Debates of March 13th, 2019

This is page numbers 5413 - 5452 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was work . View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Section 11 Agreement: Boreal Caribou

Primary Health Care Reform

Premier Absent from the House

Yellowknife Co-op Hydroponic Vegetable Garden Project

Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation

Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Appreciation for Hospital Care

Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Legislative Review Process

Retirement as Member of the Legislative Assembly

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Online Safety for Children

Committee Report 14-18(3): Interim Report of the Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly

Tabled Document 388-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020 Tabled Document 389-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020 Tabled Document 390-18(3): Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to September 30, 2018)

Tabled Document 391-18(3): Self-Government Agreement-in-Principle for Sahtu Dene and Metis of Norman Wells

Tabled Document 392-18(3): Economic Opportunities Strategy - Connecting Businesses and Communities to Economic Opportunities: 2016 to 2018 Progress and Performance Measures Report

Tabled Document 393-18(3): Letter dated February 25, 2019 from the Giant Mine Oversight Board regarding Comments on the Terms of Reference for the Giant Mine Remediation Project Socio-economic Advisory Body Tabled Document 394-18(3): Terms of Reference for the Socio-Economic Advisory Body: Giant Mine Remediation Project

Draft Code of Conduct and Guide for Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

Bill 48: Post-Secondary Education Act

Bill 49: Small Business Tax Relief Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Child Care Expenses as Constituency Work Allowance Expense

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Child Care Expenses as Allowable Election Expense

Recorded Vote

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Delivery of Campaign School for Women Initiatives

Recorded Vote

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Public Information on Aspects of Being a Member of the Legislative Assembly

Recorded Vote

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Information on Consensus Government in Educational Activities

Recorded Vote

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Family-Friendly Measures at the Legislative Assembly Building

Recorded Vote

Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report - Allowance for Absences for Pregnancy, Childbirth or Child Care Following Birth or Adoption

Recorded Vote

Concurrence of Tabled Document 381-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019

Concurrence of Tabled Document 382-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019

Concurrence of Tabled Document 388-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020

Concurrence of Tabled Document 389-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

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

The House met at 1:31 p.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

Page 5413

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Good afternoon, colleagues. Colleagues, it is my duty to advise this House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads: "Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020, during the 3 rd Session of the 18 th Assembly. Yours truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner." Masi cho.

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

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Minister's Statement 173-18(3):

Section 11 Agreement: Boreal Caribou

Ministers' Statements

Page 5413

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Conservation of wildlife in the Northwest Territories is a responsibility shared by governments, boards, and individuals through our co-management system. This Legislative Assembly has made a mandate commitment to develop range plans for boreal caribou in the NWT. Today I would like to share some significant news about those plans and our made-in-the-North approach to protecting boreal caribou in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, boreal woodland caribou are listed as a threatened species under both federal and territorial legislation. These caribou are distinct from our nine barren-ground herds, which migrate above and below the treeline. Boreal caribou live in the forest, either alone or in small groups.

Our government, together with our co-management partners, has been working on a made-in-the-North approach to managing boreal caribou and their habitat in the NWT. This includes a framework for developing regional range plans, plans that will help us maintain adequate habitat across the NWT to support a healthy and sustainable population of boreal caribou.

Under the federal Species at Risk Act, at least 65 percent of the land used by boreal caribou must be maintained as undisturbed habitat. This is a requirement that we take very seriously. We do not want the federal government to step in and issue a federal protection order. This safety net order, as it is called, would give the federal government authority over our territorial lands, which are considered critical habitat for boreal caribou. We are working closely with the federal government to avoid this, Mr. Speaker.

That is why I am pleased to share with you today that our government has reached an agreement with the federal government under

section 11 of the Species at Risk Act. This conservation agreement recognizes and supports our approach to boreal caribou and habitat management and reduces the likelihood of a protection order. The agreement sets out conservation measures to support boreal caribou in the NWT, including development and implementation of range plans to protect boreal caribou habitat.

As part of this agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Environment and Climate Change Canada have also negotiated federal funding for range planning in the NWT. This funding is significant and will support our collaborative process to build regional range plans with our co-management partners.

Under this agreement, Canada will provide $3.255 million to the GNWT over the next five years to support the conservation measures in the agreement. In addition, Mr. Speaker, we have negotiated $1 million in funding to allow our Indigenous self-government partners to fully engage in the range planning process, to ensure these plans truly reflect the values and interests of Northerners.

Currently, about 69 percent of boreal caribou range in the NWT is undisturbed, and our boreal caribou population is considered self-sustaining. That is very good news. It means that we are in a good position to meet the 65-percent requirement for undisturbed habitat and continue to support conservation of this species.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that, together with our co-management partners, we can help maintain our population of boreal caribou while ensuring continued opportunities for sustainable economic growth now and into the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 173-18(3):

Section 11 Agreement: Boreal Caribou

Ministers' Statements

Page 5413

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Minister's Statement 174-18(3): Primary Health Care Reform

Ministers' Statements

Page 5413

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our vision for Health and Social Services in the Northwest Territories is one of Best Health, Best Care, For a Better Future. Realizing this vision requires meaningful change at all levels; change within our systems, change within ourselves as individuals working in those systems, and change in the ways that we do our work together. Today I want to provide Members with more detail about the work that we are doing within the system to improve access and quality of care for all residents of the Northwest Territories.

We have made significant changes to the structure of the Health and Social Services system during this Legislative Assembly. System Transformation, which created the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, has given us the governance and administrative structures we need to improve services and to better support NWT residents.

With that foundation in place, the Department of Health and Social Services and the authority are now beginning a process to reform primary healthcare that will put the client at the centre of everything that we do.

This isn't about changing our system; that work is already under way. Rather, this is about changing the way that our system works. Through primary healthcare reform, we will shift our approach to planning programming and delivering services so that they are responsive and client-focused. The client, along with their families and communities, will become the orienting point and partner in every decision that we make as care providers and as a system of care.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that optimal health and well-being for all residents will be achieved by integrating the social determinants of health into our system, and by meeting each client where they are in their journey, to provide the right care, from the right provider, at the right time, and in the right place. To make this a reality, we are building a team and a relationship-based approach to how we deliver services and offer programming, which is driven by community priorities and data and grounded in trust and shared outcomes.

We have made great progress in partnering with communities to support community wellness planning and capacity building over the last several years, but we have not yet applied that same successful approach towards working with communities to define and implement their own health agenda. People and communities have wisdom about their own health needs, both the services they require and the way those services should be delivered. Through primary healthcare reform, we are going to increase community participation in the planning processes to ensure that we are delivering services that work in ways that make sense for the people and the place.

Mr. Speaker, we have exceptionally talented and dedicated people working throughout our system at all levels. They strive every day to provide the highest standard of care and service in challenging environments and circumstances. I have had the privilege of spending time with both staff and clients in every community of the NWT, and I know that they are excited about the possibility of doing things differently, of doing things in a better way.

Over the next few months we will begin rolling out demonstration projects to test certain elements of primary healthcare reform. To increase community participation in health planning, we will be developing a new piloted project for chronic-disease management in smaller communities, beginning in the Deh Cho region. To improve access, we will be looking at new service-delivery approaches to better serve Yellowknife's most marginalized populations.

To improve continuity of care and support the development of relationships between clients and providers, we are developing multidisciplinary integrated care teams that will provide clients with ready access to a team of providers, all working at full scope of practice, who can be responsive to the client's needs in real time.

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to a learning process as we take on this work. As we develop new approaches, we will test them and refine them before rolling them out across the system, to ensure that changes we make are the right ones. We are also committed to leading by example to do this work in a good way. This means that each of the demonstration projects will be developed in keeping with the principles of cultural safety and in accordance with the recently released Cultural Safety Action Plan.

The staff involved in the demonstration projects will participate in cultural safety training as part of their work, to begin embedding cultural safety in our system and facilitating the cultural shifts required to make this our new way of doing business.

The Cultural Safety Action Plan implementation and the primary healthcare reform are in the early days, but the enthusiasm and commitment for these efforts within our systems are undeniable. I look forward to supporting these initiatives as they move forward and to providing updates to this House on our progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 174-18(3): Primary Health Care Reform

Ministers' Statements

Page 5414

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' statements. Deputy Premier .

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Minister's Statement 175-18(3): Premier Absent from the House

Ministers' Statements

Page 5414

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Premier will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Arctic Oil and Gas Symposium in Calgary, Alberta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 175-18(3): Premier Absent from the House

Ministers' Statements

Page 5414

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Ministers' Statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .

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Yellowknife Co-op Hydroponic Vegetable Garden Project

Members' Statements

Page 5414

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

However, recently, Mr. Speaker, I learned of a new initiative. The Yellowknife Co-op is investing in a new installation that will allow it to produce fresh food year-round, right here at home. It has partnered with a company called The Grocer that has created a transportable, hydroponic growing system. The Grocer is a Canadian company that is member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. It has developed an Arctic growing system that is specifically designed for low-infrastructure environments and temperatures as low as minus 52 degrees Celsius. It combines hydroponic technology with precision climate control and computerized operation.

The system is scalable to grow with demand. The basic system can provide up to 12,000 pounds of produce each year. The grower's system was tried in Churchill, Manitoba, after that community's rail line, its only land link to the south, washed out in 2016. Within weeks of installing the system, many varieties of produce were available in stores. In February 2018, temperatures went down to minus 58, and the system was still growing. Over time, the sticker price of leafy greens dropped from $7.25 with subsidized shipping to $4.99, and of course Mr. Speaker, it was fresher and tastier.

The Yellowknife Co-op's investment is an example of creative forward thinking, Mr. Speaker. It supports our mandate priorities of promoting agriculture, reducing the cost of living, and diversifying the economy, and it promises local control and decision-making around food supply for our communities and families. Colleagues, please join me in congratulating the Yellowknife Co-op on its exciting new initiative.

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Yellowknife Co-op Hydroponic Vegetable Garden Project

Members' Statements

Page 5414

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .

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Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation

Members' Statements

Page 5414

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. [Translation] The goals of the BDIC are noble ones, to help small businesspeople to address heavy bureaucratic requirements [translation ends]....territory, and this government's claim that diversification of our economy is a top priority, it would be reasonable to believe that this organization is pulling its weight and providing effective assistance to private enterprise. Yet I have been hearing from an ever-increasing number of small businesses that they have lost support from BDIC once the money has been lent.

It seems that this organization has forgone its role in supporting the economic objectives of this government in encouraging business development in favour of becoming just another lender.

BDIC has the statutory power to adjust contracts, defer payments of the principal, and adjust interest rates. Yet I, too, like the honourable Member for Hay River North , who touched on this last week, am hearing that BDIC is squeamish to exercise all of the powers it has at its disposal. I am hard-pressed to believe that they have just become another monetary lender as a matter of policy. This is not a matter of law. I hope they begin to use every tool at their disposal and that the NWT will be able to get its economy back into a position of growth rather than the current state of contraction.

All this raises questions as to what is the long-term vision of the BDIC. Standing committees have heard from the BDIC leadership. We have heard about a desire to do more to invest in entrepreneurs, provide front-line services, and invest in developing sectors of our economy. I support this vision. It goes to more than just lending, but I am not confident that this vision is shared by this government. BDIC has seen its funding stripped away over successive budgets, and many of its front-line business support has been subsumed by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken on the need for greater independence of the GNWT Crown corporations and arm's-length institutions. BDIC's board and president must be empowered to chart their own course for the corporation, and the Minister must not see the important work of BDIC as just another fund or function of his ministry.

Mr. Speaker, I have called before for this government to let the private sector lead, and now I will call on this government to get out of the way and let the BDIC support the private sector on its own terms for the long-term vision for success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation

Members' Statements

Page 5414

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .

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Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Members' Statements

Page 5414

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier this week I attended the annual public meeting held by the Giant Mine Remediation Project staff. A lot of work was required to contain and manage arsenic trioxide waste for at least the next 100 years, to remediate soil, demolish buildings, build and operate a new water treatment facility, and more. A report on the water licence application and process was also provided.

A good deal of the meeting was taken up with discussing opportunities for northern benefits during the decade-long remediation. Contracts valued at $430 million have been let so far, but most of the remediation work is yet to be costed and contracted and will take years to complete. Giant Mine Remediation Project staff and the main construction management contractor, Parsons Incorporated, pointed to some vague principles and processes to foster northern benefits.

Benefits are to be delivered through set-asides under something called the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Businesses, and there are also criteria for assessing valuation of bids based on Aboriginal training, labour, and equipment ratings under something called the Aboriginal Opportunity Considerations. A socio-economic working group has been established with Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Procurement Canada, Parsons as the main construction manager, and GNWT. They are also working on some sort of a socio-economic action plan.

A broader socio-economic advisory body has also been established with similar membership, but it also includes the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the City of Yellowknife.

In a February 25 letter to the Giant remediation project, the Giant Mine Oversight Board points out the murky relationship between the working group, advisory body, and the action plan. Questions were also raised about membership in some of these groups, and whether the focus will be more broadly cast to include social matters and outcomes. I agree with their assessment, Mr. Speaker.

What is missing is the power to ensure contracts actually go to Indigenous and northern businesses. There are no binding targets for NWT and Indigenous jobs, contracting, or purchasing. There is a lot of effort to make contracting opportunities known, but no way to directly negotiate contracts with local businesses that have demonstrated capacity and performed the work. That's not good enough. I'll have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources . Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Members' Statements

Page 5414

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .

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Appreciation for Hospital Care

Members' Statements

Page 5414

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, when family members or you require medical care, it is often a very stressful and pressure-filled time of uncertainty. During these times, we are required to place our complete trust and confidence on our physicians and/or the staff at our local health centres in the various hospitals that we use. Once health has been restored, many forget the long hours the medical staff work and the amount of commitment it takes to care for us and our loved ones.

All medical staff appreciate a letter of thanks. This is favourably received, as it expresses appreciation and gratitude for the excellent care given to us and our loved ones. A letter of appreciation depicts the confidence in the medical staff's service, expertise, and professionalism as your complete care provider.

In many communities, healthcare is reinstated; however, there are many sad occasions when a loved one may have passed away despite the tremendous effort put forth by medical staff. During these times of extreme sadness, a thank-you card to the medical staff is most appreciated, as death affects us all, professionally and non-professionally alike. Taking a moment to write a thank you honours respect loved ones who have passed, and particularly honours those who were committed to their comfort and care right to the end.

Thanking the name and specific individuals as doctors, nurses, and specialists are essential, but equally essential are the individuals who work behind the scenes to ensure you and your loved ones are well cared for. Many medical centres have a team-centred approach to caring, and for this reason, a collective acknowledgment to all members of the team is advisable. Writing a thank you letter of this nature is gratefully received and often holds a deeper meaning when receiving sooner than later, as the team likely recall caring for you and your loved ones.

I have been approached by a number of residents in the past few months asking me to publicly thank the staff at the Stanton Hospital for all the care, compassion, and support provided to them and their loved ones. Some expressed the care that they received have made a remarkable difference in their health and wellness. On behalf of the Nahendeh residents, I would like to say thank you to all the staff in the Northwest Territories and down south. The medical teams encompassing all team members are equally important and essential, and we deeply thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Appreciation for Hospital Care

Members' Statements

Page 5415

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Colleagues, I'd like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery. We have with us here students from an adult education class from Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. I'd like to welcome them. Also, our staff, Jennie Ayres, public affairs intern. Welcome to our Assembly. Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Members' Statements

Page 5415

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Social lunch hour reviewing the Mental Health and Addictions Recovery Plan. These are issues the committee has been engaged with because we are well aware of the tremendous amount of harm alcohol causes. Today I want to talk about a relatively simple intervention that may help stream people with alcohol dependency into the treatment they need.

The report from the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research offers a powerful major conclusion: "The current levels of alcohol-related harm in Canada are not inevitable. There is now substantial international evidence identifying policies that can powerfully impact levels of alcohol consumption and related harm." One of those policies is the use of a screening tool for risky alcohol use, a brief intervention with advice to reduce consumption and/or referral to treatment. That's the policy I'm going to focus on today.

Mr. Speaker, research has shown that screening brief intervention and referral is a cost-effective method of harm reduction around the consumption of alcohol which, in turn, reduces demands on healthcare resources. The report concludes there is little to no activity in this area in the NWT, and the implementation is low nationwide.

There are a variety of barriers. One is that only five jurisdictions across the country have created guidelines for screening brief intervention and referral, or adopted those guidelines created by the National College of Family Physicians. Another barrier is getting practitioners to do the screening even where guidelines are in place. I think all of us understand that a conversation that begins with the sentence "let's talk about your drinking" is often unwelcome, and that's why so few happen in any jurisdiction. My hope is that the new cultural safety initiative will assist medical staff in having this conversation.

Mr. Speaker, as I've said at the beginning, alcohol dependence and alcoholism are not inevitable. The report's authors conclude the majority of evidence-based prevention policies and strategies are currently being implemented in at least one Canadian jurisdiction. They encourage sharing of best practices between jurisdictions in order to reverse current trends of increasing alcohol-related harms and costs in Canada. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Mahsi.

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Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Members' Statements

Page 5415

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Members' Statements

Page 5415

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents of our smallest communities know all too well about the struggles to staff our health centres. It is common for services to be unavailable when they are needed. Unplanned trips to Inuvik can be the result, as well as delays and care or treatment. In Fort McPherson recently, the health centre was only able to provide essential services for emergencies and urgent cases for a whole week. The news gets around the community, and it makes people reluctant to seek the care they need.

I am concerned about the safety of this system. Sometimes, the first symptoms of something serious may be minor. I do not like to see people discouraged to seek care. We have enough problems in our healthcare system without adding this to the list. I realize that the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority tries to keep these staff shortages to a minimum. There was a short service gap in Aklavik earlier this month that lasted just a day.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that our health system is not well enough prepared to keep our community health centres staffed properly. We should not see these service gaps, and I do not think most Canadians would consider this acceptable service. It may be a question of priority of where we send the nurses who we do hire. In my opinion, the priority should be staffing community health centres where there are no other options for seeking medical care. I'll have questions for the Minister later. Thank you.

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Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Members' Statements

Page 5415

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Legislative Review Process

Members' Statements

Page 5415

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I love being able to represent the people as a Member of this Assembly. I absolutely love it, and I'm passionate about it, so even though I'm usually pretty even-keeled I sometimes get frustrated with decisions that are made or when I think we should be doing a better job.

That's why I've been a little cranky lately, because I'm sure you could tell from some of the statements I've made in this House over the past sitting or two sittings. I know that the Ministers have noticed, because I've been taking my frustrations out on them. However, Mr. Speaker, in the end, we're all on the same team, we all have the same goal, and we all have to work together.

That's why I want to start off this statement, at least start it, by giving Cabinet a compliment. As a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, I've had the ability to review a few pieces of legislation that the government has brought forward. Depending on the bill, the review process can be quite a bit of work. When it's all said and done, the committee will recommend changes to help the government improve the bill. I have to compliment Cabinet on being open to accepting the changes, or working with the committee to craft a change that works for everyone.

In pretty much all the legislation we have reviewed, I can point to places where this cooperation has improved things and made things better. It highlights the best of consensus government, Mr. Speaker.

I wish that this cooperation would have extended to the timing of the introduction of the nine bills that the Standing Committee on Economic Development will now how to review over the summer. However, it is what it is. While I don't speak on behalf of committee, I think it is safe to say that we will do our best. While there is always a dump of legislation at the end of every Assembly, being tasked with reviewing this many highly technical bills with this level of complexity and with this little time is unprecedented. In order to do our job effectively, we essentially have to become subject-matter experts, and we just don't have time.

Because of the importance and long-lasting effect of these bills, every resident in the NWT deserves to have an opportunity to provide input, input that becomes the basis for the committee's recommendations. Again, it is unfortunate that these bills weren't staggered, because there is no way we are going to have enough time to visit all of the communities that we would like to. I apologize in advance to those communities who won't have an opportunity to provide input in person.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the role of the public servants, and I appreciate the work they put into these bills. I know they do a good job, but the committee's work really does improve these bills. I am upset that we won't have the time or the resources to wind up with the world-class legislation the Northerners deserve. I hope, if anything comes of this, that future assemblies recognize the situation that we are in and they learn from this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Legislative Review Process

Members' Statements

Page 5415

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Retirement as Member of the Legislative Assembly

Members' Statements

Page 5415

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we come to the end of the 18 th Legislative Assembly, there is a lot of talk going on about the future, what your decisions are going to be. I have been asked by a number of people what I plan on doing going forward. It is a decision that I take very seriously. I have come back and told them that I am going to give it some thought and I will let them know six months prior to the election. That has led me to a decision that I made just recently, that I will not let my name stand for re-election on October 1 st .

I have come to realize I have more years behind me than ahead of me. It is very important where I spend those years ahead of me. I have been a Member of this Assembly since 2004. Rats. I said I wasn't going to do that. I was trying to find something amusing to say, like I normally do when I am stuck, but there's nothing amusing about this. I have been elected as a Member of this Assembly since 2004. There are some people who would like to run, I know. Out of respect for me and the work that I have done, they are waiting to hear my decision.

I have a lot of good, loyal supporters out there. The folks of Inuvik Twin Lakes have been fantastic supporters. I appreciate that. There are times where I said that the fact that they supported me is more important than the victory itself, that the people who I grew up admiring came on and supported me. I appreciate that. I hope I have represented them well.

I hope I have represented this institution well. This institution is extremely important to me. I think all of you are aware of that. I have said that a number of times in the past. It is important to me. Who is in here is important to me. Who is coming in here is important to me. The work we do is important to me.

I will do my darndest to encourage those out there who would like to run. Come in here with a good attitude. The common denominator that I know we all have is trying to make things good for the people of the Northwest Territories. We go about it different ways, sure, but at the end of the day, that is our common denominator.

I have been privileged to travel across the Northwest Territories. I got to meet a lot of folks. There are a lot of good people out there, a lot of good young leaders out there who we should be encouraging to come in here. I have talked to some of you, and I will talk to some of you. I will be brutally honest in the advice that I give. I think I have demonstrated that just recently. I will be honest because, as I said before, this is a very important institution to me.

Like I said before, it will be 15 years at the end of this Assembly. I think Inuvik deserves a new energy. They need to have a new energy come in. I know for a fact that there are a lot of good folks in the community who would like to come down here. I think they will bring a lot of value to this institution, and I respect that. My supporters, the support that they have given me is just unbelievable.

I will be the MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes until September 1 st . I will conduct myself accordingly. I will be a Minister of this Cabinet until TLC, which on the

schedule I believe is October 23, 2019. I will conduct myself accordingly.

Family is very important. You could never do this without the support of your family. When I first got sworn in, I had my daughter, my son, my other daughter, future son-in-law, and my wife. Fourteen years later, I have six grandchildren. As I said before, that goes back to where I want to spend my remaining time. Much as I like you guys, some of you, I don't want to spend it with you.

I don't know what is behind the door for me on October 2 nd , but I will have six grandchildren in tow. I am excited as heck. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Retirement as Member of the Legislative Assembly

Members' Statements

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes , thank you for all the services over the years. You have contributed a lot to the Northwest Territories and to this House, to former Members and to current Members, as well. Masi for all your contributions over the years. You have been a mentor, as well. Masi.

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies, colleagues. I would like to recognize my family up in the gallery; my three grandchildren, Rylan, Reese, Kullen, and my wife, Judy. Today is kind of a special day, because my daughter Kimberly, it is her birthday, turns a year older today. This is one of the reasons that I chose this particular day to do this because it is an important day for me. It is a day two years ago that changed my life forever. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi to Judy for all the years of dedication and also patience with us. Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

Cory Vanthuyne

Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to recognize a good friend and former colleague from the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Curtis Coleman. I also want to take this opportunity to, as well, acknowledge Yellowknife North constituent Josee Clermont and congratulate her again on the College nordique's recent award. Thank you, and welcome for being here.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize one of the Pages from Kam Lake, Ms. Tegan Konge. It is great to have her help, and it is great to have the help of all the Pages. Thank you very much for your service to the Legislative Assembly and the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

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

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce two Pages who live in Yellowknife Centre, Leelou Cassaway and Jolin Carter. I would like to thank them for being Pages during this session and wish them the best with the remainder of the school year. Mahsi.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5416

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . As I mentioned, we have had shortages of services in the communities that I represent, and I would like to ask the Minister: what is the cause of staff shortages in community nursing centres, such as Fort McPherson and Aklavik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5416

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5416

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that there are about 65 funded community health nurse positions across the Northwest Territories, and we run about an 18.5-percent vacancy on those. We are constantly out recruiting and trying to find nurses to come into our community health centres on a permanent basis.

Given that many of our nursing stations are small, with three or four nurses, when one of those individuals is either sick or has to leave on short notice, there are definitely some service impacts on that. When we know that individuals are leaving or coming to an end of a term, we have an opportunity to bring in locums and other individuals to cover coverage, but sometimes we do have, sort of, more surprise vacancies and those types of things. We are doing our best to make sure that the communities are aware. We are providing the information to communities when there are those sudden changes.

We do struggle, Mr. Speaker, with the recruitment of nurses to some of these advanced practice nursing roles. It is a specialty-type position, and we really need individuals with a wide range of skills. There are aren't as many of those individuals as we would like, but we keep recruiting. We will continue to recruit. I have given the department direction to anticipatory hire in these types of positions so that we can bring in as many people as we can.

Until such a time as we get the number of nurses that we need with the tenure that we need, we will probably still have to rely on some locum coverage in our small communities. That is not desired, obviously; we would prefer to have a continuum, but it is a challenge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5416

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

How is it decided where to send nursing staff, and what priorities are set?

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5416

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I am only going to talk about community health nursing, because I believe that that is the focus that the Member has. When it comes to filling community health nurse positions, we are trying to fill all of the positions all of the time. When we know that there is going to be a short-term vacancy between hiring, or for a holiday leave, or one of those things, we try to find locums to go. We have a pool of locums who have identified that they are willing and are available to us, so we can bring those people in.

We don't prioritize one community or one region over the other. We want all of these community health nursing positions filled. Some of them are challenging. We have some of our locum nurses who have indicated that they prefer one region over another, and that can be challenging when the vacancies are in a different region. We are always looking to find more of those individuals who might be willing to come up on the short-term placements, but our ultimate goal is to fill all of the positions on an indeterminate basis.

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5416

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

The Minister touched on this a bit earlier, but I will ask: what is the vacancy rate for nursing staff in the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority?

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Off the top of my head, I can't tell you what the vacancy rate is across the entire system, but with respect to community health nurses in the 65 positions that we have established, we are running at about an 18.5-percent vacancy. Many of those are filled by short-term locums to ensure that we have full coverage in communities while we continue to try and recruit on an indeterminate basis. We have fantastic health professionals out there. Some of them do choose, for any number of reasons, to move on to different opportunities, so we have a constant turnover. We do, and we will continue to, recruit and try to find individuals willing to commit some time to help us with our continuity of care.

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5417

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta .

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Frederick Blake Jr.

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is being done to address chronic staff shortages that severely limit healthcare and treatment in small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We are not in this one alone. We work with Aurora College, who runs a really fantastic Nursing Program here in the Northwest Territories. We are also working with Aurora College, who is delivering, on our behalf, what is referred to as, I am going to get the title wrong, but it is basically a rural and remote recruitment program or a training program for nurses, to help those nurses who live here develop the advanced practice skills that they need, things like diagnoses, assessments, suturing, setting bones, and those types of things, so that they can actually do the work of the community health nurses.

We are working with them to get local individuals trained so that we can accommodate them and move them into the communities. Also, as I have indicated, I have already given the department direction to go out and attempt to proactively recruit some of these positions and do some anticipatory hiring.

There is what I would consider a national shortage of individuals who have this skillset. Most of them are employed in other jurisdictions if they have this skillset, so we have to entice them up here. We have one of the best compensation packages, highest salaries, great pensions, extensive benefits as far as leave packages, available. We are trying to make sure that people understand the real benefits of coming here and providing this incredibly valuable, rewarding work for the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 690-18(3): Staffing for Small Community Health Centres

Oral Questions

Page 5417

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North .

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to some of the questions that I had the other day for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation , he noted that the current Riverview Lodge seniors' complex in Hay River will be rebuilt at a different location, and I just have some follow-up questions about that. The Minister mentioned that it would be in the next few years. Could he provide us with some details about when construction is expected to start and, hopefully, be completed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation .

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the questions that the Member had previously asked, I had mentioned that we do know that the building is now over 40 years old. It is something that we are going to be looking at, obviously, considering replacing within the next five years. We will be consulting with the community, obviously, the stakeholders that are in the community of Hay River, on how to address this.

As Members know, I did table a Seniors Planning Study during this session, ensuring that options are out there in terms of what kind of a building we will be constructing in the community of Hay River. We are also working with the Town of Hay River on how we can move forward with the community housing plans, something that I have said over and over in this House. As the project progresses, I will keep both Members from Hay River apprised of the work and the progress moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

I thank the Minister for the many answers that he gave. The current lot that the Riverview Lodge sits on is a beautiful piece of property. It's right downtown. It's right on the river. Does the Minister have an idea yet of what is planned for that piece of property after the new lodge is built?

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

As the Member has mentioned, whether it was in committee or it was just discussions that we have had together, the existing lot will be used for future development by the NWT Housing Corporation. We are also looking at assessing land availability options to support its future capital planning requirements through the NWT Housing Corporation, and as I have mentioned to the Member, we are working with the Town of Hay River and encouraging that discussion to keep going, to see how we can address some of the housing needs and concerns with the Town of Hay River.

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

I was at a meeting in Hay River a while back, and it was at the Whispering Willows, which is sort of a seniors housing unit. Officials from the Housing Corporation showed up to talk about the survey that they did, the seniors housing survey, and it was a great meeting. They solicited a lot of feedback. There was great community engagement, and I appreciate that.

I was wondering: before this unit is built or even designed, would the Minister commit to engaging, again, with the Seniors' Society on the design of the building, the amenities in the building, as well as the location of the building, because, like I said, right now it is right downtown, and when you are older and you maybe can't drive anymore, it's great to be right across from the drugstore, right across the street from the arena. You are close to everyone, and you can walk everywhere, and I know a lot of people appreciate it.

So will the Minister commit to consulting about the design and the location of the building?

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

Yes, we will be looking at engaging with the relevant stakeholders in a project such as this. As I mentioned with the community housing plans, we will want to be engaging with all of the stakeholders in the Town of Hay River, but also having that discussion with the municipality in terms of what lots are available, what land is available. As they become available to the municipality, we will be looking at creating a better partnership in addressing the housing needs in the municipality of Hay River. So, yes, we will be engaging with the stakeholders.

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North .

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

I sense it is still early days on this project and that there are not a lot of details hammered out, but I appreciate the Minister's answers. Now, this is something I talk about all the time in this House. It's about the need for more skilled labour in the territory and how we need to start utilizing all of our infrastructure projects to help develop skilled labour. Could the Minister talk about the plans, how this project will be used, to do just that in terms of training, apprenticing, and how he is going to connect with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to ensure that all of that happens?

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Alfred Moses

Inuvik Boot Lake

First of all, we always use an open and fair, transparent public procurement process. When we work with our contractors, we want to make sure that they are meeting the needs of Northerners and ensure that they meet their contract obligations by using local and northern labour as well as businesses. I will be working with the Department of ECE to look at how we can address the apprentices.

Not only just in Hay River, but right across the Northwest Territories, in terms of the community housing plans that I have discussed, it is something that we are striving for, to get one in each of the communities across the Northwest Territories. I am sure that apprentices, training, and development will be something that is going to be on their priorities, as well. I appreciate the Member bringing up the questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 691-18(3): Riverview Lodge Rebuild Project

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Page 5417

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Oral Questions

Page 5417

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services . In my statement today I spoke about screening brief intervention and referral as a cost-effective way for healthcare providers to talk to their patients about the harmful effects of alcohol. This was also a recommendation of the report I spoke about in the House last year. My question is: has the Minister looked at developing guidelines, or adopting them from another jurisdiction, to provide for screening brief intervention and referral around alcohol consumption? Mahsi.

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Page 5417

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

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Page 5417

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department is actually very familiar with the screening brief intervention and referral process. They are familiar with both the practice, and they have done some research. In fact, they did utilize that tool here in the Northwest Territories dating back to 2014. It was actually used as part of an approach to work with youth, and it was done in conjunction with some screening tools, including motivational interviewing. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I have confirmed with the department that there was not a lot of uptake by practitioners.

Practitioners like physicians, counsellors, nurses, who we were encouraging to use that tool, there was not a significant amount of uptake. However, we still think there is some value in it. After the Member shared me the

article in the report, I did share it with the department. I asked them to look at it. The new interdepartmental problematic substance-use task force that we will be establishing under the draft action plan that we were discussing earlier today, I have directed them to share that information with them so that they can dig into that a bit more and find out how we could better utilize that tool here in the Northwest Territories for the benefit of residents.

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

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Page 5417

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

The report writers were apparently unaware that this tool is used because the scoring for the NWT as a whole was an F, and for the tool use it was zero. Moving onwards, 71 percent of Canadians on average have had conversations with health practitioners about smoking in which they received information about the health risks of smoking and they are encouraged to quit and given ways to quit. Is there a parallel that the department can use to create guidelines that would be as effective for alcohol as they are for tobacco?

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Just to be clear, we have utilized this tool in the Northwest Territories, and we did make it available, and we did provide resources so that people could use it. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of uptake, and I think that's important to remember. Although it has been available, there was not a lot of uptake.

With respect to the tools that have been developed around alcohol, in the new wellness plan, the draft wellness plan, which I just want to be clear is still only draft format, we are waiting for feedback from committee on how we can make it stronger, we are creating an interdepartmental problematic substance-use task force. We are also creating an advisory committee of individuals with lived experience to help inform how we move forward to get positive messaging out, encourage people to drink responsibly, and understand the impacts of over-drinking and those types of things.

I feel, and I will certainly reinforce that message to the department, that what the Member is talking about is something that we are actually trying to do within the action plan, but I will reinforce that message to them and let them know that this is something that this Assembly would like to see.

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Page 5418

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you to the Minister for that response. I am concerned that this issue is fairly straightforward and that there are a number of sets of guidelines available to review from across the country, including from the College of Family Physicians, and I feel that it would be possible to move directly to implementation without streaming everything through additional studies. I guess my question for the Minister is how to improve uptake by medical practitioners to use some kind of screening brief intervention and referral tool.

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

This is what this advisory group is going to help us with. We are not looking to do more planning. We are not looking to do more studies. We have the resource in front of us. We know there was not a lot of uptake. The Member even, in her Member's statement, mentioned that there has not been a lot of uptake with this program and this tool across Canada, so there are clearly some challenges with acceptance of this tool by practitioners.

We see that there is some value, and we are going to get this group to work with us to help us figure out how to get more buy-in and utilize this tool as necessary, recognizing that some practitioners do have a scope of practise and they do work within that scope of practise. Some may not want to use this tool. They might have other tools they want to use. We are going to promote this tool within the government.

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Oral Questions

Page 5418

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Oral Questions

Page 5418

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I feel that the launch of the Cultural Safety Action Plan sets the scene for more effective conversations about alcohol abuse because there will be strengthened relationships between healthcare practitioners and their clients. Having said that, there are also different approaches to doing screening intervention and referral. It can be done online, which is the case in a number of different provinces. Has the Minister considered a different approach to delivering this, that is online?

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We did obtain some dollars from the federal government, focused on helping us get a message out about the use of cannabis and encouraging people to use responsibly and to understand the health ramifications of using it. This money we are also going to be using to do more of a polysubstance approach, trying to get messages out there both online and at a community level, using different sources and technology to get this information out. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, this is something we are aware of. This is something we are trying to do. We are trying to be creative.

We are trying to tailor the message to the audience in different communities throughout the Northwest Territories, and we are getting communities involved to help us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 692-18(3): Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Changes

Oral Questions

Page 5418

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 5418

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Throughout my term as a Nahendeh MLA, I have had the opportunity to hear stories, positive and negative in nature, about the service in the health system. Today in my Member's statement I talked about the great service that some of our residents have received at the hospitals here, so today I would like to ask some questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services about staff that go above and beyond. This type of service has been credited to people having a faster recovery time and living through difficult situations.

I have had, actually, constituents say thank you, that, because of that service, they are alive today. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what he and/or the department does when they receive positive feedback for the work that staff do? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for his Member's statement earlier today. I think that it is important that we do recognize the incredible work that many of our amazing professionals provide throughout the healthcare system here in the Northwest Territories. These individuals are dedicated. They are committed to doing the best that they can for residents of the Northwest Territories in trying and challenging environments.

The authority does take significant effort to ensure that they are sharing these positive stories with their staff, and there are many different ways that this information comes in. Sometimes the individuals share their positive results or positive experience directly with the practitioners, which is fantastic. Other times, we know that managers or directors get information, and the managers and directors do their best to share that information with the individuals who actually were the ones being highlighted or applauded for the work that they did.

Also, Mr. Speaker, in the authority, when positive stories are brought forth, that can be shared, and I will touch on that in a second. We do try to get that out throughout the entire authority using different communications processes, such as weekly updates, our website, and our blogs. This information is how we get some of these positive stories out there.

I will note, Mr. Speaker, that, in all things that we do in Health and Social Services, we are bound by the Health Information Act, and there have been situations where individuals are really positive about their experiences, so much so that they share more information than we can, in turn, share. Sometimes we have to take out some of the specific individual context, but we do still try to share the overall feeling and intent of those messages with staff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

The Minister gave a very long answer, and it actually took some of my questions on the way. I know that I can't ask any more, but I will anyway. With this feedback that they have received, does the department develop it to help promote best practices to help train other staff or even new staff coming in?

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

We are trying to evolve and continually be an organization focused on quality improvements. When we do get these positive stories, if there are recommendations in those letters or those e-mails or wherever the individual is sharing their information from, we try to use that data to help address quality improvement issues -- "this works"; "this doesn't work"; "we have got positive feedback on this type of subject" -- so that we could share those information so that could be part of a whole learning experience.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we do try to learn from them. We do try to get them through our mechanisms, through our tools and our resources, to make sure that those experiences are shared and highlighted for developmental purposes as well.

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

That is great to hear, because all we hear sometimes in this House is about the negative stuff. Even when we have concerns, it seems that we bring to the Minister or the department our concerns. Sometimes, when they are doing some great stuff, that, to me, is just as great a learning opportunity. I am glad that the department uses that as a way to help the staff. Does the department have an in-house newsletter that focuses on new changes and compliments and recommendations moving forward?

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I am not going to talk about what the department is doing. I think that the Member is more referring, I believe, to the what the authority itself is doing. The NWT Health and Social Services Authority has launched an internal website that is available to all staff within the authority. The website itself focuses on many areas, including highlighting our own employees and the incredible work that some of our employees do, communicating change, promoting awareness of different programs and services, and when appropriate, highlighting some of the positive feedback that we are receiving, as long as it doesn't breach any health information legislation.

Content from the Stanton Territorial Hospital is included in communication through the territorial authority on their website, which, in a sense, Mr. Speaker, actually acts as a digital newsletter. In short, yes, it is there.

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I greatly appreciate the Minister for all of his answers to this point. I just have to share one compliment that I just received yesterday from a constituent who said, "We have got to be thankful that we have these world-class services available to us." Again, to the staff out there, thank you very much for the work that you are doing. With this website and that, is it available for the public, or is it just internally? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

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Page 5418

Glen Abernethy

Great Slave

I will make sure that I ask the department to take this

section of the Hansard and share it with the staff in the territorial authority so that they understand and can hear the message from the MLA from his riding. The website is actually an internal website for staff only. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 693-18(3): Positive Feedback for Health and Social Services

Oral Questions

Page 5418

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a recent proposal brought to Yellowknife City Council for establishing a cannabis production facility here in Yellowknife. Part of that proposal is 10 to 12 full-time jobs, 15 to 25 part-time jobs, and the confidence that this would be a viable way to solve some of our supply issues in the Northwest Territories for legal cannabis and also to be competitive in pricing.

There is some concern that was raised at those meetings by councillors that this initiative might require support from the GNWT, support that might not be forthcoming. I was wondering if the Minister responsible for our cannabis regime, the Minister of Finance , can speak to these concerns and give certainty as to what steps that anyone interested in starting a production facility needs to follow if they want to open for business in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

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Page 5419

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Finance .

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The establishment of grow-ops or production is licensed by the federal government. We are not involved in the regulating of an establishment or operation of this type of business. There are a number of things that they would have to meet, obviously, with some of the city bylaws, as well as the territorial government regulations, but as for the actual regulating of an establishment, that goes through the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

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Page 5419

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you to the Minister. I know that production is a federal power. It is very complicated. There is a whole lot of regulatory process. Can the government provide support to people who are interested in getting into the market with production? Can they give them support as a pathfinder, to walk their way through the system and understand exactly what they need to get started?

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

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Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

That is something that I will consider. If we have folks within our department who are able to navigate their way through and understand what type of permits, licensing, or approvals might be needed, if we have that kind of knowledge, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to provide that kind of assistance to those who are trying to navigate their way through to see what they actually have to do to meet all of the regulations.

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

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Page 5419

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you to the Minister. That is encouraging. Can the Minister give direction to his department to provide at least an active offer or something public-facing on a website to let other people know, if they are interested or have a proposal, that they can go to the Department of Finance for assistance with Ottawa?

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

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Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

I will have a discussion with my officials and see if there is any type of information that we could put out there to help people. Again, it would be just assisting through navigating to see what kind of permits that they actually have to get. I am sure that we would have some knowledge of that. Again, I would have to work with the department and make sure that we have the knowledge before we even make that offer.

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

Oral Questions

Page 5419

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

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Page 5419

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the government in a position to be open to supply contracts or sole-sourcing northern businesses that enter into the cannabis market? Is that something that is a possibility if a viable business is brought forward to help address our supply needs? Thank you.

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

It would have to be a case-by-case basis. I can't make a commitment right now that we would specifically buy from a northern manufacturer. If there was one here and they gave us a price that was competitive, then we would seriously have to consider that. For me to say that we are going to strictly buy from a Northern supplier, I think, is premature. We need to work with them, make sure they have a price that is competitive and one that we can work with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 694-18(3): Proposed Yellowknife Cannabis Production Facility

Oral Questions

Page 5419

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources . I will go a little easier on him today. It is not even about caribou. I know that he also has responsibilities to lead on Giant Mine remediation. The Giant Mine Oversight Board is concerned about the murky relationship between the working group and advisory body and socio-economic action plan. All of this is supposed to increase benefits from remediation work at Giant Mine. Can the Minister explain briefly the roles and relationships of the working group, advisory body, and the action plan? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources .

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Kind of ironic, we are having that conversation today. I had my grandchildren here this weekend. I took them actually out for a ride to the site, but there was a fence there. We couldn't get too far in. I was explaining to them some of the history of Giant Mine and a lot of the stuff that they were working on. I was hoping to actually get them as close as I possibly could. My grandson was asking me questions. I actually had to go back to the apartment. I had to look it up and see, get some answers to his questions. I managed to do that.

The socio-economic advisory body is a committee made up of senior management representatives from Indigenous, municipal, federal, and territorial governments. An advisory body meeting was held March 11, 2019. There was agreement that all signatories to the environmental agreement would be members to the advisory committee, including the YKDFN, Alternatives North, and the North Slave Metis Alliance. The advisory board provides strategic advice to the working group. The working group was established to coordinate all aspects of the socio-economic strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that. I actually got to go on a caribou road show with him one time, too, while we were driving around, driving-around stories. I want to thank the Minister for that answer. The working group is supposed to develop an action plan to flow benefits to the Northwest Territories. Can the Minister tell us whether this action plan is finished, and can he share it with Regular MLAs so we can see what kind of benefits may be coming for NWT residents from the remediation of Giant Mine?

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

The action work plan to carry out the objectives for the implementation of the socio-economic strategy draft plan has been prepared. The project team already reports on socio-economic performances to the Giant Mine Oversight Board annual report and remains committed to continue to do so. Feedback from stakeholders have informed the key performance indicators. Targets will be presented to the working group in April for discussion. I think the Member's short question was: would we be able to share a copy of this draft plan? I will follow up on that. If there are opportunities there to share it with interested or the public, then I will make sure that is followed up on.

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that commitment. I neglected to say that it was a good move to have all the signatories to the environmental agreement as members of the advisory body. If the Minister checks, one of those signatures on the agreement is actually mine. I don't want to be there, but I helped to negotiate the agreement.

There are $430 million in contracts that have been let so far for remediation. The final price is going to probably be closer to $1 billion. Can the Minister describe whether there is the ability to directly negotiate any of the remaining contracts or other mechanisms to ensure Indigenous and Northern businesses benefit?

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

It gives me great comfort to know that one of the signatures on there does belong to the Member, knowing the Member's commitment to detail. It is a very detailed report. It gives me a lot of comfort. The federal government remains responsible for the procurement on the Giant Mine remediation project. Indigenous involvement is considered through the use of the Aboriginal Opportunities Considerations, or AOCs. AOCs are measured and aimed at maximizing opportunities for Indigenous companies, businesses, individuals local to the comprehensive land-claim agreement area.

Parsons, the MCM contractor, will develop remediation work packages to target the local workforce based on their own labour capacity studies. This will result in work packages structured to maximize local socio-economic benefits. Indigenous involvement is encouraged through the Aboriginal Opportunities Considerations and contained in each work package. Out of the 10 contracts let in 2018-2019, seven of them are Northern or Indigenous business. Out of those seven, five of them are local Indigenous business.

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake .

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Kevin O'Reilly

Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for the detail in that response. I have frequently mentioned the economic potential for the development of a knowledge economy. Creation of a world-class centre on contaminated site remediation is a major opportunity from the Giant Mine project. Can the Minister describe what steps our government may be taking to ensure that we create such a centre and to help us take advantage of the remediation economy? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5419

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

The Departments of Environment and Natural Resources and Education, Culture and Employment are preparing to undertake a feasibility study in 2019-2020 for a northern centre of excellence. The feasibility study has been reframed to focus on assessing institution models that best advance GNWT research priorities, grounded in those identified in the GNWT knowledge agenda, and building on the outcomes of the Aurora College Foundational Review process. The core team is finalizing an RFP for a feasibility study request for proposals, RFP. The RFP is anticipated to be completed and released at the end of March.

The Member makes a good point about the remediation economy. As we see in a lot places now, some of the demolition of a lot of houses are being held up because there needs to be hazmat remediation. I have encouraged a lot of local people to try to take advantage of the hazmat remediation training. We have a couple companies, I believe, in Inuvik that do that. There is an economy there. As regulations tighten up, I think there is going to be more of an economy for those that provide the hazmat remediation services, especially to a lot of the older buildings across the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 695-18(3): Giant Mine Remediation Benefits

Oral Questions

Page 5420

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake .

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have risen on the floor of this House to address the concerns of parents around the safety for their children in online environments. I am wondering if the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment can tell me what efforts the department has undertaken to ensure parents are aware of the risks and have the appropriate tools to respond to any concerns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes. We definitely work within our schools. We start with our Safe and Caring Schools. We provide work around informing students about bullying, supporting each other, et cetera. We re-enforce to students when they are bullied in any way on media and the Internet, et cetera, to notify the school, and we will address that. That is one piece of it.

We also do a lot more areas. We have a media smart, I believe it is called, that is available to all of the JK to 12 that people can use to inform on Internet safety. We have specialized programs for grade fours that they can actually get training on internet usage and then the high schools, as well. Part of that package also actually provides a package to parents to support their youth in Internet safety. It gives them tips around: keep your internet in a public area; don't let them have them in their room; watch what they are doing; limit times; et cetera.

I expand on that because it is not only in schools that this is happening. This is happening in homes and communities. It is not only the school. Community-wide, we need to be diligent about what our children are watching on the Internet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

Thank you to the Minister. I know from my own knowledge working with the school boards that they are very good to supporting to parents at most times. Is there any work being undertaken to strengthen the curriculum that is offered to students in these learning environments? I know that my son, for example, is learning how to use computers and the Internet. He has a Google account. These are things that I didn't expect a nine-year-old to have, but he has them. Is there a focus from the department on looking at those curriculums and making sure that they are providing appropriate tools to our children?

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

Yes, we are always looking at upgrading what we are doing within the school curriculum. That is a normal thing.

I would like to go back to what we do for our grade four to eight students. We actually focus on five modules that provide on social networking, they talk about privacy, they talk about tricks of the trade for online advertisers, authentication skills, and judging reliably with a mock search engine, safe and wise web surfing, and the ethical use of messaging. For high school students, we use the MyWorld curriculum.

There are four chapters, and they aim, again, to teach the authentication of online information, to manage your reputation and privacy online, dealing with online relationships, and acting ethically online. Again, at that age, for the high school students, we really focus on what you put out there might not be private.

We are always looking to expand and to update our curriculum, especially with technology. It changes quickly, so it is something that we monitor on a regular basis.

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

Kieron Testart

Kam Lake

I know that the Minister is fond of saying, "Nothing for us without us." How are students involved in this process, and what are the feedback mechanisms that either the school boards, or the department has working in conjunction with the school boards, and the district education authorities, to ensure that students have an ability to provide feedback to these materials and so that our policies and our supports to families and our kids are informed by young people's own experiences with the Internet and other material?

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

Caroline Cochrane

Range Lake

I will have to get back to the Member on that. We have 10 education authorities. We usually provide the curriculum. I am not exactly sure how they get the student feedback, but I take note, and I am expecting that they do get student feedback. If not, then I will put that forward as a recommendation. I will get back to the Member and find out if we currently do, and if we don't, my recommendation at the next education leaders meeting will be that they get as much feedback from students as possible on all topics.

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Question 696-18(3): Online Safety for Children

Oral Questions

Page 5420

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to the Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Member for Yellowknife Centre .

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Committee Report 14-18(3): Interim Report of the Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly

Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Page 5420

Julie Green

Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 100(4) and to have Committee Report 14-18(3), Interim Report of the Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Committee Report 14-18(3): Interim Report of the Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly

Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

Page 5420

The Speaker

Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 100(4) and to have Committee Report 14-18(3), Interim Report of the Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later on today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Committee Report 14-18(3) is now moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration today. Masi. Reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance .

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Tabled Document 388-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020 Tabled Document 389-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020 Tabled Document 390-18(3): Inter-Activity Trans