Debates of June 3rd, 2016

This is page numbers 363-396 of the Hansard for the 18th 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 work .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 34-18(2): 2016 Wildland Fire Season

Minister’s Statement 35-18(2): Investments To Advance Tourism – Tourism Week

Minister’s Statement 36-18(2): Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Highway

First Nations Land Surveyors

Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

“day Of Pink” Support For LGBTQ

Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Support For Nunavut Mp Hunter Tootoo

Inuvialuit Day 2016

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits.

Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Condolences On The Passing Of Jimmy Schaefer

Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Access To Federal Funding For Homelessness Programs

Tabled Document 54-18(2): NWT Office Of The Regulator Of Oil And Gas Operations Annual Report, 2015‑2016

Tabled Document 55-18(2): Unw Electronic Petition Results - Unw People’s Petition – Budget 2016

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Members Present

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

The House met at 10:00 a.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers Statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources .

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Minister’s Statement 34-18(2): 2016 Wildland Fire Season

Ministers’ Statements

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that this year’s wildland fire season is off to a slow start compared to the previous two years. As of May 30th, there have only been two wildland fires reported in the Northwest Territories. All indications are the eight-hectare fire near Madeline Lake, along the Ingraham Trail, was a holdover from last fire season, which smouldered underground all winter. It is a strong indication of just how dry forests are in North Slave Region. The second fire, 16 kilometres from Kakisa, was person-caused. It was started by an abandoned campfire.

We are still in a drought situation in many parts of the Northwest Territories and the long term seasonal forecast for the next three months calls for above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.

Mr. Speaker, the 20-year average for fires and area burned for this time of year is three fires and 46 hectares burned. At this time last year, 31 wildland fires had been reported with just over 7,100 hectares burned. Even with only two wildland fires to date, there is potential for another bad fire season this year. While lightning accounts for 90 per cent of fire start in the Northwest Territories, the 10 per cent caused by people can be prevented. Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and protect their homes, cabins and communities from wildland fires.

People must be careful when using fire in these dry conditions. Only use campfires if they are necessary for cooking and warmth. Bonfires are not required for these purposes. Get the appropriate burn permit for any other fires such as burning grass and/or brush. Do not leave any fire unattended and make sure the fire is completely out before leaving it. Property owners and communities should use FireSmart tools to reduce their risk of loss from wildland fires. Our 35 four-person fire-fighting crews are on strength as are our air tanker groups and rotary-wing aircraft.

The department will assess any new wildland fire starts for potential risk to values and take measures, as appropriate, with resource capacity and expected fire risk in high value areas.

Mr. Speaker, the cooler weather conditions early in the season have allowed our government to provide much needed fire personnel to help with the Fort McMurray fire and other fires in the northern part of Alberta. To date, we have exported two 21-person wildland fire crews and agencies representatives, two radio operators, three supply unit leaders, one situation unit leader, one

section chief trainee and one logistics chief trainee to Alberta. Our Electra air tanker, a bird dog aircraft, air attack officer and crews saw duty in Alberta. The Northwest Territories also provided 55 water pumps and 700 lengths of fire hose to Fort McMurray. We are honoured to be able to provide assistance to other Canadian jurisdictions as many of them have helped us in our time of need during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 wildland fire seasons.

Mr. Speaker, this year, Environment and Natural Resources has begun the process to update community wildland fire protection plans, and is drafting proposed amendments to modernize forest protection legislation, one of the commitments made in the Government of the Northwest Territories mandate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 34-18(2): 2016 Wildland Fire Season

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Minister’s Statement 35-18(2): Investments To Advance Tourism – Tourism Week

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to build partnerships to support, among other things, culturally-based tourism. The tourism sector offers the potential for direct and indirect economic growth in many of our communities and the possibility for diversification and growth of regional economies. As we look to the future, we can be assured that our government’s strategic approach to tourism development is already working.

In 2010, we introduced the Tourism 2015 Plan with an ambitious goal of building the NWT tourism sector to a $30 million-dollar industry by 2015. Today, Mr. Speaker, I can report that we achieved our goal and more, when visitor spending reached an all-time-high of $146.6 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

This is particularly heartening as we prepare to introduce Tourism 2020, our next strategic plan for tourism development in the Northwest Territories. Under Tourism 2020 we will continue to invest in our tourism sector in response to our mandate commitments by building on key areas of program and financial investment including visitor attraction and experience, community tourism development, skills development, and tourism research.

Our Tourism 2020 plan also includes a new area of investment and growth: Aboriginal Culture Tourism; developed in partnership with the Aboriginal Tourism Champions Advisory Council, and now a foundational part of our plan to increase the value of our tourism industry to $207 million annually by 2021. Partnerships have been central to our success in tourism over the last five years, and I am happy to announce that the department has reached agreement with the Canadian Executive Service Organization to expand its role in our Tourism Business Mentorship Program.

The organization brings the pedigree of facilitating more than 47,000 successful mentorship initiatives in 122 countries around the world, including work in over 80 per cent of all Aboriginal communities in Canada. We welcome this expertise and look forward to the new perspectives it will bring to our budding tourism sector and the talented, energetic operators across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, there are few better ways to celebrate the ingenuity in our tourism industry than our annual Tourism Week. This year’s celebration will be concluding this weekend with a number of events across our five regions designed to build awareness and interest in local tourism. As we mark Tourism Week in this Assembly today, I would like to recognize the continued partnership of Northwest Territories Tourism and the dedication and hard work of our vibrant family of industry operators and service providers. Few areas of our economy have been as bright as tourism over the last five years.

We will continue to find ways to promote the Northwest Territories’ natural beauty and unique northern spirit in a way that will allow our tourism sector to thrive and grow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 35-18(2): Investments To Advance Tourism – Tourism Week

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Transportation .

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Minister’s Statement 36-18(2): Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Highway

Ministers’ Statements

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, it’s an honour to report on the third successful winter of construction on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway project. I will start by referring back to Thursday, April 7, 2016, an historic afternoon when rock trucks driven by Beaufort Delta residents met at kilometre 45.3 and linked the north and south construction spreads. An exciting and proud achievement was reached in northern history that afternoon when crews placed approximately 48 cubic metres of gravel toward the final four kilometres of embankment on Canada’s first public highway to the Arctic coast.

Mr. Speaker, the contractor focused on hauling approximately 26,000 cubic metres of material per day to place approximately 97 per cent of the granular material required for the highway’s embankment. When construction wrapped up at the end of April 2016, approximately 116 kilometres of new embankment were fully constructed and the first lift was placed on the remaining 3.5 kilometres. Crews were also able to finish six of the eight required bridges and install pilings for the final two bridges. The Department of Transportation and the contractor are enthusiastic and prepared to make a final push to complete the project.

I’m pleased to report that the project employed over 500 people at the peak of this winter’s construction season. Approximately 74 per cent of the workforce came from the Beaufort-Delta region and other NWT communities, once again fulfilling the goal of substantially contributing to northern employment opportunities and delivering jobs where they’re needed most.

At the same time, the project continues to contribute to developing a skilled northern workforce by delivering meaningful training opportunities and employability. These valuable opportunities enable apprentices in a wide variety of trades to earn work experience hours toward certification and improving their economic mobility. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway construction project is also contributing to circumpolar research aimed at improving construction techniques in permafrost conditions.

In April, the Department of Transportation held a Permafrost Summit where world experts in cold region civil engineering and Northern construction had the opportunity to observe the unique construction methods used to build the highway and visit two research and development test sites sponsored by Transport Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to once again confirm that the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway construction project remains on

schedule and within the approved budget of $299 million dollars. As we approach the end of the construction phase of the project, the Department of Transportation is beginning to plan an appropriate celebration to mark the opening of the highway in the fall of 2017 as anticipated. I look forward to celebrating this achievement in northern construction history with the opening of the northern-most segment of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, bringing us closer to achieving our goal of finally linking Canada from coast to coast to coast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 36-18(2): Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Highway

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' Statements. Member for Deh Cho .

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First Nations Land Surveyors

Members’ Statements

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, surveying has been part of the development of the human environment since the beginning of history. Land surveyors have a key role in most construction projects as well as transportation, communications, mapping, and defining legal boundaries for land ownership. It is an important tool for research in many other areas. Mr. Speaker, a little recognized fact is how much the Northwest Territories owes to the First Nations land surveyors who took on this role in the early days of our communities.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize my constituent, Louie Constant of Fort Providence, who worked throughout the Northwest Territories surveying communities and highways. Louie, like a number of young high school graduates, began working as surveyor, learning on the job and working on various projects.

Unlike qualified and professional surveyors, guys like Louie demonstrated their knowledge and skills of surveying by working alongside their formally-trained colleagues and proved their worth by playing a significant role in laying the foundation for roads and residential areas in most of our current communities. They built their skills on keen eyes for the land and deep familiarity with its features.

Mr. Speaker, today land surveyors use a variety of high-tech instruments and any jobs require professional training and certification. But we can build on the legacy of Louie Constant and other First Nation surveyors by incorporating traditional knowledge into the development of new infrastructure and promoting this profession among First Nations youth. I want to challenge the Departments of Lands and Municipal and Community Affairs to look at ways to promote land surveying as a career among youth in the NWT and highlight the role of traditional knowledge in planning our communities and the infrastructure that connects them.

Mr. Speaker, working with professional organizations and private partners, the government can look for opportunities to encourage young people to choose a career in the field of survey work and land management through a scholarship or bursary program. Few people are as familiar with the land today as Louie Constant and his colleagues. Lifelong Northerners have a wisdom of place and we have an opportunity to honour the role of First Nation surveyors in the continuing evolution of the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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First Nations Land Surveyors

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Members’ Statements

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, small business is a key component of a strong diversified economy. Any entrepreneur can tell you that operating an independent business requires more hard work and determination than most people ever imagine. It also comes with immense rewards, not only to the business owners themselves, but to the communities they serve. The small business environment is becoming increasingly challenging across Canada, but especially in the Northwest Territories.

Like everywhere, northern businesses are forced to compete with big box stores, multinational conglomerates, the explosion of online services, as well as high costs, economies of scale and numerous procedures and policies at various levels of government.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business Red Tape Report consistently gives the Northwest Territories a failing grade for inaction and lack of leadership. New and young entrepreneurs experience overlapping requirements and lengthy application and permitting processes on top of start-up costs and the steep learning curve that comes naturally with any new start-up business.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT's message of support for small business conflicts with the hoops and ladders entrepreneurs encounter just to get their enterprise off the ground. We only have to look at the NWT Brewing Company and Woodyard Pub as an example. While the GNWT has made some improvements with the Bizpal online service to help entrepreneurs navigate start-up and operation, the SEED program is frequently oversubscribed and sometimes seems like the government refers to it as the never-ending pot of gold for everyone's great ideas.

Mr. Speaker, small business should be one of our key economic diversification components. Dedicated and informed staff at the front line play a key role in supporting entrepreneurs who are trying to put together the crucial pieces of their operation. For example, the Hay River egg producers searched worldwide for months, Mr. Speaker, to find recyclable cardboard cartons for their eggs. The government's approach to small business must reflect their values to our communities.

These operations are often generational, cherished by the community for their character, dedicated to the people they serve and knowledge of their local market. These businesses have no comparison to big box franchises of the world. We need to work with small business sector toward a shared vision for what we want small business to look like in the North, and take strategic steps to get there. At the appropriate time I'll have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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“day Of Pink” Support For LGBTQ

Members’ Statements

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow-up on my Member's statement of Wednesday, February 24thabout the International Pink Shirt Day. As we heard that day from a number of Members and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment , bullying is a daily experience for many young people across the Northwest Territories and Canada. On February 26thI received a letter from It Gets Better Yellowknife, an outreach program to support queer and trans youth in Yellowknife, informing me about the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity's Day of Pink, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and other types of bullying.

The Day of Pink, April 13th, 2016, continues the work of Pink Shirt Day by promoting active dialogue in communities across Canada between LGBTQ young people and leaders in their communities. Last November the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity approached the mayor of Yellowknife to organize the event, and the mayor reached out to It Gets Better Yellowknife to take on this event. Like the Pink Shirt Day, the Day of Pink has grown into a Canada-wide event in April. Like most things northern, people take on the task and make it better. It Gets Better Yellowknife organization was no different.

They developed a plan for a few extra ideas that worked well in Yellowknife and expanded a Day of Pink into Days of Pink, week-long educational and artistic events that promoted conversations throughout Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, the Days of Pink are about talking honestly and openly with peers about the bullying and violence that people deal with when expressing their love and their gender. They believe that when talking honestly and openly about these things they're able to educate themselves and fight ignorance in our communities. They address this by asking questions about how they express their gender, what their gender means to different people, how they love, who they love, and how they can stop bullying and violence that people deal with when expressing their love in their gender.

I believe that a safe NWT for everybody includes a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirits, asexual, pansexual, and queer people. Day of Pink is about more than just bullying, it is about examining and discussing the way the NWT can better support the LGBTQ community in our schools, workplaces and communities. It is my understanding that this group is developing a report of recommendations to provide to the political leaders in the NWT to make a better place to live. I look forward to seeing this report and looking forward to seeing how we can implement these recommendations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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“day Of Pink” Support For LGBTQ

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the Aboriginal content in the GNWT public service. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responded to one of my questions this week on the percentage of priority one employees we have in the public service. His response was 32 to 33 per cent. I think the GNWT lead by the Department of Human Resources must develop a strategy that will see the public service get closer to the GNWT's goal of having a public service that is representative of the people we serve. In other words, try to get the public service to as close to 51 per cent priority one as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the current suite of programs, policies and initiatives the GNWT is working with can achieve that goal.

Mr. Speaker, currently we have 51 per cent of our public service in Yellowknife. Of the public service that work in Yellowknife, only 16.5 per cent are priority one employees. Mr. Speaker, if the goal is to have 51 per cent of GNWT as priority one, I would say that goal would be close to impossible to achieve. Currently only 18.5 per cent of the people in Yellowknife that are in the participation rate would be considered priority one under the Affirmative Action Policy. I don't wish to go into the weeds too far with this.

Having said that, we have communities where the participation rate of Priority One candidates is 60 per cent, however only 35 per cent of the public service is priority one. Mr. Speaker, if the government continues on as they are currently for the next four years, the numbers will not change.

Our government needs to develop a strategy that looks at this objective community by community and department by department, because the holistic approach of trying to get to that number across the territories is not working. Mr. Speaker, it is my feeling that we can get as close as possible to achieving this goal by developing a good plan and having buy-in at the highest level of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Human Resources today in question period. Thank you.

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Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Support For Nunavut Mp Hunter Tootoo

Members’ Statements

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to speak briefly about the resignation of our fellow Northerner, Hunter Tootoo, from his position as the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and his decision to seek help for substance abuse issues. I do not know all the circumstances surrounding his resignation, and likely, only the people closest to him do. I do know that this decision must have been one of the most difficult of his life.

He knew there would be extensive media coverage, that it would be discussed on every channel, in every newspaper, and in thousands and thousands of private conversations among his co-workers, in his community, and around the country. He also knew that he was giving up a prestigious, high-profile Cabinet position, one of the highest government positions in Canada. Despite all this, Mr. Tootoo made the decision to prioritize his health and well-being and the well-being of those close to him, and I have to applaud him for his decision. It can be difficult to talk about addiction.

There is a stigma surrounding addiction that can leave people and their families to try and hide their problems and feel ashamed. However, we all know that addiction doesn't discriminate and anyone is susceptible. Admitting there is a problem and seeking help does not make a person appear weak. It takes courage to make that decision, and it's a choice that should be respected. I hope that those who need help and want help will be inspired by Mr. Tootoo's decision, and I thank him for leading by example. Information on how to access treatment options can be found on the Health and Social Services website. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Support For Nunavut Mp Hunter Tootoo

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Members’ statements. Member for Nunakput .

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Inuvialuit Day 2016

Members’ Statements

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is Inuvialuit Day, so I am going to speak on that. Mr. Speaker, June 5this set aside in the northern most part of our territory to celebrate Inuvialuit Day. June 5thmarks the anniversary of the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement in 1984. The day is celebrated throughout the Inuvialuit settlement region with drum dancing, Inuit games, music, and local country food such as muktuk, dry fish, moose, caribou, and so on. The Inuvialuit Final Agreement came into effect July 25, 1984. It was the first comprehensive land claim agreement signed in the NWT and only the second ever in Canada at the time.

Mr. Speaker, the final agreement is a result of the determination and dedication of a group of Northerners initially called the Committee for Original Peoples' Entitlement formed in 1970. This group included leaders, movers, and shakers such as Agnes Semmler, Nellie Cournoyea, Victor Allen, Brian Purdy, Jim Koe, Bertha Allen, Jessie Amos, Peter Green, Sam Raddi, Billy Day, Andy Carpenter, Wallace Goose, Mark Noksana and Kenneth Peeloolook.

This committee involved into a strong negotiating body that worked hard to secure the Inuvialuit's rights to wildlife harvest and socioeconomic initiatives and full participation in wildlife and environment managing regimes. These rights extend over the territory of almost half a million hectares in the Mackenzie Delta, Beaufort Sea, and Amundsen Gulf area, approximately 90,600 square kilometres of land and 12,980 square kilometres of subsurface rights. Mineral rights are owned by the Inuvialuit.

The Inuvialuit settlement region communities include Aklavik, lnuvik, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour, and Tuktoyaktuk. The Inuvialuit Final Agreement lays the foundation for future powers and authority. The Inuvialuit, Canada and the GNWT are currently negotiating an Inuvialuit self-government agreement. Twelve different areas of government, from heritage resources to income support and training capacity building are included in the scope of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuvialuit Final Agreement is something Canada and all Northerners can celebrate. Other countries are torn apart by civil wars over the very rights the Inuvialuit tenaciously and we have peacefully negotiated. Ecological provisions are upheld as a world-class example of integrated resource management system. Mr. Speaker, I encourage the parties to continue negotiating, leading the way for the Northwest Territories and Canada and self-governed agreements for Canada's Indigenous peoples. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

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Inuvialuit Day 2016

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Members’ statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Members’ Statements

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the seizure of huge volumes of fentanyl in recent Yellowknife drug busts is an indication that at least some NWT residents are turning to the black market to satisfy drug addictions. In some cases, these addictions are the result of legitimate medical prescriptions. An NWT coroner's report last year raised alarms over overuse and misuse of prescriptions and how people are being prescribed potentially dangerous amounts of legal drugs by seeking multiple prescriptions.

One means of reducing that supply for new and existing addicts is the creation of a prescription drug monitoring program. The Department of Health and Social Services has made some progress on developing this idea, but it now appears to be stalled. Obviously, any prescription monitoring program needs to be consistent with the new Electronic Medical Record, or EMR system.

At this time, the EMR system can't produce a valid prescription for a pharmacist. Apparently, work is underway to make this possible within patient confidentiality requirements. The main problem at the moment, though, appears to be money. The Minister of Health and Social Services points out that a monitoring program would require some dedicated staff time and an information system linked to all NWT pharmacies that can offer real-time access to patients' prescription histories.

In the meantime, the department is educating clinicians about appropriate prescribing practices and teaching them to identify patients who may be addicted or at risk of becoming addicted to opioids and other drugs. I'm putting this issue back on the table, Mr. Speaker. I realize this budget doesn't include funds for a prescription monitoring program. The Health department rightly takes the overall approach that prevention is the surest path to patient health and that prevention is less costly than treatment.

In the case of addiction in particular, any steps to reduce the number of persons who will ultimately need difficult and costly behavioural therapy will be a good investment. I'll have questions for the Minister on the current status of this program and plans for kick starting it in the next budget session. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits.

Members’ Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I will speak today about some of the least advantaged, and unfortunately, least politically influential people in our society, those on Income Assistance. First, I want to congratulate the Cabinet on its decision announced in the budget address that income from the Canada Child Benefit, and the Northwest Territories Child Benefit, and spousal support will be excluded in the calculation of Income Assistance payments.

I also applaud the announcement of amendments to the NWT Income Tax Act to enhance the NWT Child Benefit, including different benefit amounts for children under and over the age of six. Now, I'd like to see a similar approach to adopt an annual increase to income assistance payments. Benefits were increased in 2015. But before that, I believe benefits were last increased in 2009. There does not appear to be any mechanism for providing an annual increase in benefits to offset increases in the cost of living, or even a mechanism to regularly assess whether benefits are adequate.

This is counter to most other programs of financial assistance providing benefits that are adjusted to reflect the costs of living. At the federal level, payments of public service pensions, Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Pension Plan, and Canada Pension Plan disability benefits are all indexed to inflation. Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement benefit rates are adjusted four times annually for inflation.

Here in the Northwest Territories, Members have recently been informed that the monthly payment rate for Long Term Care Room and Board has been adjusted to offset the increased costs as calculated by the Consumer Price Index, or CPI. Not only that, if the CPI were to fall, I am told that rates would not be decreased. The NWT Senior Citizen Supplementary Income Benefit is likewise indexed to CPI, and there are annual indexing provisions in a number of other GNWT cost of living support programs. In Yukon, income assistance benefit rates are annually adjusted to offset the cost of living.

Certainly, there has been no decrease in the costs of living, according to CPI figures, which are only available for Yellowknife. Costs have increased on average by 1.6 per cent in the past year, and as much as four per cent in the area of food costs. Mr. Speaker, I seek and ask consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits.

Members’ Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. All of the above makes me wonder why income assistance recipients are left out of annual increases to meet the valid need of paying higher costs to stay fed, clothed, and sheltered. In the absence of a guaranteed annual income, levels of support provided by Income Assistance cannot lift people out of poverty. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits.

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Members’ statements. Member for Sahtu .

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Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Members’ Statements

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to speak about the Colville Lake power pilot project. It is producing a huge amount of significant results as the pilot project. After spending a number of years growing up in that community, I have come to realize it is this government's initiative that really helps the smaller communities in seeing and playing a

part in the contribution to the consumption of fuel and gas emission reductions and continuous independence with these little communities, which are only seasonally supplied. So later on today, I will have some questions here for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the forest fire season of 2014 is still strong in the memory of NWT residents. The GNWT spent $59 million fighting fires that year. Last year's fire season was also demanding, the second worst on record. We are also aware of the recent wildfire that caused evacuation of Fort McMurray destroying ten per cent of the city. While the residents of Fort McMurray are slowly being allowed to return to their homes, that wildfire is still burning out of control at more than 550,000 hectares.

Here in the Northwest Territories, the 2016 season hasn't been busy as the Minister said earlier today. In fact, we have only had two fires. Only eight hectares have burned so far this year, Mr. Speaker. But Mr. Speaker, experts anticipate drier weather and the increased fire risk that comes with it. Now is the time to prepare, Mr. Speaker. In my riding, both Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic are surrounded by dense forest. A fire break was planned for Fort McPherson, but two years ago, that project was put on hold. As I mentioned we have had many fires that year, and for that reason, that project was put on hold.

We know that taking preventive action works. In 2014, the community of Kakisa was saved from fire damage thanks to their use of fire smarting practices to clear the surrounding area of potential fuel. The 2014-15 fire seasons may have been expensive, Mr. Speaker, but it is much more expensive to rebuild than to protect. I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Members’ statements. Member for Thebacha .

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Condolences On The Passing Of Jimmy Schaefer

Members’ Statements

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

I would like to send condolences to the family of the late Jimmy Schaefer of Fort Smith who passed away last evening. Mr. Schaefer was a former chief of the Salt River First Nation and instrumental in some of their treaty negotiations, was a long-time resident of the community, and related to many throughout the North including his nephew and our colleague, Minister Schumann . Mr. Schaefer enjoyed a long and useful life. He will be missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Condolences On The Passing Of Jimmy Schaefer

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Our condolences to the family as well. Members’ statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgments. Item 7, Oral questions. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, you heard me talk about the need to work with small business sectors toward a shared vision for what we want to see small business look like in the North. My question today is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . Mr. Speaker, can the Minister comment on what he sees as the main barriers to successful small business operations in the territory and how we might address them as a government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment .

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the main barriers, as I see it, is the ability to develop business plans and the access to financial assistance and aftercare so that the biggest barrier to being a successful business is getting through the first year and surviving for five years, so any aftercare we can provide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Minister for his reply. I would also argue that there are some challenges found within dealing with our government as it relates to the barriers that small business face. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister comment on how the GNWT might further reduce red tape for independent business and boost its grade in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s red tape report card?

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Reducing red tape is a constant priority of our government and we spend a lot of time at it. I don't find the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Red Tape report card of much help or assistance or very useful. I don't feel that having somebody coming down from Toronto once or twice a year and giving us a failing grade and not making any suggestions on how to improve…they don't go to the communities. I don't find that report very helpful.

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Well then with that, I guess I ask the Minister, does the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment have a mechanism for collecting constructive feedback from small business to determine how government programs might better serve their needs?

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Here in the Northwest Territories, we are very fortunate to have very strong Chambers of Commerce. We have the NWT Chamber of Commerce and we have at least five or six chambers throughout the Northwest Territories in every region. We have a very close relationship, and the NWT Chamber of Commerce shares our view of the red tape report, and because of the fact that we are a small jurisdiction, we can interact almost on a one-to-one basis with businesses, especially when we travel to the regions.

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for his reply. This will be my final question. Does the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment regularly review and consider successful small business programs in other jurisdictions, and if so, are there examples that could be implemented in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

As a government, we participate in federal, provincial, and territorial meetings in a number of different areas. The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment participates, FPTs and small business, so I always say that by participating, we gain a lot more than we contribute in these FPT meetings because we get access to best practices in every jurisdiction in Canada. Just recently, British Columbia has outlined what they're doing with small business. They have a round table for small business in BC that they feel every province and territory can benefit from doing something similar, so this is something that we have access to on a regular basis.

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Question 154-18(2): Supports For Small Business And Economic Diversification

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput .

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about Inuvialuit Day. Today, my questions are for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations . Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my statement, the Inuvialuit are negotiating a self-government agreement with the GNWT in Canada. My question is: when was the agreement-in-principle signed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations .

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-in-Principle was signed by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the federal government on July 22 2015 in Inuvik. With the signing of the Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-in-Principle, the parties are actively working towards the timely conclusion of a final Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what is included in the agreement-in-principle?

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

I will try to cover that in a few short sentences. The signing of the Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-in-Principle marks an important step on the road towards Aboriginal self-government for the Inuvialuit. The agreement-in-principle serves as the foundation for the negotiation of a Final Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement. The agreement-in-principle deals with various matters such as culture and language, health, social services, education, economic development, justice, and taxation.

It also describes the Inuvialuit Government and its roles and responsibilities, the structures of the Inuvialuit Council, and the relationship the Inuvialuit Government will have with Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: what does the implementation of the agreement-in-principle mean for the GNWT Inuvialuit beneficiaries and Inuvialuit living outside the Inuvialuit settlement region.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Implementing the agreement-in-principle means that the parties will complete the negotiation of the final self-government agreement and that all of the necessary arrangements and agreements that need to be in place before the effective date of the agreement are worked out and agreed to by all of the parties. The agreement-in-principle sets out the structure of the Inuvialuit Government, an exclusive Aboriginal self-government that will serve and represent Inuvialuit citizens and deliver government programs and services to Inuvialuit in the Western Arctic region.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member Nunakput.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Herbert Nakimayak

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: how do the agreement-in-principle and current negotiations uphold the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

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Question 155-18(2): Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-In-Principle

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are a follow up to my Member’s statement for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources . As I mentioned in my Member statement, in 2014, the community of Fort McPherson put in a proposal for the fire break for the community, as it is in the approval process. Then the NWT was hit with record-breaking fires that year. So I would like to ask the Minister: what is the status of work towards building a fire break in Fort McPherson? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources .

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to look into that particular community for the Member and get back to him on what the status is for the Fort McPherson fire break. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know the latest NWTAC's meeting as well, they're in full support of preparing all our communities for with fire breaks and doing their part as well. I'd also like to ask the Minister: Tsiigehtchic's 2010 community wildland fire protection plan recommends a building of a new break. What is the status of that project as well?

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and same with that particular one. Wildland fire protection plans are a shared responsibility in Northwest Territories. They are jointly with the Department of Municipal, MACA, ENR, and also the local community governments, so I'll have to confer with my colleague and see what the status is on that and with the local government.

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to thank the department for reinstating the fire crew in Tsiigehtchic. It was out of commission for a few years. It started last year, but people are working there once again, and I would like to thank them. I would also like to ask the Minister, how is the department using this unusual quiet month to prepare the rest of the fire season?

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

We have ongoing efforts to train and maintain our equipment and personnel for the fire season, so it's an ongoing effort that is continually working throughout the seasons. Like I said in my Minister's statement earlier today, we have taken the opportunity to send a number of our personnel to Alberta to help in their wildfire season, so it's a significant contribution that the Government of the Northwest Territories has done to help Alberta. We continue to work on them on a daily basis.

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister: will the community of Fort McPherson have to submit another proposal or will the department just act on the proposal that they had in 2014? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

Wally Schumann

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have stated earlier, I will have to confer with MACA and the local government to see where we are at on that process and have a look at it.

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Question 156-18(2): Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should ask this question to the Minister of ENR , but I'll address it to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs . Yesterday the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs did a Minister's statement about the Federal Infrastructure Funding Program for the NWT community governments. It was great to hear the department was able to access the small community funds which is part of the New Building Canada Plan, Provincial- Territorial Infrastructure Component. Mr.

Speaker, thank God, lots of words, can the Minister please provide this House on what the definition of a small community is according to the New Building Canada Plan, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs .

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know there are seven of us over here, right? Mr. Speaker, the definition of a small community, as defined by the federal government under the Provincial and Territorial Infrastructure Component and Small Communities Fund, is communities with a population of under $100,000 -- or, 100,000 people. Thank you.

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

I was getting excited, there. $100,000, I don't think we could afford to use this program at all. I thank the Minister for that answer. As a federal program, there is a cost-sharing component to access them. Can the Minister provide the House with what is the cost-share for this program in the communities and/or GNWT?

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I will just clarify it's 100,000 people, not dollars, and the federal portion cannot exceed 75 per cent. Thank you.

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

The federal component, 75 per cent, I would like to ask the Minister, what is the communities' share and/or the GNWT's share?

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

My apologies. The federal portion cannot exceed 75 per cent. The communities' share would obviously then be 25 per cent. But what a lot of communities will use is the money that we give them to leverage a lot of the federal funding. So we give out $28 million to communities to help with their infrastructure, so they are able to use that to leverage -- that's their 25 per cent to leverage the other 75 per cent from the federal government.

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I know that he's my favourite Minister. It seems this week I seem to be asking him a lot of the questions. Next week, I'll find another one, maybe. Well, finance is next week, too. Sorry, he'll be back.

--- Laughter

In the Minister's statement, he spoke about how Municipal and Community Affairs will issue a call for the funding applications in the coming weeks and will support community governance through the Canada application and approval process. Can the Minister please explain what the department means by supporting community governance with this process? Thank you.

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

We provide support to the communities in a number of different ways. We help them with completing applications for the small community funding from co-ordinated work between our regional staff and headquarters staff. For larger projects, on a case-by-case basis, MACA can provide advice through helping communities hire project managers, reviewing designs with them, and RFPs, and then the regional managers of capital planning will also help communities complete their quarterly reports and claim forms. So we provide a lot of assistance to the communities, and they are very appreciative of that.

I always like to say, at the end of the day, the final decision, the ultimate decision, is the communities to make, and we will support them in any way that we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 157-18(2): Small Community Funding In New Build Canada Plan

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member's statement I talked about the priority one candidates in the GNWT, or employees in the GNWT. I would like to ask the Minister of Human Resources , would the Minister re-examine all the programs, policies, and initiatives that are designed to increase the number of priority one employees in the GNWT to ensure their efficiency? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Human Resources .

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I get to the question, I would like to just correct an answer that I made yesterday. I said yesterday there was about 32 per cent Aboriginal representation in the public service. Today currently we're actually at 30.8, so it's actually less than I had indicated previously. I've been with the Department of Human Resources now for about six months, and I have actually already directed the department to begin looking at a number of the programs that are available.

For example, the Aboriginal Management Development Program is targeted at senior management in the public service, but we know there are a lot of individuals, Aboriginal individuals, at lower levels who want to transition up but going from an officer level to a manager level may not be appropriate. So I've already asked, or rather directed, them to begin work on seeing how we can broaden those programs out to meet our needs.

I've also directed the department to do some research for me on the effects of affirmative action since it came into place. Have we actually got any results by having an Affirmative Action Program that is more passive and based on hiring as opposed to something that is more active? So I've already asked the department to begin that research, and once I get that information, I'd love an opportunity to sit down with committee and go through some of the details.

We have a number of programs out there that are available where affirmative action applies, such as regional recruitment, the corrections training. Some departments are doing some very specific things. We are looking at these programs and, once we got more data, as I said, I'd love to sit down with committee and have a heart-to-heart on how we can move forward to improve the results around affirmative action in our government.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I'd like to thank the Minister for that response. I would like to know if the Minister is prepared to re-examine the role of the Advisory Committee on Aboriginal Employment in the GNWT, I don't know if that is the exact right term, and then try to give that committee a greater role in ensuring that the priority one candidates continue to increase in the GNWT. I think that's a very good committee, so I'd like to ask the Minister if he's prepared to give a greater role to that committee.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The Aboriginal Employees Advisory Committee is made up of Aboriginal employees of the GNWT, and their role is to provide some guidance and advice to the Minister and the department on how to have a more responsive system, a system that is hiring more Aboriginal people, where appropriate. I do believe they have a pretty solid role; I think they're doing some good work.

As we move forward and get some of the statistical information and have a better sense of where we are and how we have actually responded over time, I will have a conversation with committee and we can talk about the advisory committee and whether or not its role is appropriate or not, but I think we need to do a little bit more work first and have a discussion with committee before we make any of those types of decisions.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I recognize that the Minister of Human Resources is not solely responsible for the Affirmative Action Policy. I would like to know if the Minister is prepared to have a regular role, maybe during Committee or anything, on a regular basis conferring with other Ministers of other departments to ensure that each department has a human resources plan that also has the contents of what is needed in order to increase priority one hires in the GNWT. Thank you.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

This is a conversation we do have at the Cabinet table. I regularly share the information on where we are with respect to affirmative action. That information is available to the Ministers by department. I also continually push the different programs and opportunities available to the individual departments, like the Regional Recruitment Program and things like the Geographical Hiring for Non-statutory Jobs. I am happy to continue to push this as a priority. I'm happy to help move this Government towards a public service that represents the population that it serves.

We do have challenges, Mr. Speaker. There are some departments that are doing better than others. There are some departments that are doing worse than others. Some departments have a significant number of statutory requirement positions where they need individuals with specific skills, which is why we must work closely with Education, Culture, and Employment. The initiative that Education, Culture, and Employment is currently pursuing, Skills 4 Success, will help us focus in on the types of jobs that we need to train and work towards.

I think it needs to be a partnership between education as well as all the departments. I know the departments and the Ministers are eager to have a representative workforce as well, so we are working on those things.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask if the Minister would consider developing a new strategy for increasing priority one employees across the GNWT public service, including the development of a human resources plan by each department. Thank you.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We do have the strategic plan, the 20/20, for the Government of the Northwest Territories, which is focused on building a public service that is responsive, respectful, but also representative of the population we serve. I will commit to working with each of the departments to try to find priorities and activities we can do within the individual departments. As far as individual human resources plans, I believe much of that work is already begun, or has existed in the past.

We will look to see if we can revitalize any of that, but also need to focus in on: what is it really going to take to develop a workforce that is representative of the population? Our workforce isn't currently representative of the population. I think the number of individuals who identify themselves in the workforce is not 50 or 51 per cent Aboriginal. I think, once again, we really need to work closely with Education, Culture, and Employment, target those jobs that are out there, and move forward with Skills 4 Success, and the government has to be a partner.

We are a partner on Skills 4 Success, which will help us develop the workforce and improve our rates here in the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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Question 158-18(2): Aboriginal Representation In GNWT Public Service

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Can the Minister tell us the status of the development of the prescription drug monitoring program and when we might expect to see a recommendation that could be shared with the Social Development Committee? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have developed a steering committee, as the Member mentioned in her Member's statement, to review options around prescription drug monitoring, and we've asked them to come back with recommendations on best approaches that would be appropriate here in the Northwest Territories. We do know that the most effective monitoring method needs to be consistent with the department's emerging suite of e-Health tools, such as electronic medical records.

At this time, there have not been any final recommendations provided by the committee on how to improve or implement a prescription drug monitoring program. However, it is still our intent, and we are still moving forward with that work to help curb prescription drug abuse here in the Northwest Territories and help us advance the design of a monitoring program. However, given our current fiscal environment, it's not possible to state with any certainty when this will be able to move forward, but we are committed to moving forward and we are committed to getting that work done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thanks to the Minister for that answer. I appreciate that the electronic component is a significant dimension of this program. Can the Minister give us a brief description of how the linkage to the pharmacies across the Territory would be achieved and how we will partner with the pharmacists in ensuring that the system works across the territory? So to have their buy-in, not just the technology.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

As I indicated, at this time we don't actually have any recommendations from the committee. The membership on that steering committee does include the NWT Pharmacy Association, and we already collaborate with pharmacists across the territories on a number of initiatives. They are a critical and a key component to making this a reality here in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to consult and work in collaboration with the pharmacies across the Northwest Territories to ensure that a program, when it is put in place, is both effective, efficient, and responsive to the needs of both clinicians, pharmacists, and most importantly the patients.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Minister, this question has to do with the project rolling forward. Obviously there will be a presentation of plans when those are available, and I'm wondering if there's any chance we can see them in the coming year's budget.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

The budget is before the House. We are going through the budget. Hopefully we'll do Health and Social Services in the next couple of days. There is no money for the implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program in this budget, but we do have the steering committee. We do fund the work they're doing within existing resources, and that work is going to continue. We are still moving forward; we are still quantifying what a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program will cost.

We are looking at how to incorporate e-Health and electronic medical records, and we are working with pharmacies to find out how we're going to make that linkage with them to make sure that the information is readily available but not contravening things like the Health Information Act.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My last question deals with amalgamating this initiative into the work of the new single territorial board. Can the Minister comment on whether, and how, the creation of the new board will affect delivery of the electronic medical records system? Thank you.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Moving to a single authority should actually help us move this forward in a quicker manner because we will be able to work as a system as opposed to a fragmented group of authorities. With respect to planning for the system-wide EMR, it began years ago and implementation is well under way. Four authorities are currently using the EMR, representing a significant portion of the NWT populations; that's Yellowknife, Hay River, and Fort Smith, and system-wide resources have already been identified to help move that forward. We are hoping in 2016-17 to bring the Tulita, Sahtu, Deh Cho, and Beaufort-Delta in as well.

This is a huge step for us and this is an ability for those involved in a circle of care of individuals to actually see the records, so that individuals will know what has been prescribed for an individual as long as they are in the circle of care so that they don't over-prescribe. It doesn't link in the pharmacies, which is a key component of the prescription drug monitoring program. That is something that we need to do as well, and as I've indicated, the steering committee is going to provide us advice and guidance on that. We will cost it out, and we are working closely with the Pharmacy Association.

Unfortunately, as I've said, given our current fiscal environment, I'm not in a position where I can actually say when we will be able to roll that out. Needless to say, though, we are still doing the work so that we can have a business case to present and discuss when appropriate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 159-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu .

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned in my Member's statement, my question is directed to the Minister of the NWT Power Corporation with respect to the pilot project that is, I would probably say, completed and producing results here in the community of Colville Lake. As you know, it's a small-populated community similar to a few others in our NWT area. Visualizing and seeing the results, having spent a couple of years in my growing up days there and seeing and reading by candle light now to solar powered-generated LED light bulbs is really a vast and significant change here and contribution should be given to the previous Assembly in doing so.

So my question today is, after realizing the repeated benefits, are those benefits going to be reviewed and applied to other similar communities of that size? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Power Corporation .

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to attend with the Premier , several weeks ago, and other staff from the Power Corporation and government officials, at the opening of the solar battery diesel plant, grand opening, official opening, in Colville Lake. There is a Solar Energy Strategy that the Government rolled out in 2012, I believe, and so we are committed to looking at other projects.

It appears that there will always be a need, obviously, in view of where we live to have a combination of supplies, if I can put it that way, of perhaps diesel, or including diesel, but we wish to, in particular, look at the diesel communities and hopefully replace them with solar alternatives to as high an extent as we can.

There are expenses involved. The plant in Colville Lake was not cheap, but it also built capacity for the Power Corporation going forward.

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

My second question is: what other communities are on the list on a move-forward basis?

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

We are, of course, as I mentioned previously looking at replacing diesel so that we are looking at the thermal communities. I could perhaps undertake to provide a list of communities that we're looking at in the future. I don't have that list in front of me now.

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

With the savings that we are realizing and seeing here, is the Power Corporation going to pass that savings on to the ratepayer or the customer? In addition to seeing the benefits that are being created by solar power in the small community of Colville then applied to the other communities and the recent reduction and restructuring of the board of directors of the Corporation, that's an additional benefit as well. Are we going to see those benefits passed on to the consumer or customer, and are they going to realize in seeing that benefit on a monthly-end bill?

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

Louis Sebert

Thebacha

The prime objective of the Power Corporation is to supply customers with safe, reliable, cost-effective energy. As part of this, we are rolling out other projects that will assist in us arriving at that end. So I will say, though, at least initially, that often solar projects are quite expensive and do not result in an immediate reduction in the amounts that people see at the end-of-month bills. But there are other benefits to solar. It reduces the emissions that go into the atmosphere.

So, again, the Power Corporation is intent on delivering power, whether it's diesel or other means, at the cheapest possible price that we can, and hopefully we will be able to pass benefits on to the ultimate customers. I don't see that reflected in bills in the immediate future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 160-18(2): Colville Lake Solar Power Pilot Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Mahsi. We've put one of the Ministers at the end of the row to work today, and I'd like to work with the other Minister opposite at the end of the row. Earlier today I did commend the Government for the changes that they've made to Income Assistance, but I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment whether income assistance payments were increased or not on April 1, 2016, and why.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment .

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, the income assistance was not increased on April 1, 2016. However, they were increased on April 1, 2015. The reason we didn't look at the increase was, obviously, there was a federal announcement of the child benefits and we wanted to look at our regulations. The Member stated it very well in his Member's statement on why we were looking at delaying any type of increases. Currently the GNWT does have a northern market basket measure. We worked with the Governments of Yukon and Nunavut to create this.

All other jurisdictions across Canada have a market basket measure that represents a modest basic standard of living in which they represent their income assistance. We've created one in 2014 for the Northern Territories, but that was the reason the federal government did make an announcement with the federal child benefit and we're looking at how we can benefit from that, and we are currently going through our regulations and changes right now.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I thank the Minister for his response and the efforts that his department is making, although I don't believe that an annual increase in Income Assistance necessarily should have been linked to things that were happening with other governments and sorting out things at our end. I'd like to ask the Minister if he is prepared to look into the issue of indexing income assistance payments to cost of living.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Yes. The department is always looking at reviewing our programs and services to make sure that they meet the basic needs of our clients in the Northwest Territories. Currently about 15 per cent of our department's budget is actually on Income Assistance. In 2014-15, we had over about 3,323 families on income assistance. With the low economic downturn throughout the Northwest Territories, it is increasing and on occasion we do bring supplementary appropriations before the House for approval to offset some of those costs.

As I mentioned to the Member, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut have created a northern market basket measure which was finalized in 2014. We do base that on when we were reforming or changing the level of benefits available from the income assistance programs. Last time it was done was April 1, 2015, and as I said, the department is always looking at reviewing our programs and services.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for helping me make the case for indexing of income assistance payments. I'm wondering, though, if he could commit to looking at this issue within the next year and bringing that back to the appropriate committee.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

The Member did bring up these questions during business plans. We did direct the department to look at what other jurisdictions are doing from 2014. The Member did mention that Yukon is doing something similar, so we will look into what Nunavut and Yukon are doing in terms of indexing to the cost of living. I think our northern market basket measure is effective when we are reviewing our programs, but we will see what Yukon and Nunavut are doing and if they are in fact indexing their income assistance and programs.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Mahsi. I do appreciate the Minister's commitment on that and I look forward to sitting in on the committee work on that particular issue. I do note, though, that we have a number of other income support systems in place where payments are made to families and individuals. I'm wondering if the Minister could commit to review whether we should be incorporating indexing into all of those programs as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Obviously as our Minister of Finance said, the best social program is a job, having job creation. One thing that our department has done was create five positions, employment transition officers, and I think it's the first year that they've gone through it. We're trying to get people out of income assistance and relying on government and getting to the job workforce, and it's been very successful so far. We're hoping to continue to support people getting into employment.

In terms of bringing income assistance, we are going to be going through an income assistance review and how we work through those, and we will be obviously taking the information from standing committee and I look forward to our discussions moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 161-18(2): Annual Increase To Income Assistance Benefits

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho .

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about young people working as surveyors, and these young people had a very great opportunity in the early stages of their careers in working with mentors that help refine their careers and their work as surveyors. My questions today are for the Minister of Lands . Could the Minister provide some examples of survey work that is currently taking place in the NWT? Mahsi.

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Lands .

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have any ones off the top of my head. I mean, I will follow up on that and see if there is work that is ongoing right now, but I take the Member's point and I appreciate his comments about trying to get our young people interested in the trades, surveying and community property assessment and that. It's a thought that we've shared, and if we can encourage our young people to take those types of training, then there could be some opportunities available for them.

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

I'm glad the Minister didn't go on an obtuse tangent, but he committed to the idea of the point. Would the Minister agree or commit to work with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, municipalities, and other departments as required to find meaningful ways to recognize the work of First Nations surveyors in building our current communities? Mahsi.

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I'll refrain from going on another tangent that the Member speaks of. I will be very diplomatic in my answers. Mr. Speaker, could I ask the Member to repeat that question please?

--- Laughter

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho .

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was a 360. Would the Minister agree to work with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, municipalities, and other departments as required to find meaningful ways to recognize the work of First Nations surveyors in building our current communities? Mahsi.

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I could have just said yes in answer to his question. Yes, I will work with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs . We all know that he can be difficult to work with sometimes, but I will commit to working with him and seeing what kind of opportunities we can put together for people. I have been looking through a number of courses offered through other institutions and looking at what the requirements are, and there is no reason why we can't maybe look at making some of those opportunities available here. Again, the first part of it is to try to get our people across the Northwest Territories interested in this type of occupation. There will be opportunities for them.

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Michael Nadli

Deh Cho

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. What is the Department of Lands prepared to do in terms of promoting careers in surveying and geomatics among First nations youth, highlighting how spending time on the land can enhance future professional skills?

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Question 162-18(2): Opportunities For First Nation Land Surveyors

Oral Questions

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

We started the process during this exchange, where we're promoting trying to get those interested in surveying to take up the trade. I think one of the first things we do is have to identify where some of our needs are for training. If we can identify those, and if there are opportunities for us to put some training programs together, work with Education, work with the School of Community Government and try to get some opportunities available.

But I think, with the exchange we just had today, that's a good start in promoting the desire to get our people interested in the trade, and that way they would have a fairly good occupation where there always seems to be a demand for that type of trade. Thank you, Mr. Spea