Debates of March 7th, 2018

This is page numbers 3681 – 3720 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was housing .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Improving Supports For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder And Autism

Indigenous Languages In Schools And Communities

Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy

Federal Infrastructure Funding

Partnerships On Suicide Prevention

Recognition Of Ruby Jumbo, Recipient Of Senior Administrative Officer Of The Year 2017 Award By The Local Government Association Of The Northwest Territories

Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Power Corporation Challenges

Fraser Institute Annual Survey Of Mining Companies 2017

Personal Information Disclosure For Public Housing Tenants

Rental Office Application Processing Time

Post-Secondary Education In The Northwest Territories

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Improving Rental Office Performance

Mining Investment Climate

Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Stroke Management Services And Support

Disclosure Of Income Information To Northwest Territories Housing Corporation

Aurora College Foundational Review And Post-Secondary Education

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Applications To The Rental Office

Tabled Document 111-18(3): Letter To Minister Bennett From Gary Vivian, President NWT & Nunavut Chamber Of Mines Regarding Northern Minerals Industry Submission On The Arctic Policy Framework, Dated February 28, 2018

Tabled Document 112-18(3): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 119-18(3): Medical Travel Coverage

Tabled Document 113-18(3): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 139-18(3): Waste Water Resource Management Strategy

Tabled Document 116-18(3): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 186-18(3): Perimeter Fence Repair At The North Slave Correctional Complex

Tabled Document 117-18(3): Fraser Institute Annual Survey Of Mining Companies 2017

Tabled Document 118-18(3): Joint Letter From Downstream Indigenous Communities Regarding The Site C Dam

Tabled Document 120-18(3): Site C Project Not In Keeping With Aboriginal Treaty Rights Or Un Declaration: Bellegarde', Vancouver Sun, September 11, 2016

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Members Present

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

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services

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Minister's Statement 49-18(3): Improving Supports For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder And Autism

Ministers' Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, our government made a mandate commitment to ensure that effective supports and programs are in place for persons with disabilities. The NWT Disability Review and Renewal Project is part of that commitment. Through this work, the government has identified the challenges residents with complex disabilities, such as autism or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD, have in accessing assessment and diagnostic services across the territory. Identifying these challenges is an important step towards putting effective supports in place for persons with these disabilities.

Children living with autism or FASD require ongoing assessment, intervention, and follow-up support through an integrated care approach that involves the children, the family, and many different practitioners, including pediatricians, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, audiologists, social workers, and child development team coordinators.

Currently, the Department of Health and Social Services supports at-risk children and families through early intervention screening as part of the NWT Well Child Clinics, rehabilitation services, the Stanton Territorial Hospital Child Development Team, and the territorial FASD Family and Community Support Program.

The Child Development Team works with families and community service providers to provide medical and therapeutic intervention services to each individual child, based on findings from a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. The team also monitors and revises an intervention plan that is specifically tailored to each child. This specialized support is offered to children with autism and FASD in the Dehcho, Tlicho, and the Yellowknife areas.

The FASD Family and Community Support Program assesses children up to 16 years of age for FASD. Where a diagnosis is made, this territorial program develops and implements intervention strategies for these children. It accepts referrals from healthcare providers and social workers across the NWT. Currently this program only covers 10 FASD assessments per year. Following their 17th birthday, patients are referred to the same support services offered to all residents with disabilities so that support can continue in adulthood.

We hear from the NWT Disabilities Council, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, and the NWT Autism Society of the need for more support and to improve existing programs. This is why we proposed $848,000 in the 2018-2019 budget that will be used to enhance services for autism and FASD. Those enhancements will include a child development team coordinator in the Beaufort Delta region, as well as speech language pathology and occupational therapy autism coordinators for the child development team at Stanton Territorial Hospital. It will also provide funding to establish and enhance the existing Territorial FASD community and Family Support programming.

The department will also be working with the NWT Health and Social Services Authority towards establishing a territorial FASD assessment and support program for adults, as this is something that does not currently exist in this territory. This funding will allow the addition of an adult FASD assessment team coordinator. The Department of Health and Social Services also contributes to a national FASD database. This database is the first of its kind in the world and gathers detailed information about FASD assessments from across the country. This national database makes it possible for practitioners to better communicate and collaborate when it comes to different FASD assessment programs.

This year, the Government of the Northwest Territories is the lead jurisdiction of the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership, which contributes funding to the CanFASD Research Network. This network produces and sustains national collaborative research related to FASD. The partnership recently approved an FASD language guide that outlines common but unproductive language that is often used when speaking about FASD. The guide presents alternative, more respectful language and a rationale for its use.

By being involved in wider partnerships such as the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership, along with territorial and community organizations that represent the disability sector, our government is better positioned to receive reliable information we can use to improve the outcomes for our residents affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and autism.

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to removing barriers to access, to improve service quality, and to work to build stronger supports for all persons with disabilities. The actions I have outlined are some of the ways that we are working to provide the best health and the best care for all NWT residents, including those with autism and FASD. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 49-18(3): Improving Supports For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder And Autism

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Minister's Statement 50-18(3): Indigenous Languages In Schools And Communities

Ministers' Statements

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, Indigenous language revitalization is a shared responsibility. Language revitalization is not something that can be done solely alone by the schools. Rather, numerous stakeholders, including elders, Indigenous and community governments, language groups, and families must work together to see our nine Indigenous languages thrive.

Mr. Speaker, in the past year, including $5.9 million from the federal government, we have invested $11 million in Indigenous language revitalization, through Indigenous governments who have the authority and responsibility to design and deliver Indigenous language programming in their communities. In December, we invited Indigenous language experts to participate in conversations about defining the differences between language learning, language revitalization, and language acquisition. Participants worked on identifying where current initiatives fit in and learned about tools and strategies for language revitalization. Many programs are at different stages of development.

Initiatives include community projects, regional initiatives, and territorial approaches. Language classes for front-line staff, carving and sewing classes in the community language, and community phrasebooks are all good examples of community-based projects. Regional initiatives involve close collaboration between communities on projects, such as dictionaries and calendars, sharing resources and promotional materials across the region, and regional meetings.

At the territorial level, we are partnering with Indigenous governments, Aurora College, and southern universities on programs like the University of Alberta's Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development program, or the University of Victoria's Indigenous Language Revitalization program.

Mr. Speaker, in the last sitting I announced that the 2017 Northwest Territories Aboriginal Framework: A Shared Responsibility would soon have an accompanying action plan. The action plan is in the final stages of development and will be released in the May/June sitting.

At the same time, the Indigenous Languages Education Secretariat has continued its work on Indigenous language revitalization initiatives. We have made further investments in community radio stations for Indigenous language programming. Professional development opportunities have been offered and Indigenous language communities have been supported to deliver language and culture programming.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, it takes everyone working together to revitalize and increase access to Indigenous languages, but our schools are playing their part. Right now, in 19 of our schools, students are hearing and using Indigenous languages during their school routines and in interactions with staff and other students. These schools are piloting the new Indigenous languages curriculum, called Our Languages.

This curriculum promotes Indigenous language instruction in the classroom, but also encourages a whole-school approach to Indigenous language use. The Our Languages curriculum is not a graded program. It has five levels ranging from emergent to capable. A student's proficiency in a language, not their age or grade, determines the level at which they work. With feedback and input from this first-year pilot, the Our Languages curriculum will be further piloted throughout the territory in the 2019-2020 school year, in every classroom from junior kindergarten to grade 12.

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and as an Indigenous person, I find it deeply gratifying that our students have the opportunity to use and learn Indigenous languages in our Northwest Territories school system. We can all be proud to represent a territory that works so diligently to revitalize and increase access to our Indigenous languages. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 50-18(3): Indigenous Languages In Schools And Communities

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Minister's Statement 51-18(3): Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy

Ministers' Statements

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on the progress community governments and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs have made on implementation of the Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy. In spring 2016, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in partnership with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and community government representatives, launched the Asset Management Strategy. The strategy helps community councils and staff maximize benefits from their infrastructure investments. Implementation has been designed to be flexible and adaptable, to enable the effective application of asset management practices across all communities.

Over the past year, territorial and community government staff have been collecting detailed information about all community government assets. In the coming months, the first nine pilot communities will begin using asset management software to support their decision-making. The department and the Northwest Territories Association of Communities also worked closely with the Northern Communities Insurance Exchange to ensure up-to-date information on community government assets is integrated into the system. The software includes detailed asset information such as age, maintenance requirements, and potential suppliers.

Mr. Speaker, the Asset Management Strategy also supports the 18th Legislative Assembly's commitments to assist community governments as they innovate to address climate change and to improve their energy efficiency and conservation. The department has collaborated with the Association of Communities, community governments, and staff from the Department of Infrastructure and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to include preventative maintenance activities into the software. The preventative maintenance procedures include reminders, checklists, and guidance documents.

Current activities, such as monitoring snow loads, have been built into the system to support communities with the protection of their assets as they adapt to a changing climate. As we learn more about climate change impacts and new adaptive maintenance activities, additional procedures can easily be incorporated into the system. Mr. Speaker, community governments are continually faced with pressures to make investments in infrastructure and to deliver enhanced programs and services to their residents.

The Asset Management Strategy will support community governments with solid information for decisions related to extending the life and service potential of community assets. Asset management will maximize community governments' investments, as well as allowing for strategic investment of both federal and community infrastructural funding in retrofitting or building new infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 51-18(3): Northwest Territories Asset Management Strategy

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister's statements. Minister of Infrastructure .

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Minister's Statement 52-18(3): Federal Infrastructure Funding

Ministers' Statements

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, investments in effective and resilient infrastructure provide the foundation for a stronger North. Through infrastructure improvements, we can better connect communities to services they rely on, while mitigating the cost of living and doing business. Replacing or upgrading our assets increases our resiliency to the impacts of climate change and as we expand our infrastructure, we will support important economic development that provides residents with well-paying jobs and training opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has often worked in partnership with the federal government to deliver meaningful investments that have a transformative impact on our territory. I am pleased to say that earlier today we had the opportunity to announce another milestone in the partnership with the signing of the Integrated Bilateral Agreement for federal infrastructure funds under the Investing in Canada Plan.

Mr. Speaker, all funding under the agreement is being cost shared 75 per cent federal and 25 per cent territorial funding. The federal government's contribution will provide over $570 million to the Government of the Northwest Territories under various funding streams of the Investing in Canada Plan over the next 10 years. The Northwest Territories' contribution will come from a variety of sources and is approximately $190 million, meaning nearly $760 million in infrastructure funding in the North will be leveraged through the agreement.

The streams included in the agreement are the Green Infrastructure Fund; Public Transit Fund; Community, Culture and Recreation Fund; and Rural and Northern Communities Fund, which includes the Arctic Energy Fund.

Projects benefitting from this funding will also help support the mandate and priorities of this Legislative Assembly. Upgrades to community infrastructure will improve quality of life for residents and increase local capacity. Transportation projects, such as ongoing highway rehabilitation, will provide for safer and more efficient intercommunity mobility. Funding for energy projects will support the implementation of the 2030 Energy Strategy and Action Plan and help us meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and stabilize the cost of living.

Projects that support food security will increase the long-term stability of our communities. Expanded broadband connections will modernize our society and help address our ongoing communication technology requirements.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure expects to be prepared to submit applications for a few projects that could begin in early 2018-2019 to Infrastructure Canada. Mr. Speaker, the signing of the Integrated Bilateral Agreement with Infrastructure Canada is good news. Going forward, further opportunities exist to leverage infrastructure funding for the Northwest Territories under various application-based programs under the Investing in Canada Plan.

In November, the Government of the Northwest Territories submitted comprehensive project proposals for the Slave Geological Province Access Corridor and Mackenzie Valley Highway to Transport Canada for funding consideration under the National Trade Corridors Fund. Up to $400 million in funding is being dedicated to transportation projects in the three territories under this program.

The Government of the Northwest Territories' proposals identify funding for all project phases, with a focus on next priority phases, to help advance these corridors as committed to under our 25-year Transportation Strategy and the Government of the Northwest Territories mandate. It is anticipated that decisions around this first round of proposals will be made in April.

Mr. Speaker, project proposals sent to Transport Canada under the National Trade Corridors Fund will also be shared with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which allows for an opportunity to fund these projects under the bank instead. The Infrastructure Bank will focus on large, transformative, revenue-generating projects, which could potentially include the Slave Geological Province Access Corridor and Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. At this time, we are still awaiting additional details about when the Infrastructure Bank will become operational.

Mr. Speaker, there is also an opportunity to invest in NWT marine facilities under the Oceans Protection Plan. Transport Canada has announced its intention to invest $94.3 million over five years in safety equipment and basic marine infrastructure in at least 30 northern communities in the NWT and Nunavut. This funding could be used to support the operations of Marine Transportation Services and upgrade marine landing sites in communities, enhancing the delivery of essential materials to residents and businesses.

Expanding marine infrastructure along the Mackenzie River and Arctic coast would provide new opportunities for shipping throughout this important marine corridor and support industry operations contributing to important economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, the strength of our partnership with the federal government is once again allowing us to advance our infrastructure priorities. The strategic investment announced today will result in long-term benefits to residents that result in stronger, more sustainable communities and a vibrant and prosperous Northern economy. As usual, I will continue to keep Members apprised of the success of our infrastructure funding submissions going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 52-18(3): Federal Infrastructure Funding

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Nunakput .

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Partnerships On Suicide Prevention

Members' Statements

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last fall the Minister of Health and Social Services tabled his department's Child and Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan for 2017-2022. This is work I am very interested in, work that is very important to people of my region. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken many times in this House about mental health, mental healthcare, and the need to enhance suicide prevention programs in our communities.

As you know, when it comes to mental health, our small and remote communities have unique challenges that demand targeted solutions. For example, we are less likely to have resident healthcare workers, and it is much more difficult to access specialized care. While the close-knit ties of our communities can be a strengthening asset, they can also sometimes make it harder for patients to maintain their privacy, Mr. Speaker. However, we are not alone in facing these challenges. Mental healthcare and suicide prevention are two areas where we can learn a lot from our fellows in the circumpolar world.

I believe that, as our government develops its youth-focused programs, it could benefit greatly from observation of and engagement with some of these international initiatives.

For example, Project CREATeS is a project shared between Canada, Finland, and the Inuit Circumpolar Council.

Mr. Speaker, CREATeS stands for Circumpolar Resilience, Engagement and Action Through Story. The plan is to engage youth, elders, and other community members in digital storytelling workshops, helping youth to engage with their traditional cultures and to establish historical records that will keep those traditions alive in the years to come. Mr. Speaker, sharing circles will also provide a critical after-care component.

Mr. Speaker, nation-to-nation collaboration doesn't just mean partnerships between federal governments. It can also mean partnerships between settler-colonial and Indigenous governments or between Indigenous governments. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see the GNWT join the Yukon and Nunavut as northern territories to encourage collaboration and care across our borders. After all, the borders between territories, Mr. Speaker, are not borders between Indigenous groups.

I would also like to see the Government of the Northwest Territories work to engage with Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and other Indigenous governments in the Territory. Any initiative that brings youth and elders together to engage community care is a good thing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Partnerships On Suicide Prevention

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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Recognition Of Ruby Jumbo, Recipient Of Senior Administrative Officer Of The Year 2017 Award By The Local Government Association Of The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ms. Ruby Jumbo, senior administrative officer for the Sambaa K'e First Nation, for winning the Local Government Administrator of the NWT, Senior Administrative Officer of the Year for 2017.

Ruby's selection for Outstanding SAO of the Year was announced during the association's 2017 annual general meeting by Grant Hood, senior administrative officer of the town of Inuvik and LGANT president.

Ruby has been a resident of Sambaa K'e all her life. Ruby worked for Sambaa K'e First Nation for a total of 23 years with different responsibilities, nine years as a summer student. Right after that, she did two years as senior administrative officer.

However, Ruby felt she was too young and missed the theory component of the position and went back to school for five years. After completing school, she immediately gained the position of senior administrative officer and served in that capacity since 1995.

Sambaa K'e First Nation's members, elders, youth, and staff feel that the organization and community is lucky to have such a culturally strong, motivated, humble individual to guide them. Ruby is always motivated to support her community and its members to become educated, trained, and to keep their tradition, to be respectful of one another and others. Ruby is one of the biggest advocates for incorporating traditional ways into the workplace, two of which consist of healing and practising Dene Zhatie daily.

One of Ruby's best attributes is that she is very keen on community wellness and unbelievably skilled at finding funding sources to continue running programs geared toward healing of the community members. Not only does she find funding sources for the community wellness program, but also programs for creating employment for Sambaa K'e First Nation and its community members.

She finds job rotation important and has helped implement a job-sharing program in Sambaa K'e First Nation. Job sharing allows the community to employ other people. Ruby is not only senior administrative officer of Sambaa K'e First Nation. She is also a mother, aunt, cousin, niece, sister, teacher, and volunteer of the community.

Please help me recognize her on a job well done. Thank you, Ruby.

---Applause

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Recognition Of Ruby Jumbo, Recipient Of Senior Administrative Officer Of The Year 2017 Award By The Local Government Association Of The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about homelessness in the NWT. Last year the City of Yellowknife released a comprehensive strategy paper titled "Yellowknife's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness." The plan contains many facts and figures regarding chronic homelessness issues that are facing all of the NWT, not only Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight some of these key findings in the 70-page city plan, which includes topics such as migration, urbanization, rural homelessness, housing market trends, and housing needs, among others.

Mr. Speaker, the plan states that the issue of homelessness is directly related to Canada's history of colonization, which has not only resulted in many people without adequate shelter, but has disrupted many generations of families and entire Indigenous communities on a social and spiritual level. It is important to help accommodate all people who choose to live in Yellowknife and the NWT, regardless of the circumstances that brought them here.

Mr. Speaker, there are many social factors that push people into homelessness in the NWT, including things like no employment, poverty, and lack of housing. Moreover, it is crucial to know that these issues are not only Yellowknife problems, because we must also consider the fact that there are many reasons for people to relocate to Yellowknife from the smaller communities.

Some common reasons, Mr. Speaker, for people to relocate to Yellowknife from smaller communities includes seeking escape from trauma in their home communities, greater access to services, and an overall improvement in their well-being for themselves and their family. Unfortunately, in addition to these factors, one stark reality for some people is that, once a person ends up on the streets of Yellowknife, Yellowknife becomes a place of easy access to drugs and alcohol.

However, Mr. Speaker, the biggest factor for people relocating to Yellowknife from smaller communities is housing. Most of our small communities are seeing population increases, while the population across the NWT shows constancy. Mr. Speaker, we as a government have a duty and a responsibility to build our capacity to house homeless people. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In order to do that, we must look at homelessness from a broader perspective, meaning we must address its root causes, which will require years of work, yet an effective response can go a long way to working to improve people's lives and eradicate homelessness. After all, if other jurisdictions in Canada, like Medicine Hat, for example, can achieve such an amazing accomplishment as eradicating homelessness, then why can't we? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Northwest Territories Power Corporation Challenges

Members' Statements

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past I've been hard on the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, and frankly, I feel I've had good reason for that. Continuing rate increases up to 40 per cent over seven years, changes to the Power Corporation's management structure that hardly suggest transparency, there's no mention about the Power Corporation's role in the new Energy Strategy, and, of course, the infamous generator debacle.

Look, we all recognize that the Power Corporation has a tough job; stagnant demand, rising costs and inflation, lower water levels, and aging infrastructure are real problems, and there's constant pressure to lower the cost of living by getting off diesel and to protect our environment through newer, cleaning technologies. These are real challenges that are not easy to overcome, but overcome them we must, Mr. Speaker. That's the demand of residents today and the legacy we must leave for future generations.

Having now received three generators from California and made other arrangements for the rest, the mystery of the missing generators is behind us, but there is still uncertainty, Mr. Speaker. Questions remain, and residents deserve answers. What is the government's long-term vision for the Power Corporation?

Halfway through the 18th Assembly, Mr. Speaker, in spite of our commitment to transparency and openness, we still have more questions than answers. Does the government intend the Power Corporation to remain an arm's length Crown corporation? That's what we've always been told, but by the Minister's own admission when questioned about dissolving the previous board, he said, and I paraphrase here, due to more government subsidies, the Power Corporation is becoming closer to becoming just another government department.

If it is a government department, its role should not be to compete against the private sector. In which case, how can it justify competing against private enterprise in Hay River? How can it justify offering lower prices in one community while residents of the capital, almost half the population of the NWT, pay a higher rate that is continually going up? Mr. Speaker, the public needs to know the plan and vision for power generation and distribution in the NWT. They need know when rates are going to stabilize. They need to know how we're going to transition to cleaner energy. Mr. Speaker, they need a government that will level with them.

At the appropriate time, I'll have questions for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Northwest Territories Power Corporation Challenges

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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Fraser Institute Annual Survey Of Mining Companies 2017

Members' Statements

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to speak of the largest contributor to our economy, the source of continued growth and the real economic engine of the Northwest Territories. I am, of course, speaking about our mining industry, and I do appreciate the advocacy that our Ministers and government do to support the continued growth and development of the industry, which is why I was shocked to read the most recent Fraser Institute annual survey of mining companies from the year of 2017.

It's a survey that was electronically circulated to approximately 2,700 individuals between August 22nd and November 10th of 2017. It's an attempt to assess how mineral endowment and public policy factors such as taxation and regulatory uncertainty affect exploration interests. Jurisdictions are scored on an overall investment attractiveness index that takes both mineral potential and policy perceptions into consideration for a total final score. Respondents consistently indicate that 40 per cent of their investment decision is based on policy factors, which means geology matters most, but policy still plays a key factor.

Mr. Speaker, we score 8 in Canada; we score 42 in the world for policy perception; and 19 for geological potential, for a total score of 21 out of 91 respondents. Middle of the pack, Mr. Speaker, saved largely by favourable geography.

This is something that the Minister has addressed previously, but continues to dog our regulatory environment. The concern from industry is that it's just too hard to get things moving quickly in the Northwest Territories, and although we have a Premier who has travelled 20 times internationally, more than all other Premiers except two, last year alone, you would think we would have more investment opportunities to show for it. You would think that these lengthy trips to mining expos and to conferences would allow us to communicate that NWT difference, and yet we are still middle of the pack for investment, behind the Yukon, behind Saskatchewan, behind Ontario, behind Quebec.

We need to do a better job. If mining is the cornerstone of our economy, we should be number one in Canada, Mr. Speaker, and I'll have questions for the Minister to find out if he has a plan to take us there. Thank you.

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Fraser Institute Annual Survey Of Mining Companies 2017

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Personal Information Disclosure For Public Housing Tenants

Members' Statements

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in November 2016 the NWT Information and Privacy Commissioner received a complaint about the way the NWT Housing Corporation was collecting personal income to calculate rents for public housing tenants. The complaint was about a new policy making tenants give housing authorities permission to collect income and other information directly from the Canada Revenue Agency. Some tenants didn't want to provide direct access to their tax records. They asked for alternatives, such as continuing to report income on the basis of submitted documents.

They were told there was no alternative, and if they didn't provide consent, the housing authority would charge full market rent and a failure to pay would result in eviction.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation had good practical reasons to change the annual income assessment. Public housing is, of course, subsidized, so income verification is necessary for spending public funds.

Annual reporting eliminated the need for 33,000 monthly income reviews a year across the NWT. Basing rent on income tax files promotes tax filing, giving low-income folks access to other federal programs such as the GST rebate and the Canada Child Benefit, these changes aligned closely with the income verification policies of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Department of Health and Social Services. I believe that the NWT Housing Corporation had good intentions.

Investigating this complaint, the Information and Privacy Commissioner was told that monthly reporting was still an option for clients who were uncomfortable allowing access to CRA records, but in practice this turned out not to be the case.

The commissioner's ruling on the complaint said, "The right to privacy is about far more than the ability to keep things confidential. Privacy is about the right of the individual to choose what information is provided to whom and how." The ruling called on the Housing Corporation and its LHOs to amend its practices to provide an alternative method for annual reporting to make clear there are alternates to CRA consent and to make consent time-limited. I'll have questions for the Housing Minister . Mahsi.

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Personal Information Disclosure For Public Housing Tenants

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Rental Office Application Processing Time

Members' Statements

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year in this House I raised the alarm about the length of time it takes for the rental office to process applications. Since 2011, there has been a steady decrease in the number of applications, but a steady increase of the length of time it takes to deal with them, until 2016-2017 that is, when that increase in time skyrocketed. During that time, almost half of the applications took longer than three months to process, and nearly half of those took more than four months. Earlier in this sitting the Minister stated that those numbers have since improved. Well, I sure hope so, Mr. Speaker, but there's still a long way to go.

I'm not criticizing the staff of the rental office. There are provisions in the Residential Tenancies Act that require landlords and tenants to settle disputes using the rental office, but the Department of Justice does not provide that office with the means to do its job in a timely manner. In Alberta, if a tenant commits a substantial breach, which includes things like not paying rent on time or committing illegal acts on the rental property, their landlord can evict them with 14 days' notice. If the issue is non-payment of rent, the only recourse that a tenant has is to pay the full amount owing.

In the NWT, only a rental officer can issue an eviction notice, which means that tenants who want to game the system can live rent-free for months. This happens all the time, Mr. Speaker, and it costs landlords countless thousands. To be clear, Mr. Speaker, when I say landlords, I'm not talking about a corporation that owns thousands of units and can absorb these extra costs. I'm talking about the small, independent landlords who might have one or maybe a few properties, and are just trying to get by or supplement their incomes.

The system doesn't just hurt landlords, either; it hinders the growth of our economy. Our system deters potential landlords from entering the market, which means fewer rental units and higher rents for tenants. Renters in Hay River feel these effects every day, Mr. Speaker. The lack of rental housing also makes it extremely difficult for businesses to attract out-of-town employees, which are desperately needed to address our labour gap and grow our economy. It also makes it difficult for organizations like the Hay River Health Authority to attract employees, which has a direct effect on the health of our residents.

Mr. Speaker, these are all issues that I've brought up before in this House, and I could go on. At the appropriate time, I'll have questions for the Minister of Justice, and if I have time, questions for the Minister whose department makes two thirds of the applications to the rental office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Rental Office Application Processing Time

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Post-Secondary Education In The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I have raised concerns regarding our support for post-secondary education in this House several times during this Assembly. The Minister of Education allowed Aurora College to cut the teacher education and social work programs as part of Cabinet's fiscal strategy and before efforts were made to improve them. He announced a foundational review on Aurora College and then got rid of the Aurora College Board. There appears to be little done to respond to the recommendations from the 2013 Cleveland review of Aurora College.

The steering committee for the foundational review is made up only of GNWT staff, without any outside expertise in post-secondary education system development. Advocates for the social work program had to go public before they were included in the consultations. Organized labour was not included, either. There seems to be little under way within ECE to develop a knowledge economy. The Minister focuses narrowly on Skills 4 Success and meeting big industry-focused labour market demand.

Instead, he should be reshaping labour market demand by building on our assets, such as traditional knowledge, co-management regimes, cold weather technology, environmental remediation, and more. While the Yukon is heading towards the first university in northern Canada, we have our heads buried in the sand, or snow.

Where is the long-promised post-secondary education legislation? Where is the work to build a knowledge economy? Why do we not have the foundational review to study in this session? Where are the plans for this social work and teacher education program? Where is the leadership we need on post-secondary education? I'll have questions later today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Post-Secondary Education In The Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and welcome Tim Moorhouse, of Chestermere, Alberta, who is chair of the Canada FASD Research Network. I truly appreciate the hard work he and the CanFASD Research Network do each year to support FASD education and awareness in Canada. Welcome to the House.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the members of the Anti-Poverty Advisory Committee as visitors to the gallery today. The committee has been meeting this week to review applications for the Anti-Poverty Fund and prepare funding recommendations. This committee has been in place for two years now, and they are concluding their terms at the end of this month. I have greatly appreciated their input and guidance over the past two years, and I have deep respect for their commitment to NWT residents and communities.

I'm happy to have them here with us today, and thank them for their support and their time as committee members. They are the committee chair, Mayor Mark Heyck of Yellowknife; Elder Pat Martel from K'atlodeeche First Nation; Nora Wedzin from Behchoko; Knute Hansen from Aklavik; Ruby Jumbo from Sambaa K'e; and Kyla Kakfwi-Scott, who is the senior advisor of the Anti-Poverty Committee. Once again, thank you all for being here. Thank you, Tim. Thank you for everybody for joining us today.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the LGANT 2017 award winner, and a constituent of the Nahendeh riding. Welcome, Ruby Jumbo, to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to acknowledge Mayor Mark Heyck, a constituent of mine, and thank him for all the work he's done on behalf of the Anti-Poverty Steering Committee and as mayor of this community. Thank you.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a constituent of mine. I'm going to try again, Mr. David Wasylciw, I think I might as well stick with "W," and a friend of mine, Nora Wedzin, in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize a good friend of mine, a former city council colleague of mine, and the mayor of Yellowknife, Mark Heyck. Welcome and thank you for being here.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I, too, would like to recognize Mayor Heyck. I had the pleasure of serving with him on city council and I want to thank him for all the work that he's done on behalf of our community. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Mr. Knute Hansen. Knute has been involved with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation from the beginning and still continues to advocate for Inuvialuit. Welcome, Knute. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on I spoke about partnerships on suicide prevention, and my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Mr. Speaker, a patient's ability to control their privacy during their engagement with the healthcare system is critical to their treatment and ongoing healing and wellness. The Action Plan on Child and Youth Mental Wellness commits the department to developing standards of practice for children and youth privacy. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us a bit more about this work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the development of the action plan the Member has referenced, and we actually engaged with youth from across the Northwest Territories, and they made it very clear that privacy is of particular interest and importance to them. Youth have been very vocal about the fact that they do not feel that their privacy is always respected when using the healthcare system, so ensuring proper protection and rights of privacy and confidentiality is an extremely important part of the work that the health and social services system is doing.

We want to make certain that our system in the Northwest Territories is set up with standards of practice to ensure that youth feel safe in seeking healthcare, regardless of where they go in the Northwest Territories.

In 2017-2018, the Department of Health and Social Services has been working to research the current legal context and the best practices around privacy, confidentiality, and legal rights of children and youth, related to mental wellness. This work has included consultation with the chief health privacy officer. They are doing a jurisdictional scan as well as examining connections to professional standards and codes of conduct from many jurisdictions across the country.

In 2018-2019, the department will work to develop the standards of practice that will guide Health and Social Services systems staff respecting and protecting the rights of youth to privacy and confidentiality. This work will all be followed by training for staff across the Northwest Territories.

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

That is valuable information for youth to reach out. Mr. Speaker, the action plan also speaks of reviewing the out-of-territory program that is a program that sees children and youth leaving the territory for specialized care. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us more about the scope of this review, including how it will interact with the need to establish reliable care options in people's home communities.

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, we heard from youth that our programs and services need to be flexible and they need to be adaptive to their needs, to the children's needs. Initial work to prepare for review has already taken place. This work is focused on determining the best scope and outcomes for the review. It is anticipated that the review will include an examination of the needs of youth, including health and mental health needs, behaviours of concern, trauma, supervision needs, education, employment, housing, social supports, and any others that are deemed important.

The review will also include an examination of the strength of children and youth, including mental wellness, social supports, physical activity, and in connection to culture, which we have heard over and over again is incredibly important.

In addition, the review will look at staffing models at facilities and the full spectrum of programs and services that children and youth need to access to support their individual needs. We are using a recovery-oriented approach to care and recognizing that youth needs change over time, and we know that it is essential that a full spectrum of services is available and accessible to children in order for them to basically have the best outcomes and the best potential future. Mr.

Speaker, we need to have a better understanding of the evolving and complex needs of children and youth served both in the territory but also in facilities that we are supporting outside of the territories, and that is the work that we are doing now.

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, the action plan's objectives include creating a supportive environment to protect the mental wellness of children and youth and improving mental wellness programs and services through locally relevant data and perspectives. Mr. Speaker, how will the future of the territorial suicide and crisis support network reflect the need for community-based programming like Project CREATeS or the GNWT sharing circles?

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The crisis response network is one thing, and the supports that we are providing at a community, territorial, and regional level, they interrelate, but they have a different role. The suicide prevention and crisis response network will take a whole-community approach, involving relevant community partners who are figuring out who is in the community, who can be part of that network, and will focus on prevention, intervention, but also look at responses after an incident has occurred.

The work will also include supporting community-level plans that can be developed to meet the needs of individual communities, recognizing that the communities have a lot of great ideas and they know their communities better than somebody sitting in Yellowknife or even a regional centre might, so it's critical that we get their involvement in the design to a community response.

The programs that the Member has mentioned, I am not familiar with the CREATeS program, but I am certainly willing to have a sit-down with the Member so he can help me get educated on that, and then we can have a conversation with the department about how that might be something we can look at, if appropriate, in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 211-18(3): Child And Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North .

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rental officer's 2016-2017 annual report made two recommendations for legislative amendments and looked forward to the appointment of a deputy rental officer. What steps is the Department of Justice taking to respond to these recommendations? These are, of course, for the Minister of Justice . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Justice .

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department, of course, did review the recommendation, and the act has been amended several times in the last few years. There were significant amendments made in 2015. In the last 10 years, there have been amendments in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2017, so there have been significant amendments, often in response to suggested amendments from the office. Some of the amendments that we have made this year is to permit the filing of rental officer orders in the Supreme Court registry and the authority to rental officers to correct minor errors in their orders.

So improvements have been made, and certainly we are interested in continuing to make improvements.

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

I will ask the Minister later about the deputy rental officer position. The annual report also spoke to the growing complexity of files before the rental officer and cites this as one of the reasons the wait times are increasing. In Alberta in 2014, the residential tenancy dispute resolution service was introduced as an alternative to the court systems and a way to reduce complexity. For example, the service limits hearings to 30 minutes, and the government took steps on implementation by hiring necessary staff and making a wide range of information documents, handouts, and tip sheets available online.

So, can the Minister identify what drives the increasing complexity he mentioned and what is being done to help the rental officer tackle this challenge?

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

As was mentioned in the question and the response to earlier inquiries, we have noted that the complexity of applications has increased over the last few years. I understand that much of that is driven by the increased amount of paperwork that is filed with the applications, dealing such issues as rental arrears, arrears repairs, and other matters, so the applications have become lengthier and therefore more complex. This has of course put pressure on the office administrators' workload, and, in response to this concern about the workload, the position has been reviewed and formalized procedures to provide guidance on certain issues have been put in place.

With respect to the earlier question regarding the deputy rental officer, we did issue an RFP for the addition of a deputy rental officer, but, unfortunately, these processes did not result in the recruitment, so what we have done is hired someone with a great deal of experience on contract as a part-time deputy rental officer in the beginning of February, so we are hoping that will alleviate some of the problems.

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

The Minister mentioned extra paperwork being submitted with these applications, so I am wondering if perhaps that is the work of one of the departments that is submitting these applications. Paperwork seems like a specialty of the government. It's my understanding that roughly 140 applications to the rental officer in 2016-2017 were made by landlords outside the public housing system. It sounds to me like government agencies are squeezing individual landlords out of the process that is put in place to protect them.

On top of that, individual landlords may have to compete for time with the large residential landlords. Can the Minister identify how many of these 140 applicants were individual landlords compared to the large residential landlords such as Northern Property?

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Of the 139 non-subsidized public housing applications that were filed in 2016-2017, 51 of them involved individual landlords as applicants or as respondents to a tenant application. I would assume the rest were corporate.

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North .

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I noted earlier that there has been a decrease in the number of applications, and I think this might be attributable to the fact that it is taking so long that some landlords are just giving up on the whole process. How has the department considered addressing the imbalance in services delivered by the rental office? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Certain emergency matters can be fast-tracked, but apart from that, it is first come, first served. Corporate applicants or respondents are not given priority over anybody else, and tenant applications are not given priority over landlord applications. We do realize that there is a problem, which was identified in the report that has been referenced. Hopefully, the improvements that we are putting forward, in particular the hiring of a part-time officer to assist, will reduce the wait time, because we do realize this is a very serious matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 212-18(3): Improving Rental Office Performance

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Mining Investment what he is doing to address the ongoing concerns about the perception of investors that the Northwest Territories is not as ideal a climate for mining investment as other jurisdictions in Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

I would like to remind the Member that we do not have that kind of Minister in this building, so if he can rephrase that certain Minister?

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

My apologies, Mr. Speaker; the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are doing quite a bit. We get a lot of heat sometimes for going to some of the shows that we go to in the press. We have been to Mineral Roundup. The Premier and I have just been to PDAC, but it is one of the reasons that this government has developed a Mineral Development Strategy, and that is to address some of these inconsistencies that people have about the Northwest Territories.

The 17th Assembly had signed on to devolution, and that gives us the tools that we need to change a lot of legislation to help us address some of these things, be it the Mineral Resource Act or a number of LPs that my colleague, the Minister of Environment , is going to bring forward around environmental protection and the new protected area strategies and these sorts of things.

We get out there and continue to pound the pavement to promote the Northwest Territories as a great jurisdiction. We know that we have the mineral potential that is here, and just as we have done today here in the Great Hall, signed a deal with the Minister of Infrastructure of Canada on how we can invest in the Northwest Territories to alleviate some of these things so that we can draw some more international dollars to our territory to invest in the mineral potential that we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

The issue in this most recent Fraser Institute report that is primarily the holdup for investment from the survey respondents, and this is a direct quote, is that "ongoing disputes over land claims and protected areas create uncertainty for investors." I would like to ask the Minister what his plan is to address those specific concerns. Let's start with land claims.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

As the Member knows, we have all sat down with all of the Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories, and one of the number one priorities of this Premier and this Assembly is to address land claims in the Northwest Territories. The Premier has done a tremendous amount of work on this file. We have made substantive offers to two of the three outstanding land claimant groups in the Northwest Territories, and we are working on getting something with the third one. There is some significant progress being made there.

The recent announcements with the federal government on how they are going to approach some of these things is certainly going to help us, I think, move some of these files along.

I'm with the Premier . Hopefully, we can settle some of these in the life of this Assembly.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

The issue with land claims is, of course, much more complicated than we can get to today, so I am going to move on to protected areas and conservation.

An often concern is, that because of the size of conservation areas in the Northwest Territories, they cut off potential exploration and mineral development. Is the Minister cognizant of that, and is he bringing forward some clarity on that issue to investors that we are a friendly jurisdiction for mining?

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Early in the life of this government, I was the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , so I am quite aware of the protected area strategies moving forward. This was something that was under the federal legislation, and now it has been switched over to the Northwest Territories, and we are moving on those fronts. It is a complicated file. It's not like we can just shelve all of the protected area strategies that the federal government was working on. These are led by a number of Indigenous governments, the areas that they want to protect, and it is a complicated issue.

As I have said, the Minister of ENR is coming forward with an LP for the new protected area legislation on how to address some of that and which ones will be rolled out in the coming years as we move forward, and we will be working with our Indigenous governments to ensure that the areas that they want to protect, and maybe carve out some areas that they want to consider for mineral development as they participate in these mineral mining shows that we are participating in, they realize that mining is a big part of our economy, and they want to be able to participate and contribute to their members as well.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister is dedicated to a charm offensive at these trade shows and industry events and mining conferences, but I would like to know what we have to show for it. How much mining investment has been attracted to the Northwest Territories since this government took office? Thank you.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

I can't give you an exact number, but I can tell you that we have met with a number of stakeholders and interested parties that want to invest in the Northwest Territories, and the ones that are investing here are glad to see the hard work that this government is doing on a number of these files, as I have said, since devolution.

We have taken over the LPs or the land and resource part of this from the federal government. It is going to create more certainty for the mining industry to come to the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to engage all residents, stakeholders, and industry on how we can promote mining in the Northwest Territories and move this file along. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 213-18(3): Mining Investment Climate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about the homelessness report done by the City of Yellowknife. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Homelessness if there has been any progress made. The report was released in the spring of last year. From then until now, what progress has been made to address some of the issues in that report? Thank you.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for Homelessness .

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Quite a bit of progress has actually been addressed. The City of Yellowknife, I commend them for doing the ten-year report. It was amazing, and it actually backed up a lot of things that I had been saying, that it needs a continuum of services; we can't just look at one model; we have got to look outside of the community, et cetera.

The City of Yellowknife asked me if I would sit on a committee and work with them on that. I agreed to do that. The City of Yellowknife has taken the lead on that committee. I have met with them once, and we are working towards that. The Department of Health and Social Services has done the sobering centre. I committed to doing homeless shelters in communities outside of Yellowknife. We have almost got the three communities that are covered. We are looking at a homeless support worker position.

I could go on and on. We have done a lot towards working on the plan, and again, my biggest stress is that the City of Yellowknife did an amazing job of doing that report, and I must commend them. They didn't only look at the City of Yellowknife; they looked at the extenuating circumstances, as the Member had stated. Homelessness in Yellowknife is not just a Yellowknife issue; it's a territorial issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

It appears in the report that talks about all of the reasons for homelessness and maybe addressing homelessness should be to resolve those issues, but it sounds like the Minister is telling me that they're putting things in place here that I'm not sure that it addresses the homelessness anywhere other than sobering up the people on the streets, maybe, if we're talking about the sobering centre.

I'd like to ask the Minister if there are homes being built in other communities to address homelessness on that report. When she mentions that there are homes being built in other communities, are those directly for the individuals who are considered homeless in that report? That's my question.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Yes, my years before being a politician, Mr. Speaker, I did work with the Yellowknife Women's Society, and so homelessness was something that I have been working with for many, many years. I recognize that the majority of people actually who access the supports in Yellowknife are from other communities. When I came on, I committed to not only looking at Yellowknife but other communities. Right now, we have a fourplex in Behchoko that is just recently done. That is ready for operation and that will serve people who are homeless within that community.

We have a fourplex that's just being completed in Fort Simpson that is looking at homelessness. I believe it's Simpson. Then the last one was the homeless shelter that we're still looking at bringing into Aklavik.

The other thing that we're doing to address homelessness is we're doing a pilot project. A lot of times people have a place to live before they become homeless. We're doing a pilot project in Behchoko where actually we're having a homeless support worker. A housing support worker; it's not homeless. A housing support worker who will work with people who are on the last kind of chance, they're falling through the cracks, and they may need a little bit of support and able to retain their homes because, if we can be proactive and we can actually help people to retain their homes before they become homeless, Mr.

Speaker, that's the most humane way to deal with people. These are people. They aren't numbers, so keeping them in their homes is a priority of mine.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I'd like to ask the Minister if there are other departments involved in trying to address the homelessness issue. As I see it, a big part of the homelessness issue is lack of employment. I'd like to know if there's any work that's being done to try to get people employed so they can find their own homes.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Yes, the Ministers actually sit on a social committee. On that committee is the Minister of Justice , the Minister for Health and Social Services , the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and myself, the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation .

Education, Culture and Employment is doing a lot to try to get people employed, but also what we're looking at is people within the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. We have people who have huge arrears, so that is one of the policies that we're looking at currently to see if we can actually look at ways to support them so that they can get employment opportunities, work with us to actually pay off some of their debt. It might not be the traditional sense of employment that people think, but in my opinion, it's employment and in gear to actually helping people stay in their homes, and that is my focus as the Minister responsible for Homelessness .

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is certainly a big issue. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if there is an actual budget put in place to address the homelessness identified in the report. I'm looking about a holistic type of approach here in trying to resolve the issue. What I'm hearing and what I know from my own history of just being a Northerner is that homelessness is not necessarily an inventory issue. I'd like to ask the Minister if they're doing things to try to get people into homes and homes that actually already exist. Thank you.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Yes, there are budgets. I don't know the exact number. We'd have to pull them all through, but like I said, there is a budget for building of the homeless shelters within the community. We provide the operating money with that. We have food security initiatives that we provide to people. That comes with a budget. We also have a homeless assistance program.

Again, I'm not sure of the total budget, but that is just people with up to $1,500, a one-time funding that they can actually use to repatriate, if they wish to go back to their communities, if they need to pay off a little bit of debt so that they can get a home. That funding is actually specifically for people who are struggling, so that they can actually not enter homelessness. There are quite a few programs within the Housing Corporation that are specifically budgeted to address homelessness or to keep people housed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 214-18(3): Addressing Homelessness In The Northwest Territories

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation . About a year ago, I stood up in this House and asked the Minister about the five generators that we had contracted Virdi Power out of California to build and what the status of those were. We know what that is all about now, so there are no further questions along those lines. There was an interesting piece of information that was provided back then. The Minister indicated to us that we had incurred costs of about half a million dollars, $500,000, at that point in time, which was about a year ago by not having those generators in place at that time.

Seven months later in the fall I asked a similar question: how much money is owed? The money was still oddly $500,000. We still hadn't received the generators at that time. We have received three of those now. We've re-contracted the other two out. I'd like to ask the Minister: what is the final number that the Power Corporation has had to pay extra for by not receiving these generators on time? Can he please confirm if Virdi Power is in fact going to be responsible for covering those costs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, in January, the corporation made the determination that they had to terminate the contract because of the non-delivery of the two generators. There was a set-off for some of the costs. I would expect that overall, however, our costs will be more than anticipated because of the necessity of re-contracting for the final two generators. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

I didn't really get any clarification. A year ago, the number was $500,000. Can the Minister clarify what that number is today, that has cost the Power Corporation, ratepayers, quite frankly, what it has cost them extra to date by not receiving those generators, and are we collecting it from Virdi Power? How are we collecting it from Virdi Power?

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Yes, there is set-off for some of the costs that we have incurred as a result of the late delivery, in fact, non-delivery of the last two generators. It is expected that overall, however, that the $8 million budget that was anticipated for this will be exceeded by about $500,000. I think the only way of collecting the extra money would be to commence litigation against Virdi. There was a set-off on some of the payments to Virdi, but I don't know whether it will be worthwhile to litigate this in California.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Well, it seems to me that this is probably going to be a line of questioning for another day, but I want to jump ahead because this is part of the problem. There is always this degree of openness and transparency that we don't seem to receive as it relates to the Power Corporation. I am wondering can the Minister, and I have asked him this before, commit the Power Corporation to providing its annual operating and maintenance budgets and its capital budget through similar processes that we already use for the Housing Corporation? It's a Crown corporation.

It partakes in the annual business plans, and it presents its budgets to the Committee of the Whole. Can the Minister commit the Power Corporation to undertaking the same processes so that we can have a public, open, transparent conversation about the Power Corporation?

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

The Power Corporation, of course, is a publicly regulated utility, so there is the necessity of filing each year or each time there is an increase in front of the PUB, so the process is quite open and transparent. In addition to that, we file annual budgets, capital and operating annual financial performance, and a corporate plan, which will now include a 20-year strategic plan, so the corporation is quite open. We did appear in front of committee and would be prepared to do so again if required or if asked.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I appreciate that they have come and presented to committee. It was a PowerPoint presentation. I also appreciate that the some of the documentation the Minister spoke about is provided publicly. However, it's not put to public scrutiny through the similar processes that we already use to put the rest of the government's entire budget through scrutiny.

That said, I would like to ask the Minister: we heard earlier the Minister of Infrastructure talk about federal infrastructure funding coming our way; can the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation indicate if there are any dollars from those funds coming to the Power Corporation to help it reduce its infrastructure gap? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

The Power Corporation participated actively in the drafting of the energy strategy, so I expect that our corporation, the Power Corporation, will be developing alternative renewable energy solutions for the communities of the Northwest Territories.

If I could just outline some of the things that we are hoping to do, one of the things that clearly is a priority or a concern of the corporation and all of the communities is to reduce costs, so we are looking at LNG in Fort Simpson and Tuktoyaktuk; reducing emissions; wind, we are looking at possible wind projects in Inuvik, Norman Wells, and Sachs Harbour; possible transmission lines to Fort Providence and Whati; and hydro, small hydro projects in Lutselk'e and Gameti. We also are hoping to improve reliability, the Bluefish hydro redevelopment, hydro overhauls, and micro-solar.

In addition to those things, we are attempting to increase our number of clients by growing the rate base, and that is why we are working with other departments, to look at possible Taltson expansion. So those are the things that we are doing. Clearly, we will need federal involvement and funds to advance those projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 215-18(3): Costs Related To Delay In Delivery Of Generators

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Since our last sitting, I have heard of individuals who had stroke symptoms and stuff like that, and there are different processes in the matter there, especially in our region, in our smaller communities. Can the Minister please explain what is the process when a person is diagnosed with stroke-like symptoms in the Nahendeh riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can let the Member know that the department and the authority take stroke symptoms very seriously and want to make sure that residents who are presenting with stroke-like symptoms are dealt with appropriately. It is kind of a difficult question to answer because it is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that an individual can present for a large number of reasons and stroke-like symptoms do not always necessarily mean a stroke.

However, if a person does present in one of our smaller communities where there are no doctors, with stroke-like symptoms or a stroke, one of the first things that we would obviously do is work to stabilize them in their current location, at which point the staff would be getting in touch with our medical response team, who would put them directly in contact with doctors in the Northwest Territories who can help determine next steps.

Those next steps may include a medevac out of the community they are in, depending on the severity of the stroke, to a place like Stanton, where they can receive a CT scan, which is an important piece of the diagnostic tools available in determining what next steps will be. That CT scan will often help determine what those next steps will be.

Having said all that, Mr. Speaker, I want to also make clear that the department and the authority are currently updating their clinical practice guidelines for primary care nursing throughout the Northwest Territories. This work is in process. This work will help put in some consistent standards for nurses across the Northwest Territories in health centres on how to deal with things like stroke and stroke-like symptoms. That work is currently being done.

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I appreciate the Minister's answer. At no point in time am I saying that the staff are not doing the job. It's just there have been some different processes to it, and I thank the Minister and the staff for dealing with this in such a proactive way. My second question: does the department have a mandatory time that a patient needs to stay in a hospital or a health centre before being released to ensure the person is able to leave and the medication is working?

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The answer is no, there is no mandatory time. Really, it is entirely dependent upon the severity of the stroke and the condition of the individual and what treatments have been provided in order to stabilize or treat the individual. That can be different for every person every time. I can say that the doctors and the nurses will obviously want to keep the patient in until they are confident that leaving the health or the hospital will not put them at adverse risk, but there is no set time because every case is unique.

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that answer. It is a concern, though, with some. I have seen and heard of patients that have been let go and then we have had to bring them back in. It's no fault of the department and that. It's just the process, but it is a concern, so I hope the department will come up with some mandatory time, at least. Mr. Speaker, when releasing a stroke patient, do they need to have a family member or somebody with them to ensure that they are looked after properly after they have been released?

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Going back to the previous question, I really cannot say that we will have a set mandatory time before an individual can be released. Like I said before, it really depends on the nature of the condition of the person presenting with. Everyone is different. If we were to set a mandatory time, we might end up keeping people there well beyond when they should. I think what is important is that we have some clinical standards in place that talk about what certain criteria an individual must reach before they can be released as opposed to setting a time.

I think that gives us the same result but through a different mechanism. Those are what the clinical standards we are working on will help us determine, is when somebody is suitable for release, recognizing patients can leave if they want to. The physicians, doctors, and nurses will often encourage them not to if it's not appropriate, but, ultimately, as residents, as people, we do have the freedom of choice.

With respect to the last question and whether or not family must be there or should be there, a similar response, Mr. Speaker. It is really dependent on the individual patient and their capacity after their stroke and where they are as far as being stabilized in what they are presenting with and whether or not they are experiencing some level of disability or loss of neurological function that may impair their decisions and their mobility. So it really once again depends on their capacity at the time of release.

If the person is still experiencing some mobility, they would be encouraged to have some family support there with them, but we do not require it in all cases because they may be fine to leave without it. Other cases, we would strongly encourage it. It really depends on the situation and the individual.

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister and that clarification. As long as we are doing something to make sure that our patients are looked after properly, whether it is time or whatever process the department has come up with, I think it's great to hear. I am looking forward to sharing this information with the residents in my riding. My final question: does the department have a protocol for aftercare, especially for out-of-town patients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 216-18(3): Stroke Management Services And Support

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I know that I sound awfully repetitive here, but it is really dependent on the condition of the patient upon release and whether or not they require more rehabilitation before they return to their communities. In some case, absolutely. A patient may require a longer period of rehabilitation in the hospital as opposed to being discharged for rehabilitation in their community, depending on the nature of the mobility or other neurological function challenges that an individual has.

Rehabilitation services at Stanton Territorial Hospital are involved in working with communities and what is available in the communities. When an individual goes back to their community, it is part of their discharge planning. It really depends on what is available in the community as far as supports, things like homecare or other supports. We work with the patient. We try to determine whether or not they can be released. Do they have the ability to be released? Are they physically mobile, or do they have challenges? Going