Debates of May 29th, 2015

This is page numbers 6259 – 6290 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 work .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Morel Mushrooms

Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Progress

Firth Sisters Elected To Hall Of Fame

Working To Better Coordinate Service Delivery Of Social Supports To NWT Residents

GNWT Support For The Native Communications Society

25th Annual Territorial Track And Field Championships

Elders Facilities In Mackenzie Delta

C.d. Howe Study On Fiscal Accountability Of Governments

Tribute To The Late Mr. Ron Mccagg

South Slave Successful Bid For The 2018 Arctic Winter Games

On-The-Land Corrections Programming

Improved Communications Policies Regarding Highway Closures

Flexible Employment Opportunities

Early Childhood Program Governance And Funding

Respite Care Services

Spring Graduation Ceremonies

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Improving Financial Accountability

Morel Mushroom Harvest

Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Early Childhood Program Review

Respite Care Services

Innovative GNWT Recruitment Processes

On-The-Land Rehabilitation Programs

Elders Housing Facilities In Mackenzie Delta

Highway No. 7 Reconstruction And Repairs

Tabled Document 246-17(5): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015 Tabled Document 247-17(5): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016 Tabled Document 248-17(5): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016

Bill 56: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015

Reappointment Of Information And Privacy Commissioner

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Concurrence Of Tabled Document 246-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015

Concurrence Of Tabled Document 247-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 10:01 a.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Good morning, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Ramsay .

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Minister's Statement 198-17(5): Morel Mushrooms

Ministers’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, economic opportunity comes in all shapes and forms. This summer it is coming to the Northwest Territories in the form of morel mushrooms, a delicacy highly sought after by food markets around the world.

Ultimately, Mother Nature will have the largest role in determining the success of our harvest. However, under the right conditions, we anticipate this harvest could generate as much as $10 million in the NWT this summer.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been working to prepare NWT residents to take advantage of this opportunity and keep some of these revenues within the territory.

In preparation, we have hosted 19 morel mushroom information sessions in communities where the impacts of the anticipated season are expected to be greatest. These sessions were overwhelmingly popular, with nearly 1,200 residents participating.

Those in attendance learned of potential harvesting areas, methods for gathering and storing morels and best practices for selling and marketing their harvest.

The sessions also emphasized the message of harvesting in a way that is safe, legal and respectful of the environment and Aboriginal peoples, whose lands some of these mushrooms will be on.

information at their disposal when they venture into the harvest areas.

On-site walking workshops have also begun and will continue until mid-June in areas where the mushrooms have appeared, to provide hands-on experience for those interested in harvesting.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for assisting us in also providing safety information for prospective harvesters venturing out this summer.

Mr. Speaker, while ITI has worked to prepare residents for this opportunity, it cannot guarantee a bountiful and prosperous harvest. Many other factors can and will impact the success of this year’s harvest.

Morels will need to meet or exceed certain standards of quality and consistency. Rain, the lack of rain, fire and cooler temperatures will have influences on the crop and the length of harvest that can be realized in our territory; and prices, determined by buyers, will similarly be affected by these elements and the economic principle of supply and demand.

Our territory has a proud history of resourcefulness and innovation. The quick development of a strategy and plan to realize the benefits of what could be a multi-million dollar morel mushroom harvesting opportunity this summer is a good example.

We are also a territory that believes in working together – as Northerners – and in partnership with those from outside of our territory.

I would like to recognize today Chief Lloyd Chicot and the people of Kakisa. In the face of concerns about the impacts that an influx of people will have on their community, they embraced the occasion, throwing a welcoming community barbeque for as many as 50 pickers in the area and sharing with them their traditional practice of catching and drying fish right out of the river.

It was an opportunity for pickers and residents to meet and learn more about each other and to agree on boundaries and practices that could be followed

in the mutual realization of benefits from this most unique and economic opportunity that has come to the NWT this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 198-17(5): Morel Mushrooms

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Minister of Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Minister's Statement 199-17(5): Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Progress

Ministers’ Statements

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to speak to the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project, or MVFL.

On January 12, 2015, the government took the first step towards removing the limitations of our current communications infrastructure. The Fibre Link Project will allow Inuvik to become a global remote sensing site, enable our government to improve our programs and services, particularly in the areas of education and health, and allow many more of our residents and businesses to join the 21st century

and communicate in real time with the rest of the world.

Mr. Speaker, the first winter construction season of the MVFL Project has concluded, with over 430 kilometres of fibre optic cable installed. Though this construction season faced some initial challenges, it was successful with just over one-third of the route completed. The project remains on time, on budget, with a start-up date of the second quarter of 2016.

Winter construction activity took place between Tulita and Inuvik and employed approximately 112 local residents and used over 21 local contractors and suppliers. With the economic challenges facing many of our Sahtu and Gwich’in communities, this past winter, I am happy to report, the Fibre Link Project was able to contribute to the local economy in these communities.

Mr. Speaker, the summer build between McGill Lake and Wrigley is set to begin in late June. The MVFL Project Team is eager to begin summer work and will continue engaging local residents and businesses on project progress over the coming weeks and months.

Mr. Speaker, since construction commenced, we have experienced increased interest, nationally and internationally, in the growth of the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility. Since its official inauguration in 2010, a total of three 14-metre receiving antennas have been installed on site. An additional dish has been committed for this summer, with the site preparation work for the installation currently underway. A fifth dish is being planned for summer/spring 2016.

The Premier , Robert R. McLeod; the Honourable Robert C. McLeod ; Mr. Robert Hawkins , MLA for Yellowknife Centre; and myself will be travelling to Europe in June with officials from the federal

government to continue to promote the Fibre Link Project and increase utilization of the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility.

We have seen first-hand the significant positive benefits the satellite ground station and remote sensing industry have had not only on the economy of Kiruna, Sweden, but also the important role they play in facilitating advanced learning at the Institute of Space Physics. The potential impact of an expanded satellite ground station in Inuvik on the Aurora Research Centre is significant and could make this facility one of the “the places to be” to conduct space-based Arctic research.

I would like to conclude my statement by thanking the sustained efforts and support from our residents, businesses and community leadership throughout the Mackenzie Valley to ensure the continued success of the project.

I also want to thank all my colleagues of this Assembly for their support in advancing the project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 199-17(5): Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Progress

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Minister of MACA , Mr. R.C. McLeod.

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Minister's Statement 200-17(5): Firth Sisters Elected To Hall Of Fame

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, today I am very proud to rise and recognize that two of our very own have been elected to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

I am, of course, speaking about Sharon Firth and Shirley Firth-Larsson, who will become the first Northwest Territories residents to be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony later this fall in Calgary.

Sharon and Shirley captivated the North and Canada from the late 1960s through the mid-1980s with their incredible sporting exploits. They first entered the national scene in 1968 when they won medals at the Canadian Junior Cross Country Ski Championships.

They went on to compete in four Olympic Winter Games, including Sapporo, Japan, in 1972; Innsbruck, Austria, in 1976; Lake Placid, New York, in 1980; and Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in 1984.

In many ways they were trailblazers for women, for Aboriginal Canadians and for all Northerners in the rest of Canada and around the world.

Although Shirley is no longer with us, Sharon continues to be a role model and inspiration for hundreds of young people in her current work as a youth officer with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame recognizes our country’s finest athletes as role

models for Canadians of all ages, and sharing their stories unites our country and reminds us of the core values that help define our people.

All Northerners are extremely proud of Sharon and Shirley’s accomplishments. We only wish that Shirley could have been here to receive this national recognition of her contribution to Canada’s sport history.

Sharon and Shirley Firth have certainly inspired all of us. They will now take their place at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, where their stories can encourage all Canadians to strive to be the very best they can be.

I invite all Members to join me in congratulating Sharon Firth and Shirley Firth-Larsson’s family on this wonderful honour on behalf of all Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 200-17(5): Firth Sisters Elected To Hall Of Fame

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister of Health and Social Services , Mr. Abernethy .

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Minister's Statement 201-17(5): Working To Better Coordinate Service Delivery Of Social Supports To NWT Residents

Ministers’ Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to achieving this Legislative Assembly’s vision of strong individuals, families and communities. By working together in partnerships, we can reach our goal of healthy and educated people in sustainable and vibrant communities throughout our territory.

To help promote, preserve and manage the long-term health and social well-being of NWT residents, the Social Envelope Committee of Cabinet and the corresponding deputy minister committee have introduced a number of initiatives and actions. We have previously talked about some of them, such as our actions to help reduce poverty in the NWT, promote community wellness and better address mental health and addictions issues. Today I want to tell you about some of our actions to ensure stronger coordination and collaboration in the delivery of social services and supports for NWT residents.

A number of our recent strategic frameworks, including the Early Childhood Development Strategy, the Anti-Poverty Strategic Framework and the Addictions and Mental Health Action Plan, speak to a more integrated approach to service delivery. The shift to more consciously coordinated service delivery is also evident in the 2015-2016 budget, which included investments to support integrated approaches to case management and initiatives to improve integration of services to people with a variety of needs.

We recognize the need to examine programs and make sure that we are taking a client-focused approach to service delivery. We are seeing many

successes in this work. This includes proposed changes to the way the NWT Housing Corporation will calculate rent for public housing clients. Minister Robert C. McLeod will have more to say about this later during this session.

Different departments are working closely together to promote healthy living for our youth. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has established a new Children and Youth Resiliency Program to support community programming that helps our youth build resiliency and be more physically active. A healthy snacks component has also been added to this popular after-school physical activity program.

Progress has also been made on protocols and training for support service delivery staff when it comes to referrals or support to clients with apparent mental health issues. The Mental Health First Aid program teaches GNWT front-line workers how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, how to provide initial help and how to guide people to community mental health resources and professional help.

Mental Health First Aid training has been provided to staff in the corrections service as well as to staff of the departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Municipal and Community Affairs, Health and Social Services and Justice. In addition, the Department of Justice has Mental Health First Aid instructors in house. The Integrated Case Management Team has two instructors available to deliver the three-day Mental Health First Aid workshops to employees and the public.

We are also making progress on services and supports to seniors. In collaboration with the NWT Seniors’ Society, the Seniors’ Information Handbook has been updated. This valuable resource for seniors provides a comprehensive list of government programs and services that seniors and their caregivers can access to help them make informed decisions and remain independent and active in their home communities. A companion booklet for caregivers is being developed and will provide information to assist families caring for their loved ones. The government service officers have received training on the handbook and are using it as a resource to support effective service delivery to residents.

Mr. Speaker, these are just some examples of our work to improve the coordination of service delivery and supports to NWT residents. We will continue to advance this important work, in the belief that better coordination and collaboration across GNWT departments and agencies that offer social services and supports will lead to improved access and outcomes for NWT residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 201-17(5): Working To Better Coordinate Service Delivery Of Social Supports To NWT Residents

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Minister's Statement 202-17(5): GNWT Support For The Native Communications Society

Ministers’ Statements

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, ensuring Aboriginal languages survive for future generations is a key priority for our government and the Members of this Legislative Assembly. One of the most effective ways to ensure the continued use of all of the NWT’s 11 official languages is simply using and hearing these languages as part of our day-to-day interactions. This theme of “use it or lose it” resonates through the regional Aboriginal language plans now being implemented by Aboriginal governments, the 2009 Committee Report on Official Languages and the government’s 2010 “Aboriginal Languages Plan – A Shared Responsibility.”

Over the past few years, they have experienced some operational challenges, culminating in CKLB having to stop live broadcasts and programming in July 2014. Aside from going off the air, it also meant a loss of jobs for people in many of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, as is true for Aboriginal language revitalization generally, it is truly a shared responsibility, and for that reason I continue to lobby the federal government to increase their funding for Aboriginal and French language programming in the current round of negotiations of the renewal of the Official Languages Agreement.

Aboriginal language broadcasting contributes to both our oral traditions and recording languages for those future generations. Having them on our radios, computers and televisions ensures that the North continues to hear, read and explore our languages that are so closely connected to our cultures.

This is why, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that this government will reprofile

$500,000 annually, found from within, on an ongoing basis, for Aboriginal broadcasting. Of that amount, $400,000 will be provided to the Native Communications Society and $100,000 will be provided to the Inuvialuit Communications Society.

The funding will allow NCS to be up and running by June 1st, broadcasting first in Tlicho and South Slavey. They have plans to resume live broadcasting of North Slavey, Gwich’in, Chipewyan and will be adding French later on this year.

We will also continue to make every effort to secure funding from the federal government to sustain Aboriginal language broadcasting in the NWT. Our funding will complement the federal contribution of approximately $700,000 to Aboriginal broadcasting.

Mr. Speaker, we have worked closely with the Native Communications Society to discuss how we can help support the organization with a better financial and operating model. NCS and CKLB play a critical

part in promoting and sustaining our Aboriginal languages across the NWT and it is our priority to support them. Our languages are a foundational part of our heritage and the cultural mosaic of the North, and we must support every avenue we can to keep them alive for generations to come. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 202-17(5): GNWT Support For The Native Communications Society

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Item 3, Members’ statements. Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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25th Annual Territorial Track And Field Championships

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about what is coming up next week in Hay River, the 25th Annual Track and Field

Championships in Hay River, territorial championships.

This Territorial Track and Field Championship always takes place during our session at this time of year. Every year the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs charters an airplane to take Members who wish to attend the opening ceremony down to Hay River for this event. I’d like to thank the Minister for making that opportunity available again this year.

I would encourage Members to attend. If you have never attended the opening ceremonies of the Track and Field Championships, it is very hard to describe to you how exciting it is as those school teams parade into the arena under the banner of their school. Small schools, big schools, little people, seniors who are participating in the Track and Field Championships, it is a very exciting time for everyone. Those children are very pleased to see their MLAs and a face from home on that stage as they parade by.

This year, already the weather has been beautiful in Hay River. It’s been very warm. We’ve seen the little people out practising on the track. Every time I drive by, I want to stop and take a picture. Also, we’ve seen the loyal volunteers who prepare the track and make it ready for the events. They’ve been out in force this year as well. I don’t want to name them for fear of missing someone. It is that core group of volunteers which we will build on which gives you confidence because of their commitment for the bigger event that we will be hosting in Hay River and Fort Smith later.

I would like to say that I will be going home to the opening ceremony. I probably won’t be coming back for the last day of session next week. It’s really too bad that we couldn’t just all stay down there because right after the Track and Field Championships, they have a masters or seniors or corporate challenge. Some year wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could enter a team of MLAs in that event and we could show them we don’t just talk, but we can walk the talk? That would be really exciting. Unfortunately, I know business will take most Members back to the Chamber here on Thursday.

Mr. Speaker, all the best to all the athletes. Hundreds of them will converge on Hay River, athletes, chaperones, coaches, parents. We welcome them all and are looking forward to a wonderful week and we hope the weather holds. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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25th Annual Territorial Track And Field Championships

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Blake .

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Elders Facilities In Mackenzie Delta

Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents are patiently waiting the opening of the new elders facility in Aklavik and also the start of construction of the new elders home in Fort McPherson.

Elders are looking forward to their new homes, which will also help keep our elders in the community with home support. This will also give an opportunity for people who have been on a waiting list for housing.

I will have questions for the Minister later today to ensure we are on schedule. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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C.d. Howe Study On Fiscal Accountability Of Governments

Members’ Statements

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The C.D. Howe Institute is an independent not-for-profit research institute which is widely considered by many to be Canada’s most influential think-tank. It is Canada’s trusted source of essential policy, intelligence, distinguished by research that is non-partisan, evidence-based and subject to definitive expert review.

In April of this year C.D. Howe released a study, titled “By the Numbers: The Fiscal Accountability of Canada’s Senior Governments, 2015.” This study is based on the premise that a reasonably capable and interested non-expert should be able to read a government’s budget documents and year-end public accounts to assess whether the government is meeting its promises and commitments. Working from this premise, the study analyzed the budgets and public accounts of Canada’s federal government and provincial and territorial governments in order to assess the quality and clarity of their financial recording.

According to C.D. Howe, the GNWT’s quality of reporting tied with Quebec as the third poorest in the country, earning a D-plus grade. This study concluded that the GNWT public accounts were consistent with public sector accounting board standards and it did, “save the Northwest Territories from getting outright failing grades. yet its budgets would bewilder our idealized reader with multiple presentations of revenue and spending figures that no non-expert could possibly reconcile with the headline figures in their public accounts.”

As a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations that undertakes this challenging exercise every year, I can personally attest to just how accurate these findings are. We hear repeatedly from this government, in almost every speech and every Minister’s statement, how committed the GNWT is to accountability and transparency. Yet if this commitment is not followed with meaningful actions to ensure the public and legislators have the information needed to independently assess the government’s performance, then this is merely lip service.

A D-plus grade on financial reporting from an esteemed Canadian research institute should be a wake-up call to the Minister of Finance that it is time to up his game and put serious effort into improving the quality of GNWT’s financial reporting.

Later today I will be looking for a commitment from Minister Miltenberger to do just that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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C.d. Howe Study On Fiscal Accountability Of Governments

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Tribute To The Late Mr. Ron Mccagg

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I wanted to honour Mr. Ron McCagg who passed away suddenly last week in Fort Simpson. He became a big part of Fort Simpson when he began living there. Not only did he serve on the village council for over two decades, Ron worked for the GNWT for 38 years, including 30 years in Fort Simpson. Last year he retired as a superintendent of Public Works and Services and looked forward to the next phase of his life.

Since his sudden passing, many friends and colleagues have spoken out to remember him with great respect and love, describing him as a gentleman, a straight-shooter and a man who liked to stand up for the little guy. He had a passion for fairness, always working to make a difference in people’s lives on and away from work, and age was no barrier for his lifelong mission. Seventy years old this year, in fact his passion for fairness was such that he had intended to run for MLA this fall.

For me, it was an honour to know and work with him for the 12 years in my capacity as MLA for Nahendeh. Ron is survived by his loving family, two daughters, Natasha and Heather, their husbands, as well as four wonderful granddaughters, also his partner, Lucy, and her son, Quinton. I fondly recall last year how proud he was to give his granddaughters a ride around Fort Simpson on his new three-wheel Harley Davidson.

The community of Fort Simpson has lost a great man and a strong voice. Ron will be greatly missed. On Monday, June 1st , at 2:00 p.m., the people of

Fort Simpson will celebrate his life at the Fort Simpson Recreational Centre. If you can’t make it, the Deh Cho Drum offered for anyone to contact them with their memories of Ron to share. I know all my colleagues who knew and met him over the years will join me in offering condolences to Ron’s family. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Tribute To The Late Mr. Ron Mccagg

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .

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South Slave Successful Bid For The 2018 Arctic Winter Games

Members’ Statements

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s ironic the light is shining on me today. The light will be shining on the South Slave in 2018 when the South Slave hosts the Arctic Winter Games.

In March the International Committee announced that Hay River/Fort Smith were the successful components in the joint bid for the Arctic Winter Games. I would like to give a big shout out to the bid committee for both communities as well as those communities that are participating. Enterprise and Fort Res will be involved as well.

Both town councils have been working hard and budgeting for this process, and they had a meeting a couple weekends ago to get the process working. Now the work begins. They have to roll up their sleeves and make this a big success.

I look forward to the opportunity when the Minister, Minister R.C. McLeod from Inuvik Twin Lakes, will come down and sign the agreement for the Arctic Winter Games. There is great excitement to see this come back into the regions. The Arctic Winter Games will be coming back to the people of the Northwest Territories.

I’d like to thank the Department of MACA and the GNWT for additional funding to do it right and put it out into the regions. This will be a 40-year anniversary for Hay River to have the Arctic Winter Games. We hosted it last time in the South Slave with Pine Point. It will be the 40th anniversary in

I do support the fact that we need this back in the regions. The Beau-Del and Inuvik didn’t win this bid, but I think the Arctic Winter Games should go there next. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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South Slave Successful Bid For The 2018 Arctic Winter Games

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard . Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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On-The-Land Corrections Programming

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Justice on the land, the only place where there is justice. That was told to me by a colleague this morning.

I want to talk about the Justice department, the soon-to-be corrections department. One of the mission statements of the Justice department is “working with community members so that communities are safe and secure.” One of the five goals: the department is better equipped to provide core programs and services.

Under the corrections activity description, corrections services provide safe custody and supervision of adult and youth offenders. It also states later on, “deliver culturally relevant programs to support reallocation and reintegration, including wilderness camps and elders’ support.”

A further look into the budget here of 2014-15, the adult facilities at a $24 million budget, grants and contributions in the same report here says the Elders Program is $30,000, wilderness camp is $149,000, for a total of $179,000. This budget tells

us how this department supports NWT wilderness camps, and with $24 million versus $179,000 clearly this shows that something has to change.

The Auditor General, in his report, confirmed and stated that our corrections and management operations were not in compliance with key rehabilitation and reintegration requirements. Read the report and you’ll wonder why we haven’t made much achievement in our area.

We also had a profile of inmates who transport goods into our facility, and we have a population that is well, well overrepresented by Aboriginal people. We need a change of attitudes and mindset by corrections and the Justice department.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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On-The-Land Corrections Programming

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Wilderness camps are a valuable method for allowing offenders to maintain and enhance their traditional knowledge and skill to help in reintegration and rehabilitation when released from custody.

In closing, we need a strong commitment by this Minister to direct his officials. Let’s make these wilderness camps a success and get the resources to do that. Thank you.

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On-The-Land Corrections Programming

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Improved Communications Policies Regarding Highway Closures

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Monday evening I happened to catch on the CBC website late that night, I noticed that there was a story, and the story headline said, “NWT Highway No. 3 at Risk of Closing Due to Forest Fire.”

That story was issued at 5:37 that evening. What caused me some individual concern is after last year’s fire experience, there was no e-mail in my inbox saying that there was going to be a closure of the highway. Not only that, to my surprise, I had been talking to people in the industry, the grocery industry saying that they had no notice in any way.

The following morning it was followed up by a Twitter notice saying forest fires near Highway No. 3. Again, no e-mail in the MLAs’ box.

It’s not a point of criticism, but MLAs are part of the solution to ensure that public information can be disseminated in a timely and safe way. Now, I know this isn’t a story or a Member’s statement quite as sexy as a screaming scandal of terrible things, the sky is falling, but the reality is good public communication is vital to ensure that the public knows what’s happening.

As I said about the grocery companies, in speaking to them, they wondered why the Department of Transportation doesn’t communicate with them as part of the critical infrastructure of public information. If you ask a grocery store, they said that in five days, or even four days if really pressed, they can fully stock their shelves for the long haul, just like the good old ice road closure days, like the ice road crossings. They said in two days they could bring any vital, critical type of perishable to their stores and be prepared for a bit of a short-haul but ensure that all their transportation of important goods come through.

What’s important, as well, is I’ve been informed that during last season’s experience, tractor trailers were sitting with milk, eggs and vegetables while lumber and other types of dry goods were passing through. So the issue really came forward as what are our priorities and have we learned any lessons from last season’s highway closure.

I’m not taking a personal issue with the fact that the department was doing some due diligence by ensuring that the public has known, but I think MLAs are critical to be part of the solution to ensure that we can provide information in a timelier way. People look to us. When my neighbour walks across the street and says, “What the heck is happening?” I say, “I don’t know, but I just e-mailed the Minister and I’m waiting for an answer myself.” We cannot have that type of solution. Here is the opportunity, and I’ll finish it by saying I’ll have some questions about solutions during question period. Thank you.

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Improved Communications Policies Regarding Highway Closures

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Flexible Employment Opportunities

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even knowing the opportunities for Member’s statements during this short session are few, I would want to take time today to profile the need for and importance of providing flexibility in part-time versus full-time jobs in government and in our communities. This simple but key act yields benefits ranging from an enhanced quality of life to a healthier society and the retention and attraction of NWT workers and families. The far-reaching impact of this modest tweak to employment patterns is something that job providers throughout the Northwest Territories, both public and private, really need to pay heed to.

Time and time again people tell me they want jobs that give them more time to engage in the community outside of work. They want what we want: increased self-sufficiency, diverse economic opportunities, time for volunteer work and involvement in neighbourhood and community support and quality family time, especially with

young children. Well, even my good friend Peter McKay today exemplifies exactly this. People realize life is about more than a paycheque. They are looking for healthier, compassionate and more well-rounded lives. Businesses find challenges filling jobs, though they are much quicker to realize the need to offer different opportunities to employers like adjusting work time. The GNWT has difficulty filling hundreds of positions, with 500 to 700 empty at any one time.

We claim that temporary foreign workers are required to fill many of the available traditionally configured jobs. Perhaps a new approach is called for. I am always saddened when a hardworking and valued employee approaches the employer to request a change to half or three-quarter time and the ask is denied with little attempt to accommodate. Typically the employee is seeking a chance for personal development, home construction or renovation, volunteering in civil society or care of an ailing family member. Such rejection of engagement leads to the loss of a dedicated long-term employee and loss of all broader benefits.

We had shoehorned ourselves into defining jobs as one person year, no matter what the job is. I don’t buy it. Granted, it may be difficult initially to decline the work in ways that full, half, three-quarter or two-thirds steps can do, but the workforce, family, employer and, indeed, community benefits would soon outweigh that initial difficulty.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Flexible Employment Opportunities

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Job sharing, seasonal jobs and reduced-time jobs are important factors in the quality of life. Providing people with job opportunities geared to today’s northern lifestyle would yield happier and more productive workers with healthier families and communities. It may well yield improved attention and attraction of new northern families.

I urge this government to pursue this opportunity soon, and I will have questions for the Minister. Mahsi.

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Flexible Employment Opportunities

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Early Childhood Program Governance And Funding

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to revisit the subject of daycares and daycare funding. Over the years this government has repeatedly professed that children are important and that we care for our children, but the actions they’ve taken belie their words.

We don’t have many licenced daycares in the territory. Lots of communities have no daycare at all. Those licenced daycares which do exist in the NWT can get some funding from Education, Culture and Employment to help them with their operations, but it’s well-known that the current funding opportunities are not really working for them. For example, daycares are still funded based on daily attendance of children, an onerous and time-consuming practice that does not provide stable funding for the licenced daycare operator.

Education, Culture and Employment has, since last fall, been reviewing the Early Childhood Program with a focus on funding and governance. There are seven pages of the terms of reference for the review on the Education, Culture and Employment website, and it indicates that a report was due on March 31st of this year. Information went out late

last year to daycares about a survey they could participate in, and a symposium was to be held. According to the survey request from ECE, the focus of input was to be on administration and funding processes. Strangely, the survey targeted front-line staff, those working directly with children, those not usually involved in administrative duties. Why not target managers and operators?

But I’m very glad that this review was undertaken. It was long overdue. Little has been heard of the results of the review, however. Did the work actually get done? Was the symposium held? What were the results of the survey and the symposium? Was a report completed by March 31st as was

required by the terms of reference? Does the department have recommendations from the review for improvements to the administration and funding of daycares? Will we finally see changes to the way that daycares are funded? I have lots of questions and could find no answers anywhere on the Education, Culture and Employment website.

Changes are very much needed and I hope that change is coming. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE . I hope he will have the answers that I and others seek. Thank you.

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Early Childhood Program Governance And Funding

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . Member for Inuvik Boot Lake , Mr. Moses .

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Respite Care Services

Members’ Statements

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An aging population and aging family support system have major implications on our health care systems but, more importantly, on our respite services that are provided throughout the Northwest Territories and in our communities. I’ll take it a little bit further than that. It’s not only the aging population but we do have people in the Northwest Territories, whether it be a child or an adult, who are living with a disability or a chronic health condition. It could be physical, mental and, in some cases, cognitive impairment,

and they need assistance in their home, and their families need assistance providing those respite care services.

I want to talk about respite care services, talk about home care services, providing support workers, and even support for the support workers, creating instrumental activities so people who are under these conditions can actually live a daily lifestyle that you and I share, Mr. Speaker, or help them get reintegrated back into society.

Respite care has been reported to reduce the burden on families with family members who have developmental disabilities at home, relieves family stress, improves family functioning and also reduces social isolation for people with a chronic condition or disability. It gets them out in the community.

I know when we’ve extended health care services, we do provide long-term care services, we provide day programming, we do have home care services in the communities, but when you talk to our home care support staff, when you only have one in a community, they’re overburdened with the amount of elders they have to visit, the amount of children they have to visit, the amount of people who have developmental disabilities or other physical impairments.

We do have a lot of challenges in the Northwest Territories. For instance, we have eight communities without a nurse. We have health centres that are aging and depleting. We also have some facilities that don’t have gyms and other facilities where we can hold these day programs, and we also have some human resources issues, and more importantly, there’s always a financial burden when it comes to these kinds of discussions.

Most families pay out of pocket for respite services. In fact, those who can’t pay for it actually go without respite services.

I will be asking questions of the Minister of Health today how we can address those issues and give people who need that assistance the assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Respite Care Services

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes , Mr. McLeod.

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Spring Graduation Ceremonies

Members’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to have track tryouts this afternoon out back. If you can walk that far, you’re on the team.

This is a great time across the Northwest Territories. With all the graduation ceremonies that are going on, it’s just a very positive time. In Inuvik we have a number of ceremonies that are taking

place. It starts right from the four-year-olds, the Aboriginal Head Start program, with their little gowns and they graduate into kindergarten. We have our kindergarten children graduating into Grade 1.

Then on Saturday in Inuvik, the East Three Secondary School is having their high school graduation ceremony. I think they have over 30 students this year graduating, so congratulations to them.

The learning centre, those who have gone back to try and upgrade their schooling so they could get into college, they’re having their completion ceremony, if they haven’t had it already.

At Aurora Campus a couple weeks ago, Member Moses and I had the privilege of attending. They had their convocation ceremony. They had a fantastic theme this year. It was Our Elders, Cultures and Traditions. They had the gym all decorated up with tents, and it was just a fantastic ceremony. I was pleased to be part of it.

There are a lot of proud families across the Northwest Territories; there’s a lot of positive energy; there’s a lot of enthusiasm; and I think we have to do what we can, as legislators, to tap into that positive energy and enthusiasm and work to give all our young people an opportunity. I think this government and governments before and governments that come after us will do that. We’ll work hard to give them an opportunity to further their education and make sure they come home to work.

I would like all Members to join me in congratulating all graduates across the Northwest Territories. This is a great time for all their families and themselves. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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Spring Graduation Ceremonies

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ramsay .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always a great day when we get students visiting us here at the Legislative Assembly. I have two great schools in my riding. One of those schools is St. Joseph School. I was mentioning to the kids out in the Great Hall earlier that I was a student at St. Joseph in Grade 6. So, it’s great to see them here visiting the Assembly today. This is a Grade 6 class. The teacher’s name is Amanda Delaurier.

I’ll go through the students’ names: Jasmine Balsillie, Nolan Elliot, Aron Nathaniel Gomes, Avery Hacala, Tori Hamm, Keegan Head, Makayla Lane, Landon Lavers, Julia Leonardis, Elijah Loos, James MacCara, Lennie Mager, Juliet Mcguire, Raven Mutford, Madison Penney, Marianne Richard, Kyle Rogers, Katie Schauerte,

Olivia Talen, Ellie Mia Taylor and also Alyssa Vornbrock-Jaeb. Now, we had another class. I’m not sure if they’re up there, Ms. Booth’s class. If they’re up there, it looks like they’re gone, but I also want to thank Ms. Booth and her Grade 5/6 students who were here earlier visiting the Assembly. Thanks.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Mr. Menicoche .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to have another student from Bompas Elementary join us here today and it’s my very own stepdaughter, Ms. Brittany Jewel Kendo. Welcome to the gallery. I just want to say she has been training hard to attend the track and field meet in Hay River as well. So, good luck with that.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you. Mr. Bromley .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize our Pages today, particularly Emma Willoughby. I’m not sure if she’s in the House at this moment, but she’s around somewhere. Also, of course, I’d like to recognize her mother, Catherine Boyd, in the gallery with us today. Thanks very much for all of the things you do on behalf of the MLAs.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley . Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I missed the name of the young man for whom we applauded, but I just want to say there is a leader. As soon as Minister Ramsay started calling out the names, he pointed at every single person that was being introduced. They maybe were shy to introduce themselves, but he did that. Hey, you need one in every crowd. Way to go. Welcome.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . I’d like to welcome everybody here. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings here today. It is always good to see youth in the House. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to Minister Ramsay ’s statement today on morel mushrooms, I have a few questions. We have seen the morel mushroom pickers converge on Hay River. It’s an interesting group, the ones who are from outside of the Northwest Territories. You can recognize them readily. “Hi. You must be here to pick mushrooms.” That’s what I usually say to them. I can’t tell you why I recognize them, but anyway, they are coming in and the Minister has

indicated that this is an industry that could result in millions of dollars for harvesters. They say the department has offered on-site workshops.

I guess I have some concerns. It sounds like even from the Minister’s statement it’s creating a little tourism because there’s no rain, so there are no mushrooms to pick. So we’ve got all these people hanging around. So, good on Kakisa for taking an opportunity to do a little cultural awareness. That’s really great.

But anybody coming into the Northwest Territories who wants to fish, harvest firewood, transport goods into our territory, be a vendor in our territory, or even wants to go on a trip on the land, they generally have to check in with somebody. So here’s my concern. You have a lot of people from down south. No doubt the Northerners may be aware of some of the dangers of being in the bush, but these people say they’ve got camps set up all over the place.

I say, “Where’s your camp?” “Oh, it’s 150 miles down, you know, the Kakisa River, or wherever.” I’m concerned that, yes, this may generate a lot of money, but how much is it going to cost us when one campfire or one cigarette butt goes into our extremely dry forest and burns the Northwest Territories down? Thank you.

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all the authorities in the Northwest Territories we continue to work with, of course, the RCMP, ENR monitoring these camps and where people are. There is no requirement for them to check in. Many of them are working for somebody else who would know where they’re at.

The Member has a valid point and that’s something I’ll discuss with the department, and because we have had a lack of rain, although there is some rain in the forecast for next week, we’re hoping to get rain on Tuesday and possibly Thursday, which will help the harvest and help with potential forest fire danger here in the territory. We’ll get a more thorough response for the Member on monitoring the pickers who are here, where they’re at, and that is a very important issue. Thank you.

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

I would like to ask the Minister of ITI to share with the Assembly the risk-benefit analysis that the department has undertaken to determine how this territory would gain from allowing hundreds of non-resident harvesters to pick mushrooms on the land who will not pay income tax to the GNWT and, at the same time, will put the territory at great risk either for rescuing them or dealing with their emergencies or, as I said, starting fires that we know costs millions of dollars to suppress. What is the cost-benefit analysis of that being done? It’s a great idea. Come

on up here and pick mushrooms, but it’s worrisome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Not only are we seeing an influx of pickers from western Canada who are showing up in the Northwest Territories, but through the work of the department we are trying to get local people interested in this harvest. That’s why we’re putting on the workshops. That’s why we’re doing the walking tours. It is going to have an economic impact. The pickers who do show up here are going to eat at restaurants, they are going to stay in our parks and campgrounds, they are going to buy gas and supplies from local stores.

There is going to be an economic benefit to having them here, but we are trying our best to ensure that the benefits of the morel harvest this summer accrue to people in the Northwest Territories, pickers here in the Northwest Territories.

We’ve had a great deal of interest. I mentioned in my Minister’s statement that 1,200 residents attended the workshops here in the NWT. Our belief here is there is going to be a very good harvest once the rain hits next week and we will see some economic benefit. We haven’t, to my knowledge, done a complete cost-benefit analysis on what it would be. We don’t really know, as I mentioned in my Minister’s statement, and there are a lot of variables. Things like weather, supply and demand, a number of variables there.

We haven’t done that, but once this morel season is over, perhaps we could take a look and try to quantify what the economic uptake was on the harvest this summer. The most important thing is we are trying to get local people out to harvest the morels.

Last March we had second reading given to a proposed amendment to the Forest Management Act, which would allow the Minister of ENR to make regulations in respect to the harvest of timber forest products, which would include mushrooms. This is moving forward as well. We have to concentrate on the local economic uptake on this. That’s local people picking morel mushrooms. Thank you.

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

You can’t come into the Northwest Territories and take one fish out of our rivers or lakes without a

non-resident fishing licence. You can’t hunt, you can’t kill an animal, yet you can come in here and be part of what is being touted as come and make $500 or $1,000 a day.

Why can’t there be a registry of some kind set up at the border where they are all coming in on rubber tire traffic? Why can’t there be some kind of a registry that the RCMP could have access to, to see who these folks are? So we could contact families if they went missing, just like you do when you are going on a canoe trip somewhere. You register with somebody, at least. It would be really nice to know who they are and where they are.

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I mentioned the regulatory change that’s going to be required. That is being conducted through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. For us, if you are going to be conducting business in the Northwest Territories, we have a Business Licence Act here in the NWT. It’s administered through Municipal and Community Affairs. It requires businesses operating in the Northwest Territories to obtain a business licence, which may provide ENR the means to measure the extent of the industry at this time.

We also have a requirement that employers must be registered with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission to conduct business where there are employees or employers. In the Northwest Territories, we also do not have trespass laws, which challenge the ability to restrain activities on private land. Again, there is going to be some regulatory changes coming. They won’t, however, impact the 2015 morel harvesting season. Thank you.

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Question 833-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvesting Concerns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Member for Range Lake , Mr. Dolynny .

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member’s statement earlier today, I referenced that the GNWT received a failing D-plus grade in its financial reporting from the esteemed C.D. Howe Institute.

Can the Minister indicate if his department reviewed the C.D. Howe findings? Thank you.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny . Minister of Finance , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to point out the report the Member talked about has good information in it. I do want to make a distinction, though. It doesn’t talk about how well we are run financially, our Aa1 credit rating and that we are well situated in terms of managing ourselves, one of the best jurisdictions in the country, but that is how we present that information through our public processes that need work.

We are looking at it. I hadn’t looked at it until the Member kindly gave me the indication that he is going to raise this today. I have gone online to take a look and we will look forward to the rest of the Member’s questions. Thank you.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

I do appreciate the Minister’s response. When a Canadian research institute gives you not only an outright failing grade of D-plus but also tells you your financial reporting would bewilder the average person, I believe you have a problem.

Does the Minister at least agree with these findings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

I will indicate that I’m going to read that report and we are going to look closely at where the shortfalls are. I have looked at the chart. There are some things we are doing, some things that need improvement and other jurisdictions that had very good grades. Of course, we will check to see how they format their financial information to see what the best way to move forward would be. We would look at doing that in consultation and collaboration with the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning as we look forward to a potential upgrade and improvement to the financial information presentation of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Earlier this year the CFIB, or the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, gave this same government an F for red tape. Coupled with this information we are hearing from the C.D. Howe Institute, it does create some concern in terms of our financial reporting as well as the amount of red tape we make our residents endure.

So, with that, does the Minister agree that his department has much work to do to improve both financial reporting and our red tape burden? Thank you.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business report is marginally helpful. In my mind, they have a very narrow list of things that they consider when they make their grades. They don’t look at the tons of work we’ve done with online reporting, the improving of our procedures, the accountability issues, the investment we’re making to speed up to be able to do things like online buying of registrations, doing all the things the government requires when going online.

But, yes, we recognize that as a system we need to constantly look at improving how we do our business. I acknowledge that we are interested in that kind of ongoing, continuous quality of improvement. I’ve already indicated how we would be intending to proceed. Thank you.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny .

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

Daryl Dolynny

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am encouraged to hear that we are improving.

With that, can the Minister indicate what work is underway in the Finance department right now that will ensure the GNWT receives a better grade next year when C.D. Howe does its work, especially in the area of transparent financial reporting? Thank you.

HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER : Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re already in the process of planning for the capital plan for next year as well as the initial business planning process. So we are going to be looking at the format. We’ll see if there are any things that come out right away that could be done in the short term, mid-term, long term. We don’t want to run holus-bolus here. We have to understand what’s in the report, the detail, and we have to look at other jurisdictions, check the landscape, not try to reinvent the wheel. So, we will take careful, measured steps as we continue to provide a very, very well-run financial system for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 834-17(5): Improving Financial Accountability

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger . Member for Hay River North , Mr. Bouchard .

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have some questions for the Minister of ITI , as well, about the morel mushroom industry and the gold rush, or the mushroom rush that we have going on.

My question that I have: Is the department and other departments in the GNWT, is there some sort of joint task force that’s discussing the issues that are coming from this? I would see maybe RCMP, ENR, ITI, MACA, Lands being all issues to deal with this issue. Is there a joint task force? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard . Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the department continues to work with our partners at ENR, at MACA, through the Department of Justice with the RCMP and other departments as we continue to try to get as much out of this morel opportunity as we possibly can. We can’t do this alone. There’s a number of agencies and other departments that are involved. Thank you.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Yes, I do see a couple things that ITI does, and maybe we can get more information on this this season. I know the department does some parks surveys. Are we doing surveys maybe of pickers, whether they’re local or southern? Are we getting some sort of

information of how many Northerners are actually going out and doing picking? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Judging by the success of the workshops that we’ve put on with 1,200 residents taking part, we’re going to see a much greater number of local people in the Northwest Territories participating in the harvest this coming summer. You know, good ideas. I heard a good idea from Mrs. Groenewegen , another good idea with the surveys from Mr. Bouchard . We’re just moving into this. I think ideas like that, we can hopefully take those and incorporate them in our planning.

As far as whether or not we are planning a survey, I’d have to go back and see if the department has any plans to survey pickers on whether they’re local or they’re coming from the South, and I will get that information back to the Member. That is something that we will take into consideration. Thank you.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

I think the Department of ITI also does exit surveys of tourists and I would see these as being… Maybe look at them as well as tourists coming into the North.

Is there a way that we could do a survey of them, even maybe, like Mrs. Groenewegen mentioned, a registration, a voluntary registration that, you know, I’ve come to the Northwest Territories to do picking? You know, I’m expected to be in the Kakisa area, that type of stuff. Maybe a registration and an exit survey of those people who are here for morel mushrooms. Thank you.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

That could work if it was done at the entry to the Northwest Territories south of Fort Liard and also the 60th parallel. Most of the

pickers that would come to the Northwest Territories from the South would, of course, come by vehicle, so we probably could get a good indication on numbers with a survey at those two locations. Some may come by plane. As far as surveying local pickers, that shouldn’t be too difficult to do either. So, again, it’s a fair idea and a good idea, and we will take that into consideration. Thank you.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard .

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

Robert Bouchard

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know some of these people are from different jurisdictions, but obviously they’re coming to the Northwest Territories. We know that we’re in a drought situation. They may want to live in the Northwest Territories permanently, so we should probably promote that as well.

I know already in the process that we’re seeing pressure under our ITI facilities, our parks facilities. Is there a plan for the Department of ITI to look at how they’re going to use those facilities? I know there are people who are not actually staying in

those facilities but using the showers and washrooms in those types of facilities. What are we doing to deal with that type of pressure? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Where there’s access to a campground with facilities, contractors can charge a fee to use the facilities in the campground. I think that’s up to the contractor. The services are there. People need to pay for those services. Pickers who are in the area can utilize those services, and the contractor is going to be making more revenue as a result of that. Thank you.

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Question 835-17(5): Morel Mushroom Harvest

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about how necessary good and vital communications are. Rather than stressing and saying this is sort of a bad situation of how communication didn’t work, I actually would rather look at it as here we have a fantastic opportunity to do things well and to certainly build on the lessons we learned from last summer.

We have many vital industries out there such as the folks who carry and stock groceries on our shelves day to day. That’s not just all of them, that’s just one area. There are many other areas.

I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation , what can he do to ensure that his communication folks will start to work in tandem with folks like the grocery industry and allow them to identify other areas that are absolutely vital, critical in this particular case, of keeping our shelves stocked with good food and priority items that are necessary?

The last point I’m saying, there may even be medical issues such as industries that need timely delivery of medical goods, et cetera, that need to be included in this list. There’s a huge opportunity.

What can the Minister do to start to sort this out so that they’re on a priority call list? Thank you.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Minister of Transportation , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has been advised that we had done an excellent job in communicating with the folks last year during the fire season. We’re going to continue and, in fact, maybe enhance some of the areas that we had communicated to the people and to industry from last year. We have Twitter. We have a website. We also have a toll-free website and also the toll-free telephone, so we’re able to communicate with people, and people are able to communicate with us.

On contacting the actual people like the grocery stores or the hospitals and so on, we’re afraid that if we reach out to them, then we may miss somebody, and that could become a bit of an issue. So, we’re asking individuals to contact us through those media methods, and we try to do our best to try to accommodate everyone who needs accommodation for the highway closures. Thank you.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Well, not contacting anybody misses everybody. Hoping that they’re on Twitter, we don’t know who we’re contacting and there’s no guarantee that they’re following that up. Heck, I’ve been informing schools like, for example, St. Pat’s, have things that’s called the Phone Tree and they build networks so they know to whom they communicate. What better way to develop a phone or e-mail tree that we communicate with this? It’s not foreign technology; it’s darn good customer service who we should be serving as the public, namely in this particular case, grocery stores, medical supply, whatever makes sense.

If we miss anybody, I’ll assure you, they’ll contact you right away and say we want to be on this list, and the department could evaluate it.

So, under that circumstance as I’ve described it, would the Minister go back and re-evaluate this concept? It seemed like a good idea when the Minister and I talked about this on Tuesday. I don’t know what happened between Tuesday and today.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

I think maybe I didn’t want to be misunderstood who we are… We’ll reach out to some of the key grocery stores, for sure, and then some of the other things will be expanded upon and we can reach out. But there’s always that fear that we will miss someone and that may become an issue.

What we’re asking for, if we made contact, is maybe to provide them for…because we would like to have regular contact beyond just the one contact, to let them know that the highway is going to close. But to try to set up a system where, if there’s going to be anticipation that the highway may close, maybe to provide them information how they could contact us, because we don’t know what their needs are and what needs to be brought into the city by highway. So, it would be a good system, we believe, that has worked last year.

Aside from everybody being shut down for 39 days out of the 25 different times that we shut down the highway, no one was actually cut off and prevented…(inaudible)…outside of the times when we were shut down for everyone.

We will try to improve the communication on what we’ve done, but our priority is safety, and people will travel the highway when it’s safe to do so. Thank you.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

There’s very little I can disagree with in the last statement made by the Minister, but

the fact is he’s missing a point about vital communications. There’s the general information, which I think the Minister gets and he just spoke very well on it, but there’s also the vital information that needs to be carried forward, and I’m not talking about emergency.

As I said in my Member’s statement, if we gave about four days’ notice, the grocery stores can fully stock up for the long haul. If we gave them two days’ notice, they could get the bread, the eggs, whatever the case may be, milk, here in this community or any community along the road that could be in a part ban or closure situation. That’s the type of list I’m talking about. We’re not talking about thousands of people on the phone or e-mail list; we’re talking probably less than a dozen people, half a dozen people.

If the Minister isn’t willing to do it himself, frankly the question is this: If I go make a list and find key contacts in those industries, would the Minister be willing to use that list as a priority contact list so we can give the people the critical kind of notice that they would need to ensure that their industries are serving the public, which we should be doing as well?

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

We will do everything we can to try to keep the traffic flowing on the highway, so if there is a list… It becomes a difficulty to try to anticipate when the road will be shut down. Last year we found that to be difficult to anticipate. But if there are fires near the highway, communications and Environment and Natural Resources will stay in touch with them. If we’re able to determine that we might have to shut the road down two days out, four days out, whatever, I will be prepared to accept a list from the Member and provide that to the departments, and the departments can touch base with those organizations that need to know in advance if there’s going to be a highway closure.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that. I appreciate the Minister’s answer and certainly the willingness to develop and work on something, and I’ll certainly get to work on it right away.

I’ve already been working on it, so frankly, I’m glad to hear the words “will be used.”

The last question is about priority. The Minister had talked about keeping traffic flowing. Actually, that’s interesting he said that, because I’ve got reports from industry that they’ve allowed non-perishable goods, things like lumber and whatnot, to travel through the highway system when convoys were allowed to travel through certain periods, but things like eggs and milk and perishable goods and food goods that are critical had been left on the side.

Sort of the old when you show up, you get to go through.

All I’m getting at with this illustration here is there must be a way the Department of Transportation could probably work with the Enterprise weigh station or whatever the case may be, to come up with a priority system that if you’re bringing perishable goods through the system, you get to keep them moving along, as well, with people. It’s just, I’d hate to see skidoos come forward before eggs. Thank you.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

When the highway is closed and we open up for our convoys, everyone that is at the convoy or waiting, we’ll use Fort Providence as an example, everyone that’s waiting there gets to go.

Now, I believe that we may have had situations where there were people en route with essential goods between Enterprise and Fort Providence and that we didn’t wait. We opened and closed the convoy before they were able to get to Fort Providence and, due to safety reasons, were unable to go further than that. What we’re going to do is we’re going to work with the people at the weigh scales and the industry that will be hauling, and if there is a situation where we know that there are some essential goods moving between Enterprise and Fort Providence and we’re ready to open a convoy, we’ll wait for them. Thank you.

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Question 836-17(5): Communications Policies Regarding Road Closures

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and I want to follow up on my statement. I asked a whole slew of questions in my statement and I’d like to ask some of those to the Minister now about the Early Childhood Program review, which the department has apparently been doing since sometime last fall, since September, October, I’m not exactly sure when it started.

My first question to the Minister would be to get an update on whether or not the work was done. Was the review done? There was a symposium that was supposed to be held. Can I get an update on the activities in regard to this review since last year? Thank you.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Early Childhood Development Framework, the framework action plan has been in the works for quite some time now and we felt that it was necessary and important that we engaged

the stakeholders, the operators, the early childhood workers, the front-line workers, the managers, and so we invited them to participate either by phone or interview or in person. So we’ve conducted those processes as well. The review also includes licensing processes and Healthy Children Initiative funding. There’s also Small Communities Initiative funding, child care subsidy funding. So the discussions, we’ve gotten feedback from a majority of the operators. I believe there’s 102 out of 113 licenced child care operators that returned the feedback. So we are currently reviewing those.

The symposium that we had last year has been very successful to date. So, we wanted to have another one this year as well.

So, those are some of the processes that we are going through. Mahsi.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. He mentioned a lot of types of funding. My understanding was that this was a review of licenced daycare operations, governance and funding for daycare operators. I appreciate that they’re reviewing the information, but according to the terms of reference, which I found on the website, there was supposed to be a report as of the 31st of March of 2015.

So I’d like to ask the Minister, you’ve got answers from some 100-plus operators. Two things. Did it include the Montessori Children’s Centre here in Yellowknife? I don’t believe it did. Secondly, was there a report? I gather the report was not done March 31st . When is it going to be done? Thank

you.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

As I stated earlier, those operators in the Northwest Territories were invited for their input; and Montessori, I can’t really speak to that organization, but I’m pretty sure they were invited to provide input. If not, then they should be allowed to provide input into our Early Childhood Development Framework.

We want to hear from each and every operator in the Northwest Territories. Not only that but the terms of reference obviously stated that we needed to conclude by March 31, 2015.

As you know, the engagement has been extended to various organizations and early childhood workers and operators. We are in the process of dealing with a universal child care study, as well, so we wanted to wait until that information is available to us. So, we’re dealing with all these issues that are coming at us, but this obviously takes a lot of effort and a lot of time to consolidate all of the information, the feedback that we receive. Now we are going through those processes. Mahsi.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

The letter that I saw asking for input, there was a list of daycare operators on the back. It did not include the Montessori. I’d ask the Minister

to specifically extend an invitation to the Montessori Centre to ask for input.

I thought I heard the Minister say that there are lots of things going on. I appreciate that. There’s the universal child care review that’s also being done, but I didn’t hear from the Minister when he expects that the results of this particular investigation will be coming forward. So, can I ask again, this particular looking at governance and funding of licenced daycare operators, when can we expect to see a report on this canvassing for information? Thank you.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

As I stated earlier, we are compiling all of the program reviews. This Early Childhood Framework is one of them and the universal child care study, the review that’s been undertaken by my department, collecting all of the data, information and compiling all of the information within my department. We are currently reviewing those processes as well.

With respect to the dates, I won’t be able to give an answer today as to when it will be completed, but this will be a transitional document for the new government because it will deal with the new funding. The funding has been identified by the operators, what’s working, what’s not working. So, it will be a part of the transitional document that will be before this House. Mahsi.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister: I have to say that I am very dismayed. I am quite surprised. This is something that started last September, October, and now we have to wait until the 18th Assembly for any kind of change to

take place. I’m very dismayed. I urge the Minister to get it done sooner. Thank you.

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Question 837-17(5): Early Childhood Program Review

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro . More of a comment. Mr. Moses .

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to respite care. As I mentioned, when you look at it, respite care is actually more beneficial and could be less cost to government keeping the individuals in their homes rather than having to put them into institutional care, putting them into long-term centres or sending them down south into other institutions that provide services that we don’t have here in the Northwest Territories.

So, my first question to the Minister is: Can I get an update or see what the department is doing for in-home respite care? That’s where people go into the home, more like home care, but on more of a permanent basis. I’m not talking about the aging

population, I’m talking about people who have disabilities, whether they’re mental, physical or have cognitive impairments, and every year we have 216 new cases of diabetes in the Northwest Territories. Those are people who need care, as well, who are not very mobile.

So, I’d like to ask the Minister, what is the department doing for in-home respite care for on more of a permanent basis, not just the home care visits? Thank you.

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses . Minister of Health , Mr. Abernethy .

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to start by just talking about some of the programs that we actually have with respect to respite. I did agree with the Member’s statement. Respite is an incredibly valuable service and I’ve been a supporter of respite services in the Northwest Territories for many years. We do have respite services provided through home care programs, and the NWT Home and Community Care Program provides respite services, mainly for caregivers of adults whose disability is a result of illness or a chronic health condition, while social respite for caregivers of children with complex care needs is often provided, when available, by NGOs in communities.

We do have a number of NGOs that we support. Two NGOs are receiving funding to provide community-based respite services for people living with disabilities. We provide $250,000 of federal funding that’s allocated to the Yellowknife Association for Community Living through the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority for community-based respite in Yellowknife, Detah and Ndilo.

We also provide $227,553 through the GNWT to the NWT Disabilities Council for community-based respite as well. That’s done in Aklavik, Fort Smith and Deline. On top of that, the NWT Disabilities Council does get some additional funding through some of the individual authorities to provide community-based respite service for people living with disabilities in communities like Hay River, Inuvik and Paulatuk. We also have some respite beds within our long-term care facilities that are available for families who need a bit of a break.

There are other things we are doing. I did speak earlier today about the companion booklet for caregivers being developed to provide information and assistance to families who are providing care for individuals in these situations.

This isn’t enough. We need to continue to do more. We need to continue to improve our services. To that end, we are going to be providing a pilot for a flexible respite model to do the exact thing the Member is talking about. This hasn’t yet been operationalized. We will maybe call to the

authorities to see which authorities are interested in being part of that pilot. We pilot with one authority and we are hoping to get into one or two communities. This is a two-year pilot and it will help us inform how we provide respite services or how we support respite services moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

I’m glad to hear of all the services that are provided. In particular to the question I was asking is what is the department doing for in-home respite services? If somebody has a cognitive impairment or has a physical disability where they’re not able to get out and they need that longer-term service and it’s putting a lot of stress on the family, what is the department doing for the person who is home all day and providing services for several hours of the day? Do we have a program set up and is the department looking at addressing that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

There are a couple of different ways, as I articulated previously. There is the Home Care Program where we can have individuals go in, but it is limited and it’s not in all communities. We are looking through this pilot to find ways to expand that out to more communities, but we need more time to do the assessment.

There are also the NGOs. We should be incredibly proud of the work the NGOs are doing, whether it’s YACL or the NWT Disabilities Council. They can provide respite services exactly as the Member is describing for individuals in certain communities. They are always looking for ways to push out to the other communities and they have been working very closely with the authorities and the authorities continue to do what they can. I believe the pilot is going to give us the information we need and give us the opportunity to roll out this flexible respite model.

I also strongly encourage the Member to promote the Caregivers Handbook, which provides people with a lot of resources on how they can have positive experiences, provide support to their family members and also take care of themselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

I have always been a strong supporter of the Disabilities Council and I’m glad there is funding that our government provides to do some of these services.

I want to ask the Minister, has he had any talks with these NGOs on how they are spending their dollars in terms of in-home respite for people who are stuck in the house with these disabilities? Has he talked to the NGOs and if they are providing those types of services? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I have a fairly decent relationship with the NWT Disabilities Council. We meet on a fairly regular basis to talk about the different programming they are providing and how we can work together, and we have been able to work together on many fronts. I also know the

department monitors and follows up on the contributions they are providing, to see if the services are being met. All this information is going to be important moving forward to enhance this pilot to see how we can actually move out to the communities where we aren’t getting the respite services the Member is describing. We do need the time to complete this pilot and we’re looking forward to moving forward with that pilot. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy . Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses .

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Question 838-17(5): Respite Care Services

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I mentioned we also need support for the support workers. I also mentioned in eight communities we don’t have nurses, which is a big challenge for elders and people living with disabilities.

So, I want to ask the Minister, what is his department doing in the recruitment and retention of home care staff that we have in the Northwest Territories right now? Is he looking to recruit more home care workers so they get a break as well? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 838-