulate but not necessarily to control the commercial side of what these organizations do. That said, Mr. Speaker, we are, as a government, a member of a number of different groups across Canada, and rates are rising across the country so can certainly say that that does appear to accord with what we are hearing as well. Thank you.

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

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Page 1620

Kate Reid

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the Minister has kind of predicted what I want to ask next. But are there any policy or legislative labours at our disposal to lessen increases whatsoever across the board in the GNWT, not just in her purview? Thank you.

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

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Page 1620

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And no, unfortunately, there's not. Again, we are the regulating body that ensures about the provision of insurance and how -- you know, how the behaviour of the insurance companies or the brokers might be but not a control over their commercial market and what the commercial market might be doing to prices. That said, Mr. Speaker, we do set the rate for the cost of having your insurance. I mean, there's a tax that's levied on insurance companies. We have kept that rate low.

We have a 1 percent only for fire insurance, and we've kept ours at 3 percent on the main premium which is lower than Yukon or Alberta. So doing -- that's a small drop in the bucket, though, to be honest, Mr. Speaker. We have also, in the last couple of years, looked at taking on some of the schools into the GNWT's package which helps them manage their insurance rates. But in terms of residential insurance or small businesses, there's not levers in our hands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

Oral Questions

Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister for Finance . Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave .

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Kate Reid

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, good news, the Standing Committee on Government Operations is scheduled to review amendments to this act in the life of this Assembly. Is the Minister willing to review if there could be amendments to this act or speak with her colleague at MACA to consider consumer protections going forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

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Page 1620

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's early days to know what may or may not be in the review of a piece of legislation and, of course, always happy to consider amendments. I can say that we are members of the Canadian insurance services regulatory organization, meaning the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators and the General Insurance Statistical Agency. I mention all of those because as this process moves forward, I'll certainly look for the opportunity to see if there's any best practices happening.

Again, cost increases are happening everywhere, and it's an issue that's coming up, so if there's opportunity to learn from others or to utilize other practices, I'd be happy to share that information and to put it forward. Thank you.

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Question 449-20(1): Home Insurance Costs

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Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Finance . Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake .

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

Oral Questions

Page 1620

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I noted earlier today, I'm concerned about the continued misalignment between the Minister and the Aurora College board. Mr. Speaker, why aren't the department and the board coordinating and planning something like the CLC closures, polytechnic transition. How does the Minister plan to address this issue of misalignment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1620

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1620

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I absolutely hear the Member, and I agree that the goal is to have a strategic plan go out where, you know, we're answering all of the questions that we know that residents are going to have about the forward looking of a program and what the future holds. Ultimately, ECE will remain responsible at the end of the day for ensuring that residents have access to quality programs that support education and employment, and so right now, the work that ECE is doing is gaining clarity on, you know, what parts of adult learning and basic education Aurora College will continue to fill so that we can plan from there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1621

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, just on the review of the CLCs themselves, I understand that when the facility's master plan was being put together, there was actually quite a bit of a review of the CLCs specifically and that a report was produced talking about everything that was heard during the review of the CLCs. Will the Minister commit to release that report so the public can better understand what's going on, better understand what's behind the decisions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1621

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my goal is to always say yes, especially when it comes to transparency. I will note that this report was commissioned by the Department of Infrastructure so I will say yes with a caveat of being able to make sure that there isn't any privacy concerns from the Department of Infrastructure or concerns about any commercial information given that they are the owners of the report. Thank you.

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1621

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake .

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1621

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly appreciate that commitment from the Minister. I think that's going to be helpful information for the public to have.

So just on the issue of misalignment, I mean, is the Minister working with the board, working with the college president to improve the relationship to ensure that we have alignment going forward? I understand the Minister may be releasing a mandate for the college soon, or certainly should be. What are we doing to improve this relationship, to ensure that we have alignment on the goals that we're trying to achieve and everybody's pulling in the same direction? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1621

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am one who is eager to share my -- even my personal cell phone number with the people that I want to be working closely with. That is something that the chairperson certainly has. We also have a joint mandate agreement and the ability to get together on a regular basis and definitely try to get together on a regular basis or as much as possible.

In regards to the Member's comment about a mandate agreement, that is something that will be released within the coming week, and Members do have an embargoed copy within their inbox today.

And then in addition to the question around, you know, going forward what will happen, there is a draft communication protocol document between myself and the chairperson of Aurora College that I will continue to pursue to get signed by both parties. Thank you.

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Question 450-20(1): Aurora College Management and Oversight

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Page 1621

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Oral questions. Member from Deh Cho .

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1621

Sheryl Yakeleya

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the ECE minister. Were residents in small communities consulted about the closure of the Aurora College's community learning centres? Thank you.

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1621

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Deh Cho . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1621

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I couldn't speak to the methodology that Aurora College took in coming to this conclusion and what kind of engagement that they did do. But given that it was very much a shock for the Northwest Territories when this information was released, I would venture to say that many people didn't feel that they felt that they knew that this was coming. Thank you.

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1621

Sheryl Yakeleya

Deh Cho

Thank you. Does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have a plan to address the need for academic upgrading and basic literacy programming in small communities, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1621

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no concrete plan at this time until we determine some clarity around what (audio) continue to hold. There is an existing MOU and contribution agreement for Aurora College to deliver adult learning and basic education through the community learning centres. So if that is not an MOU that they intend to continue, ultimately ECE will still remain responsible for ensuring that there are education and employment opportunities within small communities, and so that work is yet to come. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1621

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Final supplementary. Member from Deh Cho .

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1621

Sheryl Yakeleya

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me will the funding that was allocated for community learning centres be reinvested into opportunities for adult learners in the NWT, for specifically small communities. Thank you.

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1621

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So within that MOU that I spoke of, it is a contribution agreement that does go to Aurora College to be able to deliver the adult learning and basic education throughout the CLCs throughout the Northwest Territories, so that funding ultimately would -- any that was not used through the contribution agreement and the MOU with Aurora College would then come back to the department of education, and the department of education would still have the responsibility for ensuring that we're enhancing those opportunities within communities. Thank you.

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Question 451-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1621

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

Oral Questions

Page 1621

George Nerysoo

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services .

Will the department consider funding willing communities to establish a working committee to counsel potential individuals who would like to enter the substance abuse program? At the present time, the interested individuals who want to go for treatment have to seek counselling elsewhere, so they have to leave the community. And the community members know best who need the help, and they know each other. So will the department consider funding potential communities with these committees? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

Oral Questions

Page 1621

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member for Mackenzie Delta . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

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Page 1621

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this area where the Member is speaking to has been identified. There were changes put in place to ensure that programs for wellness and recovery addictions can be in one pot of money and be flexible. So within health and social services, we have the Community Wellness and Addiction Recovery Fund which Indigenous -- regional Indigenous governments can apply, and then there's a deadline if there is no uptake in the regional governments and the community Indigenous governments can apply individually as they're -- you know, for their needs of their community.

But what I can say is for the Member's riding, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, which would cover two of the communities through -- well, actually three of the communities that the -- were approved for $303,033. And then the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation has a multiyear agreement that does also provide programming individually for those communities. There's also an additional pot of funding that Tetlit Gwich'in band council has accessed and their CA is in progress. There is the suicide prevention fund so that can be used to promote wellness and programming within those communities.

Again, there has been $72,000 allocated in this budget for Gwich'in Tribal Council to provide programs and the Tetlit Gwich'in Council, $71,000 signed for those communities. So all of that money has been allocated to be able to be used in those communities as per the community wishes. So, you know, and then alongside of that health and social services still does provide clinical counsellors.

The health and social services still provides if there is a need for out-of-territory treatment, so there is many -- and then if they're NHIB clients, there is medical travel to help assist to support those that are under those NHIB addiction recovery programs. Thank you.

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

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Page 1621

George Nerysoo

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for all that information. That's real good news to hear that money has been allocated. There's another barrier that, you know, that we have to look at policies and procedures that will go hand in hand with these committees if they're established at the community level. Will the department look at assisting these communities with policies and procedures in order to make this committee work effectively? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

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Page 1621

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as for, you know, I think committees, we do have the regional wellness councils that do help, and there are members from the Member for Mackenzie Delta's riding on the regional wellness council. They do provide feedback. Mental health and addictions have been one that has been highlighted by many of the regions and especially from the Beaufort Delta. This area -- you know, the thing is that we do collaborate with the communities on the GNWT provided programs.

There has been, you know, some work done in the Beaufort Delta on how we provide services within our communities at the community level working with Indigenous governments. But as well as those funds that we give, like all of the money that I had mentioned before that we give to those Indigenous governments, that is on them to decide how they want to use those monies and we don't have any -- like, other than it's used for wellness and recovery and addictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

Oral Questions

Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services . Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

Oral Questions

Page 1622

George Nerysoo

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are there any active committees like that are actively working in to helping their residents of these small communities that we can learn from that are active within the NWT at the present time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

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Page 1622

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would have to have further conversations with the Member to understand the committees that he's wanting information about. As I mentioned, we have the regional wellness councils that give the input to NTHSSA on how programs work. Those are vital committees. They're members from the local communities. And, again, the direction of how those monies that are flowing to the Indigenous governments would be through their own committees to do that, so. But I'm willing to have more conversations with the Member to figure out how to respond to if there is more work that can be done to support Indigenous and small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 452-20(1): Addictions Support and Resources for Residents in Small Communities

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Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services . Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

Oral Questions

Page 1622

Richard Edjericon

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under Dene law here in the Northwest Territories, for a long time we've been taking care of our own people including loved ones as they pass. Most recent, up to two and a half years here in the Northwest Territories, you would be able to buy a casket from Fort Smith, Hay River, and Inuvik, and but right now the only funeral home in the Northwest Territories has that market now. So if a loved one passed, you have to go there and buy a casket. But as a carpenter, if somebody comes up to me and asks me to build a casket, we don't question it; we just do it.

But now I'm told that you have to go to McKenna -- sorry, the only supplier in the Northwest Territories to buy the casket. So my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services is that if we can look at a policy to amend it so that we could open it up again to go to these suppliers to look at buying caskets based on what community wants and the families want. Thank you.

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hear what the Member is saying, and I too have had these conversations as soon as I became the Minister. However, before there was this -- the bereavement pot of money that sits within the health and social services to assist with low income families, you know, to assist with caskets and some funeral costs; however, over the years, this has been sole sourced, you know, and so there were issues coming up about how in procurement that this is not fair. I guess I don't -- I wasn't part of any -- most of those discussions.

However, now as the Health and Social Services Minister , this has gone through procurement, and so the program that we currently have that the funding is allocated is procured to a business and that business, whenever somebody needs to access that fund, has to go through that person, that contract that's been approved for these funds. However, we also have heard many of these issues so, you know, these -- this is something that we can always take the feedback and, you know, when looking at this contract when it comes up, you know, we can take a look at it from all the feedback in how we move forward.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

Richard Edjericon

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had an elder that passed just before Christmas and who had worked for the Government of the Northwest Territories for a long time and very well-respected in our community and when a casket was provided, it was provided to the elder in the community, and we learned that that casket was used. And in our culture, people get really offended and upset about that kind of thing. So my question to the Minister is what can we do better so that this does not happen again to -- especially to our elders and loved ones in our community. Thank you.

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I can do is I can commit to looking into the delivery of the service to better understand how it's -- you know, how it's operating within our communities just so that there's more clear understanding for myself -- not just for myself, but for residents in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services . Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

Richard Edjericon

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, also I just want to bring up another issue is that when we have loved ones that have left our communities to go south or to be with family and that and sometimes they pass away and they need to come home, the thing is that the way the government has their policy set up, they -- because they're out of province, the family would have to go to the chief and council, the Metis council, and look at ways to try to bring the body back to the community.

I just want to know if the Minister is open to looking at how we can fix this problem because originally these guys that are -- our members have moved away and they come back, so we want to see what we can do as a government to help out in this -- on a policy directive to look at this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr.

Speaker, you know, when a loved one dies, you know, and whether they're in our home, whether they're anywhere, this is a hard and difficult time; however, this program, this is intended to support current eligible NWT residents, you know, and I think if they are NWT residents and they are outside the territory when they pass away, we've had this conversation in the House that people that travel outside the Northwest Territories for any type of recreation, you know, visiting, holidays, business, anything, you know, if you're travelling on business, you're usually covered by your employer but if you're travelling for your own personal, you should be looking at out -- like, for travel insurance, and I mean that is something that we've heard many times happening recently.

And so getting that information out to our residents that, you know, it does cost if something happens, you know, while you're outside of the territory. But this program here is intended for Northwest Territories residents. Thank you.

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Question 453-20(1): Cultural Sensitivity and Costs Related to Funeral Preparation

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Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services . Oral questions. Member from Monfwi .

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1622

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has done to consult residents in small communities about the closure of the community learning centres? Thank you.

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Monfwi . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1622

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question.

Mr. Speaker, under the Aurora College Act, the Aurora College board of governors is responsible for operational decisions of the college. So this was not a decision that was made by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, so they wouldn't have done community engagement or consultations with communities for a decision that they did not make. Thank you.

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1622

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Monfwi

Thank you. Now, so will the adult learners in small communities now be expected to attend high school classes in regular K through 12 programming? Thank you.

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1622

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, at this point we don't have the clarity we need, based on the plans going forward of Aurora College, to understand what parts of the adult learning and basic education components they plan to continue to fill and which ones and how they plan to roll some of those back. And so without that clarity, we can't put a plan in place going forward. But I can say that some communities have reached out as well to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment because they have plans as to how they'd like to see the community learning centres used.

But at this point, the work that's being done by ECE is working with Aurora College to understand their go-forward plan so then we can create a plan as to what the future looks like. Thank you.

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1622

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi .

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1622

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Monfwi

Thank you. So does the department have a plan to expand services for academic upgrading and basic programming in small communities to something more developed such as GED certificate programs or partnership with the college to offer more trades programs locally? Thank you.

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

Oral Questions

Page 1623

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have said as well, ECE still remains responsible for ensuring that there is access to enhanced education and employment programming in small communities. So with that in mind, that will be some of the work that happens once we gain that clarity of their go-forward plans from Aurora College.

And one of the things that I think is really interesting happening within some communities within the education and employment space is some dev corps are really looking into working with the government in how they can use government existing funding and existing programming to be able to work in partnership to create more education and employment opportunities for communities and by pairing up some of the projects that they're working on. And so there are some different exciting pieces that don't relate to CLCs that are happening, and I'm more than happy to talk about that with the Member as well. Thank you.

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Question 454-20(1): Closure of Aurora College Community Learning Centres

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Page 1623

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North .

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Question 455-20(1): Role of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

Oral Questions

Page 1623

Shauna Morgan

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are actually for the Minister of Health and Social Services following up on previous questions that I've been asking earlier this week.

With regard to the new public administrator, there's lots of sort of concern and anxiety and worry going around about possible, you know, budget cuts associated with this role. So can the Minister clarify is the public administrator's focus simply on finding cost savings, or is the public administrator also goin