Debates of Oct. 20th, 2020

This is page numbers 1317 - 1346 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 million .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Water Monitoring

Supporting Municipalities

Bear Attack in Hay River

Audit Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Health Care Staffing

Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Pandemic

Cameron Hills Liabilities

Northwest Territories Nominee Program

Passing of Constituents

Municipal Funding Gap

Residential Addictions Treatment

Eulogy for Helen (Hardisty) Edjericon

Drug Offences in the Legal System

Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Residential Addictions Treatment

Protocols around Contact Tracing

Internships in Health and Social Services

Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Cameron Hills Liabilities

Municipal Funding Gap

Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations

Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Transfer of Lands to Indigenous Governments

Protocols around Contact Tracing

Mr. Lafferty's Reply

Tabled Document 189-19(2): Inuvialuit Water Board Annual Report, April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 and Financial Statements Tabled Document 190-19(2): The Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Financial Statements for the Year Ended March 31, 2020

Tabled Document 191-19(2): NWT Resource Production 1999 to 2019

Appointment to the Board of Management and Appointment of Deputy Chair to the Committee of the Whole

Appointment to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, Government Operations and Social Development

Referral of Tabled Documents 165-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT; 166-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 2-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT; and Tabled Document 167-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 3-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT

Bill 11: Legislative Assembly Officers Standardization Act.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 181-19(2): Capital Estimates 2021-2022 - Justice - Deferral of Department (page 50)

Tabled Document 181-19(2): Capital Estimates 2021-2022 - Lands - Deferral of Department (page 58)

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Hon. Diane Archie , Hon. Frederick Blake Jr, Mr. Bonnetrouge , Hon. Paulie Chinna , Ms. Cleveland , Hon. Caroline Cochrane , Hon. Julie Green , Mr. Jacobson , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Lafferty , Ms. Martselos , Ms. Nokleby , Mr. Norn , Mr. O'Reilly , Ms. Semmler , Hon. R.J. Simpson , Mr. Rocky Simpson , Hon. Shane Thompson , Hon. Caroline Wawzonek

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

Page 1317

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Colleagues, before we begin, I just want to say a few words. Today is a difficult day in Fort McPherson. We have a funeral there for Deborah Kendi Blake. Thoughts and prayers are with the community. During these times, our communities, especially here in the North really pull together to help one another. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and I'm sorry I couldn't be there today as I usually am when I can be. Just know that we're thinking of you all, especially through the days ahead. Keep them in prayers. Mahsi.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources .

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Minister's Statement 67-19(2): Water Monitoring

Ministers' Statements

Page 1317

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for the implementation of the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy, including transboundary water management agreements and water monitoring throughout the Northwest Territories. Together with our partners, we track long-term trends and monitor changes in water quality, quantity, and biology.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the monitoring that makes up our early warning system is now back up and running. The Alberta government resumed its monitoring in June, and oil sands monitoring has been in place since August. Environment and Natural Resources quickly adapted its fieldwork procedures so it could continue to monitor water in the Northwest Territories safely during the pandemic with only slight delays, and for this, the department should be commended. Our transboundary agreements are the most comprehensive of their kind.

In addition to the commitments on water quality and quantity, these agreements also recognize the importance of biological indicators and traditional knowledge. Triggers set under the agreements, which are reported on in annual reports, help ensure that any issues that could put Northwest Territories waters at risk can be addressed early on.

Mr. Speaker, water levels this year across parts of the Mackenzie River Basin have been very high. Water levels on Great Slave Lake were higher than we had seen. This has caused changes in the water. More dirt or sediment is being washed into the lakes and rivers, and there was a larger plume of sediment in Great Slave Lake lasting later in the season. Higher sediment has also resulted in higher concentrations of metals, in some cases the highest levels ever recorded in the Slave and Hay Rivers.

Although total metal concentrations are higher than usual, they are not in a form that is readily available to be taken up by aquatic species. The work to analyze water samples gathered this summer is ongoing, and we plan to release the results as they are available. Environment and Natural Resources is working with our neighbours in Alberta and British Columbia to better understand the contributions from upstream watersheds to water levels in Great Slave Lake, including the role of the Bennett Dam in British Columbia.

Many Northerners are wondering what will happen to water levels this winter. We already know the high-water levels are mostly due to more rain and snow across Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories; some areas received up to twice as much rain this year. Environment and Natural Resources is taking a closer look at the factors affecting water levels and will release the results of this work once complete.

Mr. Speaker, the health of our water is of critical importance to the residents of the Northwest Territories. Environment and Natural Resources will continue to collaborate with our transboundary partners to manage water resources in a sustainable manner to maintain the ecological integrity of the Mackenzie River Basin, for present and future generations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 67-19(2): Water Monitoring

Ministers' Statements

Page 1318

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs .

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Minister's Statement 68-19(2): Supporting Municipalities

Ministers' Statements

Page 1318

Paulie Chinna

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the Members on the progress we have made with our mandate commitment to reduce the municipal funding gap by $5 million in the lifetime of this government. We recognize the important role that the community governments play in our economy and the provision of core programs and services. Community governments are essential partners in delivering programs and services to meet the needs of NWT residents, and they require adequate resources for this important work. I am pleased to confirm that we are making progress on this mandate commitment.

In the fiscal year, we added $2.6 million to community funding, and we will continue to seek additional increases in future budgets.

Mr. Speaker, this additional community government funding is welcoming news to our community governments. Since its beginning, MACA has worked with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and its members on the funding strategy. As part of the ongoing engagement, we are determining how best to allocate the $2.6 million. The Government of the Northwest Territories is matched by the federal investment in safe restart funding for municipalities.

This winter, we will be rolling out approximately $4.7 million to help our communities put in place appropriate precautions to manage public spaces and critical services and safely restart operations. Reducing the municipal funding gap is not only just about adding funding. It is also about supporting communities to provide new opportunities to raise additional revenues and to reduce or stabilize the cost of delivering core services.

Mr. Speaker, three key initiatives the department is advancing to support community governments in these areas are:

MACA is working with other Government of the Northwest Territories departments on processing guides on how to transfer land within municipal boundaries. I expect to share the draft this winter. This guide will set the path for providing community governments to acquire ownership and manage land currently held by the GNWT within their boundaries. Community governments will have the ability to take over management functions and enforcement and, if it desires, sell land, which offers an opportunity for own-source revenue.

The department is supporting communities to find efficiencies in their program delivery. Assisting communities to put in place response plans through the asset management system will improve maintenance and lower the costs of equipment failures and emergency repairs. This will allow community leaders to have access to improved information when making investment decisions and be able to maximize their available resources.

The Northwest Territories waste water resource management strategy has a strong focus for community governments. MACA will be working with communities to eliminate hazardous waste stockpiles within their solid-waste sites. Resources and supports that have for community governments in solid waste management are being adapted. Through better management, better operations of their solid-waste sites will not only improve environment stewardship but can significantly increase the lifespan of community sites and defer the needs for costly investment.

Mr. Speaker, some community governments face significant pressures to deliver quality programs and services. We see that. We get it. Through our increased investment and support for land management and facility management, we are working hard to help communities manage these challenges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 68-19(2): Supporting Municipalities

Ministers' Statements

Page 1319

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River South .

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Bear Attack in Hay River

Members' Statements

Page 1319

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most of us in the NWT understand that we co-exist with the wildlife that surrounds us. At times, the two worlds collide, which can result with the injury or worse, a fatality.

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, we all received notice that, in the early hours of the morning, a young lady in Hay River was mauled by a bear in a residential area. What transpired is nothing short of heroism. Shelley Wood, a female occupant of the residence who just received her knitting supplies earlier that day, decided to stay up late and start the process of making use of those supplies. Whether or not it was fate that she stayed up, it was fortunate that she did. It was around 2:30 am in the morning that she heard a commotion outside.

Mr. Speaker, upon looking through a window onto the deck, she witnessed a person being viciously attacked by a bear. At that point, she picked up some boots, went outside, and threw them at the bear. Realizing the bear was not backing down, she ran back in, yelling for help from her spouse, Roy Helmer. Roy, unaware of what was really happening, awoke from a deep sleep and sprang into action. Without hesitation, he ran outside and saw that the bear was dragging the girl down the stairs. He grabbed another boot and threw it at the bear. The bear would not back away from the young lady.

Roy grabbed a heavy cement statue and went after the bear. He threw the statue at the bear, hitting it, causing the bear to release the young lady and momentarily retreat. This provided Roy the time he needed to pull the young lady to the safety of his home.

Mr. Speaker, the combined actions of Roy Helmer and Shelley Wood saved this young lady's life. The young lady was fortunate to have survived such a vicious bear attack. She has since been transported to Edmonton for medical treatment. I would like her and her family to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, without thought for their own safety, Roy Helmer and Shelley Wood rushed to the aid of the young lady in distress. If ever there was an event that shows heroism, this is such an event. I would like to recognize and have this House show our appreciation to both Roy Helmer and Shelley Wood for unselfishly placing themselves in harm's way to save the life of this young lady. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Bear Attack in Hay River

Members' Statements

Page 1319

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho .

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Audit Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Members' Statements

Page 1320

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is responsible for the Northwest Territories education system from junior kindergarten to grade 12, which includes all of the small communities. I realize the department does not deliver the education services directly to the students. As they have stated on many occasions, that is the responsibility of the regional education boards. This is like passing the buck so they would not have to take responsibility even for oversight.

Mr. Speaker, the Education Act states that students must have access to the highest possible standards of education programs. The department is responsible to ensure that all students have equal access to education programs and services. High-quality education delivered by well-trained and knowledgeable educators prepares students for success throughout their schooling.

The Auditor General's report on education noted that the department did not determine what needed to be done to ensure that students in small communities had equitable access to education and programs and services compared with larger regional centres.

The Auditor General's report also states: "the department did not take sufficient steps to collect and use data to understand how it might make changes to address persistent gaps in student outcomes." The report goes on to state that the findings matter because high-quality education programs can have a significant impact on children's developmental, educational, cultural, emotional, and social outcomes. The report also states that planning and supporting the delivery of education are important to help students succeed.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the education Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

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Audit Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Members' Statements

Page 1320

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho . Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Health Care Staffing

Members' Statements

Page 1320

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about another one of our priorities, increasing the number of resident healthcare professionals by at least 20 percent. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT funds Aurora College. GNWT funds students through student financial assistance to attend not just Aurora College but other post-secondary institutions. Aurora College has been providing the nursing program, successfully having graduates for over 20 years, and they have run the practical nurse program sporadically over the years, as well as the personal support program.

Mr. Speaker, NWT continues to struggle to hire permanent healthcare staff throughout the territory. We all know this. We fly in short-term contract nurses to staff vacancies, some as short as two weeks, especially during peak holiday season. They are flown in to the NWT from all over the country into our health centres, who already distrust our healthcare system. This is unfair, not only for our residents but the nurses in the community, for such short periods where they are never there long enough to build any relationship with the community.

Mr. Speaker, we have a disconnected system. We pay to provide programs and to train healthcare staff, and yet we do not have a way to bridge them into our healthcare jobs that we are struggling to staff. We have Indigenous residents who have been funded to attend our Aurora College and been screened out of jobs. This should not happen. We should have human resources, department of health, and Aurora College working together, not working in silos. We should be recruiting them right out of school.

Another area we are not doing so well in is actively looking at our new nursing graduates and permanent staff we now have, finding out if there are any of these nurses who want extra training so they are able to meet the criteria needed for health centres. How will they ever get the training and be able to meet this is it is not provided to them through mentorships or internships focused on giving them exactly what they need to be successful in these areas that we are filling right now without a territory staffing?

Mr. Speaker, with more local residents working in our healthcare system, we will be able to provide culturally sensitive care for our residents of the NWT. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance over the human resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Health Care Staffing

Members' Statements

Page 1320

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes . Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Pandemic

Members' Statements

Page 1320

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Look at that. After one year, I'm having trouble with my first button. Is that a good sign or not? I'm not sure.

---Laughter

Today, I would like to talk about mental health supports in the NWT, particularly in relation to the ongoing pandemic. In my opinion, we are in a mental health crisis in the North that needs immediate attention from this government.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of mental health has become front and centre amid the COVID-19 pandemic for a few reasons. The main reason, as we have come to know, is just the sheer amount of time that people have had to remain indoors during their self-isolation. This pandemic has caused many disruptions to everyday life, so it's no real surprise that people's mental health has been suffering throughout the course of this pandemic. I have heard some of my colleagues mention suicide and relationships in the home. All of those have been weighing on the minds of a lot of Northerners.

However, even before this pandemic began, mental health had been a long-standing issue for people in the NWT, so COVID-19 has only amplified this issue further. To give an example, in early September, I drove down to Alberta to grab my daughters. I took them back in time for school. I'm glad I did because they would probably want to still be staying down there. When I came back, I did my 14 days here at the Chateau Nova, and I have to say I keep pretty active. I keep pretty busy mentally and physically, but it was a real challenge.

By day seven, I was getting pretty stir crazy, and I guess for lack of a better word, I started to feel cabin fever after a while. I could only imagine what that burden is like on people who have to make repeated medical visits down south. They have to come back and do their 14 days every time.

On that note, Mr. Speaker, there is another, darker aspect to these self-isolation centres that we never really considered. I was approached by some elders and got some reports that, during this self-isolation, they went in, they were herded in, for lack of a better word, and they were given meals, specific diets, and some of these people said that it felt like residential school all over again, re-traumatizing for our people.

I'm not saying this in a disparaging way towards our staff, because, by all accounts, they are doing a good job. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Pandemic

Members' Statements

Page 1321

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll be brief. Going back to what I was saying, by all accounts, the staff here at the self-isolation centres are doing a great job, given our circumstances, but there is definitely a need there for mental health supports. I think that we can improve this quality of service for our people, but there are all kinds of adversities we have to face and we can do more to help with them, with health supports for Northerners. I will have questions for the Premier . Marsi cho.

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Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Pandemic

Members' Statements

Page 1321

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Cameron Hills Liabilities

Members' Statements

Page 1321

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I made my last statement on the Cameron Hills sour gas field in this House on February 26, 2020. GNWT accepted this property under devolution even though there was no approved closure plan and financial security of only $2.9 million. Furthermore, GNWT never requested a revision in financial security or used other tools at its disposal to prevent this disaster. When I raised these matters with the current Minister of Lands , he could not provide any reason as to why GNWT accepted this site under the devolution agreement or why GNWT did not exercise all of its authority to prevent this site from becoming a public liability.

The Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations was apparently payable under some sort of a commercial general liability insurance policy for up to $5 million by the former owner, Strategic Oil and Gas Limited, but that policy may have expired in January 2019. OROGO may also hold an irrevocable letter of credit of an unknown amount. There may also be a letter of credit to the National Energy Board for $245,000 for the pipeline that carried Cameron Hills gas into Alberta.

What is clear is that the remediation of this site is going to cost taxpayers a lot of money. How much? There is still no approved closure plan or reclamation estimate for this very complex property that consists of 50 wells, winter roads, summer all-terrain vehicle trails, a gas and oil gathering system, a central battery, temporary and permanent camps, air strips, borrow pits, bridges, and pipelines. It appears that the three worst wells were partially closed and abandoned this last winter. That is good news, but it's not clear how much that cost, what funds remain available to GNWT, how much more it will cost taxpayers to clean up this mess, and where those funds will actually come from.

I will again have questions for the Minister of Lands on how we got ourselves into this mess, whereby NWT taxpayers are on the hook for what is likely tens of millions of dollars of environmental liabilities, and I would also like to know what is being done about it. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Cameron Hills Liabilities

Members' Statements

Page 1321

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

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

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Northwest Territories Nominee Program

Members' Statements

Page 1322

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past June, the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Industry, Tourism and Investment teamed up to announce a new website for the NWT Nominee Program. The goal of this resource is to help attract, settle, and retain foreign nationals to the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I see great value in attracting newcomers to the Northwest Territories; increasing our population base is the easiest way for the NWT to increase the federal transfer payment, which is how the government generates most of its spending money. Immigration also increases diversity and reunites families, both of which enrich the lives of all Northerners. Immigration is good news for the NWT.

There are two streams within the Nominee Program: the employer-driven stream, which allows employers who want to hire and nominate foreign nationals when there are no Canadians or Canadian permanent residents available to do the job; and the business stream, which encourages immigration by foreign nationals with the resources to start or purchase an NWT business.

While this economic development is good news for the NWT, my concern today is for the ability of the GNWT to protect resident northern business owners and to support and assist potential business owners to immigrate to the NWT. Until June of this year, the GNWT required a $75,000 good-faith deposit from foreign business owners wanting to set up shop in the Northwest Territories. This encouraged foreign entrepreneurs to meet their program commitments, but what happened to the deposit when all did not go according to plan?

Did the GNWT simply refund the good-faith deposit, or did it stay in the GNWT and fall into general revenue? What are the criteria for determining when this deposit is repayable, and what would become of the debts to northern businesses incurred by foreign entrepreneurs? Ultimately, why did the GNWT opt to do away with the good-faith deposit, Mr. Speaker?

Immigration is great news. Economic development is great news, but not to the detriment of northern business owners. I look forward to working with the Minister toward a solution which benefits and protects both northern business owners and the Nominee Program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Northwest Territories Nominee Program

Members' Statements

Page 1322

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . Members' statements. Member for Nunakput .

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Passing of Constituents

Members' Statements

Page 1322

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's been a tough few months since our last sitting, in our communities, with all the deaths we've been having. It's been really tough with COVID-19 restrictions for the funerals. I had a few people pass away in my riding, Mr. Speaker.

George Pokiak passed away in Tuktoyaktuk. Thoughts and prayers are with his family.

My good friend Jesse Ranger, Jesse Panaktalok. Thoughts and prayers for Liz and family. You will be missed in our patrol, but never forgotten.

Ernest "Ernie" Raymond. To his family, Ernie was a very good friend growing up; he grew up across the street and we checked a lot of fishnets together, so a lot of good times. He won't be forgotten, to his sisters.

Lucy Cockney. To Noe and family for the loss of their mother. She was an awesome lady who did so much for our community of Tuktoyaktuk and had so many roles in leadership and teaching our youth at the school.

"Butch" Willie Jacobson, my brother. I lost my brother this summer, and I am still dealing with it. My thoughts and prayers are with my sister-in-law, Bessie, and all my family back home. We are going to get through this together.

Randal Pokiak, one of our elders in the IFA, who did so much for our people in the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation and the IRC in the early days for negotiations and stuff, thoughts and prayers are with Deva, Lucky, and Enoc and all his brothers and sisters and their families. Thoughts and prayers.

Auntie Alvira Klengenberg. To Rex and the boys, thoughts and prayers are with you.

Walter Olifie. We call him "Olifie" and always had good visits with him in Ulukhaktok. He was one of our respected elders over there, and we lost him this past September. Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

Elizebeth Kuptana of Paulatuk passed away this past summer. Thoughts and prayers are with them and their family and the community of Paulatuk.

All my communities across the territory, whoever lost a loved one, our thoughts and prayers are with you, and God bless you all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Passing of Constituents

Members' Statements

Page 1322

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput . Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families, as well. Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Municipal Funding Gap

Members' Statements

Page 1323

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT's economic recovery must be built on strong foundations, and in our case, those foundations are our communities and our municipal governments, Mr. Speaker. Before we want to grow and expand our mandate, we must make sure that our municipalities are taken care of. However, in this case, that foundation is crumbling, quite literally. Our municipal roads, sewers, and basic infrastructure are degrading from the lack of maintenance and unstable footings.

Mr. Speaker, we de-fund our municipalities $9.6 million in operations and maintenance, $6.5 million in environmental, $24.3 million in capital, for a total of $40.4 million every single year. I am happy to hear the Minister's statement today about an additional $2.6 million as well as the $4.7 million to address the significant lost revenues and work they took on during COVID. However, Mr. Speaker, this is not a long-term solution. We agreed to a municipal funding formula, and then, in typical GNWT fashion, we failed to implement it or provide the money.

If we do not agree with the funding formula, then we must go back to the table and renegotiate it. The problem is we designed this formula, and we have not followed up with the money in hand, Mr. Speaker. I am appreciative of the mandate commitment to reduce the funding gap by $5 million, and perhaps there is some work, as the Minister spoke about today, in regard to land transfer, working with revenues to reduce another $5 million. However, we are still a long way off from reducing that gap.

As we barrel into our debt wall and are about to approve one of the largest capital budgets in NWT history, largely due to carry-overs because we cannot get the money out the door, it's insulting to our communities, Mr. Speaker. They can get their money out the door, and far better than us, they will make sure it is spent in our communities and employs local Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, we in this House do not deserve to build multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects when our communities cannot make sure their roads and sewers are funded. I will have questions for the Minister of MACA on whether MACA will bring forward legislation to give municipalities some certainty and a real path forward to close this gap. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Municipal Funding Gap

Members' Statements

Page 1323

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North . Members' statements. Member for Monfwi .

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Residential Addictions Treatment

Members' Statements

Page 1323

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, last week, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services for a status report on progress relating to a promise made in this House on May 29, 2020, when the former Minister was in charge. The problem was that the department was studying the idea of providing residential addiction treatment here in the Northwest Territories as opposed to sending Northerners to southern institutions. The response last week was that a promise had not been followed up on. In fact, the Minister at that time denied any knowledge of it.

To refresh the Minister's memory, Mr. Speaker, I quote her deputy minister speaking before the House: "[...] what we could be doing here in the North [...] and might [...] be [better] opportunities to look at [...] treatment centre[s]? It is certainly something that's not off the table. It is something we are going to be looking at as a range of options to incorporate lessons learned out of COVID." If there is any possible doubt, Mr. Speaker, the quote continues: "[...] we are, absolutely, open to the idea of looking at [...] treatment centre, and we'll be taking a look at this question, and different treatment models as part of our planning forward."

Mr. Speaker, it disappoints me that the Minister and her department would treat their commitments so lightly, especially on such an important matter for the Northwest Territories. With this in mind, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of health at a later time. Masi.

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Residential Addictions Treatment

Members' Statements

Page 1323

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi . Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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Eulogy for Helen (Hardisty) Edjericon

Members' Statements

Page 1323

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Helen Margaret (Hardisty) Edjericon was born to Sarah and William Hardisty in Fort Simpson on February 24, 1956. She was the ninth child in a family of twelve, four older brothers, and her parents predeceased her. Helen spent her childhood in Jean Marie but often spent the summer months in Fort Simpson so that her father and older brothers could maintain wage employment. Although the family lived through lean times, Helen was raised in a strict but loving Christian home. She attended school in Jean Marie River until grade six, grades seven to nine in Fort Simpson, and she completed her schooling at Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife.

After graduation, she returned to Fort Simpson and lived there for a few years until moving to Norman Wells to live with her older sister Shirley and family in 1977. In 1979, she returned to Fort Simpson and moved to Hay River to live with her older brother Ron and his family where she worked for the GNWT. She later moved to Inuvik until approximately 1981, when she moved to Yellowknife. It was while she was living in Yellowknife that she met her former husband, Richard Edjericon, and they married in July 1986. Their son, Dion, was born in 1984 and grandson, Deacon, was born in 2007.

She started working for the Dene Nation in Yellowknife not long after moving there and worked there for more than 10 years.

Helen was known for her meticulous housekeeping and was also known for her cooking skills as well as her passion for bingo. She loved entertaining family and friends in her big house in Ndilo. Helen loved to talk, especially when she was younger, and her siblings used to tease her about it. She was friendly and outgoing. She had many friends in the places she lived in and was very athletic when she was young. During her years in Akaitcho Hall, she was part of the Akaitcho girls' basketball team and joined a women's basketball team in Inuvik when she moved there.

After her marriage broke down, she lived with her friends and family and continued until her health started failing her. Although Helen experienced difficulties in her life, she never lost her faith in God and her firm belief in Him. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Eulogy for Helen (Hardisty) Edjericon

Members' Statements

Page 1324

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh . Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Members' statement. Item 4, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 5, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 6, reports of standing and special committees. Item 7, returns to oral questions. Item 8, acknowledgements. Item 9, oral questions. Member for Hay River South .

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to return to questions I was asking the Minister of Justice yesterday. I'd ask the Minister if he can tell me: for every $1 spent in dealing with addictions, how much is spent on drug and alcohol enforcement in the NWT? If he doesn't have the information, I'll give him time to get it at some point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Minister of Justice .

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the NWT-specific numbers, but I know that in Canada in 2014 is the most recent information I have. That's from a report prepared by the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. For every $32 million spent on healthcare, there's about $10 million for healthcare for substance abuse, there's a corresponding $10 million spent on enforcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

I'd ask the Minister: what is the average time for drug trafficking production, importing, exporting, to move through the justice system?

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

In adult criminal court according to Stats Canada, the average number of days it takes to get other drug offence is the technical term through the court system, and those would be things like drug trafficking, production, and importing and exporting, in the NWT in 2017-2018, it was 277 days, and the Canadian average -- sorry. That's the Canadian average, and in the NWT, it's 295 days. In 2018-2019, the Canadian average was 273 days, but in the NWT, the average was 413 days. That is because we are a small jurisdiction. If you have one large, complex case, that can skew the statistics, and there's ups and downs.

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police proposed diverting people dealing with substance abuse or addiction issues away from the criminal justice system towards social services and healthcare. Can the Minister confirm that this is an approach the department agrees with, and if so, has it been put into practice?

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1324

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

It's an odd notion to treat addiction as a criminal matter, and so, I'm fully in support of diversion where we can and providing supports where we can. The GNWT has been providing alternatives to the traditional justice system for a number of years. Every year, we contribute $1.8 million to community justice programming which includes formal diversions. We have an annual priority established through a contract with the RCMP to prioritize diversions. A number of the sanctions from the community justice committees include things like counselling, cultural connection, and treatment.

The RCMP, as well, and they're committed to diversion, as well, they are very supportive of their local community partners. Here, in Yellowknife, there's the Yellowknife sobering centre, and in Behchoko, there's the warming centre. In Yellowknife, through those kinds of partnerships, they've seen a 73 percent decrease in the number of prisoners in cells from 2014 to 2018. In 2014, it was 6,500 individuals in cells, and we're down to about 1,700 now. There is a diversion away from that criminal system.

We also have integrated case management within the GNWT. In the South Slave, SMCC is transitioning to a therapeutic community model. It's still in the justice system, but it's trying to direct people out of it and then giving them the tools they need to overcome addictions and stay out of the system. We also have the Wellness Court, as well, which looks at the circumstances of the offender and tries to deal with those as opposed to looking at an offence and punishing someone for an offence.

We are trying different things. It's always tough. I understand now why my predecessor would always say this. We're dealing with people at the end of a lot of trauma and a lot of decisions that led them down this path. It's tough to change that course, but we are trying. We are committed to it.

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1325

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South .

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1325

Rocky Simpson

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The RCMP and police, in general, have been receiving bad press lately. This is disturbing when we consider the good work they do which never gets reported. Mr. Speaker, not only are our RCMP officers paid less than provincial counterparts, a past Auditor General report confirms that RCMP are understaffed and, because of it, receive adequate training. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm what the department is doing to ensure our complement of officers in the NWT meet our needs in the North and that they are adequately trained? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1325

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

I want to thank the Member for highlighting the positive contributions of the RCMP. I've stated before in the House that they don't do the kind of self-promotion that, perhaps, they could to get those accolades.

The NWT does have the highest concentration of RCMP officers in Canada. We have 416 per 100,000 people. The next highest is Nunavut with 354 per 100,000. We are staffed quite well with RCMP. In terms of the training, there's a significant amount of mandatory training that RCMP have, and in order to support that and support increased training because there's always new training every year, every time something happens, there's training in response to it, the department increased funding to the RCMP in 2019-2020 by $200,000 annually just for training, and that's the 70 percent contribution that the GNWT makes.

In total, there was almost a third of a million dollars increase in training budget a couple of years ago.

I want to say, the Member mentions, the RCMP have been getting some bad press, but in my five years in this Assembly, no one has ever said they want less RCMP. Every community, every Member says they want more RCMP in the community and that they appreciate their efforts. The Member made a statement earlier in regards to a bear attack in Hay River, and it was the RCMP who responded to that and who dispatched the bear. They do a lot of good that isn't recognized, so I appreciate the Member's questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System

Oral Questions

Page 1325

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho .

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1325

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement alluded to the Auditor General's finding on education delivery by the department of education. Of interest, I noted the department piloted the junior kindergarten program across the territory during the 2017-2018 school year. The Auditor General's report stated the department's analysis of a small number of junior kindergarten students during the pilot program scored better on a number of indicators related to developmental readiness for learning.

The report also goes on to state data from the JK program needed additional data to be collected over several more years to know whether the results were conclusive. Can the Minister provide information as to whether any data was collected in the years following the rollout of the junior kindergarten program? Mahsi.

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1325

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho . Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1325

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are significant benefits to early childhood education, and I think everyone would agree to that. The fact that we have junior kindergarten, anecdotally, means that there have been some benefits to children across the territory. To the specific question about the data that we've collected, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been collecting the early development instrument, the EDI tool, have been using data from that since 2013, and that includes the years since junior kindergarten has been in place from 2017.

There needs to be a certain number of years of data collected so that you have a good baseline, and then, you can actually start drawing conclusions from that. We are at that point now where we can begin to look at how things change from year to year and draw conclusions on that so that we can measure the success of some of our programming. In terms of the data collection, yes, we're on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

We look forward to the findings of that rollout, considering we do have language immersion programs included in the JK programs up to grade four. The Auditor General notes the department made commitments to ensure equitable access to quality education for all the small communities but did not explicitly identify actions required to achieve this commitment. Can the Minister provide information as to why the commitments were not actioned to ensure quality outcomes or equitable access to education?

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Since the first report in 2010, the department has taken a number of steps to make good on the Education Act's requirement to provide equitable access. I just want to comment on something the Member said earlier, that the department is "passing the buck" to the education authorities in terms of the failure of small communities in terms of education. I've been here five years, and I've never heard any Minister pass the buck. The previous Minister before me, I heard her state that we are failing students in small communities. The day I became Minister, that became my failure, so I'm not passing the buck.

The education authorities are our partners, and I'm not putting blame on them. We're all in this together.

To the Member's question, a number of the actions include things like junior kindergarten. That expanded early childhood education across the territory in a way that has never been done before. There is a realization that, in small communities, the teachers and the principals need special training, so we provided special training specific to small-community principals and small-community teachers.

Northern Distance Learning is one of the greatest ways that we've been providing more equitable access, and currently that program offers academic courses in grades 10 to 12 to students in small communities who go to schools where the teachers aren't there to teach those programs or the numbers of students aren't there to teach those programs. It really gives students who want to go on to university but are living in a small community the opportunity to do that.

We have recently changed our school capital standards. These are the requirements for what we put in schools when we build them, and we changed those with a recognition that small-community schools need certain things that they weren't getting before, things like gyms, things like spaces for Northern Distance Learning. One of the most significant things that has happened in the past number of years is access to mental health and counselling through the child and youth care counsellor initiative that we are partnering on with Health.

I take the Member's point. We are failing students in small communities. There are no two ways about it. The numbers show it, but I'm owning it. We're doing everything we can to rectify that.

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Deh Cho

I thank the Minister for those explanations, especially the "passing the buck" one that he kind of hooked on. The Auditor General's Report states that the department invested heavily in the Northern Distance Learning program, something he alluded to. Did the department evaluate the Northern Distance Learning program as it relates to meeting high-quality education outcomes?

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

We have done an evaluation on the program. It shows positive benefits, and those are reflected in the numbers. The students who are participating in these academic courses would otherwise have to take them through distance learning, traditional distance learning where you get, well, back in my day, you got a pack of CDs and some workbooks in the mail, and you had to fill those out. The success rates on those types of programs is very, very low; everywhere, not just in the territory. The credit acquisition rate in the territory for Northern Distance Learning has been significantly higher throughout the year.

Going back over the years, it has been as high as almost 80 percent; it has been as low as 55 percent, in some years, but nonetheless, the students are getting these courses. They are making their way through the material, and they are passing these diploma exams that you have to pass if you're in Ulukhaktok or if you're in Edmonton. It is working, and we hope to expand it across the territory.

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Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi .

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Question 375-19(2): Residential Addictions Treatment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I'd like to ask Health and Social Services a question. We don't have a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories, and I would like to ask the Minister of health some questions. [End of translation] It was under a different Minister that a promise was made, a promise to look into residential addiction treatment being provided here in the Northwest Territories, but the promise was also reiterated by the deputy minister who remains in the position today. To the Health and Social Services Minister : why has the department not followed up on its promises to look into a new residential addiction treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories? Masi.

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Question 375-19(2): Residential Addictions Treatment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 375-19(2): Residential Addictions Treatment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to take that question on notice.

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Question 375-19(2): Residential Addictions Treatment

Oral Questions

Page 1326

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. The Minister is taking that as notice. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave .

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the current cases of suspected COVID in the Northwest Territories, I would not be doing my job if I did not revisit my question from yesterday. My questions for the Minister of health are not meant to raise panic; however, we are a small territory with an obligation to ensure that our residents are well-informed and that protocols have been followed. What I am asking for is a simple, straightforward response: can the Minister of health tell us that the department of health and the CPHO followed the protocols set in place with respect to the recent Yellowknife cases? Thank you.

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A review has not been done, but I have no reason to think they haven't followed the protocols.

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

Can the Minister tell me if there is anything in the Privacy Act that would prevent public health officials from accepting a list of contacts from a business showing who could possibly have had contact with a person who may be positive for COVID-19?

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Contact tracing is the responsibility of public health and community health nurses. It is up to them to interview the patient who has become ill and to establish where that person has been and who they have been in contact with. This is not a function that can be carried out by a business.

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

I thought that I was asking about whether the health department was part of that, not the business. Anyway, I understand that we are following the national strategy for dealing with this pandemic. Are there any areas that the Minister sees that we could be improving on this strategy, and what would they be?

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

It's difficult to answer that question because this pandemic is still under way. Certainly, having new cases after months without having cases has refreshed everybody's responses to dealing with the CPHO protocols. In terms of areas that we can improve on, I'm open to suggestions. I don't see any right at this point. If Members have complaints from their constituents about the way in which the pandemic is being handled, of course, we answer those questions every day, and we would welcome more.

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave .

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Katrina Nokleby

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes. Numerous complaints about how the pandemic is being handled. As was mentioned yesterday in the House, there are many moving pieces. Would the Minister commit to notifying a business if they are going to be part of a public health release sooner than at the time of the public notification, as happened in this case? Thank you.

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The business in question here was notified before the public health advisory went out, and so were the RCMP. They, I know, responded in their own ways. I can't commit to any more than that. This is really a CPHO function. She decides when the release goes out, and she notifies people first. Thank you.

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Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Oral Questions

Page 1327

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance . I understand that we have internship programs within human resources, as well as the Indigenous Career Gateway Program in place. I do understand there are only so many internships available per year. Can the Minister tell me what the funding is annually for the internships, if she has it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1327

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes . Minister of Finance .

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Finance is able to support up to 40 internship placements every year. That works out to being roughly $40,000 per year per placement. Thank you.

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Can the Minister tell me how many interns there have been in this past year and how many were in health?

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

This year, there have been 24 interns in total. Of those, one went to the Department of Health and Social Services, in addition to which there were four who went to NTHSSA. They were scheduled to go there, but COVID-19 certainly has interrupted some of the processes that we would normally undertake to have interns recruited and placed.

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1327

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

As I mentioned in my Member's statement, there is a gap in bridging students to the workforce. Will the Minister have her department of human resources look at the way to build a bridging program from the college, or any healthcare program, into our healthcare system?

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Recruiting more healthcare professionals is a mandate item for this government. There is already a health recruitment unit well under way, which is a partnership between Health and Social Services and the Department of Finance. In short, yes, I certainly can commit on the part of Finance, on the part of human resources, to taking some steps, to developing some ideas, and to having them ready. Aside from that, this will be something that becomes a multi-departmental response.

I am confident that, as I said, human resources will do its part, and I am confident that I will be able to work with my colleagues to see that those ideas from human resources can get looked at and considered by those who are on the front lines in the health department.

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1328

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the things that I know is that there are some other programs that are for GNWT employees to access training dollars, but I don't know if this is widely known of the hiring managers and the staff. Will the Minister commit to looking into all the funding pots that we can so that we can train current staff, so that we can possibly train them, if they choose to, to go out to health centres, into specialty areas like obstetrics, emergency? These are the areas that we keep struggling with, and these are the ones that we keep bringing in people from outside the territory to fill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Again, yes, I am happy to make the commitment on my part, certainly, that we will make sure and put that information together. I recognize that it's an acute problem, perhaps, for our colleagues in the Health and Social Services field, but even more broadly than that, making sure that, if there are programs being run by human resources, that they are known and accessible to those doing the hiring in communities and in regions, particularly in health. That is critical, otherwise all the great programs that we might have aren't adequately being accessed.

That is actually a specific issue and question that human resources is looking at to ensure that we are doing our job and to ensure that the good work that we are doing in human resources gets translated, and so I certainly will commit to doing that and to continuing to do that. Thank you.

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Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 1328

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I'm just going back to my Member's statement on mental health in self-isolation centres. For me, the way I look at it, if you are in a self-isolation centre, just a helpline alone is not enough. My first question is for Madam Premier : can the Premier confirm if there are mental health workers, i.e. counsellors, ready and available at our self-isolation centres?

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Honourable Premier .

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When COVID-19 first struck the Northwest Territories in April, when we started to put things together and brought in our isolation units, I can't say at that point that we actually had those processes in place. Since then, we have partnered with the Department of Health and Social Services for what is called a "navigator." That person is responsible for when people are identified that they need any help, whether it be mental health, addiction, or other supports. Those people actually will provide the services and try to navigate the people and help to refer them to appropriate services, including mental health support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you for that response. My next question has to do with the first point of contact. Can the Premier confirm if employees working at the self-isolation centres have been given any training, for example, mental health first aid or anything pertaining to mental health?

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

My assumption is: no, they haven't got the mental health first aid training or are specialized in mental health. It is a specialty field, in all honesty. It's my background, as well. However, what I can say is that the employees who are at the isolation centres do know that they have access to the navigator, and also the people who are staying there also are provided the information that they can access that service if they wish. It's a volunteer service.

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

My third question is: can the Premier explain, if someone is having a mental health crisis while in self-isolation, where can they reach out for help aside from the navigators?

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1328

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

I do want to take a moment and say that, when the Member was doing his statement and he talked about how being in isolation can be really stressful on people, I hear you. I agree with you. I had two of my children who were in isolation when they came back from school, and I know it was tough on them, as well. Mental health is critical within that.

People, if they want, they can actually talk to any of the isolation staff who know how to access the navigator. In extreme cases, when disturbances have been found in the isolation centres and the RCMP have been called, they also know how to reach the navigator. The navigators, again, will link them in with the services available, but they are volunteer. At this point, unless somebody is a danger to themselves or others, we can't force them into taking those services, but the services, again, there would be a risk assessment because of COVID-19, especially if there is a fear of people having COVID-19.

There would be a risk assessment done, so depending on the risk assessment, services can either be in person or they can be telephone or virtual care. We've now got in virtual care, which has been a tremendous support for our health system.

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Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation

Oral Questions

Page 1329

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Madam Premier . Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today, I recounted the ongoing saga of how our government allowed the Cameron Hills sour gas field to become a public liability. Can the Minister of Lands tell us what general work has been done to date at the site by our government and how much it has cost? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake . Minister of Lands .

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A receiver has been appointed by the court and is responsible for meeting Strategic Oil and Gas Limited's regulatory obligations at Cameron Hills. The government does not own the Cameron Hills site. The receiver conducted work at the site last winter to support the suspended three wells and bring them into compliance with an order issued on October 4, 2019. Also, in regard to the cost, the costs incurred by the NWT received to date have been around $1.98 million.

The Government of the Northwest Territories holds $2.9 million in security for this site and the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations hold an additional $1 million. These funds are accessible as needed as set out in legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that information. It's good news that some work is finally done to close the Cameron Hills field, maybe by receiver, but ultimately, it's going to come back to us. There is no way the money that is set aside is going to be able to cover all this. Can the Minister tell us how much money we actually can access in the various forms of available security for the remediation of the property and how much is left before we have to ask taxpayers to cough up more?

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

The GNWT has $2.9 million. As I said, the regulatory of oil and gas hold an additional $1 million. Right now, we have $3.9 million present.

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I am trying to do a quick math on my feet here. It looks like we've got about $1 million left to do a lot more work. GNWT accepted the Cameron Hills site without an approved closure plan and without full financial security being posted. That should never have happened. We didn't use all the tools available to us to stop it from becoming a public liability either. Having seen some of the inspections reports, there's still a lot more work to be done properly to close and remediate this property. Can the Minister tell us whether there is a plan yet for the closure and remediation of the site and how much that will cost or when a costed plan will be completed?

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

On September 17, 2020, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board issued a one-year storage authorization for the land-use permit. The authorization is posted to the board's public registry, and the receiver indicated that this was being done as an interim measure until a land-use permit renewal is completed and approved. We don't know exactly how much it's going to cost completely to remediate this site.

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake .taiga

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that information. It's clear that the GNWT has not done enough to stop public environmental liabilities in a systematic way. We have no early warning system despite commitments to do so in the last Assembly. We have Ekati Mine teetering and nothing in the mandate letter for this Minister to finally put in place a preventative approach to public environmental liabilities. Can the Minister tell us exactly what he intends to accomplish in this Assembly to prevent further public environmental liabilities, like Strategic Oil and Gas? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Prevention of the public liabilities require a collaborative effort from multiple departments, including Lands, ENR, Industry, ITI, and Finance. Current work on early warning includes monitoring the health of the financial institutions, tracking trends in industry, and the financial health of operators and monitoring the environment and regulatory compliance of the operators. I am committed to work with my Cabinet colleagues to continue to enhance this important work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities

Oral Questions

Page 1329

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier in my statement, I am grateful for some of the work we have started on closing the municipal funding gap. However, we are a long way off. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, I believe we need to increase the capital funding this year by $5 million. In the grand scheme of things, this is approximately a quarter of a percent of our $2 billion budget. Mr. Speaker, if we can't find a quarter of a percent in our $2 billion budget, then we're truly not in charge of our budget as an Assembly. My question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs : can we increase the capital funding to our community governments by $5 million? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North . Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs .

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Paulie Chinna

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As previously, I did announce that we do have $2.6 million that will be allocated to municipal communities and, also, that we will be meeting with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities to identify how we will be distributing that funding. Right now, that's the funding that is going to be available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

I did not expect it to be that easy, but I will have a lot more questions for the Minister during our Capital Estimates tabled today. My concern right now is that the way we fund our municipalities lacked any certainty. We agreed to a formula, but we haven't given the money. I believe the right comparative here would be how we fund our education authorities. There're guidelines in the education, there're guidelines in regulations, and then finally, there're guidelines in policy. No one is in doubt that we are not within those parameters.

There may be a debate about whether we should give more to our education authorities, but we're following a clear and predictable authority such that they can plan. We have not given that benefit to our municipality. My question for the Minister of MACA is: will she bring forward legislation that sets out how we fund municipalities in the life of this Assembly?

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Paulie Chinna

Sahtu

According to what we have put forward for Municipal and Community Affairs, this was not identified as one of the legislation policies that we would be looking at, but it doesn't stop me from working with my department to look at further solutions. I will return a response back to the Member.

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

I look forward to that response. One of my concerns is the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has a large legislative backlog, and they need the resources from the Cabinet to make sure they get ahead of that. One of the mandate commitments is that MACA will work with NWTAC to update funding policies and options. However, this mandate commitment is to be completed in 2023. Whenever I see a mandate commitment completed by 2023, alarm bells ring as these are the commitments that will be at the end of this Assembly.

I'm not at all convinced that MACA will get this done, let alone review the policy and bring forward legislation to provide that predictability. Is the Minister willing to speed up the mandate commitment to review the funding policies before 2023?

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Paulie Chinna

Sahtu

My comment to the Member and to answer the question that we are working under unusual circumstances with COVID-19, and it has really burdened a lot of our processes that we are initiating right now. This will be something I will bring back to the department, and I will follow up with the Member.

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Rylund Johnson

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final concern is: the last Assembly made a concerted effort to close the gap, but it barely kept pace with the pace of inflation. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that this formula needs to be at the will of subsequent Assemblies. I recognize the budget is always fundamental to our approval. However, there needs to be some more certainty. I believe legislation is the tool to do that. Can the Minister speak on her plan to make sure that the gap does not re-emerge for any progress this Assembly does make on it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

Paulie Chinna

Sahtu

Looking at making the commitment to work with this is quite complex, and it requires a lot of different initiatives. I will follow up with the Member, as well, because as I said that Municipal and Community Affairs has already identified their legislation. We have already put money towards the funding gap, and we are working within COVID-19. This will be a discussion that I will have with my department, and I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap

Oral Questions

Page 1330

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment . The NWT Nominee Program for the business stream used to have a $75,000 good-faith deposit. I am wondering if the Minister can explain what purpose the deposit did serve? Thank you.

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you may be gathering from the past tense, this program requiring the $75,000 deposit has now been discontinued. I understand that, in the past, this was one method by which the department was able to help ensure that applicants were, in fact, serious and had the capacity, the financial capacity, to see the process through. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

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Page 1331

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

I am wondering if the Minister can let us know how many times that good-faith deposit was kept by the Government of the Northwest Territories?

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

I believe this program has been in place since 2009, and to my knowledge, we have only kept three deposits.

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

No. I appreciate knowing that that was kept three times. Can the Minister speak to what happens to this deposit, and was it ever used to support damages to local businesses that were incurred by local businesses in relation to this program?

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

If it's kept, it reverts to the government, but its purpose was never to shore up or provide any kind of background insurance to private industry or private businesses. If an individual is dealing with someone who happens to be in this program, the good-faith deposit would not be used, as I say, to engage in whatever the private business relationships would be.

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am understanding that there was a good-faith deposit that was instituted by the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure that applicants met their agreement with the Northwest Territories to come here, set up business, participate in northern economy, and to really form relationships with local businesses. I also understand that three times the GNWT kept deposits when that did not work and that not necessarily was that ever passed along to local businesses that may have incurred damage because of this program. What I am wondering, Mr.

Speaker, is: through gaining almost a quarter of a million dollars from this program, what is the purpose of getting rid of the deposit? I have many questions. Maybe I am going to have to stand back up again. How is the Government of the Northwest Territories going to ensure that participants in this program actually fulfill their end of the deal?

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

The point of the program is to encourage, well, to encourage a number of things. This is meant to be a program that brings folks into the community who can fulfill our labour shortage needs, who can bring direct investment into the economy, who can come and help add dimension to the local business community. However, if, in fact, there have only been three occasions in the last 10 or so years where it got to the point where they were unable to meet that commitment by way of having their deposit forfeited, Mr. Speaker, really that is a pretty good track record, overall.

Really, the reason it's being eliminated is: that brings us in line, at long last, with every other jurisdiction in Canada so that, if we are going to be competing for people to come and to invest and to become residents and to contribute to local economy, it makes sense that we not be out of step with what is happening elsewhere in Canada.

That said, Mr. Speaker, the department takes it seriously that, first of all, there needs to be a visit that is done to the jurisdiction to ensure that anyone coming in knows where they are coming and is prepared to make that commitment and to move here. Then, secondly, once they are here, it's, I believe, roughly a two-year process before which they would actually be invited to participate or invited in to go through the rest of the immigration stream.

It's not an uncumbersome process for these businesspeople. It really gives them an opportunity to be supported through that process by the department, to get their legs under them as far as a business goes. At that point, hopefully they are, as most have been, able to successfully set up their businesses and go forward. That is not to say that there cannot always be tweaks and improvements to a program or a system, as with so many other things that are done. However, really, this is an opportunity to bring people in and to bring businesses in. We are now bringing ourselves to be competitive with the rest of Canada when we are doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1331

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi .

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Question 382-19(2): Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations

Oral Questions

Page 1332

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When we are MLA, we do ask questions. When we speak standing in the House here, it's on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. Today, I am asking the Minister of Health and Social Services . There were recommendations made through the TRC. [Translation ends].

Focusing our attention on what is happening today, obviously, we are here to hold government to account. Obviously, we are asking questions on behalf of people of the Northwest Territories. It's not our words. It's their words, trying to get some answers out of the department. I have a different line of questions on TRC, Mr. Speaker. It has been more than five years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued a call for new healing centres to deal with the emotional and spiritual change caused by residential schools. The TRC specifically singled out the Northwest Territories. Mr.

Speaker, there is no doubt in anybody's mind that reconciliation includes healing from addictions. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, why does the Minister refuse to consider the idea of Northerners treating Northerners in northern facilities as the TRC seems to recommend through actions number 20 and 21? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 382-19(2): Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations

Oral Questions

Page 1332

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi . Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 382-19(2): Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations

Oral Questions

Page 1332

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that, when I take a question on notice, that is on notice for the day. This question is taken on notice. Thank you.

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Question 382-19(2): Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations

Oral Questions

Page 1332

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 383-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1332

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to gain a little bit of extra clarity. In relation to the good-faith deposit, the GNWT has collected roughly $225,000. I am wondering if there was an expense that the GNWT felt that they incurred by running the program that would justify keeping that? Thank you.

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Question 383-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1332

The Speaker

Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake . Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment .

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Question 383-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1332

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are always some expenses that get incurred when programs are administered through the Government of the Northwest Territories. I am sure there is no exception to this one, but unless I look back over the last 10 years and am able to actually reconcile expenses versus program benefits, I am not going to be in a position. I certainly will do my best to go back to the department to see if we can provide that kind of reconciliation for the Member. Thank you.

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Question 383-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream

Oral Questions

Page 1332

Caitlin Cleveland

Kam Lake

I would speculate that the expenses to the department would be in the form of salary dollars to people who would remain employed whether or not someone was participating in the program. I can say that there may be business owners in our communities who have been hurt, not directly by the program, I will s