Debates of March 8th, 2018

This is page numbers 3721 – 3766 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 women .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Women In Leadership

Progress On Transparency And Accountability Initiatives

Acknowledgement Of Firth Sisters

Community Wellness Initiatives

International Women's Day

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Electronic Medical Records System

Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Health Information Act

Aurora College Foundational Review

Aurora College Foundational Review

Tabled Document 123-18(3): Northwest Territories Health And Social Services Authority 2016-2017 Annual Report

Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act

Appointment Of Human Rights Adjudication Panel Member

Appointment Of Human Rights Commission Member

Increasing Women's Participation In The Legislative Assembly

Recorded Vote

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Members Present

Hon. Glen Abernethy , Mr. Beaulieu , Mr. Blake , Hon. Caroline Cochrane , Ms. 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 1:31 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 responsible for the Status of Women.

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Minister's Statement 53-18(3): Women In Leadership

Ministers' Statements

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, March 8th, today, is International Women's Day. On this day, I would like to highlight both the strides we are making in the Northwest Territories and the challenges faced by women in taking on leadership roles.

Our government has made mandate commitments to increase the number of women in leadership roles, both on public boards and in electoral politics. Since the beginning of the 18th Legislative Assembly, the Government of the Northwest Territories has appointed 172 persons to public boards, 95 women and 77 men. This brings the total composition of territorial government board appointments to 122 women and 120 men. Overall, we now have an approximately equal number of men and women serving on Government of the Northwest Territories public boards. This is cause for celebration, and we thank the well-qualified women who have stepped forward to serve as board members.

As important as this achievement is, we still have work to do. We need to increase the representation of women in leadership roles on these boards. Currently, only 36 per cent of our public boards have women serving in the role of president or chair. The picture is less encouraging when it comes to elected leadership positions. Women in the Northwest Territories have largely been underrepresented in elected leadership positions for many years, especially at the territorial level. You have only to look around this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, to know that this is true. Today, on International Women's Day, I would like to thank my

colleague, Ms. Julie Green , the MLA for Yellowknife Centre and the only other woman Member of this 18th Legislative Assembly, for being here.

There are many more women who could be here. We all know strong women in our communities who are working to ensure that everyone's families are secure and well-cared for, and that our communities are safe. I recently had the honour of meeting some outstanding women leaders at the inaugural Women's Caucus of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and I sincerely hope that they consider running for territorial election in the near future.

Women face many barriers; they may be paid less in their jobs than their male counterparts, and they may bear a disproportionate share of the workload of caring for children and aging or disabled relatives while still managing their households, and these factors make it harder for many women to enter politics, but I have met many strong women who want their communities to be healthy places to live, and they are holding governments accountable at all levels in all of the ways that they can, including through their own participation as elected leaders.

Unfortunately, many strong women who do seek, and win, elected leadership positions are often stereotyped or judged negatively. Women who make it into leadership roles are often second-guessed, left out of decisions, or even set up to fail, purely because they are women. Instead of being valued for the perspective they can provide, they often find themselves having to walk a tightrope of being just assertive "enough" to get their work done without being walked over or being so strong as to alienate those around them.

All while facing superwoman-level expectations of balancing life, family, community, and work, not to mention standards of personal appearance that are only applied to our gender.

Too few people consider the consequences of these negative judgements and levels of burden on women in their public and private lives. However, they are a form of violence, that day by day and year by year crushes women's spirits, dampens our ambitions, and discourages our young women from taking the risks and acquiring the skills to become leaders.

All of us in this House, men as well as women, need to be active in our support of women. We need more women in decision-making roles at all levels, especially here in our consensus government. This is not only a matter of basic fairness; the inclusion of more women's perspectives means better decision-making and more balanced policy choices for everyone.

This is why our government, through the Women's Advisory office, has been offering Campaign Schools for Women. The first campaign school for 2018 took place this past weekend in Fort Simpson on March 3rd and 4th, and a second is scheduled for Yellowknife on the weekend of March 10th and 11th. Women throughout the Northwest Territories can come and gain the knowledge they need to run for elected office at all levels, from district education authorities all the way to the Legislative Assembly.

The school also provides skills for those who would like to support women candidates by working on their campaigns, but our campaign schools can address only a few of the obstacles for women in the field of politics.

As a Cabinet Minister and a woman, I encourage everyone in this House to help us level the playing field. This is a time of change and opportunity. Listen to women, question stereotypes and negative judgments of women leaders, encourage talented women to lead, and offer them some real help, like donating to their campaigns or providing a few hours of child or other care. If you are a successful politician, mentor a woman to step into your shoes.

I am very confident that, with a level playing field, at least as many northern women will succeed as leaders as men do now, at every level, and we will all be better for it.

Happy International Women's Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 53-18(3): Women In Leadership

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency .

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Minister's Statement 54-18(3): Progress On Transparency And Accountability Initiatives

Ministers' Statements

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this House on our government's progress in advancing our mandate commitments for increasing government transparency and accountability.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today our government's release of an Open Government Policy. The Open Government Policy was developed based on input we received from Northwest Territories residents through a public engagement campaign, as well as collaboration with GNWT departments and research on open government initiatives in other jurisdictions. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations for their work to review and provide feedback on the Open Government Policy, which enabled us to improve it for the benefit of our residents.

This policy represents an important step toward openness and transparency by providing

definitions, principles, and a framework to guide the development of directives, guidelines, and tools that will allow our government to fulfill its commitment to openness in a more consistent and predictable way. This will improve the way our government shares information and data with the public, and how we engage with the public to ensure residents have the meaningful opportunities to provide input on government decisions that affect them. All Ministers are accountable under this policy, Mr. Speaker, and will ensure that their departments and agencies implement its provisions for open data, open information, and open dialogue.

Mr. Speaker, the concept of open government is not a new idea for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The principles of accountability and transparency that guide open government are consistent with those that guide our consensus system of government, including the importance of collaboration and participation from all Members through standing committees to strengthen our government policies and programs.

Government departments have been doing their part for years through public engagement and other information and data sharing initiatives, including the regular publication of reports and release of information on government decisions and activities.

The Open Government Policy will bring all of the existing practices and ideas across government together and help us establish clear and consistent approaches across government. This work has already begun and will be coordinated by an Open Government Steering Committee of senior government officials.

This work includes, for example, identifying the information and data of departments already released and finding ways to make it more accessible to the public; coordinating with other government initiatives aimed at increasing government openness, such as the review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Service Innovation Strategy; developing guidelines for a consistent approach to public engagement; and developing processes to report on progress on the of implementation of open government.

One of the first new actions is the launch today of an open government website that acts as a central location for open government initiatives and links to the various data, information, and public engagement resources across government.

Our government has made progress on a number of other initiatives in support of improved accountability and transparency. I am pleased to announce that, before the end of this sitting, we will be, by March 15th, launching a new web portal with information for residents, businesses, and organizations on how to file an appeal or complaint related to a government decision or action. This will fulfill our government's mandate commitment to make residents aware of the mechanisms available to appeal government decisions.

As Members know, Mr. Speaker, we are also in the process of drafting legislation to establish an ombudsperson office in the Northwest Territories, following consultation with the Standing Committee on Government Operations. An ombudsperson would be an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly who would investigate complaints about the administrative fairness of government practices and services and provide an additional venue to ensure fair, reasonable, and equitable government administration. We plan to introduce proposed legislation later this year.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to believe that increasing government accountability and transparency by improving the way we share data and information and engage with residents is an ongoing process, not a destination. We continue to make progress to this end through these initiatives, as our government remains committed to continuing to improve the way we do business to fulfill our mandate commitments and advance the priorities of this Legislative Assembly through the remainder of our term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 54-18(3): Progress On Transparency And Accountability Initiatives

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Minister's Statement 55-18(3): Acknowledgement Of Firth Sisters

Ministers' Statements

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, today, on International Women's Day, I am very proud to rise and recognize Ms. Sharon Firth, who has joined us in the visitors' gallery. Ms. Firth, a four-time Olympian, a northern hero and role model, was recently recognized by Canada Post, along with her sister Shirley, as two of Canada's greatest women athletes.

Earlier today, Ms. Firth proudly presented me with a framed set of stamps. Each stamp features one of six Canadian women athletes in a moment of celebration, as well as a full-colour, freeze-frame action shot representing a defining moment in their sports careers.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Firth and her sister Shirley competed in four consecutive Olympic Winter Games and four World Ski Championships. Sharon and Shirley captivated the North and Canada from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s with their incredible sporting exploits. Together, the sisters amassed a total of 79 medals at national championships, including 48 national titles.

Although Shirley is no longer with us, Sharon continues to be a role model and an inspiration for thousands of young people as a youth and leadership specialist with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Since attending the Olympics, Ms. Firth has been recognized and awarded the Order of Canada, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. She has been inducted into the Northwest Territories Sport Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and she has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta, among numerous other awards and distinctions.

Mr. Speaker, the Firth sisters were trailblazers for women, for Indigenous Canadians, and for all Northerners in Canada and around the world. Thank you, Sharon, for all you have contributed to sport and for creating positive legacies for the years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 55-18(3): Acknowledgement Of Firth Sisters

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Minister's Statement 56-18(3): Community Wellness Initiatives

Ministers' Statements

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a mandate commitment to foster healthy families by focusing on wellness, prevention, and improved nutrition. To achieve this commitment, the Department of Health and Social Services has made it a priority to support community wellness initiatives in communities across the NWT with funding provided through Indigenous Services Canada.

The department is currently working with communities to renew their wellness plans to prepare for the new five-year funding cycle for 2019-2024. Based on these community wellness plans, the Government of the Northwest Territories provides $5 million each year directly to Indigenous and community governments and to organizations to invest in local wellness initiatives.

The wellness initiatives that we support benefit residents directly and also allow our government to foster partnerships with many different organizations, including Indigenous and community governments. These partnerships are key to how the Department of Health and Social Services is working to achieve our goal of best health, best care, and better future for all NWT residents.

I would like to highlight some of these successful wellness initiatives. The Territorial initiatives that benefit residents across NWT include the On the Land Collaborative, the Take a Kid Trapping program, the Take a Kid Gardening program, as well as prenatal programs that are delivered in partnership with the Indigenous governments at boarding homes in Inuvik and Ndilo.

Regional initiatives include Let's Be Tobacco Free in the Beaufort Delta, the recent suicide prevention workshop hosted by the Dehcho District Education Council in Fort Simpson, and Family Violence Awareness projects at the three Aurora College campuses in Inuvik, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the Northwest Territories Association of Communities annual general meeting, along with many Members of this House. The highlight of the meeting for me was the opportunity to present the Healthy Community Award to the community of Gameti.

Gameti built a greenhouse and community garden that not only distributed harvests to elders and families, but also provided jobs, contributed to the mental well-being and happiness of the community, and enabled youth to gain valuable work experience with the satisfaction of knowing that the food they harvested was something that they helped to create. This is an excellent example of the positive results that can be achieved by communities when working together to support healthy choices. I would like to say, "A job well done," to Gameti.

Finally, I would also like to highlight the Community Healthy Living Fairs. Over the past three years, our government directly supported 18 fairs in our smaller communities. Over the next few years, we hope this will grow into an initiative where there will be fairs in all 33 communities.

As Members know, these fairs highlight information on healthy choices and include topics like breast and colorectal cancers, sexual health, healthy relationships, healthy eating, healthy lungs, early childhood development, breastfeeding, as well as oral health.

We've received great feedback from these fairs. One of the positive outcomes from these fairs is the opportunity for Health and Social Services staff to learn directly from community members through the Community Partnership Day. Community Partnership Day provides a forum for community members to teach resource staff about healthy living activities that they are most proud of. For example, staff have learned to bead, how to make dry meat, how to ice fish, check traps, cook traditional foods, and walk and snowmobile on community trails. They have also heard stories about the resilience of our people.

I am proud of how we have been able to support communities to undertake creative ways to participate in community wellness and healthy living throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 56-18(3): Community Wellness Initiatives

Ministers' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Colleagues, today is International Women's Day, and I invite you, all of you, to join me in recognizing the important role that women play in our lives, our workplaces, and our communities.

International Women's Day, which has been observed since the early 1900s, is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is important as friends and colleagues to encourage the continued participation of young women and girls across the territory in anything they aspire to do.

I have been inspired by my wife, with whom I have three beautiful children, three talented daughters, and we are very much equal partners together in our journey through life, and we want everything that life has to offer for our children, our girls, no matter what gender they are.

I have also been inspired by the contributions of women who have served in this Assembly past and present, who have been pioneers in demonstrating just how much of a difference they can make, that there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. Above my head is a carving done by Inuvialuit artist Angus Cockney. In this carving is a braid. This, colleagues, allows us to remember the importance of women and family as we conduct our work in this Chamber for the people of the Northwest Territories.

It is our responsibility as decision-makers to ensure that the contributions of women are celebrated and utilized to ensure that the opportunities for women continue to grow into the future. We, as elected leaders of this territory, have the ability to act as role models and also supporters to change the status quo. We must encourage female participation in all aspects of work and life, but especially within our own legislature.

I know that, as we have in the past and as we go forward, we will push for equality in our day-to-day lives. Masi. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on International Women's Day, we pause to celebrate the advances we have made as a society in advancing women's equality, and it is the day we take stock of the inequality that persists and rededicate our resolve for improvement.

A lot of improvement still needs to be made. A quick glance at employment occupation and income figures for the NWT shows that the rate of employment for women and men are about the same, but the rewards of pay, the inclusion in higher-paying occupation, and the proportion of sexes in senior positions are anything but equal.

Mr. Speaker, let's take a look in the pay envelope. On average, university-educated women make almost 20 per cent less annually than men with degrees. Women with high school diplomas make 10 per cent less than men with the same education, and there is more. While women are more likely to have degrees or diplomas and might be expected to have a higher rate of employment in occupations requiring advanced education or to be equally represented in high-paying trades, the fact is they are not. They remain predominantly represented in the lower-paid occupations, many of them low-paid for being so-called "women's work."

So what is to be done? In Iceland they say, "Equality won't happen by itself." They are getting tough on the gender gulf in earnings. There has been an equal pay law in Iceland since 1961, but women were still making up to 20 per cent less than men for equivalent work, so Iceland passed a better law. Within four years from now, any public or private body in Iceland employing more than 25 people that has not been independently certified as paying equal wages for work of equal value will face daily fines. France has introduced a similar law.

In the NWT, we have no similar protections for all workers, and, although the GNWT is protected by an Equal Pay Commissioner complaint system, I have seen no effort to promote or market this safeguard. Annual reports blandly observe that nobody is complaining.

Mr. Speaker, gender as equality is a right established by a United Nations convention. Fulfilling this right is the best chance we have in meeting some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, from economic crises and lack of healthcare to climate change, violence against women, and escalating conflicts, women are not only more affected by these problems, women possess ideas and leadership to solve them. The gender discrimination still holding too many women back holds our world back, too. For me, International Women's Day remains a bittersweet celebration, but a celebration nonetheless. Please join me and my sole female Legislative Assembly colleague in commemorating this day. Mahsi.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today celebrates International Women's Day. This year marks the 109th global commemoration for women, as International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1909. This day was meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day is about calling out the many injustices that women are faced with every day, such as gender discrimination, gender violence, and the constant battle to fight for and safeguard women's rights.

While it is important, Mr. Speaker, to be informed about many struggles that women must deal with on a regular basis, I would like to celebrate this International Women's Day by sharing a story about a woman from my constituency. The woman I am speaking of is Tishna Marlowe of Lutselk'e. Tishna is a fashion designer who has her own clothing line, of which she sells and sews all the clothing herself. Her company is called Dene Couture and sells both traditional and modern clothing for men and women alike. Mr.

Speaker, Tishna has been considered by many to be one of Canada's top 150 Indigenous artists and has been recognized by organizations such as the REVEAL Indigenous Art Awards. She has also received the visual art grant from the Alberta Arts Foundation. Additionally, Tishna has been an Indigenous art juror with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and she had three dresses worn at the 2017 Juno Awards. Moreover, in the last two years, Tishna has attended 22 fashion shows and has made over 50 beaded garments and countless parkas, mitts, moccasins, hats, and corsets.

Mr. Speaker, Tishna has truly reached an incredible and inspirational height. In addition to her success in the fashion industry, she is a high school graduate, she has a diploma as a legal secretary, she has an undergraduate degree in archaeology and First Nations studies. Tishna volunteers for many organizations and she donates art and shares knowledge whenever she can.

Tishna has been sewing and beading all her life, Mr. Speaker, and she credits what she has learned and the skills she has from her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother. Upon asking if there is a recipe for success that other women could learn from, she told me, "Stay sober, stay kind, and dream big dreams, because hard work and sobriety will get you there." Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on the occasion of International Women's Day to recognize the great achievements of the global movement for women's rights that continues to this day. First embraced by the socialist movements in the early 20th Century, International Women's Day was first adopted by the United Nations in 1975, and for more than 40 years countries around the world have celebrated today as a way to advance equality and equity for women. Although we have come far as a society to advance the women's rights and equality, there is still much work left to do.

This year's campaign is "Press for Progress" in recognition of the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report that found that gender parity is well over 200 years away. There has never been a more important time to push for meaningful progress on this long-standing issue of justice and fairness in our world. We, the honourable Members of this House, must do our part to show leadership and give our support to women at home, at the workplace, and in our democratic institutions. Our representative democracy must be one that truly represents our people and, with only two of my colleagues here today being women, the status quo simply isn't working.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is important to me because the women in my life are so important to me, and none more so than my partner, Colleen Wellborn. Colleen has only been in the North for a few years now, but already she has made a huge difference in our community. While working in private sector residential property management, she demonstrated real leadership not only improving the quality of rental market units in the capital, but actively joining the fight against homelessness as a member of the Homeful Partnership.

Colleen has since left that job and is now working for the Detoncho Development Corporation, working on skills development and employment for Indigenous people in Yellowknife and small communities. In her spare time, Colleen volunteers as a Special Olympics coach and serves on the board of the NWT Chamber of Commerce. She has shown real passion, vision, and commitment in her career, and serves as an example the huge difference women in leadership can make. Before I forget, she's also a step-mother to my son Corbin and a loving partner who always finds time for her friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, I am not alone in sharing my life with a strong woman leader. So many of us here have a partner, a daughter, a mother, or a grandmother who makes a real difference in the world around them. I call on all Members of this House and all members of the Northwest Territories to stand with the women in their lives who make a difference and let them lead us all towards real progress in this world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would talk to talk about a young lady from my riding, Kristen Tanche. She is a Liildlii Kue First Nation Dehcho Dene and is of Icelandic and settler Canadian ancestry. She was raised in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, and lived in Whati, Gameti, Yellowknife, and Fort Simpson. As a young adult, she returned to Fort Simpson to reconnect with her family, community, and Dene culture, and where she currently resides.

Over the years, Kristen has been passionate about her education. She has attended the University of Northern British Columbia and took three semesters through Dechinta University, which offered post-secondary land-based education. Her three semesters included one at Blachford Lake, another in the Mackenzie Mountains, Indigenous Boreal Guardianship Pilot Program, and lastly a Dehcho River semester.

Currently, Kristen is in her second year of the Social Work Diploma Program through Aurora College and is completing her final practicum placement in Fort Simpson at the Children and Family Services within the Dehcho Regional Health and Social Services. She is set to graduate this April. Kristen has said that, "My education journey is not stopping once I graduate. I have plans to continue with my education either in a formal setting by completing a degree in social work and/or through learning from elders and traditional knowledge holders to become immersed in learning from my Dene culture."

Kristen chose to change her career path after many years in office administration, then tourism, to that of the social work field for numerous reasons. After many years of struggling with her own issues, she has seen others struggle, and seeing a need for more northern Indigenous people in the helping profession, she decided to pursue her hopes of helping people.

Throughout her years, Kristen was involved with leadership roles. She was elected on the Liidli Kue First Nation Band Council, and served on Fort Simpson District Education Authority. She has served as an alumni member on the Dechinta Board of Directors and was also involved with the NWT Tourism Board as the Dehcho Regional Member. More recently, Kristen was accepted as part of the fourth cohort of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship, a policy development program for Northern people.

Kristen believes in being actively engaged in her community and region by involving within local politics. Her passion was highlighted in the TV documentary series Dene: A Journey, where she featured in a season two episode.

She is passionate about the people in the community and the people of the North's well-being. She has plans to stay in the North to continue on her journey in hopes of giving back to her community and region in the NWT. In closing, I would like to recognize Cece McCauley. She was the founding chief of the Inuvik Dene band and Honorary Chief for life. She was the first woman chief among the 23 chiefs in the Northwest Territories. She has shown tremendous leadership and courage throughout her life and has never been afraid to speak her mind. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize International Women's Day. I believe I am an advocate for women. It's important to me. I still am learning exactly what that means and how to advocate in the best way.

Last year on International Women's Day, I stood here in this House and said something similar, but when I reflect over the past year, somehow now it feels like the ground has shifted, like things are very different. When I was a boy, my mom was my hero. She was a successful businesswoman and a single mother. I like to think she did a pretty good job of raising me. I thought she embodied the qualities that every person should live up to.

Being raised by such a woman, I have always believed in and supported equality. I try to be open-minded and fair and I always thought, or maybe I hoped, that, except for a few bad apples, our society pretty much held those same values.

Events of the past year have shown me that my view is optimistic and my hope was somewhat blind. The Me Too and Times Up movements and the stories that have emerged from the hearings into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have shown us in a harsh and undeniable way what brutal obstacles and discrimination women face. We must recognize they face them today as much as ever. In spite of years of enlightened thinking in some parts of society, many women today face systemic discrimination, dehumanizing disparagement, and sometimes physical brutality at the hands of men.

The theme of International Women's Day 2018 is Press for Progress. Progress is made towards gender parity and equality every year, but the 2017 World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report says that gender parity is 200 years away. Two hundred years, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it's good to see Me Too and Times Up gather momentum, but it's clear how much work remains to be done. We can't rest on our few achievements when so many obstacles to equality remain.

Each of us as individuals, together as leaders, must make our voices heard. We must be loud and unwavering. We must unite and challenge our friends, our colleagues, and our communities to think, act, and be gender inclusive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Today is International Women's Day. In honour of this day, I reached out to a thoughtful, formidable, and passionate advocate of women's rights for her views to consider on this day. Here are the observations and advice from our daughter, Amber Adzeza Montreuil O'Reilly.

She said that women's ability to be active in the public and political sphere is greatly influenced by their ability to access education, childcare, reproductive rights, and domestic equality. Safe, non-judgmental spaces where youth and women are encouraged to ask questions, share their views, and participate in campaigns are needed to develop the confidence, knowledge, and skills to take a stance on political issues.

She said that all men need to value and respect not only the women in their circle of friends and family, but the women in their workplaces, communities, and societies. This means active listening, supporting female candidates, and implementing policies to close the wage and opportunities gap.

Intersectional feminism takes into consideration the various social pressures an individual may be facing in addition to being female, such as racism, homophobia, and ableism. In celebrating diversity and creating more opportunities for political involvement, our daughter said we must not neglect these realities nor the voices of trans women and non-binary individuals.

Our daughter established these views in part through her participation in this Assembly's Youth Parliament and the various parliamentary simulations offered through the French-Canadian Youth Network. These experiences were instrumental in furthering her understanding of legislative process, party politics and consensus government, public speaking, and debate. These opportunities offer youth the ability to clearly articulate and defend their opinions as well as engage in dialogue with people who may not share them. Open dialogue about current issues at schools and at home are crucial for youth to exercise their critical thinking skills and find their voices.

In taking her place in the world, our daughter has benefited from the advancements in individual freedom, the battle against misogyny, and the efforts to improve gender equity. That's the start of the road to full equality. I call upon us all to be leaders in building a world of equality for our daughters and all women.

Happy International Women's Day. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput .

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleagues, I would like to recognize International Women's Day. Mr. Speaker, this year "Press for Progress" is calling on each of us to recognize that, when it comes to women's equality and women's rights, we have still got a long way to go, and we have got to keep pushing.

With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, today is the perfect day to discuss the motion on women's representation in government, moved by the Member from Yellowknife Centre .

For now, though, I would like to highlight just a few of the Nunakput women who have "pressed for progress" and made their mark in their communities, our territory, and our country. For example, in the last round of municipal elections, Ulukhaktok voters brought in an 80 per cent women-led community government, the highest in the territory, Mr. Speaker, and Paulatuk brought in a one third women-led council. As we approach the next round of elections, I hope that more women will look out for the Campaign Schools for Women. If you want to run for office at any level of government, campaign schools can help you prepare.

Mr. Speaker, Paulatuk's women elders have also been a strong guiding influence in the community. Although Anny Illasiak, also known as "Granny Uma," passed away in 2012, her legacy lives on through the local Aboriginal Head Start program she had worked at for so many years as a language teacher, storyteller, and historian. Elizabeth Kuptana, also known as "Anaanang," is dedicated to passing on traditional skills and knowledge to the next generation.

Mr. Speaker, Rosemarie Kuptana, originally from the area around Sachs Harbour, was a trailblazer in Indigenous-language broadcasting, working for CBC and the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. The former president and national Inuit leader of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has spent her career working to advance Inuit rights and interests to ensure the survival of traditional knowledge.

Mr. Speaker, in the workplace and in our homes, we owe a lot to these women, not only for the work they have dedicated their lives to, but also for their courage in establishing themselves as role models for young women growing up in Nunakput and the Northwest Territories today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is International Women's Day. The theme of this year's campaign is Press for Progress. Today, there are events being held around the world to promote and call for greater action on gender parity. This year's theme is informed by the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, which tells us that the global gender gap is widening, and at this rate, it will take over 200 years to achieve gender parity. While women worldwide are closing the gap in critical areas, such as health and education, significant gender inequality persists in the workforce and in politics.

Looking around this Legislature, that fact is strikingly apparent: only two of the 19 MLAs are women. One of the main reasons for this disparity is the notion, whether it be conscious or unconscious, that politics is for men. It is of the utmost importance that we actively work to dispel that myth. I am proud to say that, in Hay River, much progress has already been made on that front, and that is thanks to Ms. Jane Groenewegen.

Ms. Groenewegen represented Hay River in the Legislative Assembly for 20 years, as a Regular Member, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Premier , and as the chair of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning. Mr. Speaker, she was my MLA for the majority of my life. To the young women and men who have grown up in Hay River, the idea of women in politics isn't a foreign concept; it's the natural order of things.

While Ms. Groenewegen is undoubtedly one of a kind, she serves as a wonderful example for young women and continuously works to encourage other potential female leaders. She is an active participant with the Campaign School and the Daughters of the Vote, which both aim to increase women's participation in politics. She also recently agreed to let her name be put forward by the Legislative Assembly to the Canadian Women Parliamentarians Alumni Program, to once again offer her experience and insights into service in elected office in institutions predominantly occupied by men.

Her time as an MLA was not her only foray into male-dominated institutions. During her tenures with the Hay River Town Council and her early days with the Hay River and NWT Chambers of Commerce, as well as the NWT Power Corporation Board of Directors, she was always one of the only, and sometimes the only, woman. Mr. Speaker, that fact never deterred her, and it never silenced her. I am not sure anything could silence her. I am sure all of the Members she has worked with will always remember her animated critiques of the performance of Ministers -- when such critiques were required, of course.

Mr. Speaker, I want to both commend and thank Ms. Groenewegen for what she has done to address gender disparity in Hay River and the territory, and to hold her up as an example for the young women and men of this territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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International Women's Day

Members' Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the visitors in the gallery. I am pleased to recognize Madame Lu, Council General of China, and Mr. Shan, Consul. Both join us here from the consulate office located in Calgary. Masi for joining us. Masi for coming to the Northwest Territories, our beautiful country. Masi.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize in the gallery members of the NWT Status of Women Council. We have the president, Ms. Violet Camsell-Blondin, Martina Norwegian, Catherine Mackeinzo-Taylor, and Arlene Hache.

Because it is International Women's Day, I would like to recognize some of our women leaders and women colleagues: my Deputy Minister, Ms. Eleanor Young, from Municipal and Community Affairs; Ms. Dawn Moses, Municipal and Community Affairs; and colleague and personal friend, I consider, Ms. Sharon Firth, Municipal and Community Affairs.

Another woman that I recognize in the gallery and I respect and cherish is Ms. Dawn Lacey, who is a long-time social advocate and a well-known musician within the community of Yellowknife.

Finally, I would like to recognize a Page from the Range Lake constituency, young Ms. Zoe Clark. 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 Kam Lake .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize my constituent, Ms. Sharon Firth, four-time Olympian; a Page who is with us today, Justin Vollenweider, who has been helping us out all week; and last but not least, my partner, Colleen Wellborn. I am surprised she let me speak about her today; she is a very private person, but I am really pleased that she was able to hear those words and be with us today. 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 Nahendeh .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize five strong leaders who have had a huge impact on my life. They are Martina Norwegian, who is a constituent in my riding, as well as Vi Blondin, and my former colleagues, Dawn Moses, Eleanor Young, and Sharon Firth, and I thank them very much for being here today. 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 North .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and welcome Arlene Hache. Arlene is a resident of the Yellowknife North riding, and of course, she is well-known across the North as an advocate for social change. She is the former Executive Director of the Centre for Northern Families, and she is the recipient of the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the NWT Wise Women Award. Thank you for being here on this very special day of International Women's Day. 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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to also knowledge my constituent Dawn Moses, who works with MACA as the Youth and Volunteer Program Manager. Mahsi.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Fort Smith Town Councillor Rashmi Patel from the Thebacha riding. 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 South .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a Page from Yellowknife south, Marie Carpenter, as well as Carmen Moore, our Chief of Protocol. 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. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It is always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is confusing for some residents of the NWT when it comes to understanding the role of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs when it comes to municipal government. We have heard of the department coming in and appointing administrators because a situation has gone from bad to worse. We also had strong support from the department in that. My first question to the Minister is: can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs please tell us what role the department has when municipal governments break or do not follow the bylaws? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs .

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The role of the Municipal and Community Affairs is to support community governments and Aboriginal governments. We take that seriously. We will often help actually drafting some of the bylaws. We provide orientation to new governments on how to do bylaws, what the meanings are, how to interpret them, how to enact them.

When they break a bylaw, we try not to be punitive. Our first step is actually to support the community. If we get a complaint, we will actually reach out to the community government and try to speak to them about the bylaw that they may have jeopardized and see if they can actually look at revising the mistakes that they have made. Our job, like I say, is to support them, not to become authoritarian and take over.

We can go into administration. We can do co-supervision. Those are the last resorts. That is not the first process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I appreciate the Minister in that answer. I really applaud the department for taking that approach. I think it is a very positive way to help them grow as a community. Can the Minister provide: when the department offers council training, do bylaws and following them get discussed during the process? When they get in there and do the training and that, are bylaws discussed and how they have to be followed?

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Most definitely. With every new council that takes place, we do an orientation. The

interpretation and the right understanding of the bylaws is critical in that. That is the main function of community government. We do spend time with them. We try to help them understand both how to develop bylaws and how to interpret them.

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that answer. I appreciate the department continues to do that. Whether it is designated authorities or municipal governments, I understand that they do that. I have seen it done in the past. It is good to hear they are still following that practice. If the department sees an issue or has been advised of a potential issue, does the regional or each headquarter staff contact the municipal government and provide advice?

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Again, like I said, our job at Municipal and Community Affairs is to support designated, thank you for clarifying that, Aboriginal and municipal governments. If we get a complaint at any level, either regional or at headquarters, we try to get the regional departments to go into the community. They are the ones closest to the ground; they understand their communities and their regions. That regional officer will go in and actually work with them. We don't tell them what to do. It is really important to note that. We will provide them advice, as the honourable Member has said.

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. How can residents of the NWT address issues if they are not being successful in getting the municipal government to deal with the issues that they bring forth to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

The first step for any resident who has a problem with their municipal, Aboriginal, or designated authority is to ask if they can speak to the council. They are public bodies. They are responsible to their residents as public entities. People are allowed to go and present to the council. At a last recourse, if that does not work and the resident is still not satisfied, they have measures through the court of law. If they feel that the council has broken a bylaw and it has impacted them and they can't find a successful resolution, then they can take it to court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training For Bylaw Officers

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think, on every other International Women's Day I have ever spent in Yellowknife, I have attended the Bread and Roses lunch and there has been an announcement of the Wise Women Award winners. I note that is not happening today. I have some questions about the status of the Status of Women Council, the body that usually organizes the Bread and Roses lunch and the Wise Women Awards. Can the Minister update us about the status of the Status of Women Council and why they may not have been able to host these events this year? Mahsi.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories Status of Women is kind of at an arm's length of the Legislative Assembly. Although I, as the Minister of the Status of Women, appoint the board of directors and can take them out of their seats as board of directors, they have a little bit of flexibility in what they do. They are mandated within the Legislative Assembly to incorporate the act, to adhere to the act, to do the tasks that are defined within the act. Part of that act states that they will do gender-based analysis and support the Minister in reaching the Minister of the Status of Women's objectives, which in this case is the mandate about women in leadership.

Traditionally, they have done the Wise Women Awards on an annual basis. We are trying to move in a new direction, though. I am just going to put it out there, Mr. Speaker. There has been a change of administration. There have been some new board members who have come. Old board members have finished their terms, so we put new board members in. I did talk to them the other day about their purpose and their defined role within the act, which is a legal obligation, about their necessity, their purpose. Part of that is, like I said, to do gender-based analysis. The Wise Women Award, though, is not part of the act. It is not something they are mandated to do.

They have taken nominations. When I met with them the other day, they are stating that, because of the organizational changes at this time, they won't be able to do it on this date. They will recognize the Wise Women coming up in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

I appreciate the Minister's answer. I have learned a whole load of things. I know that recently the Status of Women executive director resigned. Can the Minister tell us when new staff will be in place?

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

The appointment of the executive director is not under my authority. I only delegate the board of directors. In discussing the position with the board of directors, they have informed me that they have completed interviews and they have found a successful candidate. I can't state when they are going to be starting their position, but I do know that they have selected a new executive director. We are all looking forward to the changes that this new person will bring.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. If the Status of Women Council's role is not to promote the accomplishments of women through the Wise Women Awards, as one example, what is the role of the Status of Women Council going forward?

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

It is not that Status of Women can't promote women by doing such things as the Wise Women Awards, the Take Back the Night, the December 6th Vigil. Those are important things for women. Those are things that they choose to do on their own in their work to promote women's concerns within the Northwest Territories. Their primary role, though, Mr. Speaker, is to enact the legislative requirements within the Status of Women Act, so that is their primary role. We are trying to move there.

I do want to say that my vision of them, I met one of the new board members that I appointed actually is an old board member, and so she brought me some history which is really important to know. She talked of a time, and I know it was over a decade, but she talked of a time when she was a board member originally, and they had a different executive director, and they were seen on national boards. They were bringing the voice of women to the forefront. They were invited to the table to bring their concerns forward. I think we've lost that, Mr. Speaker.

We are trying to work together as a board and the Minister of Status of Women to regain that strength, to regain that voice. They are representatives of all regions of the Northwest Territories, so it's important that we refocus our energies and look at bringing forward the voices of women from the Northwest Territories at a territorial, a local, and a national level.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that answer. The Minister said a couple of times that the Status of Women Council needs to return to its purpose as set out in the legislation. Could she just refresh my memory of what that purpose is? Thank you.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

It's been actually quite a while since I've read the act, although I had read it previously a number of times. The biggest things that stick out for me, though, is the gender-based analysis. They are to be looking at all government departments, territorial departments, and looking at it through a gender-based view to see how they impact women, their policies, because some policies do affect women and people of diversity differently than men. That is one of the main purposes.

The other thing that sticks out in my mind is that they are accountable, they are to support the Minister of the Status of Women. I don't have a department, Mr. Speaker. I am kind of alone in this and we have a lot to do. The Status of Women is my department. They are to help me as the Minister of Status of Women to make sure that the mandates defined within the Legislative Assemblies are moved forward. I need them to help me with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 221-18(3): Role Of The Status Of Women Council

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, we're all familiar, of course, with the saga of the missing generators, and so I would like to try to get some additional clarification today.

Mr. Speaker, in March of 2017 we were told that additional costs due to the absence of the generators was $500,000. Seven months later in the fall session of 2017, when asked, and still without any generators, the amount remained the same. I assumed that we still had to pay some rent for back-up generators for those seven months, as well. Now we have received three generators and are awaiting two more. I assume again that we have to pay some kind of costs for back-up generators while waiting for these two remaining generators. Can the Minister explain how the amount of $500,000 has remained the same since being asked a year ago what the overruns would cost? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to give some background as to this matter. The original contract, or the contract that was entered into between Virdi Power and the Power Corporation, was in 2015. That original signed contract for was $3.4 million, and that's United States dollars. It was later increased to $3.6 million when a tie breaker module was added under a change order. Now, of course, we did not receive the generators on time. In fact, they were almost two years late. I did mention earlier in this House that had been a pre-payment, an initial progress payment to the corporation.

That in American dollars was $962,500, which approximately is $1.2 million CAD. I mentioned the change order for the additional equipment. That was $176,500USD, which is approximately $238,000CAD.

Upon the delivery of the three units, there was a bill sent by Virdi Power to the Power Corporation of $1,468,000. From that was the deducted $943,000 USD. This money was deducted because of the delays which were caused by Virdi Power. There will be costs going forward. As Members likely know, we have entered into a new contract with a Canadian supplier to receive the last two generators. As to whether we can recover that money from Virdi Power, we are looking into that. It is a complex matter, including, if there is litigation, where litigation would be conducted, in the United States or in Canada. This has been a difficult project, but I believe we're back on track. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Minister for the detailed response and some additional background information. I'm still not sure, however, that I was clear on getting an answer with regard to the $500,000 that the Minister a year ago indicated were the overrun costs for not receiving the generators at that time. Seven months later, we still have incurred more costs. I find it difficult to see how the $500,000 amount remained the same.

Of course, the Minister has referred to additional costs that we have incurred since then. What is the total overrun cost that is on the line now that the Power Corporation is trying to recover in some form or another? It just can't be $500,000 anymore, Mr. Speaker. What is the new, revised number? Can the Minister share that with us, or at least share the detailed information with committee, breaking out these costs and how they intend to recover them?

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

As I mentioned earlier, there was a set-off, so money for the costs that were incurred by the late delivery of the first three generators was recovered. There are going to be ongoing costs. That is acknowledged. Our expectation, however, is that the overall original or the expected budget of $8 million will be exceeded by about $500,000. We are looking into whether we can recover additional funds from Virdi Power, but as I mentioned earlier, that is a complex issue. If there is litigation, we would have to look at the cost and time that that might take, and in fact which jurisdiction it would be held in.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

I would appreciate it, though, if the Minister then could also make a commitment to share with us the break-down of the costs to date, and be able to show us their intention of how they intend to recover them. I appreciate that there may be a challenge to litigate this matter, so can the Minister maybe provide, so that we're clear, you know, is the government still intending to hold Virdi Power's feet to the fire, and if in fact, try to recover any additional costs due to these delays? Or is the Power Corporation ultimately going to be on the hook for these costs now?

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Certainly, I would be prepared to meet with committee to discuss this. I know that the numbers involved are complex, partially because some of the contract was initially in United States dollars, so it was necessary to get some information as to what that approximated in Canadian dollars. Certainly, I would be willing to meet with committee. As I say, we are looking at the possibilities of taking legal action, but we have to look also at the time and complexity of such legal action and also which jurisdiction such legal action would be commenced in. Certainly, I would like to meet with committee.

I realize I have thrown out a lot of numbers today. I have had the Power Corporation provide me with up-to-date numbers, which I certainly would be prepared to share with committee. Thank you.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that commitment. So, let's just say, then, if at the end of the day we are going to take the responsibility for this debt and that there will be no recovery from the contractor, can the Minister advise what the Power Corporation's plan is in order to cover off these costs if in fact we end up having to be the ones to cover it? Can the Minister offer assurance that NWT ratepayers are not going to be facing yet another increase as a result of having to cover this loss? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

I wish I could give the assistance or the assurance requested by the Member opposite. As I say, we are expecting to be over the expected budget on this project, which frankly is not unusual in contractual situation, but ultimately I suppose it would be up to the Public Utilities Board to determine whether these additional costs would be passed on to ratepayers. Thank you.

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Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement And Cost Overruns

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the response to questioning during the review of the 2018-2019 Main Estimates, the Minister of Health and Social Services said, and I am quoting from unedited Hansard February 28, 2018:

"We are talking about the resident being able to block their record from being seen by certain individuals within the healthcare system, including certain specific information. The initial system as designed didn't really have that available, but we have been working with the developers to see how we can incorporate that in, and we believe there is a mechanism. We are not a hundred per cent sure, and I may come back and say I was wrong, but at this point we believe there is something we can do."

I would like to ask the Minister if that system he was referring to in that quote was the MediPatient system referenced in the recent Information and Privacy Commissioner report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the system I was making reference to was the electronic medical record system that we have incorporated in the Northwest Territories. I have had some further discussions. We believe that we will be able to put a system in that will allow our residents to block some individuals from seeing their information. We have not formulated that or put that in place yet, but we believe it can happen.

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

So, I have it here. The electronic medical record system is a system of patient information used in healthcare clinics for scheduling, longitudinal charting, and billing to support the delivery of patient care, and it's available to all health authorities,

whereas the MediPatient system referred to in the Information and Privacy Commissioner report indicates that it's local hospital patient information used by several NWT health and social services authorities and includes admission, discharge, radiology, rehabilitation, and scheduling functions. So are some authorities still using the MediPatient system, or is the electronic medical record system replacing the MediPatient system?

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

No, we are moving to the electronic medical record system in the Northwest Territories, so it's going to be one system where we can have patient information, they can see what their test results are, all of those types of things. There are three communities that do not have that system in place yet. We are still rolling it out in the Northwest Territories, but we intend to have it everywhere in the Northwest Territories.

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

So when the Health Information Act first came into place, the department identified 15 separate information systems. I will not go into them exhaustively, but they all seem to do different things: MediGent, MediPharm, ORMED, Risk Monitor Pro, Vital Statistics System, Health Suite. So, with these 15 separate information systems, are any of these going to be retained, or is this all rolling into one?

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The Member did indicate a few systems, Vital Stats and a few others as an example. Those continue to exist. They are collecting data for a different reason, and the inputs are coming from a different mechanism. Electronic medical record is a system where individuals' records are kept and maintained. It does provide some statistical data so that we, as Members, can make informed decisions. We have 32 indicators that we are monitoring and reporting on, on a regular basis.

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I am trying to get at with the Minister here is that, yes, there are diagnostic systems, there are different systems like that, but it seems like there are a number of systems that are used for patient information, and we still have this issue with masking, that the functionality does not seem to be there. So I will ask the Minister: what is the work that is undergoing to modify the electronic medical record system to allow masking of patient information? What are the costs and projected timelines of that? Thank you.

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

What we are referring to is allowing a patient to block certain practitioners from seeing their information so that not everybody who is in the circle of care can necessarily see the information. That work is under way. We are still trying to figure out the exact magnitude, the cost of it. There are some challenges with it. For instance, if somebody chooses to block something today, and then 10, 15, years from now their situation changes and there is a critical incident and somebody needs to look at that information, if it's blocked, it could adversely affect their care.

So we want to make sure that we understand all of that, and, until we have a better understanding of that, we will not have a full idea of the cost implications or the scope. We are doing that work. When I know, the committee will know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Premier as the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs. There is major concern with the impacts of Site C dam project, now proceeding on the Peace River in British Columbia. UNESCO, Amnesty International, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, they have all opposed this project. Yesterday in this House I tabled a letter that was signed by 14 downstream Indigenous governments, including four from the Northwest Territories, calling on the British Columbia government to cancel the project.

I would like to know from the Premier whether our government has ever told the British Columbia government it is opposed to the project and, if not, why not? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The Honourable Premier .

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories fully participated in the environmental assessment process associated with the proposed Site C hydroelectric project. In submissions to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, better known at CEAA, the Government of the Northwest Territories provided technical comments and concerns about potential downstream impacts from the Site C dam.

The Government of the Northwest Territories also provided recommendations to address potential downstream effects to aquatic ecosystems, traditional harvesters, and communities in the Northwest Territories, specifically that the cumulative-effect assessment should expand in scope to include the Slave River and Slave River delta and should include assessment of the combined effects of Site C, Dunvegan, and Bennett Dam on water quality, quantity, and the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

Despite the input provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories and some Northwest Territories Indigenous governments, CEAA's decision concluded that the project could go ahead but provided 80 conditions to reduce the potential downstream effects. CEAA also concluded that no effects from the Site C dam are likely to occur in the Northwest Territories.

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I would like to thank the Premier for that level of detail in his response, but, after the CEAA panel was held, the British Columbia government, the Premier , announced that they were reconsidering the project. So, during that reconsideration, did our government write to the Premier of British Columbia at any time and oppose the project? Can the Premier tell me that?

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

In the Mackenzie River basin, every province and territory is responsible for water management within their own jurisdictions. Transboundary agreements are bilateral in nature and, as such, address waters that flow between two jurisdictions. The waters of the Peace River flow directly between British Columbia and Alberta.

The Northwest Territories-Alberta Bilateral Water Management Agreement deals directly with waters that flow between Alberta and the Northwest Territories, such as the Slave River. This is the approach defined in the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Master Agreement. As Alberta has made commitments related to water quality and overall ecosystem integrity in the Northwest Territories-Alberta Bilateral Agreement, they must ensure those commitments can be kept as they continue to negotiate with British Columbia towards their Alberta-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreement.

The Northwest Territories-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreement covers our directly shared waters with British Columbia within the Liard River Basin. British Columbia and the Yukon have recently signed a bilateral water management agreement related to their shared waters in the Liard Basin.

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I would like to thank the Premier for that response, but I want to give him a heads up: I have gone off-script. This was not a question that I gave to him ahead of time, but it is in response to the first question that I asked.

Once again, at the conclusion of CEAA panel review, after that was completed, the Premier of British Columbia announced that their new government was going to reconsider whether they should proceed with Site C. There was a process there where they were going to look at whether they should proceed or not. During that time, did our government write to the Government of British Columbia and oppose the Site C project at any point?

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

After the three-year environmental assessment that was approved in 2014, construction of Site C began in 2015. The estimated completion date for Site C is 2024, and as the project had already received approval, we had already submitted our comments, and we did not write to the British Columbia Premier or the British Columbia government.

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I would like to thank the Premier for that. I wish we had written.

The Northwest Territories is a member of the Mackenzie River Basin Board, which provides a forum for discussion of basin level issues at a multi-jurisdictional level, but the board has no teeth, and it can only make recommendations. It doesn't seem to really have any control over upstream actions of jurisdictions once removed. Does the Premier believe that we need to push for a basin-wide regime or agreement to deal with projects like Site C? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I believe we already have such an agreement, the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement, in which negotiations began in 1960, was signed in 1997, and commits the Governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, and Canada, and now includes Nunavut, towards cooperatively managing the water and aquatic ecosystems of the entire Mackenzie River Basin.

This agreement makes provisions for the parties to negotiate bilateral water management agreements to waters that are shared directly between two jurisdictions, and as per the master agreement, the Northwest Territories signed transboundary water management agreements with the Yukon in 2002, and with both Alberta and BC in 2015, and that process also includes dispute resolution processes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if the territorial health authority is meeting its statutory requirements under the Health Information Act? Thank you.

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we take the protection of privacy of the NWT residents seriously, and we understand the importance of protecting the personal health information, the custody and control of information. We have enhanced training for all of our custodians. We are making sure that all of our people are trained, to make sure that they understand their obligations under the Health Information Act.

There were a number of recommendations that came forward from the Privacy Commissioner. We are looking at those. We accept those recommendations. We are trying to make improvements. I have asked the department to reach out to the Privacy Commissioner to see if she could provide some guidance on what clauses she thinks need to be amended in the legislation to help improve clarity.

We take this very seriously. We are committed to having quality and professional privacy protection, and of course, the authorities are committed to protecting the privacy of our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

I am not sure if that was a yes, no, or a maybe, but I will ask for more specificity perhaps. This is a very progressive piece of legislation, it is a very complex piece of legislation, and it allows patients a lot of control over their information. Can the Minister confirm if there are systems currently in place to allow patients to protect the privacy of their medical information from health care practitioners?

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

When the rights and principles of the Health Information Act are shared with patients, they are supposed to be told that they can request to stop their information from being shared with certain practitioners. If they make that request, we do our best to make sure that happens. I can't say that every resident who has approached that understands that, which is why we are trying to improve our training; so that people can understand that.

This is new legislation. We are open to making improvements as we go. The Privacy Commissioner for the Northwest Territories has made a number of recommendations. We are reaching out to the Privacy Commissioners to make sure we have a complete comprehensive understanding of what they are suggesting so that we can continue to make this better for residents of the Northwest Territories.

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Will the Minister engage with the relevant standing committee at the nearest available time to go over the kinds of changes they are contemplating, the kind of work plan that they are going over? Will the Minister commit to providing the standing committee with more information on how the department is meeting its statutory requirements under the act?

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I look forward to getting a letter from committee making that request, and I look forward to following up with them in response.

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister also commit to providing more clarity on the types of information systems that are being used by the health authority? Previously, I spoke of 15 different systems. I understand some are going to be retained and some are going to be rolled into one. Can the Minister provide some clarity on that or commit to providing more clarity on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I understand that the committee just had a review of the information Privacy Commissioner's report. There were a number of recommendations.

I am looking forward to, once again, hearing back from committee by way of letter or other correspondence indicating the types of things they want to know. If this is included in there, I will absolutely provide that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You're just one person.

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Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Yesterday, when the Minister was answering questions from the honourable Member from Frame Lake here in regards about -- that is Frame Lake; right? Kam Lake. Sorry. I got it wrong.

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Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

No, this is Frame Lake.

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Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Yes, this is Frame Lake.

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Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

Oral Questions

Some Hon. Members

Order.

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Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Order. Was asking questions to the Minister about foundational review and that. Can the Minister advise us if he is giving the same messaging to the college as he