Debates of Nov. 22nd, 2021

This is page numbers 2907 - 2950 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was assembly .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Sessional STATEMENT - November 2021

Covid-19 Vaccination

Progress During the 19th Legislative Assembly.

COP 26 and the Climate Crisis in the Northwest Territories

Government of the Northwest Territories Property Leases

Housing Needs in Monfwi

COP 26 and Climate Change

Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries

Progress on Housing During the19th Legislative Assembly

Condolences on the Passing of Constituents

Eulogy for Mary (Bernice) Bonnetrouge

Issues Relating to First Nation Access Along Waterways

Government of the Northwest Territories COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Government of the Northwest Territories Property Leases

First Nation Access Along Waterways

COP 26 and the Climate Crisis in the Northwest Territories

Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries

COP 26 Outcomes

Progress on Housing Priorities

Northwest Territories Power Corporation COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Returns To Written Questions

Bill 23:

An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Bill

Bill 32:

An Act to Amend the Northern Employees Benefit Services Pension Plan Act

Bill 33: National Indigenous Peoples Day Act

Bill 24:

An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act

Bill 29: Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act

Bill 30:

An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act

Bill 31:

An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act

Committee Report 17-19(2): Report on the Review of Bill 23:

An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act

Tabled Document 437-19(2): Capital Estimates 2022-2023 Tabled Document 438-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022 Tabled Document 439-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022 Tabled Document 440-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories response to Motion 37-19(2): Creation of a Northwest Territories Food Security Strategy Tabled Document 441-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 500-19(2): Government Renewal Initiative

Tabled Document 442-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 29-19(2): Systemic Racism Tabled Document 443-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 717-19(2): Disaster Navigator Recommended for flooded Communities

Tabled Document 444-19(2): Minister of Health and Social Services Response to Letters Received From Health Care Providers Tabled Document 445-19(2): Follow-up letter for oral question 723-19(2): Mental Health and Fatigue Tabled Document 446-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 725-19(2): Medical Travel Advocate Tabled Document 447-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 744-19(2): Aging in Place with Dignity Tabled Document 448-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 763-19(2): Nursing Human Resources Tabled Document 449-19(2): Follow-up for Oral Question 764-19(2): Cancer Pre-Screening Tabled Document 450-19(2): Self-Isolation Exemption Data

Tabled Document 451-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories response to Committee Report 13-19(2): Report on the review of the 2019-2020 northwest territories ombud annual report Tabled Document 452-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories to Committee Report 15-19(2) Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2020 Audit of Early Childhood to Grade 12 Education in the Northwest Territories Tabled Document 453-19(2): Additional Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 497-19(2): Corrections Workplace Assessment

Tabled Document 454-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 720-19(2): Airport Taxi Fees

Tabled Document 455-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 16-19(2): Report on Housing Phase One Needs for Northwest Territories Homeowners and Private Landlords Tabled Document 456-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 30-19(2): Actions for Improved Housing Tabled Document 457-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Tabled Document 458-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 710-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Local Housing Consultations Tabled Document 459-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 730-19(2): Flood Recovery Tabled Document 460-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 747-19(2): State of Housing in Nunakput Tabled Document 461-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 749-19(2): Suitability of Public Housing Units

Tabled Document 462-19(2): Letter received November 8, 2021 from Multiple Constituents regarding Compensation and Incentives for Essential Workers

Tabled Document 463-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 754-19(2): Lottery Revenues for Hay River Sporting Organizations

Tabled Document 464-19(2): Investigation dated June 14, 2021 of the Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner, Mr. David Phillip Jones, Q.C., into a Complaint made by Mr. Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North Tabled Document 465-19(2): Disposition Report of the Sole Adjudicator , the Honourable R. L. Barclay, Q.C. dated November 17, 2021

Appointment of Member for Monfwi to Standing Committees

Members of the Legislative Assembly Vaccination Policy

Appointment of Chief Electoral Officer

Members of the Legislative Assembly Vaccination Policy

Recorded Vote

Bill 36:

An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Justice Act

Bill 37:

An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Bill 38: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2021

Bill 39:

An Act to Amend the Post-Secondary Education Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Mr. Blake , Mr. Bonnetrouge , Ms. Cleveland , Ms. Chinna , Ms. Cochrane , Ms Green, Mr. Jacobson , Mr. Johnson , Ms. Martselos , Ms. Nokleby , Mr. Norn , Mr. O'Reilly , Ms. Semmler , Mr. R.J. Simpson , Mr. Rocky Simpson , Ms. Thom, Mr. Thompson , Ms. Wawzonek , Ms. Wayallon-Armstrong

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

Prayer

---Prayer

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Page 2907

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Colleagues, welcome back to the Chamber. Before we begin, I wish to offer condolences on behalf of the Assembly to the family and friends of the honourable Robert MacQuarrie.

Mr. MacQuarrie began his adventure in the North in 1966, teaching across the Eastern Arctic and in Yellowknife. He served two terms at the Legislative Assembly and was elected as Speaker to the 9th Assembly in November 1979. As a Member of the Constitutional Alliance of the Northwest Territories, a group of representatives from the Indigenous governments, Indigenous-led associations, and the Legislative Assembly, Mr. MacQuarrie helped guide the development of a new government that we now know as Nunavut.

He was well known for his musical talent and with his love of the north. He wrote many songs about the Northwest Territories. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

I would now like to welcome Members back after a long adjournment. We last convened in this Chamber on June 4th. I hope that all Members and people of the Northwest Territories had a safe summer and fall out on the land, enjoying our beautiful territory.

On October 19th, pursuant to Motion 38-19(2) and in the public interest, I announced the fall sitting would be rescheduled. The House was called to sit today almost six weeks later than scheduled. This was a decision that I made after careful consideration and discussion with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly. The COVID-19 virus continues to affect many of our people and our communities, and my thoughts and prayers are with those communities dealing with an active outbreak, those that have overcome outbreaks, and everyone who has been affected by the COVID-19 virus.

On November 1st, the Board of Management approved the Legislative Assembly's COVID-19 vaccination policy requiring mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19. All persons who enter the Legislative Assembly building and are eligible to be vaccinated will be required to have received the full series of Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccinations or an approved combination of Health Canada-approved vaccines.

Members, I would like to formally welcome our new colleague, the Member for Monfwi .

---Applause

The Member for Monfwi was elected in the by-election on July 27th. The official swearing in ceremony was held in the Chamber on August 5th with many respected Elders, friends and family by her side. The Member for Monfwi was recently the president of the Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories for six years and a councillor for the Behchoko community government. The Member completed a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Saskatchewan and received diplomas from the child and youth care worker program at Mount Royal College and a social work program at Aurora College.

Even though it is the Member's first sitting of the Legislative Assembly, the Member for Monfwi has been actively working for her constituents and attending virtual committee meetings since her swearing-in ceremony.

Colleagues, please join me in welcoming the Member for Monfwi to the Chamber today. We are all excited to be here and working together in person for this sitting.

---Applause

Thank you, Members. It is an honour for us all to be here on behalf of our constituents and all residents of the Northwest Territories. I would like to take this time to remind Members to conduct themselves in keeping with the rules of the Assembly. This respect for one another, for this institution, and most importantly for those who elected us. Treat each other with dignity and take pride in the work that we do here. We are here to serve as representatives for the people that elected us and put their trust in us.

I look forward to being able to welcome the public back into this building, however the current COVID-19 situation does not allow it at this time. Although the Assembly remains closed to the public, media are welcome in the gallery. We continue to broadcast and live stream our proceedings. We need to ensure the public has the opportunity to see and understand the work being done here on their behalf.

Now, colleagues, it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

Dear Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of

Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2022-2023;

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 4, 2020-2021;

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022; and

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Corporation Expenditures) No. 2, 2021 - 2022

during the Second Session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues. Member for Thebacha on a point of privilege.

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Page 2907

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege under rule 20(1).

Since the Assembly last adjourned on June 4th, 2021, a number of incidents have occurred that undermined the dignity, integrity, and efficient functioning of the Legislative Assembly. Each of these incidents arise from the conduct of the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

As is well known, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh was recently the subject of a code of conduct inquiry. This inquiry convened on October 4th, 2021. The sole adjudicator delivered his report on November 17th, 2021, and recommended that the Member's seat be declared vacant.

The incidents giving rise to this point of privilege relate to the Member's conduct in the period leading up to, during, and since that inquiry. As I will explain, these incidents go to the heart of this Assembly's ability to function as an institution of constitutional democracy. Specifically, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh has, since this House last sat, demonstrated a continuing pattern of threatening behaviour and undermines the dignity, integrity and effective functioning of the Legislative Assembly as whole, breaching all of our privileges as elected Members and undermining the democracy in the Northwest Territories.

The first threat I will discuss was issued a great many of us sitting in this room today.

The day before the inquiry began on October 3rd, 2021, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh sent a threatening message that included the following: "Whoever backed this, I'm coming for you".

This message was sent via Facebook Messenger to a group called Caucus. This Facebook group includes all MLAs except myself and the Member for Hay River South as we do not have Facebook accounts. Two staff members are also members of this group. I was made aware of this threat the following day on October 4th, 2021. Since that time, I've learned that this is not the first time the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh made threatening statements to Members or staff of the Legislative Assembly.

For example, I learned that from the Member from Yellowknife North that on August 16th, 2021, during a discussion about the process before the sole adjudicator was appointed in response to the code of conduct complaint, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh told the Member for Yellowknife that, quote, "If you come for my family, I come for you."

I also understand that on August 24th, 2021, after a phone call to the deputy clerk Glen Rutland in which the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh admitted he was intoxicated and he said, quote, "I'm sorry, Glen, I normally would do this in person but I am coming for you."

I've also learned that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh sent a text to Mr. Rutland on October 1st, 2021, in which he used a Latin phrase referring to cutting the neck off a snake in reference to an officer of the Legislative Assembly.

None of these threats were dealt with by the sole adjudicator in his disposition report released on November 17th, 2021 into the code of conduct inquiry involving the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

It is clear to me that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh's engaged in a pattern of threatening Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly. This amounts to intimidation of Members and the staff who support us in carrying out our work as elected representatives of the people of the Northwest Territories.

This threatens the Assembly's ability to discharge its legislative and deliberative functions.

The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh is entitled to disagree with Members of this House. Disagreement and debate are a functional part here as our work here as legislators, however, this Assembly only functions when this debate is expressed with a minimum level of respect. By threatening Members and the staff who support our work, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh has demonstrated profound disrespect for his colleagues and for the Assembly as an institution of democratic governance. He has also crossed the line from disagreement, which is entirely open to him, to threats and intimidation, which are not.

The pattern of behaviour by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh obstructs and intimidates the Members of the Legislative Assembly in relation to our duties as elected representatives. This breaches the privileges of both individual Members and of this Assembly as a whole.

As a Member of this Assembly, I have been directly affected by the threats made by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Although I did not directly receive the indiscriminate threat the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh sent to the Facebook Caucus group October 4th, it is clear that this threat was aimed at and intended for the entirety of Caucus of which I am a member.

This threat has shaken me. My office is located in the same hallway as the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh like many other Members of this Assembly. I travelled to Yellowknife from my home in Fort Smith for session. I am a long way from my family and community and often work well into the evening when I am in Yellowknife. I have no doubt that these threats could make any Member who receives them feel vulnerable regardless of their circumstances. But I think it is important to highlight that I and many other Members of this Assembly feel this vulnerability deeply.

My feeling of physical safety has been undermined, both at the Legislative Assembly and in Yellowknife where the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh resides.

This is absolutely a breach of my individual privileges as a Member of this Assembly. The conduct I have described is also a breach of the Assembly's collective privileges.

When the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh is present, I've seen that people do not speak freely for fear of how he will react. His behaviour has created an atmosphere of mistrust and unease at the Legislative Assembly that is corrosive to consensus government and to the important work that we are all entrusted to do as representatives for the people of the Northwest Territories.

This pattern of behaviour also undermines the dignity and authority of the Assembly in the eyes of the people of the Northwest Territories.

The behaviour of the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh towards both staff and other Members would not be acceptable in any other workplace. It is a distraction from the important work we are doing as legislators and leads to the public to view the Legislative Assembly as dysfunctional and unprofessional. The time, resources, and attention Members have had to devote to dealing with these issues also distracts from Members' abilities to address the many pressing issues facing the Northwest Territories.

The standard of behaviour required of Members is set out in the code of conduct which states that Members must not only act lawfully but in a manner that will withstand the closest public scrutiny, upholding the dignity and honour of the Assembly and its Members.

The code of conduct also requires that Members treat one another and staff appropriately and without harassment.

The conduct of the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh , since this House last sat, clearly fails to meet this standard.

The threats I have described clearly amounts to a breach of the privileges of individual Members and of the Assembly as a whole.

In addition to this threatening behaviour, we all became aware in the sole adjudicator's November 17th, 2021, report that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh's pattern of obstructionist and intimidating behaviour continued during the sole adjudicator's inquiry. The sole adjudicator's report describes, quote, "antagonism" displayed by the Member of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh , participants in the inquiry, including the sole adjudicator himself. It also constitutes breaches of the Assembly's privileges.

The report described the Member insulting participants, for example, by calling one witness a liar, describing the decision as a, quote, "legal farce." And at one point, asking the sole adjudicator at one point, "Can you guys not just get your crap together."

Although he apologized for these comments, the sole adjudicator found that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh "offered excuses for his comments rather than actually apologizing for his behavior."

Most troubling in this is the sole adjudicator's statement that the Member's comments "reflect that he does not have any respect for the participants in this inquiry and for the rule of law which is such an integral component of a democratic society."

The sole adjudicator also noted that in making these statements, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh may have breached the code of conduct by bringing the integrity of his office or of the Assembly into disrepute. The sole adjudicator did not consider these "offensive statements" when making his findings as they fell outside of the inquiry's terms of reference. However, the extreme disrespect shown by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh throughout the inquiry process is a further affront to the dignity of the Assembly.

This affront continued on November 18th in the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh's press conference following the release of the sole adjudicator's report. At that press conference, he referred to the inquiry as "a colossal waste of time, resources and taxpayer money." He also stated that he was convinced that the result of the inquiry was determined before it even started. At this press conference, the Member's legal counsel also attacked many of the sole adjudicator's findings and the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh characterized the sole adjudicator's recommendation that his seat be vacated as "just a lame attempt to permit other Members to unseat him."

This clear inability to demonstrate any remorse nor any regard for a report recommending the most serious sanction this Assembly can deliver is a clear indication that the Member will not change his behaviour and will continue to demean this Assembly.

All of this behaviour is consistent with a pattern of threats, intimidation, and disrespect the Member has directed towards his colleagues and the institution itself and his failure to take responsibility for the damage this behaviour causes. It also represents contempt of the inquiry process and is properly seen as an attempt to undermine the code of conduct and its enforcement. It is unacceptable and requires sanction by this House.

Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of sitting since the events I described occurred. I am raising this matter at the earliest opportunity as required by Rule 20.

Should you rule that there is a prima facie breach of privilege and that this matter be raised at the earliest opportunity at the appropriate time, I will immediately move a motion for the seat of the Member of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh to be vacated in accordance with Rule 25. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Page 2908

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha . I will now allow some debate on the point of privilege to other Members who wish to speak. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Page 2908

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Firstly I would like to thank MLA Martselos for bringing this point of privilege. I want to begin by explaining a bit of procedural issues for those who are watching.

This current point of privilege is not the sole adjudicator's report, it is not the motion recommended in that, this is a point of privilege to anything that was outside of the four corners of the report and as such we should not be speaking about what was within the terms of reference of that report. However, I do think that it is important that this point of privilege is raised so that the entire context for when we have the debate about the motion to remove can be provided. I believe that is why this point of privilege was brought.

I want to begin by, Mr. Norn called me rather upset and he said, "If you come for my family, I come for you."

I want to clarify when I first received this, I did not interpret it as a threat, of a physical threat, and in fact I didn't even necessarily interpret it as one directed at me, more as a general principle that if someone comes for Mr. Norn 's family he comes for them. And he immediately apologized after that, and we went on to have our discussion which was somewhat amicable.

I don't believe that matter on its own would meet the prima facie test for a point of privilege. However, as the Member has raised, this is also occurred to staff and then ultimately to all Caucus members and at some point, Mr. Speaker, these general threats of "I'm coming for you" amount to a breach of our privileges to feel safe in this House, to feel safe in our jobs, and a doubt starts to creep in to exactly what that means with no explanation provided by Mr. Norn .

Mr. Speaker, I also want to clarify that I, as Caucus chair, have worked to resolve this not on the floor of the House, not in such and adversarial way, and it has been extremely difficult.

Most recently, at a December 13th Caucus meeting when these specific threats from staff were raised, Mr. Norn did not deny any of the alleged incidents nor did he apologize for them. In fact, Mr. Speaker, he became visibly upset, raised his voice during the meeting and left. Before leaving, he told Members that he would only take further questions through his lawyer.

Mr. Speaker, the idea of a Member in our Caucus saying they will not be questioned or held accountable and all questions have to go through a lawyer breaks down the fundamental way we try to resolve differences in this House. We do not operate through each other with a legal counsel. We are all here as colleagues, as equals, of the 19th Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, you have a two-part test:

Whether this was raised at the earliest opportunity; I don't believe there is any doubt about that. This is first day of session since all of these events occurred.

The second part of the test is whether these meet a prima facie case of privilege. I think that this pattern of behaviour meets that test. This is not behaviour we can let be tolerated. If there was a ruling that this does not meet the prima facie, then any Member is allowed to threaten and it is not a privilege of this House to come in here and feel safe in our workplace. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Page 2909

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North . Are there others who wish to speak to the point of privilege. Member for Frame Lake .

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Page 2909

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Member for Thebacha for raising a point of privilege because if she did not I was going to do it Mr. Speaker. Given that this is a very serious matter, I support your decision to allow debate on this point of privilege. I will not deal with any matters that are within the scope and terms of reference for the sole adjudicator appointed to hear a complaint about a breach of conduct by the same Member.

In my view, there have been three breaches of privilege since the House last sat, and I would like to speak to each of these as separate incidents.

Firstly, there's the matter of a threatening message or text sent by the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh at 6:43 p.m. on Sunday, October 3rd, 2021. The message was sent to an internal chat board for Caucus Members and read as follows: "I just wanted to say F-you for making my loved ones cry. You squeezed my heart. Whoever backed this, I'm coming for you."

This message is now a matter of public record having been raised in the public hearing in front of the sole adjudicator. I was very concerned when I received and viewed the text on the evening of October 3rd, the night before the commencement of the public hearing by the sole adjudicator. Mr. Speaker, I was so concerned for my personal safety and that of my family that I made a complaint to the commanding officer of RCMP G-Division here in Yellowknife the next day.

I want to thank the commanding officer for his immediate response as he literally called me within minutes of the receipt of my complaint by email to check on my safety and that of my family. I was contacted by an investigating officer on October 7th and immediately attended an interview. I informed you, Mr. Speaker, and my fellow Yellowknife MLAs of my complaint to the RCMP shortly after I was interviewed.

Mr. Speaker, the intention of the message from the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh remains unclear, but I was very concerned for the safety of my family and myself knowing that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh lives in Yellowknife, has been a Member of the RCMP, and has likely received firearms training.

Mr. Speaker, there's never, to my knowledge, been a public explanation or apology from the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh for this message. On the face of it, I believe this message is a breach of my privilege under Rule 20(1)(

v) whereby Members have "freedom from obstruction and intimidation in relation to their duties as elected representatives." I ask that you, Mr. Speaker, find the action for the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, in sending that message, to be a breach of my privilege.

Secondly, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh and his legal counsel held a news conference on Thursday, November 18th, 2021, in which the legal counsel said the following in connection with this decision this House must make about the report and the recommendation of the sole adjudicator, and I want to quote, Mr. Speaker, the words of the MLA's legal counsel:

"Members of the Legislative Assembly, consider the precedent that you are being asked to set. We know that politicians across the country, around the world, have made similar errors to Mr. Norn and they've often suffered sanctions. But once this remedy recommended by the southern expert is imposed, if that is the conclusion, be afraid. Be very afraid.

Anybody familiar with the north and its history and the very human conduct of elected representatives under the watchful eye of the people of the Northwest Territories, the gathered media in the very small towns and cities and hamlets and communities of the Northwest Territories, be careful what you wish for, because the moment you give the power to each other to dismiss one another, you not rotting of the Northwest Territories, but you give only add to the undermining of the already rotting democracy of the Northwest Territories but you give more power to the bureaucracy.

This is bureaucracy driven, and if you give in to the temptation of accepting the recommendation of the adjudicator, and that's all it is, don't sleep well at night. Because it may not be tomorrow, it may be next year or next session, but some of you are going to cross the threshold and the mere threat of going through what Mr. Norn just experienced and is experiencing will undermine your ability to do your good job and Mr.

Norn is exemplary in the execution of his duties and his protection of democracy, not just from the bureaucrats that run your Legislative Assembly but their southern colleagues brought in to the exclusion of your northern colleagues", end of quote, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'm all for freedom of speech but I view these words by the legal counsel for the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh as an attempt to intimidate me in my role as a Member and that must make a decision on the report and recommendation of the sole adjudicator. While it is possible that these words could be interpreted as a cautionary note with respect to the seriousness of the issues before the House, I did not take these words in that vein.

The overall thrust of the news conference and the comments made by the Member and his legal counsel were denigrating and dismissive of a process for addressing the conduct of Members, which this House has established as an appropriate process. I viewed this news conference as a clear attempt to intimidate me and other Members as we embark on the difficult journey of considering the sole adjudicator's report.

Again, on the face of it, I ask you to find that there has been what appears to be a breach of privilege under Rule 20(10)(

v) whereby Members should have "freedom from obstruction and intimidation in relation to their duties as elected representatives."

I ask that you, Mr. Speaker, find the action of the legal counsel for the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh in holding the news conference and saying what he did constitute a breach of my privilege.

I do not wish to speak to what an appropriate remedy may be as that is a decision for this House to contemplate should you agree that there is a prima facie case of the breach of privilege of the Members.

Thirdly, and lastly, Mr. Speaker, I believe the privilege of the House has been breached by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh as set out in Rule 20(1)(

i) where this House has "the power to maintain order and to discipline for breaches of privilege and for contempt of the House. Contempt of the House may to include disobedience to its orders, misconduct before it, affronts against its dignity and authority, and any act or omission which impedes or obstructs the House or its Members in the performance of their duties."

As discussed by the Caucus chair and the MLA for Yellowknife North, I'm aware that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh sent threatening messages, made threatening calls to our staff at the Legislative Assembly. These incidents were disclosed to Members at an in-camera discussion held during a Caucus meeting on December 13th, 2021 in relation to the findings of the recent workplace assessment. In no way can we allow, tolerate, acquiesce, or condone such behaviour and I view this as an extremely serious breach of the privileges of the House whereby our work has been impeded and obstructed, not to mention the impact on our staff.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that, on the face of it, you find these threats to the staff of the Legislative Assembly by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh constitute a breach of the privileges of the House under Rule 20(1)(i).

Mr. Speaker, the last matter you must consider in terms of these points of privilege is whether they have been raised at the earliest opportunity. Given that the House last sat on June 4th, 2021, and a point of privilege has been raised as the first order of business today, I believe you can very safely find, as required in Rule 20(5)(

b) that "the matter has been raised at the earliest opportunity."

I would also recommend that you take all of the submissions today under advisement but render a full and timely decision.

Mr. Speaker, I regret very much having to raise these matters publicly as I would much rather get back to working for my constituents and a better Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Page 2909

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . Are there others who wish to speak to the point of privilege. I see none. Oh, Member for Range Lake .

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Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the events that have caused us to be here today having this debate are unfortunate. I do not speak to the matter of the Member's conduct as it relates to the point of privilege lightly. However, I must stand and speak out about what has occurred and the impact it has on Members, including myself.

Mr. Speaker, we are a consensus government in the Northwest Territories and we must operate in a productive and professional environment. Will we agree at every step? Certainly not. Will some of these debates and discussions be passionate? Certainly, they will be. However, Members agreed when they were sworn in to abide by the code of conduct and carry out our duties in a manner that will withstand public scrutiny in the course of our work, even in challenging times. As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are also afforded privileges so that we can carry out our work. Therefore, would we expect threats from one of our Members of Caucus as part of this work? Certainly not.

The last point is what we're talking about today and why we must take action.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this fall the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh sent Members of this House, including two members of our staff, a message using unparliamentary language that I will not repeat and indicated that "whoever backed this, I'm coming for you." This was in reference to his hearing with the sole adjudicator that was about to start, and the proceeding complaints by the chair of Caucus in relation to his conduct.

When I heard these words, Mr. Speaker, I was immediately concerned. I did have to think of my own and my family's safety. Like many women who have experienced violence at the hands of men, I thought about what he would do to me if I did what I felt was right.

Mr. Speaker, we agreed as a Caucus to bring forward the complaint in relation to the Member regarding his failure to uphold our code of conduct for a specific and factual reason. It was not politically motivated despite what the Member may believe. The complaint was made because the Member had failed in his duty to uphold the code that we are all bound by. The words he sent us indicate that the following processes we all agreed to, by asking him to ensure he upholds the code of conduct, we would face retribution from the Member.

Without getting into the details of the previous complaint, our code of conduct under principle 3 states: Members must treat members of the public, one another, and staff appropriately and without harassment. Members must take all reasonable steps to ensure the work environment is free from harassment.

The words "coming for you" is surely a threat of retribution and, in my opinion, harassment against every Member of the Legislative Assembly that received this message.

As a woman I find the threat particularly troubling. Threats of violence, whether physical, verbal, or emotional, are faced by women every day. The Legislative Assembly should be where political leaders, no matter which gender, should be able to safely fulfill our duties. As leaders, we must act like it and we must treat each other professionally in order to lead on behalf of the people that elected us.

Mr. Speaker, every Member of this House has individual and collective privileges as set out in the rules of the Legislative Assembly. One of the individual privileges is to be free from obstruction and intimidation in relation to our duties as elected representatives. The Member's statement to his Caucus colleagues is unacceptable according to our code of conduct and I believe it is unacceptable according to the privileges that Members of this Legislative Assembly are afforded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Page 2910

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Range Lake . To the point of privilege, Member for Yellowknife South .

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Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to speak to the timeliness of the point of privilege; I don't think that's at issue. I wish to speak to really whether or not this is prima facie point of privilege which means, in other words, whether or not on its face what's been raised is such that it would obviously or clearly amount to a breach of the privileges of the House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak first to the allegation of threats that was made against public servants and, secondly, to the allegations of the threat made against all Members offence the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I was present on more than one occasion when I heard language used by MLA from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh towards public servants that was more than rude; it was abusive. Beyond that, Mr. Speaker, I was present for the discussion of one very specific graphic metaphor used to imply the lengths to which the MLA would go to exact his revenge against the reputation of staff if he perceived them to be acting in a manner contrary to his interests.

When trying to figure out the intended meaning of words, context is critical. The MLA, by this time, had launched a very public war against the reputation of one of the senior public officials of this building and it was publicly obvious that he intended to pursue that by methods and means of his design. I say this knowing from the publicly-available report in to the office of the clerks that MLA Norn had chose, despite being provided legal counsel, not to fully participate in that formal process and yet continued to make statements about his allegations and beliefs and to use derogatory language about those others who may have been involved.

His behaviour and his speech is that of someone who believe that the rules simply do not apply to him. Within that context, for a public servant to hear a threat that I heard from MLA Norn is going in some way, is going a long way in my view, to leave them feeling vulnerable, to leave them feeling like they would indeed have to take that threat seriously and, indeed, it would very reasonably impact their ability to discharge their duties freely and unimpaired. That, in turn, impedes the work of this House.

It impedes the ability of the staff to give us difficult and unpopular advice, difficult and unpopular news, things we may not want to have to listen to but it is for the good of the people of the Northwest Territories that we understand the policies and the laws that we are here to uphold. It erodes the trust necessary for us as elected officials to use our staff to the best of their ability so that we can, in turn, discharge our duties. This is properly a point of privilege.

I'd like secondly to speak to the comments made towards all MLAs. Again, the words that are used in the context of a threat, in my view, should inform the determination of whether someone is using intimidating language or not. It is worth considering both the intention of the speaker as well as the reasonable perspective of the intended recipient. The words themselves, that of whomever backed this I'm coming for you, the "this" in my belief was the beginning of the hearing before the adjudicator set to start that next morning. In my view, that's quite clear. As for what the "I'm coming for you" means, I'll get to that shortly.

Mr. Speaker, one of our duties is to protect the integrity of the Assembly, to uphold the laws and rules that we ourselves are responsible. If we do not submit ourselves to these rules, laws, and procedures, what moral right do we have to ask citizens to follow the laws, the rules, or the procedures that have been created either by this legislature or as a result of its direction?

After MLAs had learned, along with the rest of the public, that the MLA had breached public health orders and had potentially misled the public about his actions, it was incumbent on us as those responsible for the creation of law, including the Public Health Act and the legislature's code of conduct, to take action. We did so in the form of the referral of this matter to the Integrity Commissioner. And I believe every step was taken in good faith and, frankly, necessary for the preservation of the dignity of this House. From there, the processes that followed were those found in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.

Section 107 of that act says that we, as MLAs, shall consider the disposition of that process.

By threatening all of those who "backed" the actions that launched the inquiry and the hearing, the MLA, in my view, is telling us very clearly that any further actions or statements that any one of us have to make in relation to his conduct or potential discipline under the code will be met with him "coming" for us. Very clear, Mr. Speaker, I understood those words as a message that should we continue discharge our duties by following in good faith the laws, rules, and procedures established by this Assembly, that MLA Norn will come for us when he disagrees with those laws, rules or procedures.

Specifically, that he will come for us if we act in good faith, as MLAs, in an effort to discharge our duties on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. That leaves one last thing, Mr. Speaker.

What does it mean to say "I'm coming for you." Again, in the full context of all of what has been going on, the public statements, the media statements, the participation or lack thereof, it seems to me that this means that the speaker will be coming in some form of revenge. I believe the intention was to intimidate us emotionally and psychologically. If we look at the totality of the circumstances of all that has occurred in the last several months, I believe at minimum that the revenge contemplated was in the form of reputational attack. As politicians, reputation is essential capital to discharge our duties.

For us to trust one another and for our residents to trust us, we must have reputations for integrity and honesty and decency. The scary thing about reputation is that if someone in a position of trust and authority, such as an MLA, makes public statements against someone else, even if those statements may be totally without basis or evidence, the subject's reputation is immediately at risk of reputational harm.

I believe, Mr. Speaker, that MLA Norn's threat was made against us for acting in our professional capacity, for speaking honestly and frankly, for acting in our professional duties on behalf of constituents who had raised their concerns about his disregard for public health orders and process. I believe this was a threat against us for putting into motion the legal processes the legislature itself has established to deal with exactly these situations, and it is a threat of reputational harm for actions that we took in the course of our elected duties.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I believe the intention of this threat was to intimidate us into silence and inaction in our professional capacity so that we do not speak on behalf of the residents who have raised their concerns and certainly not to speak specifically in this House about the MLA's actions. In the totality of the circumstances, in Mr. Norn 's conduct and including public statements, lead me to believe that should we fail to heed this threat the MLA would make every effort to cause any one of us, if not all of us, reputational harm in any manner he sees fit. For all of those reasons, Mr.

Speaker, I would ask that you find that there is a prima facie case for point of privilege. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife South . To the point of privilege. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to start today by thanking MLA Freda Martselos for being outspoken on this topic and raising the point of privilege that she has so eloquently raised. It's obvious, Mr. Speaker, that we all have a right to work without threats and intimidation, to not be bullied or to work with bullies. And that's not only true of ourselves; it's also true for our staff as well.

MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh crossed this line by threatening me and my colleagues in October with his "I'm coming for you" statement so much so that I did consider going to the RCMP because just weeks earlier, I had suggested that he resign and I felt that I had made myself a target by doing so. Further, I had to think twice about whether I was going to stand up and talk about it today or whether I was, in fact, enlarging the target on me.

So from my point of view, it's unambiguous. The intention of the Member was to intimidate me and everyone else who received the message in the Facebook chat. And we have not, to this point, seen him take any responsibility for his statements. Up to this point, he has yet to acknowledge what he wrote or said, let alone apologize, and this is unacceptable.

It's important to know that this is not a one-off. I'm aware from discussions with those involved that he has also threatened staff with the same language of "I'm coming for you." It's as wholly unacceptable to threaten staff as it is to threaten Members. But unlike Members, staff do not have an easy recourse. We have the opportunity to talk about this point of privilege, but staff do not have the same recourse primarily because of the power differential between the staff and the Members and also because the staff, as we all know, are here to facilitate the business and operation of the Legislative Assembly.

And it's my experience that they go out of their way to do that. They, as I would sometimes say, drink a lot of bath water in order to make the institution run smoothly and overlook minor problems with procedure. This, however, is not a minor problem. This is a problem that strikes at the very heart of what we're doing.

The code of conduct, this has been cited previously, asks us to do our utmost to respect and honour all inhabitants of the NWT, and I take that to mean me and you as well, and to treat the public, one another, and staff appropriately and without harassment. Members must take all reasonable steps to ensure the work environment is free of harassment.

In this case, Mr. Speaker, I take harassment to include intimidation using the definition of "harassment" in the code that it is improper behaviour by a Member that is directed to and is offensive to any Member or employee, among others.

The code goes on to say that if the Member knew or ought to have reasonably known that he was harassing someone and that his speech would be unwelcome, then it's on him to acknowledge that behaviour, to stop it, and to find a remedy for it, whether that's arbitration, an apology, or some other form.

So for me, the situation is very clear that Mr. Norn 's -- that the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh's behaviour has interfered with our work, and it has interfered with the work that we've been elected to do. It has occupied a tremendous amount of our time and treasure to deal with this unwanted behaviour. And his conduct is not becoming to a Member of this House. So it is my view that there is a breach of privilege here, both on the face of it, and it was raised at the first opportunity. Thank you.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre . To the point of privilege, Member for Hay River South .

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Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd first like to thank the Member for Thebacha for raising this point of privilege.

Mr. Speaker, each of as Members of this Assembly was duly elected by a majority of our constituents. When we are obstructed in this House by another Member or Members to the point where our ability to work is compromised, then it is our constituents that become disadvantaged and that is not acceptable.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the point of privilege raised by the Member for Thebacha was not rushed into or taken lightly. We, as Members, must be held to a higher standard. When we break the trust of those that we work with or that work for us, and most importantly of our constituents, it is important that we recognize that error and immediately take responsibility.

In this matter, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh has failed that test therefore I have to support the point of privilege put before this House on points raised by -- those by the Member for Thebacha and by those who spoke prior in which points are in no way trivial. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South . To the point of privilege, Member for Kam Lake .

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Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this democratic institution is a place of strength because we are able to discuss issues, reach new understandings, and make inclusive decisions. One of the most valuable tools we have at our disposals is the combination of our diverse work experience and unique lived experience. We have all travelled different journeys to be here. Mr.

Norn himself has worked as an RCMP officer; MLA Semmler as a public health nurse; Minister Archie worked as a chief negotiator and spent her childhood living a traditional lifestyle; MLA Martselos served her people as Chief; and MLA Jacobson often shares his whale hunting adventures alongside the realities of living at the top of the world. All of us have unique lived experience and connections that bring incredible value to our team and this Assembly. But sharing requires that we create a safe place.

Our ability to be effective representatives of the people we serve is reliant on our ability to safely share our knowledge and experience and to apply our own unique values to the decisions we make.

A Member's integrity is fundamental to maintaining public confidence in each individual Member and in the Legislative Assembly as an institution. How we act and treat one another either builds or erodes the public's trust.

Mr. Speaker, elected officials need to be able to do their work without fear, intimidation, or worry for their safety, and so do our staff. It's taboo to speak of staff in this House but our success, especially committee work, is heavily reliant on the staff of the Legislative Assembly. The staff, as well as every public servant, has the right to a harassment-free and respectful workplace. Threatening or harassing public servants is a direct contravention of the GNWT's Harassment Free and Respectful Workplace Policy, the Member's code of conduct, the rules of this House, and the Criminal Code enforced by the RCMP.

We are at the tail end of a second very difficult year both as residents and leaders. North American democracies are reporting surges in abuse and threats to those elected in leadership positions. In the United States, violent threats against lawmakers doubled last year. While in Canada, the RCMP acknowledged that they must do more to respond to noncriminal threats against politicians. In the last year and a half here in the NWT, we have seen threats against elected officials and people in leadership positions, and this is not okay.

This point of privilege is based on a repetitive pattern of threats and has a direct impact on the confidence of the people I serve, on my colleagues, and on the work that we do. If we are to focus on improving the lives of the people we serve, there is absolutely no place for threats in the Legislative Assembly. The behaviours that we allow in this House and in this building set the bar, and it should not be set to the lowest acceptable level.

This building and its elected officials are not above the law. Unless we as leaders in elected office refuse to accept repetitive written and spoken threats, we condone this behaviour not only for ourselves and our workplace but for the public service, the communities we serve, and for the people of Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I support this point of privilege, and I want to thank the Member for Thebacha for bringing it forward.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . Are there others who wish to speak to the point of privilege. Member for Hay River North .

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R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I am speaking in support for the Member from Thebacha .

These types of comments I don't think would be appropriate at any work site - if you do your job, I'm coming after you. I think that this is probably the most clear a case I've seen where there's a breach of privilege. It's not very -- there's not a lot of gray area here. This is very black and white.

You might think that the comment is a little vague, and it is. It's not clear what it's referencing but, you know, other Members have commented that if you look at the timeline, it is right before the sole adjudicator's inquiry and so I think it's easy to connect those two.

I think we also have to consider the fact that we have, for the first time, an Assembly made up mostly of women. And in the Northwest Territories, we have a rate of violence against women that, you know, is incomparable to the rest of Canada. It is so high in the Northwest Territories. I don't think it's unreasonable to think that a comment like that directed at a group of women might be taken in a certain way. I don't know what everyone's personal history here is. You know, we've heard women today say they have a history of violence.

I think it's reasonable to think that a comment like that is likely to intimidate, and for myself as well. Does this mean that someone's coming for me? I'm going to get a punch in the back of the head as I walk down the hall? Does it mean that's someone's lawyer's going to write me 19 letters? I don't know. Nonetheless, both of those are things I don't want to have to deal with. They're both headaches.

So I think, Mr. Speaker, that this is a pretty clear case, and I think that the decision that you make, we have to take that and then, as an Assembly, figure out how we are going to deal with this because this type of behavior isn't appropriate in any workplace, let alone the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River North . Are there others who wish to speak to the point of privilege. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, first, I'd like to thank the Member for Thebacha for bringing this forward.

In all my life, I've travelled to Yellowknife. After receiving this threat, I have never felt my safety was compromised coming here until that. You know, we were planning on being here the end of that week, or the following week, for meetings and then session. I did not want to come. So this type of threat was going to prevent me from being able to do my job as an MLA.

As my colleague has said, this Assembly is made up of more women than men now and this type of a threat in any circumstance would never be okay. And as a Legislative Assembly Member, this is unacceptable behaviour towards anyone.

I have been unable to participate fully in committee meetings for fear of I might say something wrong that may put myself or my family at risk of these -- more of these threats. And I -- you know, I -- I had a statement made but I just -- I didn't need it anymore. Like, this is how it impacted me. And for not even to have an apology and sit in these committee meetings like we're supposed to continue on and work. We've had breach after breach of confidential information. We don't know who it is or what it is, you know, and so why would we want to talk?

Why would we want to do anything, especially when we start to get threatened. So Mr. Speaker, I just want to put my support behind this point of privilege. Thank you.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes . To the point of privilege. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This motion is news to me. I did prepare what I'm about to say hastily and I want to say, you know, that words that were mentioned here, you know, that were referred -- that everybody's referring to were in no way, shape, or form meant to be a physical threat. And if I scared anybody, I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.

This has all been twisted all out of context, all of it. I am a very passionate person when it comes to my work. I'm fiery. I'm militant. If I see unjust things come happen around me, I report it. Throughout my service in public service, I have put my body and my mind in harm's way, and I'll never stop doing that.

You know, we talk about prima facie here, and we always have to remember context. And so much of what I've said was just taken out of context. And again, it was never meant to intimidate anybody. That was never my intent. And people who know me personally know that I would never do anything like -- like, do hurt -- harm anybody. That's just -- I would never do that. And I want to make that clear here today.

And it appears though, like, what I said was weaponized, like used as a political tool and the RCMP became involved, and they spoke to me. And I made it clear to them as well this was not -- this was just merely a political statement and not physical. And they accepted that, and it was unfounded and we let it go, and we walked away.

But I should say that the RCMP should not be used as a political instrument. But I could see now from listening to some of the comments, I could see why I had to be spoken to, and that's -- that is fair. And again, I will say again what I said was regrettable, and I apologize for that. I wish I could take it back. I'll follow that, and I will take what consequences you have here but I believe that removal from my seat here is overkill.

It hasn't happened in any legislature in Canada or the Commonwealth as far as I can -- as I know, but I'll have to fact-check that.

And Mr. Speaker, the Member for Thebacha mentioned that this -- something along the lines that this whole thing was predetermined, and I believe it was.

You know, two weeks ago, a staff Member sent out an email to clerks across the country seeking wording on a removal or suspension from the Legislative Assembly. So there was already works in the -- there was already work underway. And I have proof of that.

And I have to say this whole process - and I'm referring to the inquiries that I've been involved with - were just blown way out of proportion. It was predetermined.

And we still have staff in this building assaulting a sitting Member, a Criminal Code offence. This has never been addressed yet. There is double standards that still go on in this building. And I have to say with this inquiry I've never felt white privilege and I felt there was racism involved with the adjudicator and the lawyer, Laprairie, Mr. Laprairie. And coming from the adjudicator, I'm going to tell you something. I'd like to say something as well --

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Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

-- point of order.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Member for Frame Lake .

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Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Member is referring to the sole adjudicator process, the report, and these are not on topic. And he is really, I think, using some abusive, insulting language. I believe this is a breach of the rules, Mr. Speaker, Rule 24. So I would ask that the Member confine his remarks to the point of privilege and not bring in the sole adjudicator and use respectful language. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . The Member has called a point of order. That Member just read his point of order.

Members, I just want to say that we cannot refer to what's been said in the report that hasn't been tabled yet. Once it has, then you could say anything that you want to about the report. But until then, do not reference anything in that report.

There is a point of order. And I'll ask the Member to retract his remarks and apologize to the House. Thank you. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sure, if that's the wishes of the Member, I can retract the referral to the adjudicator's report. I think that's what was mentioned. If I may, can I continue on, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Sorry, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh , also apologize to the House. Mahsi.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Okay, I was just waiting for the light to come on here.

You know, and Mr. Speaker, the wording in the motion removing me from the office is surprising and --

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Some Hon. Members

Retract the statement.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

The two-part thing you had to do is retract the statement and apologize to the House. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Sorry, I was going to continue on. Yeah, I'll retract what the -- make the referral to the adjudicator's report, and I apologize for that.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Yes, carry on, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Going back to the motion, the wording in the motion to remove me from office is surprising, Mr. Speaker. And I don't believe people in the -- like, in this House can do that. Only my constituents can do that at the polls during election.

Removal from office is overkill and unprecedented. We've had past Members in this House commit serious crimes and still retain their seats.

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Some Hon. Members

Point of order.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, point of order is called. To the point of order, Member for Hay River North .

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R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I just want to keep us on track. So right now, we're discussing a point of privilege related to threatening comments that have been made, and we're not discussing the motion in the report as you had just mentioned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River North . The Member for Hay River North has called a point of order. He's just read his point of order. The Member has called the point of order. Does the Member -- offending Member wish to explain? Call the point of order.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Sorry, can you repeat the question, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

The Member just called a point of order on you. Do you wish to explain what you were trying to say.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Oh yeah, I was just speaking to the motion because there was mention in the wording and just for clarification that there was recommendation for removal for my seat, and I was just speaking to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Does anyone else wish to speak to the point of order. Member for Frame Lake .

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Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize this is very difficult debate/discussion that we're having. But there is no motion on the floor right now. What we're talking about is a point of privilege raised by the Member for Thebacha . And I believe that Members should keep their remarks to the point of privilege, not a report that hasn't even been tabled in the House. A rule of anticipation, Mr. Speaker, you can't talk about something that hasn't even arrived in the House yet but we expect it. So for a number of reasons, I would suggest that the Member confine his comments to the point of privilege alone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . To the Member's point of order, there is a point of order. I ask the Member to please retract his statement and apologize to the House. Thank you.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Yeah, mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. So just for clarification, what exactly do you want me to retract, like what wording do you want me to retract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. With mention to the report and the perceived outcome.

Member, I have already ruled that you cannot reference the sole adjudicator's report at this time. If you continue to do so, I will have no choice but to un-name you Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh on the point of privilege. Thank you.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. So am I okay to proceed?

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Yes.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

And going back to, you know, the point of privilege and the words that were said, like I said, I'll say it again, they were taken out of context, and I apologize. Like everybody else here, I think we spent enough time on this that we just want to move on and continue on with our business. But what I've experienced because of all this is if there's any price that had to paid, I think I paid twice over. And that's all I have to say, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . To the point of privilege, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake .

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Diane Archie

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I echo some of the comments that were made by Premier and MLA for Thebacha. As a female Member of this Assembly, I felt unsafe given by the comments made by Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh , especially as an MLA living far away from home and from my support system.

Intimidation of Members of this Assembly and our staff is not acceptable at any level. We cannot condone or dismiss the action of the Member. To do so, is to devalue the work and the commitment of MLAs and the staff that work so hard to support us. I'm not in opinion that threats were made impacted the ability of myself, my fellow MLAs, and our staff to do our jobs in a safe manner. There is a case for a point of privilege, and I urge you to take to the appropriate action. And finally, thank you, to the Member for Thebacha for bringing up the point of privilege forward at this earliest convenience. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake . Are there any others who wish to speak to the point of privilege? I see none.

Thank you, Members. I will take this matter under advisement and provide my ruling at a later date. Members, before we continue with orders of the day, we'll take a short recess. Thank you.

---Recess

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Since we have moved on to the orders of the day, I'd like to call a point of privilege, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. The Member's calling a point of privilege. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to call a point of privilege on the Member for Frame Lake . When he was speaking, he did mention my lawyer, Mr. Steven Copper, as we met an agreement earlier that we would wouldn't speak about third parties at all because they're not here to defend themselves. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh , it seems to me that you are raising a point of order, not a point of privilege with respect to the Member making reference to a person who is not a Member of this House. I believe this rule is 24(h): The Member shall not make allegations against another Member, a House officer, a witness, or a Member of the public.

Please proceed, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sorry, it's difficult to hear you. So from what I'm understanding, this is not a point of order, then.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

It's not a point of privilege; it's a point of order. So to the point of order.

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Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay, yeah, point of order, my apologies.

Just going back to what I was saying, the Member for Frame Lake mentioned my lawyer, and he can't be here to defend himself. So I'd ask that he retract what he said about that.

Mahsi cho.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . The Member has called a point of order. He just read out his point of order. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh has called a point of order. Does the Member for Frame Lake wish to explain.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak. Of course, this has caught me certainly off guard. The point that I was trying to make, Mr. Speaker, in speaking to the point of privilege earlier was that there were actions taken by individuals, at least one individual, outside of this House that I perceived to have infringed upon my privilege in the House to not be intimidated. And that's the context in which I made my remarks.

And all I did was simply quote remarks made by the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh comments that his legal counsel made at a news conference that was actually under auspices of this Legislative Assembly. So I should be able to reference remarks made by someone outside of this Assembly. There's nothing in the rules that I can see that distinguish between whether a Member's privilege has been infringed upon by someone within the House or, in fact, outside of the House. So that's the context in which I made my remarks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . Does anyone else wish to speak to the point of order? I see none.

Thank you, Members. I will rule at a later date. I'll take this under advisement. Thank you.

Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier .

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Minister's Statement 178-19(2): Sessional STATEMENT - November 2021

Ministers' Statements

Page 2913

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleagues back to the House for the resumption of the second session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Despite this sitting being delayed as a result of the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in the territory, I expect this has been a busy time for all of us as we focus on the important work that we have been elected to do by the people of the Northwest Territories.

It was almost 20 months ago that the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic, and since that time we have been able to limit the spread of the virus and protect the health and wellbeing of our residents and communities. Mr. Speaker, it has, and continues to be, our top priority. However, the last three months have put our great territory, its residents, communities, and healthcare system, to the ultimate test.

When we released Emerging Wisely 2021, we understood that there would be a risk associated with easing restrictions, and that we also need to transition to a world where COVID-19 is part of everyday life. Mr. Speaker, we knew there was a likelihood we would see an increase in cases. What Emerging Wisely 2021 allows us to do is effectively manage our risk, to prevent and respond to outbreaks. We have eased restrictions as conditions and information has allowed. It also allows us to enhance restrictions where required and target restrictions as necessary.

While we continue to manage cases of the virus in the Northwest Territories, we have seen the success of targeted measures and how they have worked to ensure that we are able to protect residents and limit spread. During this current outbreak, we have put in place containment orders in Tuktoyaktuk, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Colville Lake, Behchoko, Whati, and K'atl'odeeche First Nation, and put increased measures and restrictions in Yellowknife, N'dilo, Dettah, Inuvik, and Hay River. They have been effective in stopping the spread of the virus.

While we have been largely successful, Mr. Speaker, together we have done our part to protect residents and our communities, especially those who are most vulnerable such as children who, up until recently, haven't been able to get vaccinated. We have also done what we can to protect the integrity of our health care system. It is welcomed news that the federal government has approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children aged 5 to 11, and we will be rolling out our plans for this part of the vaccination program in the very near future.

Mr. Speaker, this outbreak has had a significant impact on our territory but we could have found ourselves in a much worse situation if it were not for the targeted measures we took and the actions of residents, Indigenous governments, community governments and the business community to curb the spread of COVID-19. This has been a difficult period for the Northwest Territories. But as we have in the past, we have stepped up and done our part when it was needed most.

This outbreak has not been without tragedy. I want to take a moment to remember the residents who lost their lives to COVID-19. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Members of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I want to extend our sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and communities of those the pandemic has taken from us. The COVID-19 pandemic has been unpredictable, and unforgiving. My heart goes out to all that have passed away and the people close to them who now grieve. We grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, the work we do is for the people of the Northwest Territories. A strong territory needs a strong society. All residents of the Northwest Territories should have the chance to enjoy the benefits of living in a prosperous, well-governed territory, and to participate fully in a healthy, just society. Our government is committed to helping residents achieve their aspirations for themselves, their families, and their communities.

While navigating the challenges we faced as a territory because of the global pandemic, Cabinet has continued to advance the priorities and commitments outlined in the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. The mandate of the 19th Legislative Assembly reflects the 22 priorities set by all members. It guides and focuses our actions to advance those priorities, Mr. Speaker. Despite the time and energy our government has focused on the pandemic, issues such as the lack of housing, climate change, and the infrastructure gap did not go away.

If anything, the issues that impact our residents most have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. They continue to be important to our government, and we are focused on showing progress on those important and urgent issues.

Mr. Speaker, considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Northwest Territories tabled a social and economic recovery plan for the Northwest Territories titled Emerging Stronger: Planning the NWT's Social and Economic Recovery Together, in the Legislative Assembly in May. Building on the commitments of the mandate, Emerging Stronger presents a set of actions the Government of the Northwest Territories will take to support long-term social and economic recovery in the territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories has committed to report on the status of the actions identified in the plan and to update the plan annually.

We continue to make progress in the right direction. Of the 149 actions identified in the mandate, we have more than doubled our fulfilled commitments, reduced our commitments in planning by a third, and reduced our delayed commitments. With Emerging Stronger, 21 percent of the commitments are fulfilled, 78 percent are in progress, and one percent is in planning. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with all Members toward fulfilling the government's commitments during the remainder of the term of the 19th Legislative Assembly and undertaking a more thorough review of our progress in the coming February to March sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, we want to create a secure, sustainable, and prosperous future for the territory and its people. We remain committed to working in every sector to advance the priorities of this Legislative Assembly in a way that will provide for current and future needs and create a foundation for the long-term success of all Northerners. A big part of how we achieve this is by working together. We have always known the importance of this, and the partnership and collaborative spirit that has helped us get through the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed we can do so much more together, rather than alone.

We all want the same thing, Mr. Speaker. We all want to see residents succeed, communities and businesses to thrive, and governments at all levels to work together for the common good of the Northwest Territories.

We are committed to addressing the gap between the north and southern Canada that has existed for decades but has been made even more apparent because of COVID-19. We need a supportive federal government partner that acknowledges our residents are important members of Canadian society who should experience the same level of services and opportunities compared to the rest of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the weeks after the federal election. Our discussion focused on the need to continue to advance our partnership and the shared priorities that will have a positive impact on the Northwest Territories. The Prime Minister confirmed reconciliation is a priority for his government, and I am encouraged by this.

When we marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we spent September 30th reflecting on the impact of the residential school system on Indigenous people in the NWT and across Canada. We honoured the survivors, their families and communities, and the thousands of children who never made it home. The number of unmarked graves across the country in recent months is now in the thousands. We cannot ignore this tragedy, and we are committed to working with Indigenous governments and organizations in the Northwest Territories on this issue.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is determined to advance reconciliation, Mr. Speaker. We met with the Northwest Territories Council Leaders and Modern Treaty Self-Government Partners Forum last week. We had thoughtful discussions on how our government can best support Indigenous governments and organizations in their efforts to address the residential school legacy in our territory.

The federal government committed $320 million in new money for programs to help Indigenous communities search burial sites at former residential schools and to support survivors and their communities. The Government of the Northwest Territories can support Indigenous communities in developing strategies for recording unmarked burial sites at residential schools including leveraging federal funding and resources. To help support the work of reconciliation and healing, the Government of the Northwest Territories is examining its own files to identify any information that can help communities study and document their own residential school history.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister also said in our discussion that the relationship with our government goes beyond the portfolio of northern affairs. I agree.

The Northwest Territories requires investments in strategic infrastructure that can help to unlock our natural resource potential, transition us to a lower carbon economy, and better connect people to opportunities and each other.

Mr. Speaker, new infrastructure stimulus funding is key to Canada's recovery from COVID-19. Take the Tlicho all-season road as an example. It connects residents to new social and employment opportunities, reduces the cost of living in the territory, increases our resiliency and our ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and provides better access to natural resources. It created economic and business opportunities for small communities and helped put people to work.

The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to work with Canada on building infrastructure and adapting to climate change, lessening the ever-widening northern infrastructure deficit and supporting implementation of Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. We know that we need Canada's help, and we will be seeking additional support in the coming years.

On the issue of climate change, we are the canary in the coal mine. Our region is living with the rapidly accelerating effects of a changing climate. The Government of the Northwest Territories' recent presence at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland earlier this month sent a strong and pointed message: Canada's Arctic cannot fight this battle alone. We need climate action across the globe to secure a healthy and safe future for our residents and communities. We must also ensure that we have the means to transition to a lower carbon future.

Mr. Speaker, significant investments and supports are needed to reach climate goals. Investments in climate action are investments in the future of the Arctic, our communities, our businesses, and the people living here. Through partnerships we can green our economy, lower our greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt our communities and critical infrastructure for the future.

We have the blueprint ready for action to reduce the impact of climate change and climate-related disasters, and to make our communities safer and more resilient. Our 2030 Climate Change Strategic Framework was developed by and for Northwest Territories residents including Indigenous governments. This session we will report on the progress under the action plans associated with the framework.

Mr. Speaker, as I said we need federal support. We need federal support to enhance climate adaptation and resilience efforts, facilitate greater understanding of climate change impacts, and adaptation options through monitoring and research; and support Indigenous-led and community-based approaches to planning and adaptation.

Mr. Speaker, the resource sector accounts for nearly a third of the NWT's gross domestic product, directly employs over 3000 people in the NWT and contributes over $800 million in spending each year. A healthy and vibrant mineral exploration and development sector is critical for the NWT, its people, and our future prosperity. Critical and strategic minerals that play a key role in modern technology are an important part of future resource and economic development for the Northwest Territories.

Earlier this month, the Government of the Northwest Territories held workshops with resource sector stakeholders and rights holders to gather input to help in the development of a new critical minerals action plan for the NWT. Critical minerals are important for existing and new technologies that support the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy. The NWT can potentially benefit from the growing interest and increasing demand for these minerals by positioning itself for this socio-economic transition, both in a Canadian context and with respect to emerging global trends and needs.

In collaboration with Canada, Indigenous governments, and industry, we can improve mineral security, strengthen the competitiveness of North American critical mineral industries, and support the development of secure and reliable supply chains.

The NWT has substantial energy resources that can help the world transition to a low-carbon economy, from natural gas that can displace higher carbon, and more polluting coal and oil, to future opportunities in hydropower, hydrogen and geothermal energy.

Mr. Speaker, realizing the territory's resource opportunities will require an investment partnership with Canada, particularly in transportation, energy, and communications infrastructure and building the capacity of Indigenous businesses and communities to fully participate and benefit from development projects.

Securing investments and support from federal partners is critical to our future success of the Northwest Territories and the future success of Canada. Residents, community governments, businesses, and Indigenous governments have made it clear this is necessary to their success and wellbeing, and I look forward to continuing to build a strong relationship with the federal government for a better future for the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, while we continue to manage a significant outbreak of COVID-19, we are focused on getting on with the business of government. Residents expect us to continue to deliver high quality programs and services and advance the priorities they have set for us to ensure a better future for all residents and communities. We are committed to this work, and I look forward to continued collaboration with regular Members to advance the priorities we have been entrusted with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 178-19(2): Sessional STATEMENT - November 2021

Ministers' Statements

Page 2915

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier . Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South .

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Covid-19 Vaccination

Members' Statements

Page 2915

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the residents of the NWT have stepped up when it comes to protecting each other from the serious and deadly effects of the COVID-19 virus. Our vaccination rate, as it stands now, is about 80 percent for those over the age of 12 years.

Mr. Speaker, I have been healthy all my life. I have resisted taking medication. I only just received my second ever flu shot along with my during the 19 th Moderna vaccine booster. I did this for the protection of my family, my friends, and those who I come in contact with. In making my decision to be vaccinated, I had to rely on the experience and knowledge of the medical and scientific community.

Mr. Speaker, this government has asked the residents of the NWT to get vaccinated for their own protection and for the protection of their families and those who they come into contact with. Can we do more? Or have we reached the ceiling with vaccinations?

I hear from constituents who are eager to take the vaccine but I also hear from those who are hesitant and from some that say they will not and may never take it.

This is a decision each of those people will have to make for themselves, but it should not stop us from continuing to provide all residents with updated and accurate information on vaccines so informed decisions can be made.

Mr. Speaker, I know of residents that will not take the MNRA vaccine but may consider a viral vector-based vaccine as an alternative. We need to provide choice when it comes to vaccines.

Mr. Speaker, this has been a daunting year and a half. It has pitted members of our community against each other, family members against each other. It has impacted workers, employment options, forced businesses to close down, increased mental health issues, limited access to sports activities, and contributed to medical staff burnout.

Mr. Speaker, I believe our vaccination numbers have reached a threshold where we will not see any significant change or uptake. The question is, Where do we go from here. Do we tell people we cannot fully protect them? Tell workers they cannot make a living for their family? Tell children they cannot participate in sports activities with their friends? Tell students they cannot go to school? And tell those in care homes they will continue to be locked up even though vaccinated?

Mr. Speaker, I do encourage people to get vaccinated. And I will have questions for the Minister of Finance . Thank you.

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Covid-19 Vaccination

Members' Statements

Page 2915

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South . Members' statements. Member for Thebacha .

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Progress During the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Members' Statements

Page 2915

Frieda Martselos

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have now entered the third year of the 19th Assembly, signifying the halfway point of our mandate. As we begin this winter session, I'd like to welcome our colleagues back from the six-month-long break since our last session.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to take a moment to acknowledge all the staff of the Legislative Assembly. Our staff are important to our work as legislators here in this Assembly, and I want to thank them for their service.

In addition I would like to thank, as always, the amazing constituents of Fort Smith for their continued support of their MLA for Thebacha. It is an honour to serve and represent my community in this Chamber.

Mr. Speaker, I want my constituents to know that everything I do here at the Legislative Assembly is to serve the people of the NWT, along with the interests of Fort Smith and the broader South Slave region. I take my job seriously, and I'm very mindful with what I say and how I conduct myself because I always want to be respectful of the office that I hold.

Mr. Speaker, I'm someone who speaks my mind and who stands up for what's right. I am true to my convictions. I'm not afraid to stand alone if I know in my heart it is the right thing to do. Leadership requires strength, heart, trust, and willpower to get things done. And those are the qualities which I strive to accomplish every day in my elected leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I want the people of the NWT to succeed and to have good representation in the Legislative Assembly. For these reasons, I will do whatever I can within my position to ensure that good governance is always done in the name of the people of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Progress During the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Members' Statements

Page 2915

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha . Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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COP 26 and the Climate Crisis in the Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Page 2915

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Like many on this planet, I was very disappointed with the lack of concrete progress and agreement at the recent Conference of the Parties 26 or United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. I was happy that the NWT had a delegation there.

What I've heard so far from our government is that we need federal assistance, more Indigenous representation in our delegation, and work with our circumpolar neighbours. Mr. Speaker, that's just not good enough or going to get us where we should and need to be. I'm going to make it easy for my Cabinet colleagues and lay out a path forward on the climate crisis.

One, we need a reorganization of this government to clearly set the climate crisis as a priority and to establish the authority to deal with it. There should be a new department of environment, natural resources and climate crisis. Take the energy projects and mandate out of infrastructure and even bring in the NWT Power Corporation, have one Minister responsible for all of this. This would address the failures identified by the auditor general of Canada in her climate change audit.

Two, make a clear and unequivocal commitment to drop the climate change approach from the last Cabinet, ditch the 2030 energy strategy, the Climate Change Strategic Framework and elements of the carbon tax, develop a real and focused climate crisis response that includes adaptation and mitigation for the widely-accepted carbon neutral target of net zero 2050 or even sooner, if you dare, and you should.

Three, face the crisis at the NWT Power Corporation and its entities head on. We have a crumbling set of antiquated assets and grids designed for an infinite planet and old technology, develop a real and just transition plan that builds community and household energy self-reliance, not bigger grids and mega projects like the Taltson expansion.

Four, stop pretending big petroleum development is ever going to come back to the Northwest Territories; wind down the so-called petroleum resources strategy, local transitional use of fossil fuels is okay, but plans for export are inconsistent with life on this planet as we know it.

There you have it, Mr. Speaker, the elements of a real plan to finally start realistically to recognize and address the climate crisis and establish necessary leadership that NWT residents deserve. I'll have questions for the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Crisis later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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COP 26 and the Climate Crisis in the Northwest Territories

Members' Statements

Page 2915

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North . Forgot to switch places.

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Government of the Northwest Territories Property Leases

Members' Statements

Page 2915

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, a new seating plan. Mr. Speaker, as I've spoken about before in this House, there is a rental monopoly by Northview in our town, our city of Yellowknife. Going back to the history, this is largely something that was created by the GNWT. In fact, the original founders of Northview were former GNWT civil servants who took advantage of government contracts.

In time, as with many of these REITS, they got bought up and became larger and larger to a point where approximately 50 percent, as Northview advertises of the rental space in our town, is owned by one company, and our government gives them over $20 million every single year, most of which does not go out for tender and, in fact, often the leases are renewed without competition. We inherited quite a few of these leases from the federal government at devolution.

Mr. Speaker, the real question is what are we going to do about it. And I want to speak today to some of the solutions and some of the barriers.

Firstly, I believe some of the hesitancy to do something about this is because, under our contractual obligations, we actually have $186 million in leasing obligations going forward in the next couple of years. As we well know, our fiscal situation is tight and to enter into longer term leases will exponentially increase that number. I believe that both departments and the Department of Finance like to keep our leasing to shorter terms to keep that contractual obligation off of our books.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, when building the new government building, or the Tatsaotine Building, it was said that that building would save the GNWT a hundred million dollars over 40 years. This was set out in a general purpose office space review that said it is much cheaper for the GNWT to own their buildings outright as opposed to lease them. I've asked multiple times for that document and for some reason, the Department of Infrastructure will not save it. But I'll take them at its word that it saves us money to own our buildings as opposed to lease them.

However, Mr. Speaker, I believe we need to look at this $20 million with a purpose of divesting it from Northview. I believe we need to approach Indigenous governments and development corps, nonprofits, and local landlords - basically anyone we can - and offer them favorable lease conditions if they are willing to build a new building or purchase one of the existing assets in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker. I believe if we went to a nonprofit and offered them some of the public housing leases, they would take that money and get more from the federal government.

I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure about what we are doing with this $20 million a year of public money.

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Government of the Northwest Territories Property Leases

Members' Statements