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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

5th Session Day 77 17th Assembly

HANSARD

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Pages 6207 – 6238

The Honourable Jackie Jacobson, Speaker Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Members of the Legislative Assembly

Speaker Hon. Jackie Jacobson (Nunakput)

______

Hon. Glen Abernethy Mrs. Jane Groenewegen Mr. Kevin Menicoche (Great Slave) (Hay River South) (Nahendeh) Minister of Health and Social Services Minister responsible for Mr. Robert Hawkins Hon. J. Michael Persons with Disabilities (Yellowknife Centre) Miltenberger Minister responsible for Seniors (Thebacha) Hon. Jackson Lafferty Government House Leader Hon. Tom Beaulieu Minister of Finance (Monfwi) Minister of Environment and Natural (Tu Nedhe) Deputy Premier Minister of Human Resources Resources Minister of Education, Culture and Minister responsible for the Minister of Transportation Employment NWT Power Corporation Minister of Public Works and Minister responsible for the Workers’ Services Safety and Compensation Commission Mr. Alfred Moses Ms. Wendy Bisaro (Inuvik Boot Lake) (Frame Lake) Hon. Bob McLeod (Yellowknife South) Mr. Michael Nadli Mr. Frederick Blake Premier (Deh Cho) (Mackenzie Delta) Minister of Executive Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Hon. David Ramsay Mr. Robert Bouchard Intergovernmental Relations (Kam Lake) Minister responsible for Women (Hay River North) Minister of Justice Minister of Industry, Tourism Mr. Bob Bromley Hon. Robert C. McLeod and Investment (Inuvik Twin Lakes) Minister responsible for the (Weledeh) Minister of Municipal and Public Utilities Board Community Affairs Mr. Daryl Dolynny Minister of Lands Mr. Norman Yakeleya (Range Lake) Minister responsible for the (Sahtu) NWT Housing Corporation Minister responsible for Youth

______Officers Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Tim Mercer

Deputy Clerk Principal Clerk, Principal Clerk, Committee Clerk Law Clerks Committees and Corporate and Trainee Public Affairs Interparliamentary Affairs Mr. Doug Schauerte Mr. Michael Ball Ms. Gail Bennett Mrs. Danielle Mager Ms. Sheila MacPherson Ms. Malinda Kellett Mr. Glen Rutland ______Box 1320 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Tel: (867) 669-2200 Fax: (867) 920-4735 Toll-Free: 1-800-661-0784 http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca

Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories 4

1) TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRAYER...... 6207

MINISTERS' STATEMENTS...... 6207

192-17(5) – Passing of Mr. George Braden (B. McLeod)...... 6207

193-17(5) – Sessional Statement (B. McLeod)...... 6208

194-17(5) – Responsibly Developing NWT Oil and Gas Resources (Ramsay)6210

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS...... 6212

Development of Territorial Energy Strategy (Groenewegen)...... 6212

The Real Power Issues Facing Northerners (Dolynny)...... 6213

Hay River Electricity Franchise Request for Proposals (Bouchard)...... 6213

Competition in Electricity Generation Industry (Hawkins)...... 6214

Expansion of Avens Seniors Facility (Bisaro)...... 6214

Education Hall of Fame Inductees (Moses)...... 6215

Local Economies Forum on Sustainable Communities (Bromley)...... 6215

Tribute to Recently Deceased Northerners (Yakeleya)...... 6216

Track and Field Facility for Fort Simpson (Menicoche)...... 6216

Louis Cardinal Ferry Launch (Blake)...... 6217

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS IN THE GALLERY...... 6217

ORAL QUESTIONS...... 6219

RETURNS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS...... 6230

TABLING OF DOCUMENTS...... 6236

NOTICES OF MOTION...... 6237 Motion 43-17(5) – Reappointment of Information and Privacy Commissioner (Blake) 6237

ORDERS OF THE DAY...... 6237 May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 6

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Members Present Hon. Glen Abernethy, Hon. Tom Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Blake, Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Dolynny, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Jackie Jacobson, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Hon. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Moses, Hon. David Ramsay, Mr. Yakeleya

families and friends. They bravely The House met at 1:31 p.m. tackled issues we wrestle with all the time in this Chamber. 2) Prayer I extend my congratulations to the young people, the parents and teachers ---Prayer who support them, to those Members SPEAKER (Hon. Jackie Jacobson): who made the time to meet and Welcome back, colleagues. It is my encourage the participants, and to our pleasure to reconvene the Fifth Session staff who made such a meaningful of the 17th Legislative Assembly. forum. I know that all Members have been busy Speaking of young people, please join since we last met here in March. me in welcoming the Pages for this Committees and departments have sitting of the Assembly. It’s always a been travelling to many of our pleasure to have them in the House. We communities to hear the views of our have students from Boot Lake, Deh Cho residents of the Northwest Territories. and Yellowknife joining us during the Many of us also had the opportunity to next two weeks. spend time in our communities working Colleagues, it is now my duty to advise with our constituents. The connection the House that I have received the with our constituents is what makes our following message from the work so meaningful. Commissioner of the Northwest Colleagues, I was very happy to Territories. It reads: welcome back the 2015 Youth Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Parliamentarians as they gathered here that I recommend to the Legislative for a week earlier this month. I had the Assembly of the Northwest pleasure of meeting with all 19 Territories, the passage of Members, and as usual, I am very proud of the young people involved. I say that after every Youth Parliament, colleagues, but if our youth are any indication, the Northwest Territories has  Supplementary Appropriation Act a very bright future. We heard our young (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, people speak with poise and confidence 2014-2015 about the issues that affect them, their May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 7

 Supplementary Appropriation Act only three Members of the Legislative (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. Assembly. 2, 2015-2016 The number of Members of the  Supplementary Appropriation Act Legislative Assembly appointed to (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, Cabinet expanded to seven at the 2015-2016 beginning of the 9th Assembly, with Mr. during the Fifth Session of the 17th Braden chosen as one of its Members. Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, In 1980 Mr. Braden was selected by his George L. Tuccaro, Commissioner. colleagues to be the Leader of the Elected Executive, a position that came Thank you, colleagues. Orders of the to be known first as Government Leader day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. and later as Premier. Premier McLeod. As Leader of the Elected Executive, Mr. 3) Ministers’ Statements Braden continued the work he had begun with Mr. Drury of bringing MINISTER'S STATEMENT 192-17(5): increased decision-making power to the PASSING OF MR. GEORGE North and promoting responsible BRADEN government by Northerners for HON. BOB MCLEOD: Mr. Speaker, it Northerners. Devolution of responsibility is with great sadness that I rise today to for land and resources during this advise Members of the passing of Mr. Assembly was the most recent example George Braden this past Monday in of how this work continues. Ottawa. As well as Leader of the Elected Mr. Braden was a long-time Northerner Executive, Mr. Braden also held who graduated from Sir John Franklin portfolios as Minister of Economic Territorial High School before studying Development and Tourism, Minister of political science at the University of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Alberta and Dalhousie University. Justice and Public Services, Minister of Priorities and Planning and Minister for From 1977 to 1979 Mr. Braden was an the Status of Women. advisor to the Honourable Bud Drury, the Prime Minister’s Special During his time in government, Mr. Representative for Constitutional Braden also began efforts to promote a Development in the Northwest new recognition of the Northwest Territories. In 1979 he was elected to Territories at the national level and a the 9th Legislative Assembly as the more prominent role in Confederation. Member for Yellowknife North. This included efforts to win a seat for the Northwest Territories at First Ministers The Assembly of 1979 was in transition. conferences and his leadership of this While all its Members were elected, the government’s lobbying for Aboriginal federally appointed Commissioner still rights to be included in Section 35 of the had a direct role in the day-to-day Constitution. In fact, NWT Days first administration of the Government of the originated with Mr. Braden, when he and Northwest Territories and chaired all 22 Members of the Legislative Cabinet meetings, which then included Assembly decided to fly to Ottawa during the debates on the patriation of May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 8 the Constitution to lobby for the A book of condolences has been set up recognition of Aboriginal rights. in the Great Hall beside a portrait of Mr. Braden continued his work to George that also depicts the Northwest promote the Northwest Territories and Territories Expo ’86 Pavilion, a project advance its interests after he left office very close to his heart. I welcome all in 1983. This included several years members of the public to come and sign representing the Government of the the book and offer their own memories Northwest Territories as deputy minister of this great Northerner. of Intergovernmental Affairs in our Mr. Braden was a true champion for the Ottawa office, where he worked to Northwest Territories and we have lost a assert this government’s role as a major good friend and contemporary this participant at the international level and week, Mr. Speaker. Many of us knew increase its official contacts with and worked with George and with his provincial governments and other brother Bill, himself a two-term Member national institutions. of this Assembly. His mother, Esther, is Mr. Braden was also Commissioner of also well known to many of us as a the Northwest Territories Expo ’86 dedicated community builder. I invite Pavilion, staffed entirely by Northwest Members to join with me in offering our Territories residents and promoting the profound condolences to his widow, Lise fur industry, serving country food and Beaudry-Braden; Esther; his sister, hosting 1.5 million visitors over six Sandra; brothers Bill, Max and Pat and months. their families, represented today by his niece Carmen, on behalf of the people In recent years, Mr. Braden served as of the Northwest Territories. senior policy advisor to Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson, himself a former I would now ask Members to rise with Legislative colleague and past Premier me and observe a moment of silence in of the Northwest Territories. He memory of Mr. Braden and his continued to be a constant promoter of contributions to this territory and its the North and its potential and was a people. reliable advisor in Ottawa for many ---Moment of Silence visiting Northwest Territories politicians, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. senior officials and other leaders. Mr. Braden will be remembered not just MINISTER'S STATEMENT 193-17(5): as our first Premier, Mr. Speaker, but as SESSIONAL STATEMENT one of Canada’s nation builders. He has HON. BOB MCLEOD: Mr. Speaker, I earned this recognition for both his would like to welcome Members back to vision and leadership in guiding this the continuation of the Fifth Session of territory along the path towards the 17th Legislative Assembly. We have responsible northern government and been working together for almost four his support for placing Aboriginal rights years now on our vision of strong in the Canadian Constitution. I am individuals, families and communities honoured to stand here today as sharing the benefits and responsibilities Premier, and as his successor, to of a unified, environmentally sustainable continue the work he dedicated much of and prosperous Northwest Territories. his life to. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 9

We have made progress on that vision mining in the North Slave, South Slave in our time together, and I thank and Sahtu gave Northerners jobs and Members for their support and guidance literally built our communities. Oil and on the many projects and initiatives we gas development has done the same for have successfully introduced. people and communities in the As a government, we are committed to Mackenzie Delta and the Sahtu. what is best for the people of the entire We all know that resource development Northwest Territories. Hearing from can be a mixed blessing. None of us Members in this Chamber about the who sit in this building only a few views, values and priorities of the kilometres from the former Giant Mine people they represent is one way we site can forget the potential downside of make sure our initiatives and decisions resource development that is not well reflect what Northerners want and need. managed. As I have said throughout our term, the That is why devolution is so important to Northwest Territories has the potential us, Mr. Speaker. Devolution means to be an engine of economic growth for Northerners making decisions about this country. We have the potential to be how to protect our land and environment a net contributor to this nation, not to be and responsibly develop its resources. It drawing upon it for support. means taking our time and applying That is a goal worth striving for, the goal made-in-the-North solutions that reflect of a territory rich in jobs and northern priorities and values to opportunities for all its residents, with resource management. Devolution the financial means to pay its own way means not having to make the mistakes and the authority to make its own of the past again. decisions about its future. We have learned from the past, and we Creating a strong, sustainable, have studied the best examples of prosperous North is about choices, Mr. responsible, sustainable development Speaker. While I have often said that from around the world. The path to jobs the Northwest Territories has great and prosperity for Northerners lies in potential and a bright future, that future embracing our future and the natural is based on making realistic choices. advantages we enjoy. It does not lie in turning our backs on the legacy We need a strong and diversified Northerners have been given in the economy to have the kind of Northwest hopes we can find some other basis for Territories we envision. Growing that a strong economy and prosperous economy has to start with the future. advantages we enjoy. Those advantages include the ingenuity and But while our future is bright, Mr. ideas of the hardworking people who Speaker, we cannot make the mistake live here. They also include the wealth of believing that it is inevitable. Our of natural resources the Northwest natural resource wealth cannot be Territories has been blessed with. transformed into prosperity for Northerners if we cannot develop it and Economic and social development in move it to market. this territory have long depended on resource development. For decades, May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 10

That means making some deliberate intergovernmental memorandum of and strategic choices about the path understanding with the Inuvialuit forward, Mr. Speaker. It means Regional Corporation and an agreement recognizing the advantages we on capacity building for staff with the possess, but also addressing the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Nationally, the challenges that we need to overcome. Northwest Territories has taken a lead It means investing in our people so they role in chairing the Aboriginal Affairs have the skills and training they need for Working Group and supporting the jobs in newly vibrant industries. National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, It means research and development to which I attended along with Minister better understand the Northwest Ramsay. Territories resource base and the latest best practices from around the world for In the area of the environment, Minister responsibly developing them. Miltenberger and I had the privilege of signing the Transboundary Water It means refining and improving the Management Agreement with the regulatory system we inherited as part Government of Alberta in March. This of devolution and making sure it gives agreement, many years in the making, us the tools we need to responsibly and is one of the first agreements of its type safely manage resource development anywhere in the world and will ensure according to northern values and that decisions about water use in our priorities. two jurisdictions consider the needs of It means securing the fiscal capacity the ecosystem first. and flexibility to invest strategically in Minister Miltenberger and I also the energy, communications and represented the Northwest Territories at transportation infrastructure that will the recent Quebec Summit on Climate help the Northwest Territories compete Change in April. Along with Nunavut and in today’s global marketplace and allow Yukon, we communicated the us to grow our economy, providing long- importance of addressing this issue, term jobs for our residents and revenues particularly in the North, while not for northern governments. impacting the high cost of living in the It means strengthening our partnerships North, undermining food security or with Aboriginal and other governments, threatening emerging economies. identifying the common priorities we can We continue to take steps to build a work together to pursue in the best strong, well-managed economy that interests of all Northwest Territories creates sustainable benefits for residents. Northerners. That work includes As we head towards the end of the 17th implementing the Economic Assembly, we continue to make Opportunities Strategy and Mineral progress on our priorities and enjoy Development Strategy and finalizing an successes. In the area of partnerships, Oil and Gas Strategy. It includes taking we were pleased to have the action on the high cost of energy and K’atlodeeche First Nation become a continuing to promote population growth signatory to the Devolution Agreement in the Northwest Territories. We also in March. We recently concluded an continue to take steps to refine and May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 11 improve the legislation transferred to our economy that provides jobs and government a year ago, ensuring we services to residents, while growing the have a strong system for managing Northwest Territories corporate tax development in a responsible and base. Increased investment in public sustainable manner. infrastructure will also continue to make Fiscally, we were pleased to announce our territory and communities an last month that the Government of the attractive and sustainable choice for Northwest Territories has successfully current and new residents and help negotiated a second increase in the lower living costs. federal borrowing limit and agreement to The other parameter we need to review the definition of self-financing recognize is that we cannot borrow to debt. Our borrowing limit now stands at fund ongoing program and service $1.3 billion, up from the $575 million delivery. While the desire to maintain limit we had at the start of this existing programs and services or Assembly, when we identified increasing establish new ones might be strong, we the limit as a priority. can only do so if we have the revenues This increase in our borrowing limit to pay for them. Going into debt to fund gives the Government of the Northwest operations is not sustainable and must Territories increased flexibility to invest be avoided at all costs. in much needed infrastructure that will While our economic prospects are good support the responsible development of as a territory, we have to face the fact the Northwest Territories and its that our economic growth is still slow, a economy and bring down the cost of result of the global economic slowdown living for communities and residents. several years ago and the more recent The decision reflects this territory’s drop in world oil prices. That will economic potential and recognizes our continue to limit our revenues and our disciplined fiscal management. ability to pay for our operations. We will We need to continue to exercise all be required to take a hard look at our discipline in our spending decisions, books and work together to align our even with this new borrowing limit. expenditures to our revenues, both for Before we make any spending the remainder of this Assembly and into commitments, there are some the next one. parameters that we all need to We need to be diligent and follow our recognize. The first one is that we normal planning processes. Decisions should only be considering strategic on new investments will be made as investments designed to support long- part of the Government of the Northwest term economic growth for the territory, Territories normal planning processes such as investments in public and will include discussions with infrastructure. Members of the Legislative Assembly Ensuring our territory has the energy, and other stakeholders. transportation and communications Mr. Speaker, politicians are often called infrastructure business and industry decision-makers, but “choosers” might need to be competitive in the North be another way to put that. Faced with needs to be a priority. That investment an array of possibilities and options, it is will pay off in a strong and diversified our responsibility to make wise and May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 12 prudent choices based on our to advance economic growth in other understanding of what will best match sectors was, in many cases, first built to the needs, wishes and priorities of the support resource development. people we represent. We now have locally owned and Sometimes the choices are hard, even operated airlines, hotels, restaurants, unpleasant, but the choices still have to construction firms, telecommunications be made. Where the best path is and logistics companies, and service unclear, it is up to us to study the and supply industries. They are options, debate them in the Assembly evidence of the capacity of northern and and make a reasoned decision in the Aboriginally owned businesses to best interests of our territory and its leverage investments from resource residents. development and to participate and Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent invest fully in the NWT’s economy as to waive Rule 36(4) so that all Ministers’ successful business owners, operators statements provided to the Clerk can be and investors. delivered today. Our government has never veered from ---Unanimous consent granted the assertion that the NWT is open for business to socially and environmentally HON. BOB MCLEOD: While we are responsible companies that are willing entering the final months of our term, to invest and work with us to ensure the choices will continue and their benefits from sustainable development impact will continue to be seen now and accrue to the northern economy and our into the term of the next Assembly. It is residents, and to respect and protect the up to us to make the best choices we lands, water and environment to which can for the long-term future of our our people and their communities are government and the territory, and I look intrinsically tied. forward to continuing to debate those choices with Members here in this Last week the National Energy Board House. Thank you. and the NWT Geological Survey confirmed what we have known for MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. many years: There is significant oil and McLeod. Minister of Industry, Tourism gas potential in the Sahtu. Developing and Investment, Mr. Ramsay. this potential will produce jobs and business opportunities for residents in MINISTER'S STATEMENT 194-17(5): this region and resource royalties to RESPONSIBLY DEVELOPING support investments across the NWT. NWT OIL AND GAS RESOURCES The announcement validates the GNWT’s ongoing work to complete our HON. DAVID RAMSAY: Mr. Speaker, territory’s first-ever Call Cycle for Oil and resource development has long been Gas Exploration Rights and to advance the foundation of our territory’s the development of an Oil and Gas economy. Strategy that will serve to guide oil and Our rich mining and oil and gas sectors gas development in our territory well into have generated significant employment, the future. skill development and wealth. Vital economic infrastructure that continues May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 13

Exploration and development has technical submissions from the GNWT. slowed, but we are using this These arm’s-length boards look at each opportunity to define the parameters application, consider all of the that NWT residents feel are appropriate circumstances and make well-informed to both support and protect their families decisions. and communities for the future; and by It is a system that continues to evolve providing a level of certainty and and has been proven effective in awareness required by proponents of ensuring benefits from the development major projects, we are working to renew that has already occurred in our territory interest and confidence in our flow to NWT residents and businesses. investment climate. Ours is an integrated and In part, this is the work that was begun comprehensive process that ensures several years ago when our government resource development decisions in the first started looking at hydraulic NWT are made in the public interest, fracturing and studying best practices informed by appropriate scientific and related to it. Following devolution, that technical information, best practices, work further informed the development traditional knowledge and public input. It of new filing regulations for applications is one based in federal and territorial law for hydraulic fracturing operations in our as well as in obligations established in territory. We did this together, and in settled land claims and self-government recent months we have visited agreements. communities to talk about how those We recognize that our regulatory regulations would enhance and become system, like hydraulic fracturing itself, is part of our regulatory system. detailed and can be a source of Mr. Speaker, this work and dialogue is uncertainty. We can and will address not about deciding if hydraulic fracturing this with a focus on increasing the will take place in the NWT. In fact, our knowledge, understanding and Devolution Agreement already puts this awareness of both legislated and decision in the hands of NWT residents industry processes that will be key to the every time a project is proposed. responsible development of our Public boards established under the economy into the future. Mackenzie Valley Resource Hydraulic fracturing technologies have Management Act set the terms of water advanced greatly in recent years, as licences and land use permits. The have the public accountabilities Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact demanded from companies that Review Board conducts environmental incorporate this development process. assessments and environmental impact Today we are confident that regions like reviews in the Mackenzie Valley, while the Sahtu and the Beaufort-Delta can boards established under the land claim realize the benefits of their oil and gas screen and assess development resources without harm to the proposals in the Inuvialuit Settlement environment, and our proposed Region. The various boards and regulations will help make sure of that. regulatory agencies in the NWT hold We have heard from the public and the public hearings and receive submissions Standing Committee on Economic from members of the public as well as Development and Infrastructure that May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 14 more time is needed to review the This important step demonstrates that proposed regulations. We are we are serious about unlocking oil and committed to extending the engagement gas potential in the territory and period until the end of August and ensuring that development is conducted beyond, if necessary. in an environmentally responsible and That will give us more time to engage sustainable manner. with NWT residents and offer us an It will not result in a sudden and opportunity this summer to meet and unmanageable increase in exploration discuss our work in greater detail during and development, but they will set the the many gatherings and assemblies stage for us to realize a future that, like that will take place. our past, is founded on the responsible Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has taken the and measured development of our first step beyond simply mirroring the territory’s vast resource wealth. federal requirements that we have For the last four years, the 17th inherited and to making the NWT Legislative Assembly has proudly held a regulatory system our own. vision of a strong, prosperous and For many years, and through many environmentally sustainable Northwest processes, NWT residents have told us Territories that all residents, families and that they place a great deal of value on communities can benefit from. the land and environment. They have Our government has long held that the stressed the need for baseline surface economy and the environment are and groundwater information, public linked. That understanding is set out in disclosure, measures to address air the Sustainable Development Policy that quality, and enhanced reporting. The we put into place in 1990. It is reflected proposed hydraulic fracturing filing in the Land Use and Sustainability regulations address these priorities and Framework that we released last year make expectations clear. and it is enshrined in our regulatory Our government will take the time it system. We want development, but we needs to get the right rules in place for want development the right way, the managing oil and gas development in responsible way that creates our territory. We will continue to listen to sustainable prosperity for our children Members, the public and Aboriginal and our grandchildren. But we cannot governments as well as business and have prosperity without an economy that industry. Once we are satisfied that we provides jobs and economic have the right solution, we are prepared opportunities for people and revenues to to move forward with filing regulations our government to invest in that will provide proponents a greater infrastructure and deliver programs and understanding of expectations and services that support our residents to be requirement before they prepare and healthy, educated and self-sufficient. submit applications. Should legislative This is the work that we have and change be necessary to further continue to be committed to realizing strengthen regulatory processes in this today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. area, we are prepared to make MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. recommendations for the consideration Ramsay. Item 3, Members’ statements. of the 18th Legislative Assembly. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 15

The honourable Member for Hay River on this energy piece and people are South, Mrs. Groenewegen. going to use this opportunity for whatever political bucket list they may 4) Members’ Statements have hidden in their drawer somewhere and I’m not very happy about it, Mr. MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON Speaker. DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIAL I have been in this Legislature a long ENERGY STRATEGY time, and without divulging any confidentiality, let me tell you I had the MRS. GROENEWEGEN: Thank you, opportunity to sit through a noon hour Mr. Speaker. Welcome back. It’s good briefing today which, bar none, wins the to be back in the House. We only have prize, top marks for the least substance seven short days here, so we have to on an extremely important issue that I make them count. have ever been involved in. It’s an I am a firm believer, as an MLA, to absolute insult to the 11 Members on giving credit where credit is due. We this side of the House that this have failed as a government as the 17th government, if they have a plan, are not Assembly in one area that I am going to willing to share it or discuss it or take it talk about today, and that is coming up out for public consultation to the people with a broad energy strategy. Fail. of the Northwest Territories. In the absence of a clearly thought out So, we just keep spending our money strategy that considers our environment, fixing crisis to crisis management, just our economy and our cost of living, this fixing problems as we go along. We are government will just keep acting in a never going to get out ahead of the reactive mode, running willy-nilly. Like problem. Mr. Speaker, I’m not very when we had to come up with a Cabinet happy about it. Like I said, I can’t meeting, they went someplace to have a divulge confidential information that has meeting and they came back and said, been shared in committee, but this is “We’re going to throw $20 million into something that we need to talk about. the fact that we have low water and high This is important to the people of the diesel costs.” This is the way this North, that we have a broad Energy government has reacted to everything Strategy. related to this. Let’s just throw more We had two energy charrettes, and now, money at it. just about when the 17th Assembly is We had $60 million set aside at the over, we’re going to have a response beginning of this Assembly to actually from the government for those energy do something creative and responsible charrettes. It’s too important a topic. when it came to energy, but we have I may not be here in the 18th Assembly, literally blown all of that. We have failed but this is something we get a failed to look at the creative opportunities to mark on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. do things in the Northwest Territories for Northerners in the area of energy. Here MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs. we are now a few short months until the Groenewegen. Member for Range Lake, end of our term, we’ve got a Cabinet Mr. Dolynny. that seemingly is going to run willy-nilly May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 16

MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON In essence, the people want to know, THE REAL POWER ISSUES what is Cabinet’s intent behind the FACING NORTHERNERS Miltenberger iron curtain? What is this MR. DOLYNNY: Thank you, Mr. new energy policy we keep hearing Speaker. The past 48 hours has been about in the McLeod government? Why host to a power struggle, a fight, not is this same consulting group, which is based on improving electricity rates or on NTPC payroll, working so closely lowering our cost of living but a war of with this Cabinet? What secret deals are ego and ministerial legacy building. happening right now that will significantly cost the ratepayers and the I want to take this opportunity to speak taxpayers of the NWT? Furthermore, about not what I believe is a legitimate what cuts will there be to the critical RFP process in Hay River, but an ad capital infrastructure, programs and that appeared in this week’s newspaper services when this government dips into suggesting this government’s intention your money to expropriate a privately is to expropriate Northland Utilities, a owned First Nation company? successful, northern, private company, 60 years’ history, 50 percent owned by Contrary to what we’ve been led to 27 Dene First Nations, and sure believe by this Cabinet, the taxpayer enough, today this Cabinet responded does not have the deep pockets to accordingly with an RFP bid in Hay invest in energy infrastructure we River to do just that. require, nor do we have the brain trust in solving our energy concerns, and this is Undoubtedly, this ad comes in response a given. But no, Mr. Speaker, instead to comments made by Minister we should be getting out of the way, like Miltenberger at the 2014 Energy we’re seeing in places like in Ontario Charrette and some MLAs during the with Hydro One, but this McLeod last Legislative Assembly sitting here, government is keen on taking our hard- where it was claimed, with zero earned tax money with its newly minted evidence, that eliminating Northland American Express card and is willing to Utilities and the Public Utilities Board put First Nations last. But the clear would reduce electricity costs. message to industry: We’re closed for Contrary to the personal views of our business. Finance Minister, which we seem to Worried, Mr. Speaker? Everybody in this hear a lot of lately, Northland Utilities is room should be. Thank you. not the middleman nor is it the boogeyman in our electric industry. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Member for Hay River North, Furthermore, removing the Public Mr. Bouchard. Utilities Board, as hinted by our Finance Minister, would eliminate not only the MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON independent oversight of all our GNWT HAY RIVER ELECTRICITY tax subsidies to NTPC, it would FRANCHISE REQUEST FOR eliminate all ratepayer protection and PROPOSALS there would be no process to truly validate electricity rate structures across MR. BOUCHARD: Thank you, Mr. the North. Speaker. I’d like to talk about the energy process, as well, and I support the Town May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 17 of Hay River’s call for an RFP in the You only need to look so far as page 2 process. I’m the MLA for Hay River in Monday’s newspaper or even page 6 North. I represent Hay River. The town of today’s paper. What you’ll see is a council has the option to go out for bid monopoly saying competition is bad. for process. I support that. The town Better yet, let’s make one company, council voted unanimously to go into they say, and eliminate all the that process and I support their look to competition by absorbing them. government to bid from the Power Is anyone really fooled by this? I know Corporation. the public isn’t fooled by this and they I understand NUL is a northern want to know who is defending the company, Aboriginally owned, and public’s interest. Because I know, they they’re a Hay River company, a long- know, a lobbyist will defend the standing Hay River company. That’s the corporate interest. difficulty. But the people of Hay River Yes, I said a lobbyist, Mr. Speaker. It’s have asked for us to look at the cost of true. ATCO has hired their own living. They have asked us to look at the operative on the ground, making deals. expense of power, one of our biggest Who knows what they’re doing to look costs out there, and the town council after the private interests of ATCO? I has responded to that request. Through won’t say this person’s name – they this RFP, they have the right to put out a don’t need to be called out by their tender to ask for interested bidders. individual name – but I can tell you, they The Power Corporation and the whole have extensive experience being one of structure of the Northwest Territories, our former Finance Ministers here in the we have a company and we have the Northwest Territories in the last century. Power Corporation, a Crown corporation What does this mean? Who’s working in the whole NWT. Obviously, if the town for the Northerners? Who is working for puts out that call for proposals, those the everyday family? I don’t know. But I are the two head front runners. That’s can tell you this operative is meeting the scenario. That’s the structure of the with the who’s who and I’ve even been Northwest Territories power. told they’ve been meeting with some I’m sorry. I support NUL. I support a lot MLAs. of those people who work in Hay River. What’s ironic is in my 15 years of But the process of the Town of Hay experience, I’ve heard time and time River should be left to the Town of Hay again the business has always said, River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. “We just want a chance to compete. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Competition is good.” Competition is Bouchard. Member for Yellowknife absolutely necessary. They will say they Centre, Mr. Hawkins. want to be given a chance to come to that table to put their best bid. And MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON guess what. If it doesn’t work, COMPETITION IN ELECTRICITY sometimes it just doesn’t, and they will GENERATION INDUSTRY accept it, but they want the chance to MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. compete, a fair shot. But ironically, a Speaker. A culture of entitlement is billion dollar company is saying they like afoot and you can smell it a mile away. business as usual. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 18

So, as they create a facade, as we’ve our borrowing limit, another present seen in the paper, it’s nothing but a fear from the federal Finance Minister. Oh, tactic, a fear tactic that I would call a how to use all that new money? There campaign of entitlement. It is creative are many possibilities. It’s a writing at its best and I give them good conversation we have yet to have, but points for that. I understand that they one that we must have together as an care about what matters to them, but I’m Assembly. not afraid of this billion dollar company, I’m very hopeful that this change in our nor should any MLA in this room nor financial position will have a positive even any Cabinet Ministers should be impact on a very worthwhile territorial afraid of them. We need to do what is project here in Yellowknife, an right, and what is right is the Town of expansion to Avens - A Community for Hay River has called for a public Seniors. As Members are aware, Avens process. We need to support them and is trying to build a new facility to respect that. And may I emphasize, a accommodate more NWT seniors who dually elected Town of Hay River need supportive housing and to do council and their citizens demand this. badly needed renovations to Aven I’m not afraid of their lobbyists. Bring Manor, the current outdated long-term them on. They can work as hard as they care centre at Avens. can. I’ll work even harder, as I can. The numbers are irrefutable. The cohort Thank you, Mr. Speaker. of NWT seniors is growing and will MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. continue to grow over the next 15 years, Hawkins. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. likely doubling. The numbers of seniors Bisaro. needing housing of one sort or another are also indisputable. We, right now, MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON have elders needing supported living EXPANSION OF AVENS who have nowhere to live, something SENIORS FACILITY the new facility at Avens could fix. Yet MS. BISARO: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. this government has, to date, been Welcome back, and welcome back to unable to assist the Avens organization the House to all my colleagues. to accomplish their goal to start building. Why? Well, there are a couple of While we were away, as we’ve already answers. One is, “We can’t provide heard today from the Premier, the Avens with capital dollars, it’s not in the Premier and the Finance Minister plan, we have no money.” Another, “We received a long-awaited present from can’t make a commitment to book beds the federal government. Finally there in the new facility, that counts against was a response from the federal our borrowing limit.” government to the GNWT request for an increase to our borrowing limit, and it Well, the financial landscape has was a positive response. We, the changed. The borrowing limit is GNWT, now have an additional $500 significantly increased. So, now will the million of room in our borrowing limit. government reconsider their position on There was an added bonus. It sounds the Avens expansion project in light of as though what constitutes debt will our changed financial situation? Will change, giving us even more room in they take action to reduce the need for May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 19 seniors housing, to accept the I did have an opportunity, as I responsibility to provide for our elders mentioned, to speak with Marja and I not five or 10 years from now, but now? asked her if she would like me to say We have a willing partner with a proven anything on her behalf and if there was track record of getting it done, a partner any recognition that she would like to who will build the facility for us and for give to other people who made her who our seniors. she is and helped her do the job the best that she can. She did mention that There’s no excuse anymore. It’s time to in her work for the Council of Disabled get it done. Thank you. Persons in Inuvik, she’d like to MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms. recognize and thank Billy Moore for all Bisaro. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that she has taught him, in working with Mr. Moses. the Native Women’s Association recognizing over 300 women that she’s MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON had the privilege of knowing, learning EDUCATION HALL OF FAME from, working with and for, as well as INDUCTEES the late Bertha Allen who has supported MR. MOSES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. her over 20 years in her role of doing I had the opportunity earlier today to the great job that she has done, and the participate in the Education Hall of love and guidance that she has received Fame inductees ceremony here at the from people like Lucy and Jimmy Great Hall. I’d just like to acknowledge Adams, Judy Lafferty and Mary and recognize the nine recipients this Barnaby. She’ll always cherish the year, or the nine inductees I should say, moments that she had with them, and but also congratulate anyone who got working at the Aurora College and with nominated for this very prestigious, GNWT and her former colleagues, and significant recognition. bosses, Ms. Miki O’Kane and Doug More particular, I’d like to recognize and Robertson, for providing guidance, acknowledge Ms. Marja Van leadership and helping her do the job Nieuwenhuyzen, who is a long-time she did at the college. She’d also like to resident of Inuvik, who has had over 30 acknowledge and congratulate all the years of contributions to the education inductees into the Education Hall of system in the community of Inuvik and Fame and recognize their contribution to more so over the last 14 years at the the education of our residents, whether Aurora College. Speaking with Ms. Van it’s through academics, culture, Nieuwenhuyzen, she was very traditions, or volunteering and for their honoured to be inducted into the ongoing support in the communities. Education Hall of Fame. Myself working Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi. with her on a personal level, she’s done MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. a lot of great work in Inuvik as a Moses. Member for Weledeh, Mr. volunteer, as an ambassador for Bromley. education,…(inaudible)… ambassador of traditions, cultures, healthy living, and I just want to recognize her for that. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 20

MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON agreement with NTPC, partially enabled LOCAL ECONOMIES FORUM by trainee installers. ON SUSTAINABLE Jackie Milne’s description of Hay River’s COMMUNITIES Northern Farm Training Institute project MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. and Savoury Institute Hub showed that Speaker. Residents from all regions of food is the heart of our economies, and the Northwest Territories gathered last equally can-do and successful farmers week to discuss ways to re-localize their market in Yellowknife was inspiring to community economy. The Building many. Localized Economies forum, hosted by From Norman Wells came everything Ecology North, was an exciting we need to know about successfully opportunity for people to share thoughts producing all of the potatoes we are and experiences on how to capture ever likely to require. local, lasting and meaningful jobs, restore our depleted environment and Important connections were made, with develop economies that actually serve Fort Good Hope’s need for a fish communities. processing expert matching available expertise from a fisher in Yellowknife, They showed the combined domestic key to enabling Fort Good Hope’s local and local market economy that fish processing and storage plan. communities seek is far richer than the global market economy forced upon Similarly, policy to address the current them today. loss of fish and restaurant waste for composting was clarified. Mayors also They explored the concept of economic highlighted community partnerships as gardening, local meat and fish key. processing, raising vegetables, co-ops and community markets, and biomass, The need for strategic redirection of solar and wind energy as costs of government funds from perverse renewable energy plummets, and ways subsidies to rebalancing the playing field in which communities can take back away from fossil fuels and towards power for governance and well-being. localizing the provision of our core needs by focusing on human needs and Myriad related topics on localizing our renewable resources was recognized economies were covered through repeatedly. The goal is successful and inspiring panel discussions and open innovative community empowerment forums. Fifty-plus people participated that builds a strong local economic daily, with hundreds more providing foundation, rejects a boom and bust local perspectives and questions approach and restores the commons. through the digital democracy IserveU Internet connection. Programs like the Tlicho Wilderness Training Programs, social initiatives... From the Fort McPherson community biomass energy system we learned of Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent the role of elders, project challenges to conclude my statement. Mahsi. and solutions and policy needs. From ---Unanimous consent granted Lutselk’e we heard about a rare MR. BROMLEY: Programs like the community solar power purchase Tlicho Wilderness Training Programs, May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 21 social initiatives such as Dene Nahjo Today we recognize my friend, Mr. and social supports like eradicating George Braden, who at one time was a poverty, paying a living wage and colleague of mine. Mr. Bill Braden, his ensuring a basic guaranteed income all brother, sat next to me. Today we pay big returns on local economic remember his contributions to the development. Northwest Territories. Attendees urged Ecology North to make In our small communities, as politicians, this an annual event. Mr. Speaker and leaders, people in schools, hospitals colleagues, please join me in thanking and private industry, sometimes we’re all those who made this happen, and busy and we don’t make time because wish them the best of success with next of our schedule. I know that for people year’s forum. Mahsi. in the small communities, when leaders MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. come then they appreciate it for a Bromley. Member for Sahtu, Mr. moment to sit with them and talk with Yakeleya. them and eat with them and pray with them for that moment. Sometimes we MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON don’t have the luxury of just leaving TRIBUTE TO RECENTLY here, because we are required by law to DECEASED NORTHERNERS be in this Assembly here, so sometimes we have that internal conflict that we MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. should go or should we stay. Only we Speaker. Today I want to take the can make that decision. opportunity to make mention of loved ones who have passed away in the I want to say there are a lot of good Sahtu region and also around the people in the Northwest Territories, and Northwest Territories. we do our best to be in those communities to support the families as There are many important events and much as we can. Our prayers go to all things that are happening in our region. the families for the loss of loved ones People are going about their work. since the last time we have sat as the People are doing things that they need Assembly. to get done in our small communities. But there’s a time in our communities, MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. especially when a loved one has passed Yakeleya. The Member for Nahendeh, away because of sickness or sudden Mr. Menicoche. death, that the community, for a moment, slows down and takes care of MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON the loved ones, with food, coffee, with TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY visiting. They grieve together and they FOR FORT SIMPSON mourn together for the loved ones in our MR. MENICOCHE: Mahsi, Mr. small communities. Tradition partly kicks Speaker. Today I want to recognize the in in these rituals and we remember exceptional youth of my riding and thank these young people or these older them for making their voices heard. people because of the contributions they Firstly, in the gallery today I have 13 made in the community or in the region students from the Fort Simpson Bompas or in the territory. Elementary School whom I will be recognizing later today. I hope you’re May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 22 enjoying the speeches called Members’ those training for territorial and national statements today. Because we just high performance competitions. It would started, they are taking much longer, also be a valuable addition to the and I thank you for your patience up community at large, giving everybody in there. Fort Simpson a new place to exercise In the first week of May, like Mr. and, as I said, the capacity to host Speaker said, young people from across meets would also enable students like the territory gathered here at the the ones I spoke about to build Legislative Assembly for the Youth friendships across the NWT, to work Parliament. That included Ms. Sylvia with their friends, meet new people and Pascal-Matt from the Thomas Simpson improve their skills. School, who represented Nahendeh and I seek unanimous consent to conclude did a fantastic job. I also want to say her my statement. younger sister Abigail is also here with ---Unanimous consent granted the Grade 6 class here today. Welcome. MR. MENICOCHE: We all know the While I was in Fort Simpson this past importance of physical activity and how month, I had the opportunity to speak it affects a positive educational with these Grade 6 students at Bompas outcome. The more exercise our Elementary. I spoke with them about the students get, the better they are at role of the MLA, how government learning. I look forward to the day that operates and how people can effect Fort Simpson students can train on a change. Bompas students as well as track of their own. students from the Thomas Simpson Secondary are gearing up and training During question period, I will be asking hard for the annual NWT Track and questions with regard to working toward Field Championships in Hay River next getting a track and field facility for the week. The Grade 6 students mentioned community of Fort Simpson. Mahsi cho. how useful it would be to have the MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. community of Fort Simpson fitted with a Menicoche. Member for Mackenzie new track and field. Not only could they Delta, Mr. Blake. train for competitions like the annual Hay River meet, they could even host it MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON one day, serving as ambassadors for LOUIS CARDINAL FERRY Fort Simpson. LAUNCH The community of Fort Simpson has not MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. had track facilities since the early 1990s. It gives me great pleasure today to let Sadly, our children of Fort Simpson are you know that this coming Saturday we training in the playgrounds and training have two graduates from Tsiigehtchic. on a gravel road next to the school. An Deron Andre and Vanessa Lennie will outdoor track would enable students to be graduating this Saturday in Inuvik. practice and train properly, not just one Family and friends will be travelling to sport but many, helping them find new Inuvik to help celebrate this occasion. ways to have fun and stay active. As you may know, at this moment we Participants at any skill level would are isolated. The ferry will be launched benefit, from first-time beginners to tomorrow, from what I’ve been told, and May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 23 hopefully we can have the ferry in Member’s statement I spoke about the operation by this coming Saturday. Grade 6 class in Bompas Elementary, I will have questions for the Minister so I would like to recognize them here later today. Thank you very much. today. It gives me great pleasure that they have taken the time to drive over to MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Blake. Yellowknife. I just want to say, as well, Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, to the students there that their names returns to oral questions. Item 6, will be in Hansard, an historical recognition of visitors in the gallery. The document. Your names will be in honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod. Hansard for the next hundred or more 5) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery years. I would like to welcome teachers Leanne Josie and Bernie Leader, HON. BOB MCLEOD: Thank you, Mr. chaperone Martina Isaiah, and the Speaker. I would like to recognize students: Fayth Sibbeston, Etanda members from the Braden family in the Hardisty-Beaverho, Tamara Lennie, gallery: Carmen Braden and her partner, Grace Day, Charlene Brown, Stevie Eli Purchase; Laurie Nowakowski and May Gargon-Lacasse, Abigail Pasqua- her partner, Andrew Robinson. Thank Matte, Tamara Deneyoua, Seneah you, Mr. Speaker. Allen, Kylan Antoine, Jeremy Larter, Marie Anderson and Kyra Sanguez. I’m MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. glad you made it here today. Welcome. McLeod. Mr. Ramsay. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. HON. DAVID RAMSAY: Thank you, Menicoche. Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent in the gallery today, Ms. MRS. GROENEWEGEN: Thank you, Cheryl Fennell. Welcome. Mr. Speaker. I am very proud as the Member for Hay River South to have MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. had two constituents from the Hay River Ramsay. Mr. Lafferty. South riding who are inducted into the HON. JACKSON LAFFERTY: Mahsi, Education Hall of Fame today. Doris Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Camsell, who has been a big contributor and welcome here in this House the to traditional language and culture for 2015 Education Hall of Fame inductees her First Nation that she comes from in who are here with us in the gallery. They Fort Providence. She has been a are Lea Lamoureux, Ted Blondin, Doris wonderful asset in Hay River in the Camsell, Dean MacInnis, Reanna education field, and I would like to Erasmus, Bruce Green, Carole recognize her husband, Doug, who is Bachand, Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen also with her today. He is also a well- and Michel Louis Rabesca. I would just known mariner in the Northwest like to say congratulations to all of them Territories. as the 2015 Education Hall of Fame I would also like to recognize Bruce inductees. Green, who taught high school for MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. many, many years. He is the father of Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche. the famous Brendan Green – I had to MR. MENICOCHE: Thank you very mention that – and Bruce’s wife, much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my Marilyn, who is also here today, who is May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 24

Brendan Green’s mother. Mr. Green great service for us. I know Emma was well known for his science teaching Willoughby here is from the Weledeh at Diamond Jenness Secondary School riding. So, welcome to our Pages. and had a particularly outstanding Mahsi. knowledge of mushrooms. I am sure he MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. is watching this morel mushroom Bromley. Mr. Yakeleya. harvest, this rush we are having in the Northwest Territories, very closely. MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. Welcome to the House and Speaker. I’d like to also recognize a congratulations on a well-deserved couple of the recipients of the recognition today. educational award. First to my sister-in- law Doris Camsell, congratulations, MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs. Doris. Behind every good woman is a Groenewegen. Mr. Bromley. real good man, so also to Doug MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. Camsell. I’d like to recognize Doug, Speaker. I’d also like to recognize also, my brother-in-law, and also to Ted members of George Braden’s family Blondin and Violet Camsell and to the here today. George was a couple years other recipients of the award. ahead of me in school. I appreciated the Also to the Braden family and my Premier’s tribute to George today. I colleague at one time, Mr. Braden. Also, know the family did too. George was a I’d like to welcome the young... I think I couple years ahead of me, but he see my niece up there, Mahalia. |I’d like always seemed miles ahead of me in to welcome her and wish her well with terms of leadership. He was a very the Government of the Northwest thoughtful guy and always far ahead of Territories internship, and she’s one us. So, recognition to Carmen Braden, smart cookie. his niece, and Eli Purchase and Andrew Robinson, who are with us today, and I want to also recognize the young my heart goes out to the whole family, of people in the gallery. I hope that one course. day you’re down here. Stay in school. Help us out here. Thank you. I’d also like to recognize other constituents, particularly and joyfully MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. there’s a great energy in the House Yakeleya. Mr. Moses. today with all these young folks and the MR. MOSES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Education Hall of Famers. There’s a I’d like to take this opportunity to couple of Weledeh residents in recognize and acknowledge all our particular. Congratulations to everybody, inductees into the Education Hall of but Lea Lamoureux for her attendance Fame. I appreciate all the work you’ve initiatives out at Kaw Tay Whee School done over the years in your position as in Detah, and of course Reanna an educator, as a volunteer, as a Erasmus for her amazing decades of contributor to your community. dedication to early childhood and Ms. Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen wasn’t inclusive education. So, a real tip of the able to join us today because she is in hat to those constituents. Holland attending her mother’s 90th I’d also not like to forget about our birthday celebrations with her family and Pages today. They always do such friends. So, on her behalf, I’d just like to May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 25 say thank you to the Department of to the children of Fort Simpson. I went to Education, as well, for recognizing her. school there, and Mr. Menicoche talked Thank you, Mr. Speaker. about the old track in the old days. Well, MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. I’m just a little bit older than you and I Moses. Mr. Hawkins. remember running on it in the old track and field days, and I hope one day you MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. too will enjoy that experience and have Speaker. I too, like others, would like to that memory of your own. Thank you first acknowledge the Braden family and very much. thank him for his individual contribution to the Legislature in its day and certainly MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. to the path that all of us have enjoyed. Hawkins. Mr. Bouchard. He’s helped us along the way through MR. BOUCHARD: Thank you, Mr. his wisdom and guidance in his early Speaker. I’d like to recognize a few Hay years as our first Government Leader River residents who were distinguished or, as we refer to them now, as Premier. Education Hall of Famers, as well, Ms. I wish we had more time today, but I’d Camsell and Mr. Green. Mr. Green like to recognize just a couple of the taught me Grade 10 biology and I didn’t Education Hall of Fame winners here have the stomach to go on dissecting today. Dean MacInnis is a constituent of frogs, but he’s also a wrestling coach. Yellowknife Centre and it’s quite fitting He helps out in the community quite a that he’s received the significant bit, and Mrs. Groenewegen talked about contribution to safe and caring he’s involved in morel mushrooms now. environments for students. I know of his I’d also like to recognize Ted Blondin, an reputation at Sir John, and it’s certainly alumni from U of L who I went to school one of great esteem, not just with with. Thank you very much. students but with his colleagues who MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. work there. So, people do think very Bouchard. I’d like to welcome also here highly of the work, and it shows. He’s today Doug Camsell, Captain Doug recently been made principal of the Camsell, from my old working days up in school, a school I happened to graduate Tuk before coming to this Assembly. A from one or two years ago. More like 26, lot of good times. Welcome to the unfortunately, but that’s the truth. House, Doug. I’d like to welcome also Lastly, under the Education Hall of Ms. Mahalia Newmark, raised in Tuk for Fame folks, I do want to say a special a lot of years. It’s always good to have hello to Reanna Erasmus, a lady who I people from back home. I’d like to truly cherish. Her vibrancy and welcome everybody here for taking an excitement and passion for children is interest in the proceedings here today. certainly infectious. She’s done wonders Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral and amazing things with the Aboriginal questions. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Head Start and certainly her early Yakeleya. childhood education, and I thank her for that. Finally, I would like to note a deep personal hello and certainly a welcome May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 26

6) Oral Questions providing a range of culturally appropriate mental health services, QUESTION 813-17(5): because one of the larger vacancies we SAHTU HEALTH AND SOCIAL have is around mental health services in SERVICES AUTHORITY the Sahtu and they’re in the early stages VACANCIES of designing a pilot project in partnership MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. with one of the communities to see if Speaker. My question is to the Minister there’s a more innovative way or a of Health and Social Services. In my better way to involve local people to research, I understand that there are 71 provide some more stability in the positions within the Sahtu Health and Sahtu. So, we’re looking forward to Social Services Authority. Thirteen of seeing how that goes. In the interim, we these positions are vacant. The continue to actively recruit, and following communities have vacancies: hopefully we’ll be able to fill those Deline has three vacancies, Tulita has positions in short order. Thank you. one, Norman Wells has eight vacancies, MR. YAKELEYA: I look forward to the Fort Good Hope has one vacancy. pilot project partnership study. The Why are these important vacancies not communities of Deline, Tulita, Norman filled, some of them since September Wells, Colville Lake, the mental health 2014 of last year? and addictions counsellors positions MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. have been vacant since August 2014, Yakeleya. Mr. Abernethy. September 2014. These positions have been vacant for well over a year. I want HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, to know from this Minister and also from Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; our Health and Social Services Health there are a significant number of Board about these positions. We have vacancies in the Sahtu and we given the Minister some creative ideas, recognize that it’s a problem and we’re solutions. working closely with the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority to find Why are we not having these positions ways to fill these positions. There are filled? Can we not do something active recruitments on a number of different? We seem to be running up the positions, and in some cases until we same old issue of credentials and can find somebody on a more academic credibility. Well, we have permanent basis, we have been filling another method using the Aboriginal some of them with casuals, but that context of looking after ourselves. Why doesn’t change the need to find is the Minister not exploring that issue? permanent staff. HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: I hear the There’s a number of reasons that we Member, and that is exactly the type of may be having difficulties. Some thing that is being done with this new individuals, some of those positions pilot study, looking at new ways to require real solid knowledge, skills and involve communities and find alternate ability and some statutory requirements, ways to provide services in communities but the Sahtu Authority has held and looking at local solutions. discussions with community leadership I have also had an opportunity to travel on more effective approaches to around the Northwest Territories and May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 27 talk to leadership, and every time I meet HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: As a with leadership, I talk about the government, we’re always looking for vacancies that we’re seeing across the ways to train local people for local work, Northwest Territories, and I ask them to and if we have individuals who are in the work with us to encourage youth to system who would be appropriate for pursue some of these professions. succession planning purposes, we often As a note, some of these professions do look at those individuals. But in some have statutory requirements, so it does situations, I mean, it is frustrating, and I tie our hands a little bit as far as who we understand the Member’s frustration. If can put into those positions. But I do there is a statutory requirement for a take the Member’s point. We are going job, when you need that in order to have to be working with the Sahtu. I know the a licence to perform the duties CEO in the Sahtu has been running a articulated within the job description, number of competitions and is looking that can be a barrier, which is why we forward to this new relationship to see if have to look at other alternatives such we can have some success through this as this pilot project that we’re talking pilot. about in the Sahtu region. MR. YAKELEYA: There are some very But at the same time, there are well-educated, culturally credible people programs available to us, such as the in the Sahtu who can be working with Regional Recruitment Program to bring the health board. local people into local work. But we are looking at a number of ways to train I want to ask the Minister, within our local people. For example, we are own health board there are some people hopefully going to be opening up the who are either on sick leave or are on long-term care facility in the Norman extended leave because they are being Wells area in the next year or two, the overworked within the Health next two years, and we’re working with department. Some of the workers are the Gwich’in, the Sahtu and the even complaining to me that there aren’t Inuvialuit to arrange training for local proper support mechanisms within the people to take on many of those roles. health board. Some of them need to be recognized and be honoured by their I hear the Member. I support what the experience, and yet they’re being Member is saying. We’re looking for overlooked. There are other people creative solutions. We’re working with coming to the health board that are the Sahtu. The chief executive officer in taking on the managerial positions, who the Sahtu is constantly working with the are actually being trained by these leadership in the communities to try to qualified social workers or mental health find ways to encourage youth to pursue workers and they’re not given the careers, and we’re looking for ways to credence, I guess, or the recognition train local people, where possible. that they deserve. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. When is the department going to look at Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, our own Sahtu homegrown labour Mr. Yakeleya. force? MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would strongly suggest to the Minister and also to our CEO, go to the May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 28 homegrown, qualified statutory social tomorrow, Thursday; at the very latest, workers in our communities, sit down early Friday. Thank you. with them and say, “what’s the issue,” MR. BLAKE: Just over lunch today I because certainly they aren’t being got the latest update from Tsiigehtchic heard. This has been told to me. This is and the water level is very low, you can not happening. They’re telling me see the landing. directly. I’m saying right now in this Assembly to this Minister, if they can do What is the status on the landings right that we would certainly clear up a lot of now? Are there people working on it, issues that will put people in good building it up, getting it ready for the positions within the Sahtu health board. ferry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some issues that we cannot HON. TOM BEAULIEU: The water is speak of today in the House that need to subsiding and the slipways are ready. be addressed. I’m asking the Minister if Equipment is now working to improve he would do this with our health board the landings, so yes the landings are and CEO. ready. We are expecting the service of HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: I’ll pass hauling vehicles to actually start on that message along to the chair of the Sunday. We are trying to speed it up to Sahtu Health and Social Services try to coincide with people wanting to Authority and have him strongly travel over to Inuvik for the graduation. encourage the CEO to meet with the We have put a bit of a rush on it, so the individuals the Member is referring to. department tells me that they are hoping to resume service, but safety is very MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. important. There is some welding that Abernethy. The Member for Mackenzie has occurred while the ferry was on Delta, Mr. Blake. land, so we have to ensure that those things are taken care of before we are QUESTION 814-17(5): able to haul the public. Thank you. LOUIS CARDINAL FERRY LAUNCH MR. BLAKE: That was going to be my next question, but the Minister answered MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. most of it. What is the holdup on the This spring we had an early spring up in ferry? Is there welding still needed? I the Mackenzie Delta, about a week didn’t really get that. Thank you, Mr. early actually, and over the last few Speaker. days the water has dropped a lot, there’s no more ice on the river, and as HON. TOM BEAULIEU: When we put far as I know, the ferry is supposed to the ferry into the water and start to run be launched tomorrow. the ferry across the Mackenzie River, we have to ensure that there are no I would like to ask the Minister of issues. We don’t anticipate issues; we Transportation, will the ferry be just need to do a test before we actually launched tomorrow? Thank you. let the public onto the ferry. There is no MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Blake. real holdup. It is going as we initially Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu. scheduled for the ferry to operate. HON. TOM BEAULIEU: Thank you, Mr. Generally on average the ferry has Speaker. The plan is to launch the ferry started on June 1st. We’re hoping that May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 29 we’re able to at least meet that day this With this new flexibility, and recognizing season as well. Thank you. the dire issues our people face, what MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. are the Minister’s priorities in the Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, allocation of these newly authorized Mr. Blake. opportunities? Mahsi. MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. As I mentioned, the graduation is on Bromley. Minister of Finance, Mr. Saturday, and I would like to ask the Miltenberger. Minister, does he think that the ferry will HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: be ready for people to travel on Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The increase Saturday? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to our borrowing limit, the second one of HON. TOM BEAULIEU: The this government, is part of the legacy th information I have right now is that the that the 17 Legislative Assembly is th service will begin on Sunday. As I going to leave for the 18 Legislative indicated, we would like to try to get the Assembly, the ability to have flexibility ferry running on Saturday so that we and choice. We went forward with the can accommodate people wanting to go request and justification for the increase to watch the two graduates from of the borrowing limit on the basis that Tsiigehtchic. We recognize that that’s we needed to be able to make critical something that the community wants to investments in economic infrastructure see, so we are working hard to try to that will help create the conditions for make that happen. Thank you. development that will help spur the economy and increase our tax base and MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. give us more money into our coffers in Beaulieu. Member for Weledeh, Mr. terms of revenue. Bromley. That has been the approach that we’ve QUESTION 815-17(5): used so far. We’ve used it consistently. OPPORTUNITIES ARISING We continue to use that fundamental FROM approach that we cannot borrow money INCREASE TO BORROWING to invest in programs that are added to LIMIT our base on a permanent basis, which would put us on a path that would be MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. very quickly unsustainable, and we just Speaker. My questions today are for the have to look around at jurisdictions that Minister of Finance. I would like to start have done that. by noting that the new debt limit of $1.3 billion contributes to financial potential. So, our focus is going to be on working, We need to move forward as a territory, in the life of this government, with but we certainly have to use this committee to have the initial potential wisely, focusing first on our discussions. There are budgeting and people and communities rather than business plan processes already servicing the global corporations that underway for the next budget, and all rarely are yielding the economic those discussions will take place within development we seek. that process. Thank you. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 30

MR. BROMLEY: I have no problem life of this government, we started the with these funds, of course, going to business planning process for the 18th infrastructure, but I hope the Minister will Assembly. The debate that the Member include consideration of the evidence, is talking about, about how will we fit which is the faltering economy and these in, what choices do we make, raising debt and failure in many areas what hard choices do we make to make with the types of infrastructure we’re sure that expenditures and revenues putting in place, as he makes those don’t strip each other are all things that considerations. Although we’re making are going to be started in this Assembly some progress in small communities, but will be carried to fruition in the 18th housing issues, for example, continue to Assembly’s budget. Thank you. plague us for a much worsening trend in MR. BROMLEY: Thanks to the Yellowknife. We have never had Minister. I’ve always thought that a well- sufficient financial headroom to served people will generate their own adequately address housing. Yet our economy and give their returns to disabled and young single mother government. The recent Localizing Our families wither on the waiting lists. Economies forum indicated a huge How will this new room for infrastructure amount of interest across the NWT in dollars be slated to alleviate the terrible creating strong local economies that housing situation that is accumulating benefit the people of the North through and that exists for our people today? local food and energy projects, as Mahsi. examples. Such projects need little HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: I investment, compared to large appreciate the fact, the government has infrastructure projects and subsidies to always appreciated the fact that there boom and bust resource extraction are far more needs than there are industries, yet they create relatively resources. There are two issues we many local lasting jobs that return have, two critical issues. First is we perpetual benefits to our communities. have to make sure that our expenditures What are this government’s plans to don’t outstrip our revenues, and that is invest this increased capacity in going to be a real challenge as we move localizing our community economies, forward, given some of the cost such as through locally owned and pressures. Then we have to make sure controlled renewable food and energy that we have processes to look at how projects? Mahsi. we’re going to make critical investments HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: I in economic infrastructure, infrastructure was briefly at the gathering the Member that will create conditions for economic talks about, and there was a lot of development. interesting discussion. I will indicate two Clearly, there are going to be a whole things, first that there is an enormous host of needs identified. In fact, the amount of activity already underway by Member has raised some. Since the ITI, by MACA, by ENR, in all the areas news came of the federal budget, the that we have a concern with in terms of phones have been ringing with folks that local economies but also with the all have good and well-needed projects broader economic issues that we are all that they want built and we are, in the tasked with making sure that we May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 31 manage the $ 1.9 billion budget, make HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: I sure our revenues match our first think it’s important to make a note expenditures. So, once again, there’s a or a point for the edification of people process in place, as the Member is well listening, and that is that if we didn’t aware in his eighth year as a Member of have the diamond mines we would be this Assembly, that will deal with the short about $1.5 billion a year out of discussions through the main estimates gross domestic product, and I can tell process, the business planning process, you, if we had that big a hole in our of how do we move forward and what economy that we would be in a far more investments we make and can afford to difficult and bitter position than we would make, keeping in mind this borrowing ever think by the loss of those types of limit is not free money. This borrowing activities. limit is money borrowed that has to be We need to make sure we work with paid back, and that has to be factored in industry to have sustainable, balanced as well. development. The Minister of ITI talked MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. about that in his Minister’s statement Miltenberger. Final, short today. We mustn’t forget that we have to supplementary, Mr. Bromley. do both. The local economies are good, MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. but they won’t generate the types of Speaker. Thanks to the Minister again. I revenues that we need to maintain the don’t disagree with many of his Northerners and the lifestyle and at the comments, although I think if he looked level that we have become accustomed at what our paybacks are with the to. current interest with the investments that In regards to the seniors, those issues this government has been doing, he are being looked at. We have some of would find that, in fact, the costs far the best seniors’ benefits and programs outweigh the economic benefits to the in the country, and we will continue to people of the Northwest Territories. have, and we will work on the capital They’d certainly benefit people outside requirements that are there. the Northwest Territories. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. To date, this government has failed to Miltenberger. The Member for address the growing lineup for seniors Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins. care beds across the Northwest Territories. As we heard earlier today, QUESTION 816-17(5): waiting lists are longer and longer while HAY RIVER ELECTRICITY spending years servicing the proper FRANCHISE REQUEST FOR protocols on capital the situation PROPOSALS worsens, forcing seniors to leave or MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. suffer the consequences. Speaker. I’m going to use this Within this new debt limit is the opportunity to clear some of the air and government prepared, at last, to commit we’ll call up this ATCO concerned to addressing the growing needs of our problem about their ads and even some elders, particularly in Yellowknife? of the innuendos where they’re bemoaning on the street that they’re May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 32 being muscled out of the Northwest process they may have been Territories. considering to be involved in. Frankly, let’s just put it on the table. I HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: If have questions for the Minister my memory serves me correctly, it was responsible for the Northwest Territories during the life of the 15th Assembly there Power Corporation. was a renewal process, and at that point I want to ask clearly this: Is there any there was some talk of the Power mandate by this Cabinet or certainly this Corporation putting forward a proposal Minister in any way to attempt to run for that franchise. But at the end of the ATCO out of Hay River or the Northwest day, the government of the day Territories? We need to clear this up instructed the Power Corporation not to first. proceed. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. MR. HAWKINS: I think, actually, the Hawkins. The Minister of the Northwest official record should note it’s probably th Territories Power Corporation, Mr. the 14 Assembly that has that credit Miltenberger. from withdrawing from that particular competitive process. HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The interest of That actually now leads perfectly into the NWT Power Corporation is very my third question, which is: Who clear that on Monday the Town of Hay directed the NWT Power Corporation to River passed a motion to initiate a public withdraw from fully competing in the process for the renewal of their competitive process for the Hay River franchise, and we have indicated that franchise agreement – a tough word to we would take part in that public say today – and was it politically process. There is no broader issue other motivated or was it done through any than that. I am aware of some of the other reason, because they withdrew in concerns and angst and heartburn in that day? different areas, in corporations, in board MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Hawkins, asking rooms and some of the Members of this questions of previous governments, it House, but they are unfounded and ill- has already been said. Could you founded. restate your question to the Minister? MR. HAWKINS: When was the last MR. HAWKINS: That’s okay, Mr. time the Northwest Territories Power Speaker. I think I have already sort of Corporation put a competitive bid in the stated my issue for the record. I will go Town of Hay River for the Hay River to the next question with no problem. franchise? What would be helpful here Thanks for your guidance, Mr. Speaker. to understand is how long each Is there any reason that ATCO, the franchise agreement is put into place. It billion dollar company we talked about is my understanding that it has been earlier today, could not bid on the years since the last one that the upcoming Hay River franchise Northwest Territories actually fully agreement? Thank you. competed in, because, as I understand it, they fully withdrew from the last HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: I will limit my comments to making the observation that it’s a public process May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 33 and I understand that the Town of Hay we fund our education authorities and I River has sent copies of the RFP to both would like to ask the Minister, at what ourselves, the Power Corporation, and stage are we in finalizing and working to ATCO. Thank you. on this new funding formula on how we MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. finance our education authorities? Miltenberger. Final, short Thank you, Mr. Speaker. supplementary, Mr. Hawkins. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Moses. MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. Minister of Education, Culture and Speaker. Maybe we should just get Employment, Mr. Lafferty. down to the nitty-gritty here. Has the HON. JACKSON LAFFERTY: Mahsi, actual RFP been called for by the Town Mr. Speaker. The new formula of Hay River, and if so, is the Minister framework that we were discussing with aware when the NWT Power the standing committee a couple of days Corporation will be submitting a bid for ago, it is at a stage of going through the this particular process? Lastly, on the final stages. We’re at the point of same point, how long does the cycle for finalizing that in the fall of this year, review of this process take? Thank you. 2015, and obviously that will be going to HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: I Cabinet and going to the standing understand the process is now open committee once we go through the and will remain open until the end of process. June or the very first part of July. We The formula funding framework has not anticipate that the Town of Hay River been changed for the past 25 years, the intends to move very quickly in terms of contribution that we give to the evaluating whoever submits bids and education school boards. This is the picking a successful proponent. Thank work that has been ongoing for a you. number of years now. Now we are at the MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. final stages. In the fall of 2015 it will be Miltenberger. Member for Inuvik Boot available. Thank you. Lake, Mr. Moses. MR. MOSES: I am glad to hear that the Minister has mentioned that over the QUESTION 817-17(5): last 25 years we have been funding our EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITY schools and education authorities FUNDING FORMULA across the Northwest Territories the MR. MOSES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. same way we have for 25 years and Seeing as how we just did an induction we’re actually making changes now. into the Education Hall of Fame, I am Can I ask the Minister, are we going to going to have some questions today for be seeing increases in some of the the Minister of Education, Culture and funding that we are giving to the schools Employment in regards to some of the and the authorities, and where are we Education Renewal and Innovation going to see the most significant Strategy that his department has increases? Thank you. undertaken over the last few months. HON. JACKSON LAFFERTY: Part of Mainly in terms of the funding formula, I the process is to identify where the know there were discussions about how changes should be happening with the May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 34

$150 million we distribute throughout the coastal communities and the community Northwest Territories, and we should be of Inuvik, and also the high costs of doing things differently. That’s what food. I know in our Education Renewal we’re focusing on. So, we have been and Innovation Strategy that we’re working with the school boards on this developing, we’re putting new food and particular matter. This is an ongoing breakfast programs into place and document that we’re still working with. whether those things are all taken into As I stated, it will be available this fall, consideration with the high costs of 2015, and it will be ready to be rolled out travel, the high cost of food prices taken in 2016-17. Mahsi. into consideration when we are doing MR. MOSES: I’d like to ask the this formula funding. Thank you, Mr. Minister, in developing this formula Speaker. funding for the education authorities, HON. JACKSON LAFFERTY: That’s were the actuals in the budgets of our the very reason why we’re changing the schools and our authorities taken into 25-year-old formula contribution consideration when we were developing framework, and we’re taking all those this formula funding so that the schools into factor, and based on the cost of actually get funding that will offset what living, the CPI and doing business in they are spending each year? those isolated communities, the fly- Have the actuals been taken into in/fly-outs. So, yes, all those are on the consideration when we’re developing table for discussion we’ve had, and we’ll this formula funding? continue to make those changes as we move forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. HON. JACKSON LAFFERTY: Yes, those discussions have been initiated by MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. both parties, my department and also Lafferty. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. the school board superintendents. The Menicoche. actuals have been discussed, and not only that but based on the needs of our QUESTION 818-17(5): school operations. So, those are the TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY discussions that we’ve been having with FOR FORT SIMPSON the school boards. So, yes, the actual is MR. MENICOCHE: Thank you very part of the discussion that we’ve had. much, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to ask the Mahsi. Minister responsible for Sport and MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Recreation and Youth some questions Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. about track and field that I raised in my Moses. Member’s statement earlier today. I noted that, of course, Hay River is MR. MOSES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. hosting the prestigious NWT Track and I know, as I mentioned and I’ve said in Field event next week and it’s actually the House before, that the cost of travel their 25th anniversary, and our children and the cost of doing business in the from the small communities look forward Beaufort-Delta is a lot higher than it is in to those track meets. However, my other regions across the Northwest concern, as pointed out by the Grade 6 Territories mainly because of the high students, is that back in the smaller costs of travelling between some of the communities they don’t have proper May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 35 practice facilities. In fact, in Fort opportunity out there for those in the Simpson they would like to see a new small communities who have a desire to track and field. get somebody in there to help them with I was wondering if the ministry has done some training. The opportunities are any assessment of the smaller there. Thank you. communities of how to produce… It MR. MENICOCHE: Much has been would be similar to playground said about some extra money for equipment, provide track facilities so infrastructure. I was wondering if the that they can practice on the same kind ministry can consider that moving of turf so that they can get the same forward, because I know that, like I said, type of experience as they do when they I referenced finding some funds to help get to Hay River. Thank you, Mr. our schools with playground equipment. Speaker. I wonder if we can work towards finding MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. a small pot of additional funds to assist Menicoche. Minister of Municipal and communities in creating track-type Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod. facilities as well. HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Again, all [Microphone turned off] …on that, but I the money we give for capital can tell the Member and all the infrastructure, we give to the Members that the communities, with communities and they make the their community public infrastructure decisions. As well, with the gas tax money and with some changes to the money. With some of the new Building gas tax money, are able to use some of Canada Plan money, if the project fits those funds to identify infrastructure. and that criteria fits, they would be able Track would fit the criteria and they’d be to use that too. able to make the decision to put a track As far as identifying any other pots of in the community if that was their desire. money, we’ve been able to work very Thank you. closely with our provincial and territorial MR. MENICOCHE: I’m glad there’s colleagues in trying to access any extra some flexibility as the Minister has said. monies that might be available. If there There are just some new changes to the are any monies available from the rules. federal government, we’ve become What other ways does the ministry quite good at trying to access some of support track and field in NWT that money and passing that on to the communities? Thank you very much. community. At the end of the day, we’ve always said that the community has the HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Through a authority to make the decision on lot of our youth programs that we have infrastructure projects like this and we with our sporting partners across the will support them in any way that we Northwest Territories, they run a lot of can. clinics in the small communities. There are many different types of sporting MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. clinics they have in the communities. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Track may be one of them. I would have Menicoche. to confirm that. But there’s a lot of May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 36

MR. MENICOCHE: Thank you, Mr. Finance, is it the intention of Cabinet to Speaker. I know that, like the Minister waste taxpayers’ dollars to expropriate a had said, he has been exposed to other successful First Nation-owned business types of funding. Federally, it may even in the Northwest Territories when this be CanNor, because I know that in the money can be better spent and more smaller communities you can build small responsibly used to address real facilities for lower costs just for the same issues? We heard some today here type of track conditions that are in Hay from Mr. Bromley such things as River. But in Fort Simpson we’re talking homelessness, housing, mental health about a full standard track, and that’s or education. probably a couple hundred thousand MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. dollars. That’s the capacity that they’re Dolynny. The Minister of Finance, Mr. asking. Miltenberger. Moving forward, will the Minister help us HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: do a capacity estimate, as it were, to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve create a new track? indicated previously, the Town of Hay HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: That’s one River has initiated a public process of the roles that our department plays through a motion in their council on now, is we work with the communities to Monday for a public process to renew help them with technical advice, their franchise, and we, the Power financial advice if we have ways they Corporation, are going to submit a bid can access the funding or use the sometime before the call for proposals funding, and any other advice that we closes on July 3, 2015. can give them. We will work closely with I would also point out that the Power the community. Corporation is a Crown corporation I can say that I believe it was the owned by every man, woman and child community of Fort Smith that just in the Northwest Territories. We, in finished a track that they used some of effect, have about 42,000 shareholders, their capital money to build too. I haven’t and about half of those shareholders are seen it yet, but I understand it’s a fairly Aboriginal, and about over 3,000 of good track. The opportunities are there, them live in Hay River, and they have and again, the communities will take expressed a very strong interest to have advantage of those opportunities and a public process to see if they can deal we will work very closely with them. with the cost of power, the cost of living. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. This is not about ATCO. This is about McLeod. The Member for Range Lake, the people of Hay River and the high Mr. Dolynny. cost of living that they’re trying to come to grips with. QUESTION 819-17(5): MR. DOLYNNY: I was trying to find an HAY RIVER ELECTRICITY answer in that to my question. The issue FRANCHISE REQUEST FOR will be eventually if NTPC is successful, PROPOSALS we are going to be talking about MR. DOLYNNY: Thank you, Mr. taxpayers’ money, and I think we need Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member’s to come back to the point of the statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of question. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 37

To change things up a bit, I would like to organization that the Minister is take a moment to ask the Minister about responsible for and is set to gain from a report, a report that the Minister has the expropriation of Northlands? been referencing publicly in this House All I am asking is for the Minister to clear at a recent energy charrette and in the air and set the record straight. media, whereas the Minister has more Thank you. or less summarized that having one electricity distributor in the North will be HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: more cost effective and can lower rates. The Premier has indicated earlier today that consultants on the work that we did Can the Minister indicate what report he on the franchise agreement and whether is referencing? Thank you. we issued support to NTPC bidding was HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: done in house. Thank you. This is a public process in Hay River MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. and there is no guarantee that NTPC Miltenberger. Final, short will be successful. We have to find out supplementary, Mr. Dolynny. who else is going to submit bids. At the end of the day, it is a competitive MR. DOLYNNY: Thank you, Mr. process because Hay River is looking Speaker. To put the Minister’s answer in for the best bid possible because there context, this was a response done in is a 30 percent differential between the camera, so I can’t believe we are talking price of power in Hay River and the about that in the House here. But I can neighboring communities of Fort Smith tell you that, quite frankly, Ordinary and Fort Resolution. Members have not seen this report yet, so we are talking about a report that is In regards to reports, there have been a still not before the House or before number of reports done, in 2009 and, Members, and what we know is that I previous to that, the Robertson Report. can’t comment on something we haven’t As well, we’ve had many discussions, seen. we have had our own Energy Strategy, we’ve had two energy charrettes, we NTPC is the only organization set to had a power system plan put out by the gain anything from the expropriation of Power Corporation as well at the time Northland Utilities, and yet the Minister we were contemplating expansion to the of Finance claims to open up transmission grid build-out. Thank you. competition. Yet it is he who writes the policy and sets the rules for the electric MR. DOLYNNY: Can the Minister of industry. Finance please clarify that this report that he doesn’t want to answer the Can the Minister explain how Cabinet is question to, a report that we know and providing a path to competition and we have some degree of reassurance lowering of electricity rates when they’re that was done in secret by the Cabinet working in a vacuum? Thank you, Mr. without any knowledge to Ordinary Speaker. Members and that we assume and are HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: In led to believe was done by the same point of fact, my understanding is that consulting firm InterGroup that is on the the authority for bidding on franchises is payroll of the Northwest Territories enabled in the legislation for the Cities, Power Corporation, the exact Towns and Villages Act. It comes under May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 38 the purview of Municipal and and services are meeting their needs. Community Affairs, and the community We as a department have Our Elders: of Hay River – and every community Our Communities elders strategy which has the right in the Northwest Territories is focused on aging in place which – chose to trigger that process on their ultimately does address or talk to the own behalf after doing their own due need for additional housing units or diligence on what they thought would beds for seniors here in the Northwest best meet their needs and help them Territories. deal with the high cost of living and the Avens is an incredibly important partner inequities between the power rates in of ours and we have been working very the neighbourhood that they reside in in closely with Avens to move their project the South Slave. Thank you. forward. We have provided Avens with MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. $25,000 to participate in the working Miltenberger. Member for Frame Lake, groups to move this project along. We Ms. Bisaro. also helped, or rather, got out of the way of Avens so that they could move QUESTION 820-17(5): forward with the leveling of the ground EXPANSION OF AVENS on their campus. We do have a working SENIORS FACILITY group and as part of that working group MS. BISARO: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. there are two sub working groups and My questions today are for the Minister one of them is to continue to advance of Health and Social Services. I would the partners to the GNWT’s capital like to follow up on my statement about planning process. Second is to the potential for getting the Avens participate in oversight of the financial expansion project off the ground this model related to multi-year block year, not in five or 10 years’ time. funding and client rates outside of the current regulatory environment. I would like to first ask the Minister, I know that there has been a working These aren’t simple questions. These group, a joint working group between require a significant amount of analysis the department and Avens that has and work. I know the Avens is frustrated been getting together and meeting and with the progress, as are we. doing some work over the last number Recognizing that things haven’t been of months. I would like to ask the moving as fast as, say, Avens or even Minister, first off, for an update on where we had wished they would, the the work of the working group is at. department is actually going to be Thank you. contracting with a consultant to support the detailed financial regulatory as well MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms. as legal analysis necessary to provide Bisaro. Minister of Health, Mr. an accurate and comprehensive range Abernethy. of funding options to help move this HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, project forward. I expect that work to be Mr. Speaker. I and my Cabinet done in October. Thank you. colleagues, as all Members in this MS. BISARO: Thanks to the Minister House, are committed to the seniors of for the information. I have to reference the Northwest Territories and obviously his comment to Our Elders: Our we want to make sure that our programs May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 39

Communities and that the focus of that compound as part of the capital is aging in place. That’s all well and planning process, it also came with a good, but we all know that seniors reach $3.9 million annual operation and a point where they cannot age in their maintenance cost to hire staff and own home, and that’s where we need to provide those services. All that money is provide for them in a supportive living coming from the Government of the environment of some sort. So, I’m Northwest Territories. The current pleased to hear that there’s work going facility also has a $3.4 million price tag on. I’m dismayed to hear that it’s going for the long-term care beds or the to be October before there will be supported living beds that exist within results, but I can appreciate that it’s the Avens compound, and construction complex. of a new Avens facility would come with So, I’d like to ask the Minister, in light of increased O and M costs as well. our changed financial landscape on the So, we have to make sure that we do heels of the announcements from the our due diligence, that we do our federal government, has the Minister analysis and that those costs are had an opportunity to consider our understood and reasonable and that we changed financial landscape, and if so, can afford to continue to provide those what new options does that provide for services. The build is just one part of it. us in relation to this specific project? The ongoing maintenance is another Thank you. part. Thank you. HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: The MS. BISARO: Thanks to the Minister Cabinet has regularly spoken about our for that extensive response. I didn’t current fiscal situation and the fiscal really hear an answer to my question realities facing both the government of about options based on our new today and the government tomorrow. financial situation. So, I would hope that In the Premier’s statement earlier today, that would be coming in the near future he said this increase to our borrowing and I’d hope it would be a discussion limit gives the Government of the that Cabinet would have in conjunction Northwest Territories increased flexibility with Regular Members. It’s been to invest in much needed infrastructure promised, but we’ve seen no evidence that will support the responsible of that yet. development of the Northwest So, I’d like to ask the Minister at this Territories economy to bring down the point, I appreciate that he’s doing cost of living for communities and everything he can, but we still have residents. We’ve also been incredibly seniors who have nowhere to live. There clear that this money is not intended to was a situation that was highlighted in be used for operations or maintenance, the paper last week, a senior who was which would be a big problem. being, he’s still there now, but a senior The construction of a new facility, the who is being removed from his current new 30 beds for Avens, comes with an place at Avens and had nowhere to go O and M price tag as well. For instance, to. So, until the Avens expansion is when we moved forward about five done, hopefully within a year, I’d like to years ago with the development of the know what the Minister is doing in the dementia facility on the Avens interim to accommodate seniors, like the May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 40 one in the paper last week, who are in 27 beds. Our waitlist, unfortunately, is need of assisted or supported living probably at least twice that and probably housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. more like three times that. So, those HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: We’re beds will be welcomed, but we need to doing a number of things. We’re doing get more beds, and Avens is an things in partnership with the Seniors’ opportunity to do that. Society as well as our other health and From the Minister, I’d like to know the social services authorities across the earliest date that he can give me for Northwest Territories. Avens to move ahead and build their The Member is aware that we have facility with government assistance. recently opened nine beds in Behchoko. Thank you. We are in the middle of constructing HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: It would be nine more in Behchoko. There are 18 impossible for me to give a hard and beds being constructed in Norman fast date. As the Member knows, we Wells. More beds were put into Fort have a pretty thorough capital planning Smith. This isn’t just a Yellowknife process, and for us to bring forward the problem. We know that the Beaufort- project into the capital plan, we have to Delta has experienced some real have a very, very thorough analysis congestion there as well. articulated clearly, all O and M costs so With the territorial admission process that we can make decisions together as that all residents who wish to utilize our a Legislature. long-term care or, sorry, the supported I already mentioned the work that we’re living beds provided in our different doing in the department with our facilities must go through. That process consultant, who is clearly going to be does an assessment on the needs, the moving forward and doing the analysis risks and the factors, and we can put needed to build that super strong individuals in beds in different business case that will allow us to move communities. There are some vacancies forward with this particular project. I’m in Fort Smith that we have suggested hoping that we can have this work done are available, but we’re also moving in October, which will help inform the forward with the construction of beds, process. Hopefully, we can have which should help alleviate the burden something in the capital planning in Yellowknife but it doesn’t take it away. process in the near future. Thank you, I recognize that and we are working Mr. Speaker. closely with Avens to make progress on MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. the construction of more beds here in Abernethy. Member for Hay River North, Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Bouchard. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, QUESTION 821-17(5): Ms. Bisaro. HAY RIVER ELECTRICITY MS. BISARO: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. FRANCHISE REQUEST FOR Thanks to the Minister again. I PROPOSALS appreciate that we are building more MR. BOUCHARD: Thank you, Mr. facilities. I think the Minister mentioned Speaker. In a follow-up to my statement, I have some questions for the Minister May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 41 responsible for the Power Corporation. MR. BOUCHARD: Along the lines of Obviously, he has indicated the Power the Power Corporation and NUL Corporation will be bidding on the Hay competing against each other, has the River franchise. Power Corporation looked at other Can I get an evaluation of what the jurisdictions where there is a Crown Power Corporation did in order to decide corporation and privately owned that they were going to bid? Thank you, companies that compete and operate Mr. Speaker. amongst each other and other utilities? I know there are some power and some MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. phones, but just to know how they Bouchard. The Minister of the Northwest operation and how do we operate here Territories Power Corporation, Mr. compared to other jurisdictions. Thank Miltenberger. you, Mr. Speaker. HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A review was There is a very fragmented system in done of costs in Hay River, all the Alberta. BC has BC Hydro, which is their publicly available information that was major power utility that has enormous there in regards to the services sway over most of the province. But I provided. Then they also did their own would have to commit to get back to the estimates of the cost of potentially Member. I don’t have any further running those systems of the Hay River information that I could just off the top of franchise, as well, and put forward those my head indicate what systems are in numbers, and they were then brought place in other jurisdictions, though I forward and assessed by a Cabinet would say, clearly, in Ontario they have committee. a utility and they are divesting MR. BOUCHARD: I’m just wondering if themselves of some of their assets, and the Minister can indicate to me – Manitoba Hydro, as well, is a very, very obviously they have done an major utility in Manitoba. But I will assessment and believe there can be a commit to get back to the Member with cost savings – have they done any the information. assessment on what they expect that MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. savings to be if they were to get it? Miltenberger. Final, short Thank you. supplementary, Mr. Bouchard. HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: MR. BOUCHARD: Thank you, Mr. There are two numbers that are clearly Speaker. In follow-up to my questions known. One is the current cost of power about the cost savings, has the Power per kilowatt in Hay River, which is 31 Corporation put into the calculation the cents and in Fort Smith and Fort amount that it would cost to purchase Resolution it’s 21 cents. At this point, the assets? I think there is $12 million what I can say in the House is that it is on the books, but I think there has to be anticipated that we would be able to a premium if we’re taking a hostile significantly close that gap that now takeover. Have we calculated that into exists between the cost of power in Hay the cost savings? River and those in the neighbouring communities. Thank you. HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: Yes, that factor has been calculated in May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 42 and we are going to be taking on the 200 billion barrels of oil there. We have community of 3,000 as a rate base, only drilled two wells. I believe Conoco added to our rate base that we never was the company that drilled two wells had before, so it’s anticipated that the in the area. There is a lot of work that cost of power, which now pays for that will go into determining what the infrastructure, will continue to pay for resource really will be like. The that infrastructure. exploration should continue and wells MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. can be drilled and a determination made Miltenberger. The Member for Sahtu, on what that resource would look like, Mr. Yakeleya. but if you look at other deposits and basins around the world, a recovery rate QUESTION 822-17(5): of somewhere around 6 percent to 9 SUSTAINABLE EXTRACTION OF percent would leave us somewhere in SAHTU OIL AND GAS the neighbourhood of 10 billion barrels RESERVES of recoverable oil. We’ve been promoting the fact that we thought there MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. was between three and five billion, but it Speaker. My question is to the Minister could be much, much more than that of ITI. On May 22 there was a press figure. release issued by the Government of Canada, the first time in history the MR. YAKELEYA: In regard to the National Energy Board and the energy briefing note that I received from Northwest Territories Geological Survey the Minister’s office, that in comparison did an unconventional petroleum to the amount of oil that’s been reported, assessment in the Sahtu. The facts are and just on the best guess estimation of there. There are a billion barrels of oil in recoverable oil in the Sahtu region on a the Sahtu. The recoverable rate is yet to comparison basis, the Norman Wells be determined. The unknowns are still conventional oilfield so far to date has yet to be looked at. pumped 274 million barrels of oil. There’s a huge amount in the Sahtu. I want to ask the Minister, now that we know the amount, possibly, of the oil in I want to ask the Minister, based on his the Sahtu region, and even the reports and his understanding to recover percentage recoverable of that oil, what that oil, we have to use the new do we do with this information that’s technology called hydraulic horizontal been released by the National Energy fracturing. Does the Minister feel Board and by our own government? confident, given the time that we have now, that this new technology is sound, MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. is safe, and that it can do what it says it Yakeleya. The Minister of Industry, can do, extract the oil so that the Sahtu Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay. region of the Northwest Territories can HON. DAVID RAMSAY: Thank you, benefit on many fronts and that this Mr. Speaker. This was welcome news information is solid, evidence-based, not for us. It’s something we’ve known for a hearsay or not thinking what other risks long time, is that there is great resource can be considered as not concrete potential for both oil and gas in the evidence that this is a dangerous central Mackenzie Valley. The report would indicate that there are close to May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 43 technology to use in the Northwest the people in the Sahtu strongly voted Territories? Thank you. for a land claim. It says in our land use HON. DAVID RAMSAY: I think, with plans and it says in our land claims that the resource that is in the Sahtu, it’s we will direct our own destiny and deal important that the government continue with the issues that need to be dealt to take the long game approach to the with in our jurisdiction. development of those resources. Two I want to ask the Minister, given what we big decisions were made. Obviously, the know in the Sahtu, the reports are there, decision to move forward with the facts are clear that this is the devolution and negotiate a deal for the amount of oil that we have in our region people of the Northwest Territories, that sitting there, what do we do now that the was very important. The other decision oil prices are not quite where we want that was key to all of this was the fact them to be? What is the triggering part that we wanted to build the capacity to that the department thinks can get the regulate the oil and gas industry here in companies to come back? What are the the Northwest Territories. We didn’t factors that would make it so the want to be regulated from Calgary; we companies could come back and further wanted to have some input on policy, on test the wells to really determine what’s direction. That was a big thing for us recoverable under their leases? and we moved forward. We have the HON. DAVID RAMSAY: There are regulatory authority onshore to develop many things we can do. We continue to these resources, and we are in a discuss with industry, opportunities to process right now where we have draft partner. We have to look at the filing requirements out for public review. opportunities to invest and continue to We are consulting with Aboriginal invest in infrastructure that is going to governments around the territory, as I lend itself to resource development here mentioned in my Minister’s statement in the Northwest Territories. I mentioned earlier today. We are going to take a lot of that in my Minister’s statement some time. We are going to ensure that earlier today as well. This is a long-term we hear from everybody we need to approach. This is why it is so vitally hear from. We’re going to try to get the important that we get our Oil and Gas information out there the people need to Strategy together so we can collect our make informed decisions about these thoughts and move forward on new regulations. developing resources on behalf of the The fact of the matter is we are people of the Northwest Territories. regulating the industry. These are our In the case of the Sahtu and the resources. They belong to the people of negotiations with the land claim and the Sahtu, the people of the Northwest subsurface rights, the volume of oil and Territories, and who better to manage resource that is in the Sahtu, it is going the environment and these resources to be multi-generational if it’s developed than the Government of the Northwest in the right way, in a sustainable Territories. Thank you. manner. It will provide employment and MR. YAKELEYA: That’s been our goal economic opportunity for the Sahtu for and the goal of the Sahtu people, to generations to come. We can manage manage our own resources. That is why May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 44 this and we can get the benefits from it if I believe there have been 175,000 wells we do it right. Thank you. for shale oil that have been fractured, MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. hydraulically fractured in North America Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, without incident. Some of the concerns Mr. Yakeleya. are around shallow gas fractures that have taken place in the eastern United MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. States. Speaker. The amount of gas and oil in the Northwest Territories, a lot of it is up If you’re going to be in the energy in the Mackenzie Delta, Beaufort-Delta, business, like I believe the Northwest a lot of oil in the Sahtu. They use the Territories is going to be in the energy technology of hydraulic fracking in the business, you’re definitely in the Fort Liard basin area. The Lone Pine business of protecting the environment. Reserves have used vertical hydraulic You’re not in one without the other, and fracking in the Cameron Hills. I think we can manage effectively both the economy and the environment. I want to know from the Minister, based on the ‘70s use of the oil and gas MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. exploration in the Cameron Hills, as the Ramsay. The time for oral questions has year of 2012 in Fort Liard they used the expired. Mr. Hawkins. horizontal fracking technology there, has MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. the Minister from his department or ENR Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to collected any type of evidence that says return to item 8 on the orders of the day what the anti-fracking people are saying called oral questions. about horizontal fracking in the ---Unanimous consent denied Northwest Territories? Has there been any type of solid, qualified, certified MR. SPEAKER: Item 9, written evidence that says no, this is bad for the questions. Item 10, returns to written Northwest Territories, it’s not a good questions. Mr. Clerk. method to use, and we need to wait until 7) Returns to Written Questions we have further evidence to show that it’s minimizing the risk? RETURN TO WRITTEN QUESTION 24- HON. DAVID RAMSAY: No, we 17(5): haven’t. The other thing I should TRANSITIONAL HOUSING mention is that not all reservoirs are INCOME SUPPORT created equally. There are different CLERK OF THE HOUSE (Mr. Mercer): types of rocks. Some hydraulic Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written fracturing that would occur, say, in the Question 24-17(5), asked by Ms. Bisaro Bakken, would require more water than on March 3, 2015, regarding 2015 it would in the central Mackenzie Valley. transitional housing income support. It all depends on the type of rock, and 1. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro asked four the rock we’re talking about with Canol questions, the first being: "Does the and Blue Fish wouldn’t require as much Department of Education, Culture and water as other hydraulic fracturing Employment income support division operations around North America. have a definition of “transitional That’s definitely something I think we housing” that they use to determine a need to continue to get out. May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 45

client's eligibility for income allowances for food, room and board, assistance?" accommodation, fuel and utilities, Mr. Speaker, an individual's eligibility for among others. Under Section 3.3 of the the Income Assistance program is Income Assistance Policy Manual, determined in accordance with the transient living accommodations in a Income Assistance Regulations under hotel, motel, tourist establishment or the Social Assistance Act and is further hostel are not eligible for an prescribed in the Income Assistance accommodation allowance because the Policy Manual. The Income Assistance accommodations are not bound by the Regulations and policies do not include Residential Tenancies Act and there is a definition of “transitional housing.” no written tenancy agreement between the client and landlord; however, while 2. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro's second someone residing in a hotel or motel is question was: "If yes, please provide not eligible for a rental allowance, they it. If no, how does the department may still be eligible for other income determine if a client is in transitional assistance benefits, depending on their housing, and if they are, how does circumstances. the department determine if the client is eligible for income assistance?" Going forward, the department is committed to reviewing how it provides Mr. Speaker, all clients' eligibility for the rental allowances as part of the Income Income Assistance program is Assistance program. determined in accordance with the Social Assistance Act, Income 4. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro's fourth Assistance Regulations and associated question was: "Explain what a client policies. Specifically, a client must be a in an emergency housing situation, “person in need,” as defined in Section i.e. no housing options, should do to 1.1, and meet one of the residency find accommodation. Who should requirements set out in Section 1.11 of they go to?" the regulations. Mr. Speaker, ECE provides funding to 3. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro's third help non-government organizations question asked: "What policy governs (NGOs) operate emergency shelters in clients whose only accommodation the NWT. These shelters are available option is a motel or hotel room? Why for people who are faced with an are they not eligible for income emergency housing situation. The assistance?" department works with the NWT Housing Corporation and the Mr. Speaker, as discussed in response Department of Health and Social to the previous two questions, an Services to address the complex issues individual's eligibility for the Income associated with homelessness. I commit Assistance program is determined in to continuing the conversation with the accordance with the Income Assistance social envelope departments as part of Regulations under the Social Assistance our integrated case management work. Act and the Income Assistance Policy Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Manual. The Income Assistance program includes a variety of benefits such as May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 46

RETURN TO WRITTEN QUESTION 25- care facilities in the NWT is a top priority 17(5): of the Department of Education, Culture GNWT STAFF RETENTION and Employment. As of mid-May 2015, POLICY a summary report of the child daycare I have a Return to Written Question 25- licensing inspections that occur after 17(5), asked by Ms. Bisaro on March 3, April 1, 2015, will be available to the 2015, regarding the GNWT Staff public on ECE's website. Due to access Retention Policy. to information and protection of privacy considerations, inspection reports from The Government of the Northwest prior years will not be included. All Territories Staff Retention Policy licenced programs have been officially provides a process for the redeployment informed that all inspections beginning of staff whose jobs are eliminated or April 1, 2015, will be posted in the transferred to another community. The daycare and will be available on the policy focuses on the retention of ECE website. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. employees within the public service but does provide layoff as an option where RETURN TO WRITTEN QUESTION 27- redeployment is not feasible. 17(5): The Staff Retention Policy was updated HORIZONTALLY FRACTURED in May 2013, and the reporting WELLS requirements were changed. Later IN THE NORTHWEST today, at the appropriate time, I will table TERRITORIES the document entitled “Report on the I have a Return to Written Question 27- Staff Retention Policy for 2011-2012 17(5), asked by Mr. Bromley on March and 2012-2013” and the document 10, 2015, regarding horizontally entitled “Report on the Staff Retention fractured wells in the Northwest Policy for 2013-14 and 2014-15.” These Territories. documents provide information on employees who were identified as Mr. Bromley's questions are with respect affected employees under the Staff to each horizontally fractured well in the Retention Policy. Thank you, Mr. NWT to date. I can confirm that to date Speaker. there have been two horizontally fractured wells in the NWT: Mirror Lake RETURN TO WRITTEN QUESTION 26- P-20 and Dodo Canyon E-76. Both were 17(5): exploratory wells drilled by DAYCARE INSPECTION ConocoPhillips Canada Resources REPORTS Corp. in the Sahtu region near Norman Wells. Both wells were authorized by the I have a Return to Written Question 26- National Energy Board prior to 17(5), asked by Mr. Dolynny on March devolution on April 1, 2014, and both 3, 2015, regarding daycare inspection now fall within the jurisdiction of the reports. Government of the Northwest Territories Mr. Speaker, I committed to making regulator of oil and gas operations. inspection report information publicly My objective is to be as open and available during the February/March transparent as possible about the 2015 session. The health and safety of regulation of oil and gas operations in children in the care of licenced child May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 47 the NWT. However, some of the found on the Sahtu Land and Water information that Mr. Bromley has Board or the Sahtu Board online public requested is currently privileged under registry at www.slwb.com, water licence Section 91 of the Petroleum Resources number 813L1-004. Act and cannot be disclosed until the b) What was the quantity of greenhouse statutory privilege period is over. gases emissions due to flaring, and In addition, some of the information how many days did flaring occur? requested does not fall within the The information requested is currently regulatory responsibilities of the subject to the privilege provision at regulator under the Oil and Gas Section 91 of the Petroleum Resources Operations Act. However, in an attempt Act, and the regulator is therefore to be helpful, I have provided alternative unable to disclose it for a period of two sources of information where possible. years from each well's termination date. Mr. Bromley asked the following The privilege period for the Dodo questions: Canyon E-76 well expires on January a) What was the source of the water 23, 2016, and the privilege period for the used and how much was consumed? Mirror Lake P-20 well expires on The volume of water used for the February 23, 2016. horizontal hydraulic fracturing process c) What was the amount and was 7,676.1 cubic metres for the Mirror composition of each additive used Lake P-20 well and 6,317.35 cubic during fracking, and how is the flow of metres for the Dodo Canyon E-76 well. unrecovered produced water tracked These volumes may include fresh water, underground? produced water and/or recycled water. Information on the amount and This information is publicly available on composition of each additive used the FracFocus.ca website. I am pleased during the horizontal hydraulic fracturing to report that on April 7, 2015, the office of the two wells in question is publicly of the regulator of oil and gas operations available on the FracFocus.ca website. signed an agreement with the British Information is provided on the trade Columbia Oil and Gas Commission for name of the hydraulic fracturing fluid, the use of FracFocus.ca. This office will the supplier, and the ingredients of the post information about any future fluid, including, for each ingredient, the hydraulic fracturing activities within its chemical abstract service number, the jurisdiction on FracFocus.ca when it has maximum concentration, in percentage the consent of an operator to do so. by mass, of the ingredient in the additive Under the Oil and Gas Operations Act and the maximum concentration, in and its predecessor legislation, the percentage by mass, of the ingredient in Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, the the hydraulic fracturing fluid. regulator does not regulate the source The same information is available on the of water used for horizontal hydraulic Sahtu board online public registry as a fracturing. However, information on this requirement of the water licence and other questions related to water use associated with the two wells. for these wells as well as for associated A Surface and Groundwater Monitoring access roads, camps, et cetera, can be Plan was approved by the Sahtu board May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 48 under water licence S12L1-005, also waste disposal facility outside of the held by ConocoPhillips, and will be Northwest Territories. reviewed annually by the board and e) What monitoring of methane gas reviewers, including government leakage from the well pipe stems was authorities responsible for fish and water carried out and what has been the resource protection. amount of methane leakage that The Sahtu board concluded that this occurred during and following the monitoring program will identify any fracking operations? changes to groundwater and surface Methane gas leakage from the wells, as water quality caused by land use distinct from gas flared with approval of activities associated with the the National Energy Board, the regulator ConocoPhillips program. at the time the wells were drilled and d) How much produced water has been completed using horizontal hydraulic recovered to date, what chemicals fracturing, is regulated under Sections are in the recovered water, how is it 56 and 57 of the Oil and Gas Drilling being transported and disposed of, and Production Regulations. Those and what NWT communities does it sections place ongoing legal obligations travel through? on operators to leave wells in a Under the Oil and Gas Operations Act condition that prevents leakage and to and its predecessor legislation, the ensure that the well is monitored and regulator does not regulate the inspected to maintain its continued transportation and out-of-territory integrity and to prevent pollution. disposal of wastewater associated with In addition, a leak may be reportable as horizontal hydraulic fracturing. However, a "spill" in the NWT. Operators are the water licence issued by the Sahtu required to report spills through the board requires annual reporting of the Northwest Territories - Nunavut spill monthly and annual quantities of each reporting line. Information on spills is and all wastes produced associated with publicly available through the hazardous the wells in question, including flowback materials spill database on the website fluid, drill waste and produced water. of the Department of Environment and These reports are available on the Natural Resources. Sahtu board's online public registry. The land use permit issued by the Sahtu The flowback fluid would be expected to board for these wells, Number S13A- contain the same chemical compounds 001, requires that all such spills be found in the hydraulic fracturing fluid as reported as described above and that a well as chemical compounds from the detailed report on each spill be rock formation in which the well was submitted to the Sahtu board within 30 drilled. days of the incident. The water licence requires that all drill Furthermore, the annual report required waste solids and fluids be stabilized and by the Sahtu board under the water removed for disposal to an approved licence for these wells must include a waste disposal facility outside of the list of unauthorized discharges. Thank NWT and that all produced water and you, Mr. Speaker. flowback be deposited at an approved May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 49

RETURN TO WRITTEN QUESTION 28- Once a drilling location is established, 17(5): the drilling can begin. A drill bit is then HYDRAULIC FRACTURING AND mounted on the end of a drill pipe. As OTHER DEVELOPMENTS the bit continues to grind its way down, I have a Return to Written Question 28- air is pumped down the pipe to flush 17(5), asked by Mr. Yakeleya on March rock cuttings from the hole and lift them 11, 2015, regarding comparison of to the surface. The hole is drilled to just impact of hydraulic fracturing and other underneath the first amount of fresh developments. water underneath the surface. Then the drill pipe and bit are removed. Next, Mr. Yakeleya asked the following surface casing is inserted into the hole questions: to isolate the fresh water zone. It also 1. What is/are the cleanest burning serves as a foundation for the blowout fossil fuel(s) for heating use and for preventer, a safety device that connects generating electricity? the rig to the wellbore. Then cement is The cleanest burning fossil or carbon- pumped through the casing and out based fuel is natural gas, which is through the opening of the shoe at the primarily composed of methane (CH4). bottom of the casing. A general rule of thumb is that the The cement is then forced up between smaller the molecule, the cleaner the casing and the hole, sealing off the burning it is. Of all fossil fuel molecules, wellbore from the fresh water. The methane is the smallest. cementing process prevents any contamination of the fresh water The average emission rates (lbs/MWh) aquifers. The pipe and bit are lowered from natural gas-fired generation are back down the hole to drill through the 1.135 lbs/MWh of carbon dioxide, 0.1 plug and the cement and continue the lbs/MWh of sulfur dioxide, and 1.7 vertical section of the well to lbs/MWh of nitrogen oxides. Compared approximately 500 feet above the to the average air emissions from coal- planned horizontal leg. This depth is fired generation, natural gas produces called the kick-off point, where the curve half as much carbon dioxide, less than a will begin so that the horizontal section third as much nitrogen oxides, and 1 can be drilled. percent as much sulfur oxides at the power plant. Step 2 – Perforating the Casing: 2. Please provide the city of First a perforating gun is lowered into a Yellowknife’s annual energy targeted position within the horizontal consumption, with a breakdown of portion of the well. Then an electrical each source of energy. current is sent down the well to set off a small explosive charge that perforates Later today, at the appropriate time, I the well casing with tiny holes and out a will table a document entitled “City of short, controlled distance into the shale Yellowknife Energy Use (Gigajoules).” formation. The holes created by the 3. Please describe a typical hydraulic “perf” gun serve two purposes: It fracturing operation, including how provides access for the hydraulic many times a well is “fracked.” fracturing fluid (HFF) to enter the Step 1 – Drilling: May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 50 formation and subsequently allows After removing the HFF from the natural gas to enter the wellbore. formation, the sand will remain in the Step 3 – Shale Fracturing: shale to provide a pathway for the gas to flow into the wellbore to the surface. The fracturing of a well creates a Once at the surface, the gas is complex network of cracks in the shale processed and delivered. formation. This is achieved by pumping water, sand and chemicals down the There is no set correlation between how wellbore under high pressure. After many times a well may be fractured and these cracks are created, the sand will its decline rate. For each well, a remain in the formation, propping open decision has to be made based on the the shale to create a pathway for the specific geology. It is not uncommon for gas to enter the wellbore and flow up any given horizontally drilled well to the well. undergo 60 to 150 fracture treatments. Step 4 – Repeat in Stages: 4. Please provide a table or graph showing the annual water use of: During each stage, monitoring is done to adjust and record all of the stage a) a typical hydraulic fracturing parameters to maximize the natural gas operation: or oil production from the shale. After ConocoPhillips was allowed to draw each stage is completed, a plug will be water from nine different surface water set and new perforations created to sources; however, only five sources direct the HFF to the next stage. By were used. The total water use of the segmenting the well in stages, a greater project was 105,127 cubic metres, amount of gas is produced from the which included water for an overland ice lateral length of the well. road, which was the largest water use, Step 5 – HFF Removal: ice pads for the two wells drilled, water for the drilling operation and water for After hydraulic fracturing is completed, the hydraulic fracturing treatment of the all of the plugs placed between two wells. The flowback fluids (produced hydraulic fracturing stages are drilled water) totalled to 5,673.2 cubic metres. out to remove the restrictions in the This water was hauled to treatment wellbore. The completed well is then plants in British Columbia and Alberta. opened up to remove the HFF so that natural gas can be produced. The HFF b) Imperial Oil’s facilities in Norman that is recovered from each well is either Wells: treated and reused or transported to a According to the water licence granted certified storage facility. by the Sahtu Land and Water Board Step 6 – Flaring: (SLWB) to Imperial Oil Inc. for its Norman Wells Proven Area, the Toward the end of the HFF removal operator is not allowed to exceed the process, gas will start to travel up the total allowable water withdrawal limit of well along with the HFF. Since the 3.500 million cubic metres per year and amount of gas increases as the water must not exceed the withdrawal rate of decreases, a flare is commonly set up. 16,000 cubic metres per day. Step 7 – Harvesting the Natural Gas: The annual water withdrawal rates for Imperial Oil’s Norman Wells Project May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 51 from the Mackenzie River can be found to withdraw up to 3.500 million cubic in Imperial Oil’s annual water licence metres. reports which are available on the The annual water withdrawal rates for SLWB’s public registry. DDM from Lac du Gras can be found in Later today, at the appropriate time, I Diavik’s annual water licence reports will table a document entitled “Annual which are available on the WLWB’s Water Withdrawal Rates for Imperial Oil public registry. The dike at A21 has not Norman Wells Project.” been constructed yet, and therefore c) The City of Yellowknife: there isn’t any water volume data reported. The City of Yellowknife’s water licence granted by the Mackenzie Valley Land Later today, at the appropriate time, I and Water Board (MVLWB) allows for will table a document entitled “Annual the use of up to 575,000 cubic metres of Water Withdrawal Rates for Diavik water per month. The City of Yellowknife Diamond Mine.” must not exceed the total allowable 5. What is the Department of Industry, annual water withdrawal limit of 3.600 Tourism and Investment doing to million cubic metres. educate NWT residents about the The annual water withdrawal rates for technology used in hydraulic the City of Yellowknife from the fracturing? Yellowknife River can be found in the The Canadian Association of Petroleum City of Yellowknife’s annual water Producers provided an overview of licence reports, which are available on hydraulic fracturing practices and the MVLWB’s public registry. technology on a tour it participated in Later today, at the appropriate time, I with the Department of Industry, will table a document entitled “Annual Tourism and Investment (ITI) in the Water Withdrawal Rates for the City of Gwich’in communities of Fort Yellowknife.” McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Inuvik in August 2014. ITI is also funding d) The Diavik Diamond Mine: the Gwich’in Tribal Council to complete Diavik Diamond Mine’s (DDM) water a project through the Aboriginal licence granted by the Wek’eezhii Land Capacity Building Fund to gather and Water Board (WLWB) applies a information on public perceptions and phased approach to water withdrawal. questions related to hydraulic fracturing Between the periods of November 1, in Gwich’in communities, with results 2008, to December 31, 2009, DDM was expected by the end of May 2015. authorized to withdraw 1.750 million The results can be used to identify cubic metres of water annually. public information and knowledge needs Following January 1, 2010, DDM is related to hydraulic fracturing. authorized to withdraw up to 1.280 Furthermore, ITI intends to build million cubic metres of water annually. community awareness of hydraulic In regards to the dewatering of the A21 fracturing during community public pool water, DDM is authorized to engagement on the draft NWT Hydraulic withdraw up to 11.400 million cubic Fracturing Filing Regulations from April metres during this process. During in- to June 2015. ITI also intends to include lake dredging activities, DDM is allowed May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 52 hydraulic fracturing information in future contributed by the three producing oil and gas education and outreach diamond mines. This dollar figure activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. includes contributions made to individual events, festivals, traditional activities, RETURN TO WRITTEN QUESTION 29- raffles, community organizations, 17(5): schools and support provided under IMPACTS AND BENEFITS OF private agreements. MINING Additional information on the programs I have a Return to Written Question 29- and organizations that have received 17(5), asked by Mr. Yakeleya on March funding from the diamond mines can be 11, 2015, regarding impacts and found on page 11 of the NWT and benefits of mining. Nunavut Chamber of Mines' "Measuring Mr. Yakeleya asked the following Success 2014: NWT Diamond Mines questions: Continue to Create Benefits" report. 1. Which mining companies Mining exploration companies also contribute to non-profit contribute to non-profit organizations by organizations in the Northwest providing financial, in-kind and volunteer Territories, and how much do they support. These contributions are often contribute? made on a case-by-case basis from companies headquartered in various Mining companies generally have an jurisdictions; therefore, there is no interest in contributing to community and readily available summary available to local non-governmental organizations speak to total contributions. and support of community-driven initiatives. The Mining Association of 2. How many NWT residents who work Canada, through its program entitled for mining companies active in the “Towards Sustainable Mining," provides NWT live in communities other than companies with a set of tools and Yellowknife? indicators to ensure that key mining Statistics on workforce residency risks are managed. Social investment provided by mining companies generally contributions are also committed to by differentiate between northern and mining companies through participation southern workforce and seldom include and impact benefit agreements. community details in their reports. It is not possible to provide exact dollar Exploration companies typically seek to figures for financial contributions and/or hire NWT residents to support and lead in-kind support for NGOs only because field research programs; however, programs and events may involve exploration companies are not required several organizations, and reporting on to report on workforce residency. The community support varies by company. Government of the Northwest Territories For example, companies may list does have access to workforce organizations and programs supported, residency data through its socio- but not dollar figures for each economic agreements. contribution. Available numbers on workforce In the NWT for the fiscal year 2012- residency indicate that in 2013 a total of 2013, a total of $23 million was 642 person years were contributed by May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 53

NWT residents working at the Diavik Diavik: To date, open pit and Diamond Mine and Snap Lake Mine underground mining has occurred at together. two out of the three kimberlite pipes Yellowknife residents provided 482.9 located in shallow, near shore areas person years, and all other NWT of Lac de Gras. The last pit, referred communities provided 159.1 person to as A21, will be developed in the years to both mines in 2013. coming years. During the first half of 2014, Dominion Snap Lake Mine: Fully Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. reported that underground mining of one kimberlite Yellowknife residents provided 260.05 dike beneath Snap Lake. person years, and the communities Gahcho Kue Mine: Currently under 77.2 person years for the Diavik Mine. construction and will require dewatering These numbers do not include of sections of Kennady Lake to access contractor employment, which may three kimberlite pipes. include staff hired from NWT Of the three operating diamond mines, communities other than Yellowknife. only one mine, Ekati, has drained entire The Ekati Mine does not report lakes in order to conduct mining employment by community, and in its operations. Diavik only dewatered near 2013 SEA report, Ekati reported that 59 shore lake sections that were cut off by percent of employees were northern ring dikes. based, and of those, 60 percent were In total, five small lakes and two northern Aboriginals and 40 percent sections of another lake have been were northern non-Aboriginal. drained, accounting for removal of Later today, at the appropriate time, I approximately 21,105,882 cubic metres will table a document entitled of water. "Workforce Residency at Diavik Later today, at the appropriate time, I Diamond Mine and Snap Lake Mine will table a document entitled "Water (2013)." Volumes at Ekati and Diavik Diamond 3. How many lakes have been lost to Mines." diamond mines and how much water 4. How many fish were lost when these was drained from NWT lakes to lakes were drained, and what has accommodate diamond mines? been done to compensate for the loss There are three diamond mines that are of fish habitat? currently operating in the NWT and one The approval to conduct fish-out mine currently under construction. activities and drain lakes was granted by These are: the Department of Fisheries and Ekati Mine: To date, open pit Oceans Canada, or DFO. These mining is underway at five out of a approvals were provided years before total of eight kimberlite pipes the recent changes to the Fisheries Act. located under small lakes. Some DFO provided a Harmful Alteration, underground mining is also Disruption or Destruction, or HADD, underway. The Jay Pipe Project is authorization to those developments currently in environmental that triggered a Fisheries Act Section 35 assessment. authorization. The authorizations May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 54 provided approval to drain a lake but built, but caribou will eventually cross also required compensation to ensure the road and get used to crossing the that DFO's No Net Loss Policy was road. Roads with greater levels of traffic, achieved. That meant that DFO especially large trucks, are avoided collected money to alter or augment fish more than roads with limited traffic. In habitat in other areas to compensate for Norway, roads that are side by side with the loss of habitat from draining entire transmission lines are avoided more lakes to mine kimberlite pipes. DFO than single roads and may act as more should be contacted if additional details complete barriers to caribou movement. are required about the HADD and DFO's Roads can also enable greater levels of fish habitat augmentation efforts. hunter harvest, if the road is through an Regarding the number of fish removed area that is used heavily by caribou. from the lakes prior to draining them, Winter roads to Gameti and Wekweeti DFO required that a fish-out plan be made hunter access to Bathurst caribou submitted for approval. The detailed by pickup truck fairly easy up to 2010, information is retained by DFO. even when the herd had declined to Generally the development plans lower numbers. Areas accessible by required that fish be removed from the truck can result in heavier harvests than lakes prior to draining. Fish were areas accessible only by skidoo. measured and catalogued for monitoring Satellite radio-collar locations of and research purposes. Many of these Bathurst caribou since 1996 have fish were provided to local communities indicated that there have been generally as per agreements made at that time. In few caribou wintering near the winter addition, in some instances efforts were roads to the existing diamond mines at made to move fish to other lakes in Ekati, Diavik and Snap Lake; however, order to reduce the number of fish lost. distribution of Bathurst caribou and Again, DFO should be contacted to caribou from neighbouring herds varies provide additional details for all water from one winter to the next. bodies where fish-out activities occurred Nevertheless, caribou can also be at the diamond mines. affected by a wide variety of natural Later today, at the appropriate time, and induced factors that include insect I will table a document entitled harassment, disease, weather, climate "Number of Large Bodied Fish Removed change, predation, harvesting, from Lakes at the Ekati Diamond Mine." increased energetic costs related to 5. What is the impact of winter roads to avoidance of industrial development, the diamond mines on caribou herds? such as roads, mines, communities and cumulative effects. Studies from Alaska, Norway and other regions have shown that caribou and Officials from the Department of reindeer tend to avoid roads and Industry, Tourism and Investment and transmission lines up to a distance of the NWT diamond mining companies about four to five kilometres, although participate in the ENR-led Bathurst the effect depends on the level of traffic. Caribou Management Plan, and also Relatively narrow roads with little traffic participated in the Bathurst/Bluenose- may act as a partial barrier when newly East Barren-ground Caribou Technical Working Group that was tasked with May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 55 reviewing information about the two TABLED DOCUMENT 237-17(5): herds and drafting recommended CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE conservation actions. Thank you, Mr. ENERGY USE Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. TABLED DOCUMENT 238-17(5): Item 11, replies to opening address. ANNUAL WATER WITHDRAWAL Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of RATES FOR IMPERIAL OIL committees on the review of bills. Item NORMAN WELLS PROJECT 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Beaulieu. TABLED DOCUMENT 239-17(5): 8) Tabling of Documents ANNUAL WATER WITHDRAWAL RATES FOR THE CITY OF TABLED DOCUMENT 235-17(5): YELLOWKNIFE REPORT ON THE STAFF RETENTION POLICY FOR 2011- TABLED DOCUMENT 240-17(5): 2012 AND 2012-2013 ANNUAL WATER WITHDRAWAL RATES FOR DIAVIK DIAMOND TABLED DOCUMENT 236-17(5): MINE REPORT ON THE STAFF RETENTION POLICY FOR 2013- TABLED DOCUMENT 241-17(5): 2014 AND 2014-2015 WORKFORCE RESIDENCY AT DIAVIK DIAMOND AND SNAP HON. TOM BEAULIEU: Mahsi cho, Mr. LAKE MINES (2013) Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 25-17(5), I wish to TABLED DOCUMENT 242-17(5): table the following two documents, WATER VOLUMES REMOVED entitled “Report on Staff Retention AT EKATI AND DIAVIK DIAMOND Policy for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013,” MINES and “Report on Staff Retention Policy for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.” TABLED DOCUMENT 243-17(5): MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. NUMBER OF LARGE BODIED Beaulieu. Mr. Ramsay. FISH REMOVED FROM LAKES AT THE EKATI DIAMOND MINE HON. DAVID RAMSAY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to Return to Written Question 27-17(5), I wish to table the following four documents, entitled “City of Yellowknife Energy Use,” “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for Imperial Oil – Norman Wells Project,” “Annual Withdrawal Rates for City of Yellowknife” and “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for Diavik Diamond Mines.” Also, further to my Return to Written Question 29-17(5), I wish to table the May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 56 following three documents, entitled and Protection of Privacy Act, that Ms. “Workforce Residency at Diavik Elaine Keenan Bengts be reappointed Diamonds and Snap Lake Mines,” for a term of five years as Information “Water Volumes Removed at Ekati and and Privacy Commissioner; Diavik Diamond Mines” and “Number of And further, that the appointment be Large Bodied Fish Removed from Lakes effective October 30, 2015. at the Ekati Diamond Mine.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Blake. Ramsay. Mr. Dolynny. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item TABLED DOCUMENT 244-17(5): 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second ROBERTSON REPORT LINK reading of bills. Mr. Hawkins. AND A REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL MR. HAWKINS: Thank you, Mr. GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, Speaker. I, once again, seek unanimous DISTRIBUTION AND consent to return to item 8, oral REGULATION questions, on the orders of the day. IN THE NORTHWEST ---Unanimous consent denied TERRITORIES MR. SPEAKER: Item 20, consideration MR. DOLYNNY: Thank you, Mr. in Committee of the Whole of bills and Speaker. I would like to table a other matters. Item 21, report of document that was actually buried in our Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third legislative library and was actually never reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the a tabled document of our House. It’s the day. Electrical Generation, Transmission, and Distribution in the Northwest 10) Orders of the Day Territories, A Design for Tomorrow, in December 28, 2000, referred to as the CLERK OF THE HOUSE (Mr. Mercer): Robertson Report. Thank you. Orders of the day for Thursday, May 28, MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. 2015, at 1:30 p.m.: Dolynny. Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. 1. Prayer Blake. 2. Ministers’ Statements

9) Notices of Motion 3. Members’ Statements 4. Reports of Standing and Special MOTION 43-17(5): Committees REAPPOINTMENT OF 5. Returns to Oral Questions INFORMATION AND PRIVACY COMMISSIONER 6. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery MR. BLAKE: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 29, 2015, I will move 7. Acknowledgements the following motion: Now therefore I 8. Oral Questions move, seconded by the honourable 9. Written Questions Member for Kam Lake, that pursuant to Section 61 of the Access to Information 10.Returns to Written Questions May 27, 2015 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 57

11.Replies to Opening Address 20.Consideration in Committee of 12.Petitions the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 13.Reports of Committees on the 21.Report of Committee of the Review of Bills Whole 14.Tabling of Documents 22.Third Reading of Bills 15.Notices of Motion 23.Orders of the Day 16.Notices of Motion for First MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Reading of Bills Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, May 28th, at 17.Motions 1:30 p.m. 18.First Reading of Bills ---ADJOURNMENT - Bill 48, An Act to Amend the The House adjourned at 3:51 p.m. Mental Health Act 19.Second Reading of Bills

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