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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

2nd Session Day 71 18th Assembly

HANSARD

Monday, May 29, 2017

Pages 2425 – 2448

The Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Speaker Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Members of the Legislative Assembly

Speaker Hon. Jackson Lafferty (Monfwi)

______

Hon. Glen Abernethy Hon. Bob McLeod Mr. Kevin O'Reilly (Great Slave) (Yellowknife South) (Frame Lake) Government House Leader Premier Minister of Health and Social Minister of Executive and Indigenous Services Affairs Hon. Wally Schumann Minister Responsible for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and (Hay River South) Workers' Safety and Intergovernmental Relations Minister of Industry, Tourism and Compensation Commission Investment Minister Responsible for Seniors Hon. Robert McLeod Minister of Infrastructure Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities (Inuvik Twin Lakes) Minister Responsible for the Public Deputy Premier Hon. Louis Sebert Utilities Board Minister of Finance (Thebacha) Minister of Environment and Natural Minister of Justice Resources Minister of Lands Mr. Tom Beaulieu Minister of Human Resources Minister Responsible for the (Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh) Lead Responsibility for Infrastructure Northwest Territories Power Corporation Mr. Frederick Blake Mr. Daniel McNeely Minister Responsible for Public (Mackenzie Delta) (Sahtu) Engagement and Transparency

Hon. Caroline Cochrane Hon. Alfred Moses Mr. R.J. Simpson (Range Lake) (Inuvik Boot Lake) (Hay River North) Minister of Municipal and Community Minister of Education, Culture and Affairs Employment Minister Responsible for Northwest Minister Responsible for Youth Mr. Kieron Testart Territories Housing Corporation (Kam Lake) Minister Responsible for the Status Mr. Michael Nadli of (Deh Cho) Mr. Shane Thompson Women Lead Responsibility for Addressing (Nahendeh) Homelessness Mr. Herbert Nakimayak (Nunakput) Mr. Cory Vanthuyne Ms. Julie Green (Yellowknife North) (Yellowknife Centre) ______Officers Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Tim Mercer

Deputy Clerk Mr. Doug SchauerteCommittee Clerk Mr. Michael BallLaw Clerks Ms. Sheila MacPherson Mr. Glen Rutland

______Box 1320 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Tel: (867) 767-9010 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...... 2425

MINISTERS' STATEMENTS...... 2425

179-18(2) – New Transportation Corridors (Schumann)...... 2425

180-18(2) – Progress on Access to Justice: Legal Aid Commission Expands Outreach Services (Sebert)...... 2426

181-18(2) – Community Protection and FireSmart Program (R. McLeod)...... 2427

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS...... 2428

Mental Health and Wellness Programs (Thompson)...... 2428

Road Safety on the Ingraham Trail (Vanthuyne)...... 2428

Procurement Policy Reform (Testart)...... 2429

Auditor General's Report on Correction Services (McNeely)...... 2429

Aklavik to Inuvik Ice Road Closure (Blake)...... 2430

Federal Funding Announcement for Indigenous Languages Support in the Northwest Territories (Nadli)...... 2430

Carbon Pricing (O'Reilly)...... 2430

Seniors Day Program (Green)...... 2431

Importance of Northwest Territories Friendship Centres (Simpson)...... 2431

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS IN THE GALLERY...... 2428, 2432

ORAL QUESTIONS...... 2432

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON THE REVIEW OF BILLS...... 2443

TABLING OF DOCUMENTS...... 2453

FIRST READING OF BILLS...... 2454

Bill 24 – An Act to Amend the Coroner's Act...... 2454 Bill 25 – An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act...... 2454

Bill 26 – An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, No. 2...... 2454

CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF BILLS AND OTHER MATTERS ...... 2454

REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE...... 2444

ORDERS OF THE DAY...... 2447 6 May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 7

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Monday, May 29, 2017 Members Present Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne

The House met at 1:29 p.m. gateway for increased trade and development. 2. Prayer The Department of Infrastructure is SPEAKER (Hon. Jackson Lafferty): working with the federal government to Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, identify new opportunities to fund these Ministers' statements. Minister of critical projects under the 2017 federal Infrastructure. budget. Our message to Canada is that the time to invest in these projects is 3. Ministers' Statements now in order to maximize the benefits to Northerners and all Canadians. Earlier MINISTER'S STATEMENT 179-18(2): this year, we received positive news NEW TRANSPORTATION with regards to the Tlicho All-Season CORRIDORS Road when the federal government HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Mr. announced conditional funding for Speaker, the Government of the project construction under the P3 Northwest Territories made a Canada Fund. The road will replace the commitment in its mandate to capture southern section of the existing winter opportunities by securing funding for road, providing uninterrupted access to three new transportation corridors. Whati and increasing the window of Investing in the Tlicho All-Season Road, access to Gameti and Wekweeti. This is Slave Geological Province Access particularly important as warmer winters Corridor, and the Mackenzie Valley caused by climate change have Highway will support sustainable increased our challenges by building communities while strengthening our and operating winter roads in the region economy. Each project will create in recent years. Resulting reductions in significant job and training opportunities, the cost of freight will improve the helping develop our northern workforce. standard of life in these communities by As more communities are connected to making it more affordable to deliver a the highway system, essential goods diverse range of essential goods, from and materials can be delivered more food and fuel to the building materials effectively, and the cost of living will be for the houses and the construction reduced for these residents. These projects. Lowering operating costs for corridors will also support northern local businesses will allow them to be industry and businesses by providing a more competitive in territorial markets. May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 8

All-weather access will also help attract With the challenges being faced by our tourism opportunities and further interest mineral development industry right now, from industry in exploration and the timing for this project has never development of natural resources in the been more critical. Climate change is region. limiting the existing winter road access to the diamond mines, resulting in The Government of the Northwest additional costs to industry resupply Territories continues to work closely with efforts and other operational difficulties. the Tlicho Government and the This is due to a combination of warmer community of Whati as the project temperatures, more unpredictable proceeds through the environmental weather, and the increased traffic assessment process. Project projected to resupply the region's mining construction will maximize opportunities industry. An all-weather road to the for Tlicho residents as well as Slave Geological Province will stabilize Northerners from other parts of the the resupply system to existing mines territory, providing employment and while enabling new mineral exploration training for our people. A request for and development opportunities. qualifications was released in March and closes on June 9th. Now that there is Mr. Speaker, the Department of significant movement on the Tlicho All- Infrastructure has conducted numerous Season Road, the Department of studies on this corridor over the last two Infrastructure is focusing on securing decades. Based on the results of funding for the Slave Geological mineral potential and route option Province access road and the studies, a corridor has been identified Mackenzie Valley highway. that will provide the greatest economic benefit to the region and the NWT, while The Slave Geological Province Access minimizing impact on the environment. Corridor is a transformative project for The Departments of Infrastructure, our territory, enabling industry to better Finance, and Industry, Tourism and develop the high mineral potential of the Investment are jointly conducting a P3 Slave Geological Province. The current business case assessment of the lack of access into this region is chosen corridor. This business case will resulting in additional costs for industry allow the GNWT to better estimate that impact the competitiveness of our construction costs for this road, as well territory and the ability of projects in the as determine the appropriate funding area to attract investment. The long- model. term vision for this project includes construction of an all-weather road in The Department of Infrastructure the NWT that would connect an all- continues to focus on advancing next weather road to the port of Nunavut. steps, including undertaking This would result in the creation of an environmental studies and finalizing important economic development engineering and design work for the first corridor and a gateway for northern phase of the project from Tibbitt to trade and a supply that could involve Lockhart Lake. The Department of opportunities to collaborate with the Infrastructure is also working with Government of Nunavut, industry, and caribou subject experts from the Aboriginal governments. Department of Environment and Natural May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 9

Resources to identify ways to mitigate access to granular resources and impacts to caribou and protect this traditional Sahtu lands, which may be important resource while the project used for recreation, tourism, and advances. business development. The Mackenzie Valley Highway will The Department of Infrastructure connect several of our remote continues to lobby the federal communities to the public highway government for funding toward the system. The project provides an Mackenzie Valley highway and to opportunity to reduce the cost of living pursue further engineering and by replacing the Mackenzie Valley environmental studies. Engineering winter road with an all-weather highway work is also under way for the Great that is more resilient to impacts of Bear River Bridge, which represents a climate change and allows for more critical project component and would effective delivery of goods to extend the winter road access into the communities. Improved mobility will Sahtu. All three of these new corridor allow residents better access to services projects are at various stages in their that may not be immediately available in development; but while the Department their own community. Businesses will be of Infrastructure is working hard to bring connected to other markets, supporting each closer to construction, we are economic growth. nearing completion of another very important project. The Inuvik to Mr. Speaker, more than ever, we need Tuktoyaktuk Highway will open to traffic to invest in projects that generate November 15, 2017, becoming the first employment and reduce the cost of public highway to the Arctic Ocean and living in the Sahtu region. The achieving a Canadian vision of Mackenzie Valley highway is critical to connecting our country by road from unlocking much of the still untapped coast to coast to coast. resource potential of the region. Improved access will reduce costs for The last winter construction season on industry exploration and development, the project consisted of completing the opening up new areas for mineral final two bridges, crushing and potential and increasing the stockpiling of surface gravel. attractiveness of continued petroleum Construction this summer season will production and the development in the focus on grading, packing, and shaping Sahtu. An important incremental step in the base of the highway in preparation converting the existing winter road to an for gravel surfacing. Signage and all-weather road is under way with the guardrails will be installed this fall. I Canyon Creek All-season Road Project, believe we will soon be entering a new a 14- kilometre access road south of the era of improved access for our territory town of Norman Wells. The contractor by expanding the highway system to the started work clearing the right-of-way in remote regions of our territory. Through March and construction will continue these projects we can help strengthen over the summer. The project, which is our territory and develop it as a land of expected to be completed by the fall new opportunities. Thank you, Mr. 2018, will provide employment Speaker. opportunities in the region and result in May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 10

MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Ministers' Additionally, for the first time, staff will statements. Minister of Justice. provide duty counsel service in family law matters and coordinate public legal MINISTER'S STATEMENT 180-18(2): information on behalf of the Legal Aid PROGRESS ON ACCESS TO Commission. Again, these new services JUSTICE: LEGAL AID are available at no cost and do not COMMISSION EXPANDS require a formal application. In OUTREACH SERVICES Yellowknife, the Outreach Legal Aid lawyer holds three weekly clinics; one HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Mr. Speaker, as for child protection issues, one for family a government we have committed in our law, and one general clinic for other civil mandate to improve access to justice by matters. Each clinic operates on a first making family law duty counsel services come, first served basis. Clients can available to assist people representing also make appointments at other times themselves in court. Today, I would like depending on their circumstances. to provide an update on how this government is meeting and exceeding In-person clinics will be held in other that commitment with an initiative to NWT communities on a regular basis or, assist residents involved in civil or family if need be, phone appointments may be justice matters. As Members are aware, arranged. Over the next few months a the Legal Aid Commission piloted an schedule of regional clinics will be initiative to provide basic legal advice on developed in partnership with the civil matters. The outreach lawyer held communities and the court workers of weekly clinics in Yellowknife and the Legal Aid Commission. Throughout delivered service clinics in 19 Canada and here in the Northwest communities. Residents did not have to Territories, courts have seen an make an application, nor meet a increasing number of people financial means test for this service. representing themselves in both civil Anyone who would benefit from and family courts. Unfortunately, self- speaking with a lawyer on issues such represented litigants face barriers, and as housing, landlord and tenant many do not receive equitable access to disputes, disability or employment justice. Many of these people are issues, child protection, or elders' wills, interacting with the justice system for was eligible for a limited consultation. the first time, and it is not surprising that This service proved to be very they experience difficulties stemming successful. It became clear that there from a lack of understanding of potential was a greater need than could be remedies or court processes. addressed in the 15 hours per week available under the pilot project. With the introduction of family law duty counsel, residents who attend court for Based on this success, the Legal Aid family law matters will receive advice Commission has launched a full-time when they need it most. Much like the Outreach Legal Aid Clinic. This new duty counsel provided to those clinic now offers free confidential legal criminally charged, this will allow the advice for up to three hours on any outreach lawyer to attend as duty single legal issue through a staff court counsel for appearances on family worker and an outreach lawyer. matters in the Territorial and Supreme May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 11

Courts. By providing expanded hours, available from the regional and local and a dedicated court worker and ENR offices or at nwtfire.com. ENR outreach lawyer, the Legal Aid headquarters and regional staff have Commission is helping clients to access been meeting with the emergency legal advice and referrals more quickly measures organizations, Municipal and through the new Outreach Legal Aid Community Affairs, Lands, and Industry, Clinic. Through this expansion, we Tourism and Investment to confirm roles expect that the number of court and strengthen relationships to mitigate appearances required to complete a risk in the event of a wildland fire. The case is going to be reduced. In addition, department is also finalizing its staff will be utilized more efficiently, and Community Hazard and Risk Mitigation technology will be better leveraged Project with Municipal and Community under this new model. Finally, better Affairs, as well as working together on legal education and information for critical infrastructure assessment and residents will lead to better outcomes for resiliency planning. all involved. Mr. Speaker, this project is expected to Mr. Speaker, this initiative not only result in updated recommendations for continues to deliver legal outreach communities to include in their services to our residents, but it also emergency plans. Community wildland represents a significant step in meeting fire protection will now be integrated into our commitment to improve access to existing emergency management justice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. processes. ENR is continuing to pursue additional funding opportunities to help MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Ministers' advance community-supported wildland statements. Member for Environment fire risk management objectives. Should and Natural Resources. communities secure funding for mitigation work, the department will MINISTER'S STATEMENT 181-18(2): continue to assist communities with COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND technical advice. FIRESMART PROGRAM Mr. Speaker, as we prepare for summer HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Mr. Speaker, and another wildland fire season, I the FireSmart program is an important encourage all residents to make the tool in mitigating risk and improving effort to plan and prepare for potential community protection in the event of a emergencies. FireSmart works to help wildland fire. Applying FireSmart individuals and communities make our principles increases human safety, fire response more effective and decreases property loss, and enhances increases the chance of saving property wildland fire suppression success. The and protecting lives. Reducing risk Department of Environment and Natural increases safety. Thank you, Mr. Resources continues to encourage Speaker. communities, agencies, and home and cabin owners to promote and implement MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Ministers' FireSmart principles. statements. Colleagues, I'd like to draw your attention to people in the gallery. Information on FireSmart for communities, cabin and homeowners is May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 12

We have with us here some of my illness are not the same thing, but they constituents. are not mutually exclusive. We have Ms. Alestine Mantla. She is a A fundamental difference between teacher at the elementary school, mental health and mental illness is that Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary everyone has some same level of School, along with her grade six mental health all the time, just like students here today. We have a couple physical health, whereas it is possible to of resource staff as well. I'd like to thank be without mental illness. Mental illness them for coming, exploring the is extremely prevalent in Canada and Legislative Assembly. Also, with us, Mr. around the world. However, the main John Zoe. He's the bus driver for a burden of the illness is concentrated in number of years. I'd just like to say much smaller proportions. Around 6 per thank you for looking out there for our cent, or one in 17, suffer from serious students. One more, Tony Rabesca, this illness. It is important to remember year from Behchoko as well. I'd like to mental health and mental illness are not recognize him as well. Masi for coming. static. They change over time Item 3, Members' statements. Member depending on many factors. Some of for Nahendeh. the factors that affect mental health includes a level of personal and 4. Members' Statements workplace stress, lifestyle, and mental behaviour, exposure to trauma, and MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON genetics. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS When a demand is placed on any individual that exceeds these resources MR. THOMPSON: Thank you, Mr. and coping ability, their mental health Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past four will be negatively affected. Mr. Speaker, months, we've witnessed five tragedies I believe we need to get more people that have deeply saddened the families, trained in this area. The Minister for friends, our communities, and myself. Health and Social Services spoke about Unfortunately, these types of tragedies mental health first aid as a good step, happen across the world daily. I know and I agree with him. However, I'd like to it's very difficult to talk about, but it encourage the government to look at needs to be spoken about here today. other programs such as the program Mr. Speaker, mental illness has long being offered by the NWT Recreation been misunderstood and unfairly and Parks Association, Strengthening judged. We need to strive to break this Children's Mental Health. This program stigma. Mental illnesses are not a provides tools and suggested activities choice. They often make life difficult for to use with staff to help improve and those who suffer from them, as well as understand interaction with people. We their family and friends. When looking at need to use all tools to help our people. this topic, there seems to be some Thank you, Mr. Speaker. confusion between mental health and mental illness. People often think that MR. SPEAKER: Members' statements. the terms are interchangeable. Member for Yellowknife North. However, mental health and mental May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 13

MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON driven the trail in any season, you have ROAD SAFETY ON THE likely encountered people driving too INGRAHAM TRAIL fast to stay in their lane, heavy equipment, B-trains and other large MR. VANTHUYNE: Thank you, Mr. vehicles, and people towing snowmobile Speaker. Mr. Speaker, everyone can trailers, campers, and boats, all in think of at least one person who has variable driving conditions. Passing can been seriously injured or even killed in a be extremely hazardous and is only motor vehicle accident, or maybe as possible in a few sections. individuals, we have experienced such a traumatic incident first hand. I know I Regular patrolling and check stops have. The recent fatality in a car crash beyond Yellowknife city limits would on the Ingraham Trail is a stark help control drivers' speed on the trail, reminder of the consequences of and would go a long way in dangerous driving. My sincere discouraging people to drive while under condolences go to the family and friends the influence. On our part, capital of the individual who passed, those who investment is needed to promote safe were injured, and all those otherwise driving on the Ingraham Trail and, affected by this tragic accident. frankly, in all our roadways, but efforts to prevent drinking and driving cannot be This accident, and recent stats on overemphasized. Many more motor increased drinking and driving, highlight vehicle accidents can be avoided the ongoing need to emphasize road through an optimal combination of good safety and public education. The driving practices and infrastructure that government has a Road Safety Plan supports safe highway transportation. I and a Drive Alive program, encouraging want to see this government supporting drivers to take responsibility for their both. I will have questions for the own safe driving, awareness of road Minister of Infrastructure at the conditions, and so on, but the Ingraham appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Trail is a far busier road than it used to Speaker. be, with many more residents living there, tourists, and truck traffic, more MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' than ever before. Last ice road season statements. Member for Kam Lake. alone, there were seven truck rollovers and three cab fires. MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON PROCUREMENT POLICY Mr. Speaker, the department is to be REFORM commended for the improved road conditions on the trail, the Twitter MR. TESTART: Mr. Speaker, I am updates, and mobile signs reminding proud to support the many businesses people to drive safely, but ongoing steps in my riding of Kam Lake, and many of to support road safety are also these businesses rely on government necessary. Re-engineering certain contracts to keep their operations viable corners and the addition of guardrails and create employment for our would go a long way to improving safety communities. This government has a and making Highway No. 4 more responsibility to northern entrepreneurs accessible to all users. If you have to make sure government procurement May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 14 is efficiently administered, easy to procurement policies. In one case, a access, and creates a competitive edge Kam Lake firm saw an approval for a for those companies that choose to do manufactured project, ensured all their business in the North and call the NWT documents were correct, and then had home. I have spoken on this issue in the to wait 15 months before the House before, Mr. Speaker, and though government responded to the the Minister of Infrastructure remains application. Mr. Speaker, I think it is confident that there is no need for a clear such a state of bureaucratic limbo reform or even a review of such policies is unacceptable. Even a rejection to the on procurement, Northerners know that application would have been preferable simply isn't the case. to forcing our businesses to "hurry up and wait," when economic opportunities There is no question the governments need to be accessed and are on the can always improve, and procurement line. Mr. Speaker, I am going to have reform is needed to ensure a strong and questions for the Minister of stable private sector exists in the Infrastructure, and I hope his response Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the will not be, "we don't have a Canadian Federation of Independent procurement problem." Thank you, Mr. Businesses counts over 250 members Speaker. here in the Territories. The federation works hand in hand with its members to MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' understand the economic needs for statements. Member for Sahtu. small and medium-sized businesses in every region in the country. MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT In their most recent survey of northern ON CORRECTIONS businesses, the CFIB asked for the priority issues of northern business MR. MCNEELY: Thank you, Mr. owners, and 86 per cent of respondents Speaker. Through continued restorative stated their most serious concern was justice programming, our Department of government over-regulation and Justice and this 18th Assembly mandate complexity of procurement, otherwise on healthy goals to educate people, and known as "red tape." For the average safe, vibrant communities. small business with fewer than five We contribute to achieving these goals employees, annual regulation costs per by offering a wide range of programs employee in Canada is $5,942. For and services that give individuals the larger businesses in the five to 100 tools and support they need to address employee range, the fee starts at $3,133 the challenges and poor choices that and tapers off at $1,456 per employee. often result in criminal charges and With our already high cost of living, how incarceration. Mr. Speaker, in a lot of can we expect our business community ways, we are continuously looking to to get ahead under such high regulatory better improve our efficiencies on burdens? delivery. First, we must look at where Kam Lakers have an abundance of we are, and reset on where we are experience in dealing with the slow and going. inefficient pace of government May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 15

Carry the mace on corrections, Mr. spring, the ice thaws faster in this spot. Speaker. The 17th Assembly seen an The ice road was still over four to five Auditor General's report on the NWT feet thick at that time. In that one little corrections in the NWT system. The section, people just pulled further over report seen 14 recommendations. Later, to the side of the road when they Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for passed by. There is nothing wrong with the appropriate Minister on the report. that, Mr. Speaker. Instead, the ice road Thank you. was closed with very little notice. People were counting on the last part of the ice MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' road season to bring supplies in from statements. Member for Mackenzie Inuvik. The hamlet also had supplies en Delta. route to the community, including a steamer that would be used to unplug MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON culverts around the community. Mr. AKLAVIK TO INUVIK ICE ROAD Speaker, ice roads will continue to be CLOSURE important in our region. The government MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and communities need to work together Mr. Speaker, the Aklavik ice road closed to sustain their operation in the best way about one week earlier than normal this possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. year. This raises major concerns about MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' how supplies would get into the statements. Member for Deh Cho. community, and also about the lack of consultation with residents. MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON Mr. Speaker, Aklavik's 85 kilometre FEDERAL FUNDING winter road is a vital link for the ANNOUNCEMENT FOR community, connecting people, goods, INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES and services to the region. Goods and SUPPORT IN THE NORTHWEST services are very expensive in Aklavik, TERRITORIES like they are in all our remote MR. NADLI: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Last communities. The ice road is used to week, a Member of Parliament for the transport things like heavy equipment Western Arctic, Michael McLeod, on and fuel that cannot be brought in during behalf of Honourable Melanie Joly, the rest of the year. This year, Minister of Canadian Heritage of the government inspectors noticed open federal government, announced $19.6 water on the side of the road and closed million in funding for the next three the road early, without advising or years for Aboriginal languages in the consulting the community. Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Mr. Speaker, the department didn't listen Speaker. [English translation not to the contractor with years of provided.] experience or consider traditional Mr. Speaker, the role that the knowledge of the area. The open water government plays in providing resources that inspectors saw is well known by the is good. What is more important is being ice road builders who have dealt with it able to assist in ensuring that all levels for many years. They know that there is of government and Aboriginal groups a sandbar in this area and that, in the May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 16 work together and make use of the As a Regular MLA, I have no idea what funding resources effectively. We all our government is doing on the issue of need to revitalize, preserve, and carbon pricing because of the poor enhance the Aboriginal languages in the communications from Cabinet on this Northwest Territories. I look forward to important issue. Little seems to be possibly seeing initiatives such as these under way beyond continued resistance local Slave Research projects and and some sort of a deputy ministers projects like that, where young and old committee. The Premier promised on work together and create a healing March the 1st to provide a carbon pricing environment so that our languages can report from a consultant hired by flourish. Mahsi. GNWT. Here we are almost three months later and we still do not have MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' that report, let alone any indication of statements. Member for Frame Lake. what our government is doing. I will have questions for the Premier, as the MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON Chair of the Ministerial Energy and CARBON PRICING Climate Change Committee of Cabinet. MR. O'REILLY: Merci, Monsieur le Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. President. It is another sitting of this MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' House and time for my third statement statements. Member for Yellowknife on carbon pricing. The federal Centre. government released its backstop plan for a national carbon pricing scheme on th MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON May the 18 . It shows that a national SENIORS DAY PROGRAM scheme would see a carbon tax on the most commonly used fuels in the MS. GREEN: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Northwest Territories at no more than Speaker, the mandate of this 18th about three cents per litre in 2018, going Assembly commits the government to up to no more than about 16 cents per take action so that seniors can age in litre in 2022. The federal plan is laid out place, and this is also a priority of the in a transparent and understandable Standing Committee on Social manner that lets Canada meet its Development. Mr. Speaker, when we international obligations and make talk about aging in place, we most often significant reductions in greenhouse gas talk about housing, particularly emissions. renovations that make it possible for elders to remain in their own homes. Some reports in the media quoted an However, in addition to meeting seniors' unnamed federal official as stating that physical needs, we also need to this plan will not apply to the northern consider how to meet their mental territories, but there is nothing in the health and well-being needs. plan itself to indicate this. My reading of it shows that this is indeed a national Day programs, like the Elders' Circle at backstop. The paper says, "The Avens, gave seniors who lived in their backstop will apply in a province or own homes an opportunity to socialize territory that does not have a pricing in a structured program, and it gave system that aligns with the benchmark." their families caring for them a break. May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 17

Daycare for seniors and daycare for programming available for the growing children is built around the same population of seniors in Yellowknife. I concept of providing a safe and will have questions for the Minister stimulating environment that promotes responsible for Seniors. Mahsi, Mr. socialization and skill development or, in Speaker. the case of seniors, retention. It also provides vital respite for families. MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' Unfortunately, Avens shuttered their statements. Member for Hay River program last December. The North. Yellowknife Association for Community MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON Living stepped in for a few months, but IMPORTANCE OF NORTHWEST that program was never meant to be TERRITORIES FRIENDSHIP more than a temporary solution. Now CENTRES there is no program at all. A constituent of mine, who is 97 years old, attended MR. SIMPSON: Thank you, Mr. the Elders' Circle for over 15 years. She Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning, the made friends with other participants and Regular Members had the pleasure of staff, but now she spends most of her meeting with the board and the days home alone while her family is at executive director of the NWT/Nunavut work. Her friends are not able to come Council of Friendship Centres. This is to see her, and she is unable to see the territorial board that represents the them. She is lonely and isolated, seven friendship centres in the according to her son. Of course, he is Northwest Territories, located in Hay very concerned about her and the River, Fort Smith, Fort Providence, Fort decrease in her quality of life. There Simpson, Behchoko, Yellowknife, and were seven other seniors in the Elders' Inuvik. It was an opportunity for us to Circle program who now have nowhere learn about what these organizations do to go. No doubt there are others who, as for our communities and about how they age, would benefit from a program much more they could be doing with just like this to promote their social well- a little more support. being. Some of us are very familiar with the Mr. Speaker, the need for this kind of good work that these centres do. In program to provide socialization for addition to regularly meeting with the seniors and respite for their families is executive director of the Hay River going to increase as our population Friendship Centre, I actually served on ages. I do not want elders who choose the board of my local friendship centre to age in place to be lonely and isolated. just as other honourable Members and Keeping elders in their own homes is a former Members of this House have, like more cost-effective option for yourself, Mr. Speaker, our Honourable government than creating long-term Premier, and our Member of Parliament. care beds for them, as the Minister However, Mr. Speaker, not everyone is knows, but there is more to life than aware of the services these having a bed to sleep in. The organizations offer. I do not have nearly government must step in immediately to enough time to give you an exhaustive ensure that there is daytime list, but I will name a few. May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 18

Many of the services that they provide money for future capital investments, just fill the gaps that the government and the fact is most of what they do is does not cover. Sometimes it is picking up the slack where the something as simple as helping a client government cannot fill those roles. I will fill out a government form to apply for have questions at the appropriate time. income assistance or attending court Thank you, Mr. Speaker. with an individual who is not equipped to do so alone. In addition to picking up the MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Members' government's slack, the slack is often statements. Item 4, returns to oral forced upon the centres. The GNWT questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors often mandates that those convicted of in the gallery. Member for Range Lake. a crime perform community service 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery hours at a friendship centre. While well- intentioned, but this often means that HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE: Thank centre employees are pulled from you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would regular duties to help supervise these like to recognize, from the Native people. The income assistance office Women's Association of NWT Training also mandates their clients to attend Centre, Ms. Kathleen Lockhart, Ms. programs offered at the friendship Lillian Panalu, Mary Modeste, Tracey centre. Mr. Speaker, these are two Woods, Trudy Zoe, and Natalie examples of the GNWT forcing clients Makletzoff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. on the friendship centres without compensating them for their assistance. MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam In addition to providing social programs Lake. and services, more and more friendship centres are providing training designed MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. to put people to work. I can attest that, Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. in Hay River, there have been dozens of Fraser Oliver, a strong Kam Laker who individuals who have received training is taking an interest in our proceedings and employment as a direct result of and also president of the NWT these friendship centres. There are also Teachers' Association. Welcome. common misconceptions about the MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of friendship centres, Mr. Speaker, that I visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik would like to dispel. The first is that they Twin Lakes. only service Aboriginal clients, and this could not be further from the truth. The HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Thank you, friendship centres are mandated to Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize two assist anyone who walks through their residents from Inuvik, Mr. Paul doors. Another misconception is that the Komaromi and Mr. Tom Zubko, who will friendship centres are a federal be inducted into the Order of the NWT, I organization and should be funded believe, tomorrow. Welcome to the federally. While it is true there is some House. federal government money, this barely MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of covers an executive director. There is visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu. no money for O and M. There is no May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 19

MR. MCNEELY: Thank you, Mr. anyone in the gallery? Thanks for being Speaker. I would like to recognize my here with us. It's always great to have niece, Ms. Melinda Laboucan, from Fort an audience as part of proceedings. Good Hope there. She is the community Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item family awareness coordinator; and I 7, oral questions. Member for think in behind her someplace there is Yellowknife Centre. Mary Modeste, originally from Deline. Mahsi. 6. Oral Questions MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of QUESTION 768-18(2): visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay SENIORS DAY PROGRAM River North. MS. GREEN: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. MR. SIMPSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Speaker. I'd like to recognize, from the Minister responsible for Seniors. As I am NWT/Nunavut Council of Friendship sure he is aware, there used to be a day Centres, Tony Rabesca, Abbie Crook, program for seniors in Yellowknife, Shari Caudron, and Kyle Bird. Thank based at Avens, and the program was a you, Mr. Speaker. safe place for seniors to socialize. It also gave caregivers a break, as I mentioned MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of in my statement. Since February, there visitors in gallery. Member for has been nothing. Can the Minister tell Yellowknife North. us what action he is taking to reinstate MR. VANTHUYNE: Thank you, Mr. this program? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a resident MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of Yellowknife North, and also with the responsible for Seniors. NWT Teachers' Association, Amanda Mallon. Welcome. HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Avens let us MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of know on October 2016 that they were visitors in gallery. Member for intending to suspend operations of the Thebacha. program. They also at that time HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Thank you, Mr. expressed to us their intent to redesign Speaker. We are very fortunate to have the adult day program to better meet the one of our longest serving victim service needs of clients that it serves and to workers with us in the gallery today. address any quality and safety concerns Marie Speakman has been providing a that were raised. A working group has valuable service to victims in been established with representatives Yellowknife with the Native Woman's from Avens, the department, the Association for 17 years, and I'd like us territorial authority, and they are to take this opportunity to recognize her conducting a review of the Avens day service here today. program, and they have been doing that since late January 2017. ---Applause The working group has completed the MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Recognition of following components. They are doing a visitors in the gallery. Are we missing literature review of best practices of May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 20 adult day programs available throughout MS. GREEN: I appreciate the answer the country, they have looked at the from the Minister. Is the Minister open to historical use and the policies that were solutions that may look for a new in place, and they are doing a review of partner rather than Avens to provide this issues related to safety and quality program? concerns that were identified. They are currently compiling all of that information HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: As I have and looking forward to bringing it said several times in this House, we are forward to their stakeholders shortly, currently doing a continuing care review and a draft report will be circulated once and a review of homecare services that the work is completed. Thank you, Mr. are planned throughout the Northwest Speaker. Territories to support residents to age in place as much as possible. We have MS. GREEN: I am not sure if I'm talked about different models that might encouraged or dismayed by the fact that be used, whether it is family support or there is now a working group working on community support. Once we are done another report and another deadline. that review and we have an actual plan Maybe the Minister could tell us whether in place, we will be in a better position to there is money in place to implement a figure out what, if new partners are out solution when one is identified? there, that might be able to assist us in supporting seniors to integrate and be HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Core part of their community, as well as age funding is provided to Avens to provide in place. I would say the answer is "yes," the wide range of programs and but we want to finish that review first. services that they have. I had an opportunity to meet with the board and MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. the acting executive director about a Member for Yellowknife Centre. week and a half ago where we were talking about a future expansion on the MS. GREEN: Mr. Speaker, the bottom site of 48 beds. This topic also came up line here is we've got a group of seniors at the time, and at that time, Avens who are isolated because of their lack of indicated that they would like to work socialization, and that's been the case with the department on an operational now going on for six months. We have review to look at how they're spending got various reviews, one of which, the their money to make sure that they are continuing care review, is overdue. I getting the dollars that are being guess my bottom line question is: when allocated, and they are using them to can seniors who need this program, and maximum effect. We haven't committed families who need this program, expect to funding that operational review, but I to see a solution? Mahsi. have asked the department to work HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, closely with Avens to come up with a Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report mechanism and ways we could support that is being done by Avens now on this them to do that operational review so very exact topic is expected to be that they can ensure that the money completed by Avens by mid-June 2017. they are receiving is being spent to a At that point, they will have some ideas maximum effect. how they intend to move forward to support day programming. The May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 21 continuing care review, the homecare willing to sit down with the Member and review that we have been talking about, discuss any ideas he has. Thank you, has already been intended to be Mr. Speaker. available to Members of this House in time for business planning so that we MR. TESTART: Well, the Minister can have an informed discussion, and consults with me; that is one person. I allocated resources to meet the needs am wondering if he will consult with of residents across the Northwest everyone in the Northwest Territories Territories moving forward in through a public engagement process, subsequent fiscal years. and then create a report that can come back to this House and be assessed by MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. the standing committee and the Member for Kam Lake. government on its results and lead to comprehensive procurement reform in QUESTION 769-18(2): the Northwest Territories. Will the PROCUREMENT POLICY Minister commit to do that? REFORM HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: No, I will MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. not commit to do a comprehensive Speaker. This government has shown review across the Northwest Territories. its appetite to work on comprehensive As I have told the Member before in this issues for the government. The House, I have been part of both sides of Honourable Minister for the NWT this equation, and I believe that the Housing Corporation has just process in place is a fair and equitable undertaken a very long and lengthy one for all businesses in the Northwest review of the Housing Corporation's Territories. Yes, maybe we have to policies and programs. The Minister for tweak a few things to make everything Public Engagement and Transparency better. It does not matter if it is from is doing a very public process on Open healthcare to education to procurement, Government Policy. Will the Minister but I am willing to sit down and have responsible for Infrastructure commit to those conversations. However at this undertaking the exact same style of point, I am not willing to do a territorial review for procurement policies without wide review. delay? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. TESTART: Does the Minister agree MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of that a 15 month wait for a procurement Infrastructure. application is unacceptable, and that that issue needs to be dealt with right HON. WALLY SCHUMANN Thank you, away? Mr. Speaker. The department which is responsible for procurement of shared HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: This is the services, which came into effect in 2014, first I've heard of this situation. I want to was always looking at ways to sit down with the Member after session streamline the process, to increase today and get the details on it. I believe participation of local and northern 15 months definitely is too long to hear businesses in the procurement and fair back on an issue. and open process of government goods in the Northwest Territories. I am always May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 22

MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. information on the plan to us here Member for Kam Lake. today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of Speaker. I thank the Minister for that Health and Social Services. commitment. I'll be happy to sit down with him and share my constituent's HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, experience with our procurement Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have system. Finally, I know that the already talked a little bit about the department of procurement services comprehensive review of homecare through the Department of Infrastructure services that are being planned for is undertaking some vendor workshops. 2017-2018, and this is going to help us Is there any opportunity for public make informed decisions in the next engagement in the procurement process round of business planning on how through those workshops, or is this we're going to invest to support aging in merely an effort to tell vendors how to place for seniors and persons with do business with government? Are we disabilities. However, Mr. Speaker, we actually listening to them or are we just do know that there are some pockets of telling them they're doing it wrong? documented unmet demands for Thank you, Mr. Speaker. homecare services in many communities through the Northwest HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank Territories. Recognizing this, we truly you, Mr. Speaker. No, that's not how this appreciate the $2.5-million allocation works. We're always open to all types of that was issued during the budgeting feedback, good or bad, and we'll try to process. We're intending to use it to improve the system as we move make some incremental investments to forward. meet the demands for patient care that we know exists in several of the MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. communities and our regions that have Member for Nahendeh. been previously limited by resource shortfalls. QUESTION 770-18(2): HOMECARE AND MENTAL With the new 2017-2018 homecare HEALTH SERVICES funding, I'm pleased to announce that we'll be strengthening homecare MR. THOMPSON: Thank you, Mr. services in our three largest Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the communities and introducing homecare budget process, the Department of services in six communities where there Health and Social Services received are currently none offered. We're new funding to support enhanced looking at putting one additional nurse in homecare and youth in crisis. On Inuvik, as well as two additional home Thursday, we received an e-mail from support workers. We're looking at the Minister of Health and Social putting three additional home support Services identifying a proposed plan to workers here in Yellowknife and we're allocate this funding. Mr. Speaker, can looking at putting halftime home support the Minister of Health and Social workers in Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Services please provide further Sambaa K'e, Nahanni Butte, Kakisa, May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 23 and we're looking at putting in an incorporated into the complement of additional one-and-a-half home support positions that are out there. Then we do workers in Hay River, with 0.5 of that have to go out and staff those positions being utilized to support enterprise and that can take a bit of time. Once we where there are currently no home do have the positions filled it will likely support services. Thank you, Mr. require some training for individuals to Speaker. make sure that they're providing the high-quality service that we want to MR. THOMPSON: This is great news make available to residents throughout and I must publicly thank the Minister for the Northwest Territories. I can say that sharing this information here today. I I have talked to the territorial authority was very concerned during the budget and I have talked to the department. process, and now I'm happier to hear They are going to move forward as this good news. I have to recognize the quickly as they can to get this upfront hard work that the department and work done and get these positions filled Minister have done to this date. Can the and on the ground as quickly as Minister advise if this good news e-mail possible. I have asked that we utilize the can be shared with the public? Regional Recruitment Program where HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Yes, please appropriate so that, if there are people share the e-mail with everybody you who meet the qualifications today, we want to share. In fact, all the MLAs I can work to help train some local people would encourage to share the for local work. information. Mr. Speaker, this is a good MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. news story and it shows us working Member for Mackenzie Delta. together as an Assembly and that we recognize the need to invest in staff and QUESTION 771-18(2): home support positions to meet the AKLAVIK TO INUVIK ICE ROAD needs of our residents across the CLOSURE Northwest Territories. Please share the information with everybody that the MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member would like to. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few MR. THOMPSON: I'd like to thank the questions for the Minister of Minister for allowing us to share this Infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to good information again out to the public. ask the Minister, how was the Mr. Speaker, with this plan in place, can community of Aklavik advised when the the Minister explain the next steps to open water and the ice road was first implement this plan and provide a discovered and the weight restriction potential timeline, like job descriptions was lowered? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and stuff like that, that have to be done? MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: I am a little Infrastructure. reluctant to speculate on a timeline. There is a significant amount of work HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank that needs to be done. The position job you, Mr. Speaker. When this came up descriptions need to be written. They on a quick and short notice, the local need to be evaluated. They need to be superintendent out of the Inuvik region May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 24 would have notified the mayor of out there and profile the ice, this road Aklavik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. was closed in that time. MR. BLAKE: What plans were put in MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. place to finish bringing in supplies that Member for Mackenzie Delta. were supposed to come in on the ice road? MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister does specialize in HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: I don't signs and, you know, we could have put know which plans would have been put signs up in this area. Also, put a berm into place once the roads was closed. on half of the road. That could have That would be up to the local people. It's helped in this area here. What lessons unfortunate the road closed in a could be learned from this year's closure quickened manner. That happened of the Aklavik ice road that could be because of safety reasons, but now with applied in the future especially as winter the new purchase of the barge conditions become more variable? company, maybe we can use them. Thank you, Ms. Speaker. MR. BLAKE: The ice road conditions HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank are no different than they were last year. you, Mr. Speaker. There are always Just this year, the department seemed lessons learned in every season. This to get a little too - I don't know, they just one in particular, I guess I would say got a little carried away this year, but that the lesson learned from this is we're how does a department incorporate going to have very close ties with the traditional knowledge into ice road community on a day-to-day basis as construction and other infrastructure spring comes to the region, being that planning? it's the only ice road left up there; we're not going to Inuvik anymore. We'll have HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Road better communications around how safety is our number one priority, we're planning on closing of the ice particularly on the ice road. As I've said road. in this House a number of times, climate change and things have had a number MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. of impacts on the condition of our ice Member for Deh Cho. roads and winter roads in the Northwest Territories. It's unfortunate, like I said, QUESTION 772-18(2): that this happened in Aklavik this year FEDERAL FUNDING FOR due to safety matters, but if we look at INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES the incident that happened at Deline two SUPPORT IN THE NORTHWEST years ago, we certainly don't want this TERRITORIES type of situation happening particularly MR. NADLI: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My on the Beau-Del, where there's great questions are for the Minister of resource for fish in the Northwest Education, Culture and Employment, in Territories, and to have an incident like light of the federal government's that would be catastrophic. I'm not an announcement in terms of funding engineer and I'm not an ice profiler, but Aboriginal languages for the Northwest on recommendation of our Territories. First, of course, we have the superintendent and our people that go May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 25 federal government making the responsibility that a person takes to take announcement of four-year funding. The ownership of our Aboriginal languages GNWT is involved with Aboriginal is not there. How does the GNWT governments, as well, so I wanted to envision that healing and wellness can ask the Minister: how could these three play a part in preserving and enhancing partnership arrangements ensure that our Aboriginal languages? there is a strong community involvement with the preservation, enhancement, HON. ALFRED MOSES: The Truth and and revitalization of ongoing efforts to Reconciliation Commission of Canada ensure that our languages flourish and has made this call to action for all are used every day? Mahsi. provinces and territories. We are stepping up to the plate. We are working MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of with our Aboriginal governments to Education, Culture and Employment. ensure the future of Aboriginal languages. Preservation of culture and HON. ALFRED MOSES: Thank you, traditions is a priority, and we are going Mr. Speaker. We just recently tabled the to work to increase our efforts, as well official Aboriginal Languages Strategic as working with the federal and Framework that we are going to be Aboriginal governments to ensure this is working with and building on, but we done. At the Department of Education, also have really great partnerships with Culture and Employment, we have all of our Aboriginal governments. Since made it mandatory. With Northern 2014, we have given them funding so Studies 10, we are implementing the that they can develop programs, residential school curriculum, and in the regional Aboriginal languages plans, future, with Northern Studies 20 and 30, and we support them with this additional working on implementing our land funding that we did get through the claims and self-governments, as well. agreement signed with the federal We are doing a lot of things with this government. increased funding. We are going to be We are getting increased contributions able to increase the resources to adjust to these Aboriginal governments, as well some of these calls to action. as creating a territorial linguist position MR. NADLI: I would like to at least that is going to help with professional acknowledge the efforts of the development, and help these Aboriginal department in terms of ensuring that we governments move forward to address take steps to ensure that, indeed, our and get their Aboriginal languages plans languages are preserved and enhanced. into place and have action on them. There is a lot of good work that is going There are many other things that we are on, and I think that has to reach the doing with the communities. In terms of ground level, at the community level. working, I can sit down with the Member and let him know what some of these My other question is, this is a four-year things are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. funding announcement. I think last year, it was part of a transfer of dollars, so MR. NADLI: In the residential school one year of a full four-year program has experience, there was no place for passed. I wanted to ask the Minister: at Aboriginal languages or culture. Some the end of this funding period that has might say that the pride and personal May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 26 been committed $19.6 million, at the that process of digitizing the stories that end of the process which could probably have been told over the years. That is take us to the year 2020, what does he something that we want to continue to think would, by that time, all the support, and I think the Member has a partnership achieved in terms of really good idea in bringing this forward preserving, enhancing, and ensuring our so that we can preserve our culture, languages are in a state of flourishing, languages, and the stories of our elders at the same time, successful, and our and our ancestors. I want to thank the use in everyday society, of Aboriginal Member for bringing that up. communities throughout the North? MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. HON. ALFRED MOSES: Obviously, Member for Yellowknife North. there are a lot of indicators that we can identify. We want to see the outcomes QUESTION 773-18(2): of these investments that we are doing ROAD SAFETY ON THE in the Northwest Territories. Our end INGRAHAM TRAIL goal is to have revitalization, MR. VANTHUYNE: Thank you, Mr. preservation of our languages, our Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, the culture, and increase the amount of our Minister of Infrastructure spoke at length NWT residents speaking their Aboriginal about the three roadways that we have languages. coming to the Northwest Territories MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. sometime in the future, and he knows Member for Deh Cho. that he has my support for that, for obvious and various reasons. Most MR. NADLI: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. important to me is the safety of our Mr. Speaker, the Minister had stated current and future roads. I would like if very clearly that there will be a position the Minister could start, first of all, by of a linguist established, and that is very describing for us and the public exactly good. One thing that I have observed what the department is doing to promote over the years is we have made a lot of road safety across the Northwest great effort in terms of preserving the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. stories of elders. A lot of them more likely are archived with the various MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of Aboriginal groups and communities. Infrastructure. Would part of the strategy consider HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank establishing, perhaps, a central bank? A you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member lot of those interviews of elders who alluded to in his statement there, we have passed could be safely kept. At the have Drive Alive, but Infrastructure has same time, maybe they are in analog an improvement safety plan that we form. They could be digitized for future work on continually for all highways. We reference, at least to preserve those also follow the TAC program for our historical stories as we might describe guidelines for all highways in the them. Northwest Territories, along with all our HON. ALFRED MOSES: Thank you, other public outreach that we have Mr. Speaker. I do know that some of our between Twitter and Facebook and Aboriginal governments are already in those sorts of things. We are always May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 27 promoting safety. We have our speed highway, we have all our engineers go signs that we put out and, as we all there and review the critical incident that know, there is a number of bump signs happened and see if there are between here and Behchoko. Our staff improvements that could be made to is working regularly and daily to at least that section of road moving forward. communicate to the public the areas that are of concern out in the highway As I have said in this House a number of system throughout the Northwest times, climate change has proposed Territories, on a daily basis. Thank you, significant challenges for the department Mr. Speaker. as the roads are continually changing. They are continually sinking and MR. VANTHUYNE: Thank you to the changing and cracking from climate Minister for his reply. Earlier, I spoke in change, and those challenges will my Member's statement about the need continue. They will continue going to potentially redesign some corners forward on Ingraham Trail specifically, and add some guardrails. On the May just due to the amount of traffic that is long weekend, sadly, there was an out there in the summertime and the accident on a corner that I myself, in amount of winter traffic that we have fact, had an accident on, that very same serving the mines. We will continue to corner, a number of years ago. It does review everything going forward and pay not have guardrails. I am wondering if close attention to this section of the the Minister and his department could highway. give any consideration to improving Highway No. 4, the Ingraham Trail, with MR. VANTHUYNE: Thank you to the some consideration to redesign certain Minister for the commitment, I suppose, corners and install guardrails? from the department to go and review this particular corner. It is good to know HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: that, after accidents such as this, they Infrastructure is investing roughly $8 do take the time to go and reassess the million from 2015 to 2019 on the potential need for improvement. Ingraham Trail. A lot of work has already been done in the years leading up to Mr. Speaker, what is the department now, which was chip sealing, doing to work with regard to highway embankment work, installing culverts, patrols itself? We have highway patrol and such. There is a multi-year contract within the territorial government, but not on road widening and structural just our own highway patrol. Are we engineering and drainage working with the City of Yellowknife's improvements, as well as surfacing, an Municipal Enforcement Division? Are we ongoing challenge on that road. As far working with the RCMP to take best as guardrails and such go, there is advantage of patrolling our highways? some guardrail installation that is Are we working on collaborative actually going to take place in the 2017- programs such as check stops, et 2019 calendar years. Which sections cetera, to reduce unsafe driving? those exactly are, I couldn't give the HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: As the Member that exact location at this point. Member said, we have our own highway The other point I want to make today is patrol that goes out there continually, any time there is an accident on the specifically in the wintertime when truck May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 28 traffic is at its peak. We have our date. I will follow up and get back to the superintendent who patrols each Member. highway section that they are in charge of on a daily basis to make people MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. Oral aware of potential hazardous areas and questions. Member for Frame Lake. the condition of the highway and report QUESTION 774-18(2): back to the department on that. As far CARBON PRICING as us working with the City of Yellowknife and the RCMP on the sorts MR. O'REILLY: Merci, Monsieur le of things that the Member has alluded President. The Premier has made to, I am not quite sure how that works. I statements in the past resisting any form would have to check with the of carbon pricing but later signed on to department if we have collaboration with the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean the city and their municipal enforcement Growth and Climate Change. Can the and the RCMP on a regular basis on Premier tell the public and the Regular some of the challenges around that. MLAs the Cabinet's current position on carbon pricing for the Northwest MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Member for Yellowknife North. MR. SPEAKER: Masi. The Honourable MR. VANTHUYNE: Thank you, Mr. Premier. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for his reply. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I HON. BOB MCLEOD: Mr. Speaker, we would just like to know if the Minister have had briefings with committee. can inform this House at this time with There is another briefing scheduled with regard to any update on the committee on Wednesday, and we have investigation or assessment that was been very clear in our briefings. Thank going to take place around the winter ice you, Mr. Speaker. road season out on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto highway that was stemming MR. O'REILLY: I appreciate the briefing from all of the accidents, the rollovers, that we are going to get, but it is not the cab fires that had happened? Can public, as I understand it. I guess we will the Minister inform us if there is anything wait and see. As I said in my statement, he can share with this House right now the federal government recently to let us know what has come of those released a technical paper on its circumstances? Thank you, Mr. backstop carbon pricing scheme that will Speaker. apply to all provinces and territories. What is our government doing on the MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of issue of carbon pricing, and when will Infrastructure. that be shared with Regular MLAs and the public? HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I committed to HON. BOB MCLEOD: As I have said getting back to the House on that many times in this House, we will be communication that we would have, doing what the people of the Northwest particularly with the contractors of the Territories tell us to do. We have been winter road, and I have not got that to holding roundtables throughout the May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 29

Northwest Territories. We have been the Member raised, it is my expectation inviting people from the smaller that the discussion paper will raise. communities to attend these roundtables, and we will be tabling in MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. this House a report on what we heard, Member for Frame Lake. so that all of the people in Northwest MR. O'REILLY: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, Territories will know what we heard. and I want to thank the Premier for that Also, we will be releasing an NWT commitment that those items are going carbon tax discussion paper in June, so to be dealt with. On March 1st, the that we will have another round of Premier promised to provide a carbon consultation with the people of the modelling and pricing reports of the Northwest Territories. We feel that it is Standing Committee on Economic very important for us to have a very Development and Environment. Can the clear understanding of what the people Premier explain why this report has not of the Northwest Territories want us to been shared and when he intends to do in this regard. provide it to the committee and to the MR. O'REILLY: Thanks to the Premier public? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. for that. I appreciate that we are finally HON. BOB MCLEOD: Thank you, Mr. going to get a discussion paper going on Speaker. I do know that we have been carbon tax here in the Northwest doing modelling on the various Territories. Can the Premier just give us implications of carbon pricing. The any sort of insights into what will be in Member quoted two cents per litre, 18 that paper? Will it discuss different cents per litre over five years. I can tell forms of carbon taxing and what we you that it is higher than that, but we actually do with the revenues? There have been doing that work. I will check are a couple of different ways of looking in to see where that report is at, and if it at the revenues. One is to rebate part of is ready, we will release it. it back. The second is to invest some of it into renewables. Can the Minister MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. explain whether that discussion paper Member for Sahtu. will consider the issue of what to do with the revenues raised through a carbon QUESTION 775-18(2): tax? AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON CORRECTION SERVICES HON. BOB MCLEOD: My expectation is we will take into consideration all of MR. MCNEELY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I addressed the issue those aspects with regards to a carbon th pricing mechanism. We certainly have that the last Assembly, the 17 been given assurance from the Assembly, had seen the Auditor Government of Canada, directly from General's report on corrections in the the Prime Minister, that we are going to NWT tabled March of 2015 followed by work together on a solution. It will be a committee report dated June 4, 2015. very important for us to fully understand My question to the Minister is: what is the implications of carbon pricing before the status of this report and the we make an actual decision on how it recommendations? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. will be implemented. All of the areas that May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 30

MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of rehabilitation are always ongoing Justice. concerns of the department and corrections. HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2015, the Auditor General of MR. MCNEELY: Can the Minister Canada completed an audit on the NWT provide a commitment or a briefing to Corrections Service that focused on the look at the issues that were not North Slave Correctional Centre here in completed with the Auditor General's Yellowknife and the Fort Smith report and provide a briefing on those Correctional Complex male unit, of neglected items? course in Fort Smith. The Department of Justice responded by accepting all of HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Just because the recommendations in the report, and some of the items have not been I understand to this point 95 per cent of completed doesn't mean that they were the recommendations have been neglected. It may be that it has simply completed. Thank you. taken more time. Included amongst them, I can advise, are our changes to MR. MCNEELY: Those are high the Corrections Act. numbers. I understand that the Auditor General's report produced 14 MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. recommendations, and the action plan Member for Sahtu. items introduced by the committee for MR. MCNEELY: Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. the department was 105. Those are high Can the Minister commit to providing numbers to address the small amount of this side of the House with a briefing on recommendations by the auditor. the Auditor General's report of 2015? However, there was some oversight Mahsi. neglecting to be addressed in the report in the area of court services, sentencing HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Mr. Speaker, I'd decisions, community in custody certainly be pleased to meet with the programming. Those are just a few that Member opposite on an individual basis. are not addressed in the Auditor I don't know whether a full briefing is General's report. What is the status on really required at this stage. The Auditor those items that weren't addressed in General's report is now more than two the Auditor General's report? years old; 95 per cent of the recommendations have been HON. LOUIS SEBERT: I'm not entirely completed. I would be certainly pleased sure what programs of corrections the to meet personally with the Member Member opposite is referring to. We are opposite to discuss those items that are always trying to improve in all areas. As still outstanding. I can advise that even I mentioned, 95 per cent of the those outstanding have not been recommendations have been neglected in any way. They simply have completed. That means there's still 5 per not been fully completed. cent to be completed. The items that he has referenced today, however, are not MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. those as I understand it which were Member for Yellowknife Centre. included in the Auditor General's report. Obviously, issues of sentencing and May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 31

QUESTION 776-18(2): Minister of Health about whether there DEDICATED SPACE TO could be a dedicated space or whether SUPPORT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL there is already planned a dedicated VIOLENCE space in the new hospital for the use of the sexual assault evidence collection MS. GREEN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. kit? Mr. Speaker, earlier today we had Marie Speakman here. I'm not sure if she still HON. LOUIS SEBERT: I certainly don't is here, but she is well-known and well- know whether there is any dedicated loved for her support for victims of space in the plans for the new hospital. I sexual violence. It's my understanding will, however, be pleased to speak with that she has initiated some discussion the Minister of Health about this issue. with police around having a private space for sexual assault victims to MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. receive services of support and the Member for Yellowknife Centre. sexual assault kit that is used to collect MS. GREEN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. evidence. I'm wondering if the Minister Mr. Speaker, can I get a commitment can tell us whether he is taking a role in from the Minister to follow up on these this initiative to create a private space questions when he does his other for this purpose. Mahsi. follow-up to oral questions from this MR. SPEAKER: Minister of Justice. session? Mahsi. HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Thank you, Mr. HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Thank you. I'd Speaker. I would certainly like to hear be happy to make that commitment. more about this private space. I've MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. heard a small amount today, and I think Member for Kam Lake. last week. I certainly would be prepared to discuss the matter with the RCMP. I QUESTION 777-18(2): don't think I can make any financial PROCUREMENT POLICY commitments as to whether we would REFORM be in a position to provide such a space. Thank you. MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank MS. GREEN: I know the Minister hasn't the Minister of Infrastructure for putting had a lot of time to consider this, but such great confidence in me that a one- would he agree that privacy is currently on-one meeting together will represent a problem and a dedicated space may all the stakeholder interest in the be a solution? procurement process and the government. Alas, Mr. Speaker, I am HON. LOUIS SEBERT: I certainly only one honourable Member of this concur that privacy would be an issue House, and I'm going to ask if the and a problem and I certainly would be Minister will reconsider his position from willing to meet with the RCMP to the previous sitting of this House and discuss solutions to that problem. establish a special advisory panel on MS. GREEN: May I also suggest that procurement that will draw expertise the Minister of Justice talk to the from public servants, NWT businesses, May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 32 and procurement experts to make a offering these suggestions is improve better procurement system for the our procurement in a more public, territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. transparent, and substantive way. If not any of these options I present on the MR. SPEAKER: Minister of table today, Mr. Speaker, will the Infrastructure. Minister commit to coming to a HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank constituency meeting or community you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think much has meeting in my riding of Kam Lake that changed since last session. I will not has many businesses and hearing the commit to doing that. I'm willing to sit concerns directly from my constituents down, as I said, with the Member and about the procurement? Will he make discuss the problems that he's having that commitment? I'll even provide the with one of his constituents. I believe we refreshments. have a very robust system in place for HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: No, I will procurement in the Government of the not go to a constituency meeting with Northwest Territories. Is it perfect? No, the Member. We just did a tour with a but we are working on that on a daily number of MLAs and deputy ministers of basis and trying to make things better his riding, particularly around for all residents in the Northwest manufacturers in the NWT. We have a Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. public process to participate in MR. TESTART: I'm a bit disappointed. I procurement process in the Northwest know the Minister is fond of advisory Territories. We can allow input to there. committees. He's established one for People can write letters to me, as I've the Yellowknife Airport, so I was hoping said, or contact me. As I've said in this he'd consider doing one for this issue as House before, I believe the last time I well. If not a committee, then, or a spoke, I did not have one complaint panel, would the Minister be willing to around procurement in the Northwest hire a consultant who can issue a Territories and, since the last session, I comprehensive report that looks at maybe had one or two complaints about government procurement policies and procurement in the Northwest then we can take action on that report? Territories. I'm not about to spend public Is the Minister willing to make that money on a full-scale review of commitment? procurement in the Northwest Territories because a Member's constituent may HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: No, I am have a problem. Maybe it is our fault not willing to commit to do that. As I've and we will look into it, but I'm not going said in this House, I believe we have a to spend public money in that matter. good system in place. Is it perfect? No. We will continually work to improve it for MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. residents in the Northwest Territories Member for Kam Lake. and businesses in the NWT. MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. MR. TESTART: I'm a bit disappointed. I Speaker. We've made progress today. know the Minister's very fond of The Minister has received two consultants and helping the government complaints. That's way better than zero do its work. What I'm trying to do by complaints, but that's still just the tip of May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 33 the iceberg. I appreciate that the questions last week, I would like to ask Minister doesn't want to make this an the Minister: are the ferries in expensive and an ineffective process, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson ready so I would suggest that we can work for launch? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. together to develop terms of reference that would ensure we streamline this MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of process and make it work. Infrastructure. I'm disappointed that, even if I pay for HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank the meeting, he's not willing to come to you, Mr. Speaker. As of the latest it, but I'll put it this way, Mr. Speaker: did information I had, we are still going the Minister hear the complaints from through some refit stuff. There is those vendors when we went on that actually some painting going on both of tour together earlier this year? Did the the ferries in the Member's riding. There Minister hear those complaints and is he is ongoing work and also site taking action on them? Because several preparation to launch the ferries. Thank complaints were levied against the you, Mr. Speaker. procurement system. Thank you, Mr. MR. BLAKE: Last week, as I kind of Speaker. figured, the water dropped significantly HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Thank in my riding of Tsiigehtchic and also in you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we've heard Fort McPherson. Is the department certain challenges from certain people in starting the work on the landings and the manufacturing sector in the making everything ready so that, once a Northwest Territories. That's why we're ferry is launched, they are ready for coming forward with a manufacturer's service? strategy and, in the life of this HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: As I said government, we will address those in last week in this House, I think we particular. As I've said, we have a very anticipate the launching of the ferries in robust procurement system in the a timely manner, as it normally is the Northwest Territories; probably better first or second week of June. Like I say, than any province or territory in Canada. we are doing some painting. We are We will continue going down that road to doing inspections. We are doing some help northern businesses meet the maintenance on the vessels. I do not procurement to the Government of the know if the loaders and stuff are out Northwest Territories. fixing the approaches right now, as they MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. could be soft still from the water levels Member for Mackenzie Delta. just recently receding. I can check into it and update the Member. QUESTION 778-18(2): MR. BLAKE: You know, it is different MACKENZIE DELTA FERRY every year, as the Minister just SERVICES explained, but usually as early as the 1st nd MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. or 2 of June, the ferry is usually ready. Mr. Speaker, I also have questions for As soon as we have no ice on the river, the Minister responsible for they usually launch the ferry and build Infrastructure. In follow-up to my up the landings, start operations. We May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 34 have a graduation this coming weekend. the Minister of Health and Social Does the Minister think that the ferry will Services. Can the Minister please tell us be operating by then? what kind of training front-line workers are doing besides Mental Health First HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: I will have Aid? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to check with the department to see where we are with a number of these MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Minister of things. Like I said, with the painting and Health and Social Services. the repairs and stuff going on and the site preparation, I cannot commit to this HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, House if it is going to be ready or not for Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mental graduation this weekend. We will see Health First Aid is one of the programs what the department comes back with that we offer throughout the Northwest about how things are going on the Territories. It is recognized ground. internationally as one of the best practice models out there for tackling MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. mental health issues, and we make it Member for Mackenzie Delta. available to all residents across the Northwest Territories. In-house, we do MR. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. have training for our staff about our Mr. Speaker, I would just like to ask the particular programs and services they Minister: is there anything that is holding provide, but that is for staff that we have back the ferries? Are they waiting for within the Health and Social Services any parts or anything at this time, or are system. As far as training we provide to they just doing the final preparations for other GNWT employees, I would have the ferry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to check with the department to see HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: I believe what we do make available, if anything. there have been some challenges Thank you, Mr. Speaker. around accessing parts and stuff, but I MR. THOMPSON: I thank the Minister believe that, going forward, with all the for that answer. I guess we are seeing other work that is happening, I do not too many tragedies out here in this believe that will impede the delivery date world, especially in all of our ridings. As of when we are going to put the ferries we move forward, will the Minister look in during the first or second week of at other alternatives such as the June. strengthening mental health for children MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. offered through NWTRP as an Member for Nahendeh. opportunity for front-line workers to be using that course? QUESTION 779-18(2): HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: When it MENTAL HEALTH AND comes to addressing mental health WELLNESS PROGRAMS issues and challenges across the MR. THOMPSON: Thank you, Mr. Northwest Territories, there are a Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I was number of stakeholders and partners talking about mental health and mental involved doing really fantastic work. Bell illness, and I have some questions for Canada is doing a significant amount of work to create awareness and May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 35 encourage people to talk about the Northwest Territories, it is catered challenges that residents are having, specifically to the Northwest Territories and there are other organizations like and some of the challenges we are Sport and Rec Council that are facing. It is recognized internationally as delivering training as well. one of the best practises, one of the best courses, for helping people get I am not as familiar with the program trained and aware and also, in the that the Member is talking about today. I Northwest Territories, point them to have asked the Member to provide me where services are available for with some details on the program so residents. We are encouraging people that I can share that with the to attend this. I would strongly department, have a discussion with him encourage all MLAs to attend this three- on how it may fit within the current types day workshop and help develop those of programs that we're delivering, but skills, and non-Members as well, so that until I am familiar with that type of they could talk about this program and program, or that exact program, encourage others to attend from a point actually, I am not prepared to make any of view of knowing and understanding commitments to have it as one of the the course. I have had an opportunity to ones that we're delivering on behalf of take it, Mr. Speaker. It is a fantastic Health and Social Services. course, and it is well worth the three-day MR. THOMPSON: The Minister is right. investment. He has asked me to get that information MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. to him, and I will get that information to Member for Nahendeh. him. I guess the next question for the Minister: what kind of work has the MR. THOMPSON: Thank you, Mr. department been doing to train other Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his departments in working to help address answer. I, too, have taken the Mental this challenging issue? Health First Aid training, but also have taken Strengthening Children's Mental HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: There are a Health as well, and basically, what I am number of different things that we're looking at is: can the Minister make a doing. We have the ASIST training as commitment to work with his colleagues, well. That is available to Education, the other Ministers, to have the front-line Culture and Employment. I know staff get some training out there? Education, Culture and Employment Because we are having lots of tragedies takes this very seriously as well and is out there. We are seeing a lot of losses looking at providing different types of of lives, and it is really disappointing. supports in their school system. We are Will the Minister work with the Minister currently working on a Youth Mental of MACA and the Minister of ECE to get Health and Addictions Action Plan, the front-line workers out there, just get which we are hoping will help strengthen that commitment to start working us and the services we provide in this together on this issue for further area. training? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will go back to Mental Health First Aid, HON. GLEN ABERNETHY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is, as I have Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when it indicated, a Canadian program. In the May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 36 comes to action plans that are across introduction of an excise-paid tax stamp departments, like the Youth Mental to facilitate verification that the proper Health and Addictions Action Plan that taxes have been paid on tobacco sold in is coming, we do work closely with our the Northwest Territories, thereby partner departments to make sure that reducing opportunities for the sale of whatever we are proposing is contraband tobacco. The bill also reasonable and feasible across the amends the process for tax collection to Government of the Northwest the "purchase method," requiring the Territories. I do take the Member's point, remittance of taxes owing by and we do need to work to ensure that wholesalers to the government of the our front-line staff, including teachers, Northwest Territories at the time that social workers, income support workers, tobacco is purchased from and others who may have direct contact manufacturers. Finally, the bill with individuals who are struggling are eliminates the need for retail dealers to aware and can identify the signs and act as "deputy collectors" under the act properly provide advice to those and eliminates commissions paid to residents and point them in the right wholesale dealers. direction. I will certainly have some additional conversations with my Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee colleagues about encouraging some of on Government Operations held a public their staff members to participate in hearing on this bill in Yellowknife on training like the Mental Health First Aid. April 6, 2017. At that hearing, the committee heard from Mr. Roger Walker MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Oral questions. who, as the owner and general manager Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns of Territorial Tobacco Products, is the to written questions. Item 10, replies to only tobacco wholesaler resident in the Commissioner's opening address. Item Northwest Territories. Mr. Walker raised 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of some general concerns about tobacco standing and special committees. Item tax collection that are outside of the 13, reports of committees on the review scope of the bill. The committee of bills. Member for Kam Lake. understands that the government's Department of Finance has taken Mr. 7. Reports of Committees on the Walker's concerns into consideration Review of Bills and responded accordingly. The BILL 15: committee would like to thank Mr. AN ACT TO AMEND THE Walker for his input. TOBACCO TAX ACT A public clause-by-clause review of the MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. bill took place earlier this afternoon. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to With that, Mr. Speaker, the committee the Assembly that the Standing wishes to report that Bill 15, An Act to Committee on Government Operations Amend the Tobacco Tax Act, is now has reviewed Bill 15, An Act to Amend ready for consideration in Committee of the Tobacco Tax Act. the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Reports of Tobacco Tax Act to permit the committees on the review of bills. Item May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 37

14, tabling of documents. Minister of MR. SPEAKER: Tabling of documents. Industry, Tourism and Investment. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. 8. Tabling of Documents TABLED DOCUMENT 377-18(2): TABLED DOCUMENT 374-18(2): FOLLOW-UP LETTER FOR ORAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES QUESTION 403-18(2): SENIORS STRATEGY: PROGRESS SPORT AND RECREATION REPORT 2015-2016 PROGRAM FUNDING HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Mr. HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE: Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Economic document entitled "Follow-up Letter for Opportunities Strategy: Progress Report Oral Question 403-18(2): Seniors Sport 2015-2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and Recreation Program Funding." MR. SPEAKER: Tabling of documents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Finance. MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. TABLED DOCUMENT 375-18(2): Item 16, notices of motion for first APPENDICES FOR RETURN TO reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item WRITTEN QUESTION 19-18(2): 18, first reading of bills. Minister of POSITION VACANCY AND Justice. OVERTIME STATISTICS HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Thank you, 9. First Reading of Bills Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to BILL 24: table "Appendices for Return to Written AN ACT TO AMEND THE Question 19-18(2): Position Vacancy CORONER'S ACT and Overtime Statistics." Thank you, Mr. Speaker. HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Tabling of Member for Hay River South, that Bill documents. Minister responsible for 24, An Act to Amend the Coroner's Act, NWT Power Corporation. be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. TABLED DOCUMENT 376-18(2): 2017-2018 CORPORATE PLAN MR. SPEAKER: Masi. The motion is on NWT HYDRO CORPORATION the floor. All those in favour? All those AND NORTHWEST opposed? TERRITORIES POWER CORPORATION ---Carried HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Mr. Speaker, I Bill 24 has had its first reading. First wish to table the following document reading of Bills. Minister of Justice. entitled "2017-2018 Corporate Plan NWT Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 38

BILL 25: order. What is the wish of committee? AN ACT TO AMEND THE Mr. Testart. RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT MR. TESTART: Thank you very much, HON. LOUIS SEBERT: Mr. Speaker, I Mr. Chair. Good to see you back. move, seconded by the honourable Committee wishes to consider Bill 17, Member for Hay River South, that Bill An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act. 25, An Act to Amend the Residential Thank you. Tenancies Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee MR. SPEAKER: Masi. The motion is in agree? order. All those in favour? All those opposed? SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. ---Carried CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank you, committee. We will consider the act Bill 25 has had its first reading. First after a short recess. reading of bills. Minister of Infrastructure. ---SHORT RECESS

BILL 26: CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): I will AN ACT TO AMEND THE now call the Committee of the Whole REVOLVING FUNDS ACT, NO. 2 back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 17, An Act to HON. WALLY SCHUMANN: Mr. Amend the Income Tax Act. I will ask Speaker, I move, seconded by the the Minister responsible for the bill to honourable Member for Inuvik Twin introduce it. Minister McLeod. Lakes, that Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, No. 2, be read for HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Thank you, the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Chair. We thank you for the opportunity to present Bill 17, An Act to MR. SPEAKER: The motion is in order. Amend the Income Tax Act, to the All those in favour? All those opposed? Committee of the Whole. This bill ---Carried responds to our commitment approved in the 2016-2017 budget to provide Bill 26 has had its first reading. First further financial assistance to low and reading of bills. Item 19, second reading modest-income families to raise their of bills. Item 20, consideration in children through an enhancement to the Committee of the Whole of bills and Northwest Territories Child Benefit. other matters. Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, with the Member The amendments to the NWT Income for Hay River North in the Chair. Tax Act will allow us to enhance the NWT Child Benefit by providing a total 10. Consideration of Committee of the of $2.2 million in direct support for Whole of Bills and Other Matters children in families with annual income up to $80,000. This enhanced program CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): I will supports a number of priorities in the now call Committee of the Whole to 18th Legislative Assembly's mandate, May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 39 including lowering the cost of living, Government Operations. The committee fostering healthy families, and can consider the bill for any opening supporting the well-being of children so comments he may have. Mr. Testart. that they can develop to their full potential. MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on The new benefit amounts start at $815 Government Operations concluded its for the first child under six and $652 for review of Bill 17, An Act to Amend the the first child six years of age and older. Income Tax Act, on April 6, 2017, for the This per-child benefit is reduced for public hearing held here in the each additional child and as family Legislative Assembly building. The bill income increases, but will provide amends the Income Tax Act by benefits for children to every family with facilitating the provision of additional income under $80,000. This is a financial support to low- and modest- significant enhancement to the current income families by: program that completely eliminates benefits as early as $41,000 in annual  adjusting the formula for the NWT income for a one-child family and Child Benefit; $61,000 in annual income for a five-child family. Bill 17 also includes the following  incorporate provisions of the federal technical amendments to the Income Income Tax Act that relate to the Tax Act to: withholding of tax refunds;  incorporate provisions of the federal Income Tax Act on withholding of tax refund;  updating the names of some federal  update names of federal agencies; agencies;  remove duplication of the Consumer Price Index determination;  clarifying the definition of the  apply the federal penalty provisions Consumer Price Index; for false statements, omissions, or gross negligence to the NWT Child Benefit program;  applying federal penalty provisions relating to false statements,  eliminate the territorial Overseas omissions, or gross negligence in Employment Tax Credit; and income tax returns;  remove reference to the federal Education Tax Credit. Thank you, Mr. Chair.  eliminating the Overseas CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank Employment Tax Credit; and you, Minister McLeod. I will now turn to the Chair of the Standing Committee on May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 40

 retaining the Education Tax Credit. The other parts of the bill, although less significant, are certainly required in Members may have additional order to modernize the legislation and comments or questions as we proceed update it vis-a-vis federal statutes. The with the consideration of this bill. Thank committee did take its time to properly you, Mr. Chair. understand the NWT Child Benefit. There was a bit of confusion on how the CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank bill was initially presented, but I'd like to you, Mr. Testart. Minister, would you like also thank the department for taking the to bring witnesses into the Chamber? time to work with us to clearly express HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Yes, I would, our concerns around how this bill was Mr. Chair. going to roll out. CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank I think the Minister, again, is deserving you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort of some praise for effectively the witnesses to the Chamber. Minister, communicating both the policy would you please introduce your objectives and the funding for this very witnesses to the Chamber. important measure to alleviate poverty and give Northerners a leg up. With that, HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Thank you, I will close my comments. Again, I state Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right, I have my very strong support for this bill. Mr. David Stewart, deputy minister of Thank you. Finance, and to my left, I have Mr. Ian Rennie, who is the legislative counsel. CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank you, Mr. Testart. Any further opening CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank comments on Bill 17? Ms. Green. you, Minister. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 17. Any MS. GREEN: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. general comments? Mr. Testart. Chair, the review of this piece of legislation was unnecessarily hampered MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I by not just poor but dismal want to state my strong support for this communication by the Department of bill. I think that it creates a very effective Finance. It took a very considerable way to support modest- to low-income amount of work by our research staff to families through the enhanced NWT understand where the money was and is Child Benefit. It's a very progressive to pay for this benefit and how taking piece of government policy. It's income- money out of income assistance for food tested and it's going to apply to I think and clothing was not at the detriment to the total number is 2,000 families after it the people who need it most. Income is implemented. The only regret I have assistance, as you know, is not over the is that it's not a mandate commitment, poverty line. I have to say that this is and I believe it should be. It directly another example of very poor speaks to our support for lowering the communications within the Department cost of living. It directly speaks to our of Finance. They are trying to support for families in need. It's a very communicate information to people who good piece. are interested in hearing it, very motivated to understand it, and yet, as I May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 41 say, it took an inordinate amount of work I think there's a lesson learned there in to get to a point where we could terms of how to improve understand where it's at. communications. As difficult as it may be for us as Regular MLAs to We've had these challenges as well with understand what was happening, I'm the public accounts. I understand that really much more concerned about what the Department of Finance doesn't have it is for the person on the street and how a communication staff, and I would just they can understand these changes. like to say to the Minister that it is Really, you can only take full advantage urgently needed that the staff in his of these changes when people actually department are able to communicate file their income tax. I'd like to know from clearly with the committee about the the department and the staff what extra plans that they are making. There is no effort are we going to do to encourage question that this bill will benefit 1,600 people to actually file their taxes? We're families who have not previously just finished that season now. You benefited from this NWT Child Benefit know, I don't pay attention to every and that is undoubtedly a good thing, piece of media that I see here, but I but the struggle to get to that clear don't recall seeing a sustained media on understanding was just completely the part of our government to encourage unnecessary and I believe can be people to file their taxes to take remedied by proper communications advantage of this kind of benefit. help. I don't have any doubts about supporting this bill. I think it is the right In any event, like my colleague who just thing to do, but I really would like to spoke from Yellowknife Centre, I have hope that the next work with the concern around the communications of Department of Finance is better guided this, the complexity of it, and how we by communications. Thank you. communicate this to the average person in the Northwest Territories so they can CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank take full advantage of it and encourage you, Ms. Green. Mr. O'Reilly. people to file their taxes. Those are my MR. O'REILLY: Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, opening remarks. Thanks, Mr. Chair. I want to echo my colleague's comments CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank on the need for improved you, Mr. O'Reilly. I see no further communications. This is very complex opening remarks. Does committee area. It was sort of triggered by the agree that we proceed to a clause-by- Canada childcare benefit being brought clause review of the bill? in by the federal government, and then our government decided to follow up SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. with the NWT Child Benefit, so the relationship between the federal CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank program and the new territorial program you, committee. We will defer the bill and income assistance took a lot of time until after the consideration of clauses. and effort on the part of both the Committee, please turn to page 3 of the department, I guess, and Regular MLAs bill. I will take a short break. Thank you, to understand this. committee. ---SHORT RECESS May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 42

CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): I will communications and the fact that there now call Committee of the Whole back is an opportunity for people to access to order. I believe that in the opening more money, I think, will be incentive statements Mr. O'Reilly posed a enough. We will continue to work on question that he would like the Minister that. As we go through the next tax filing to respond to. Mr. O'Reilly, would you system, we will ensure that we do our please restate your question, and I will part to get the information out there as allow the Minister a chance to respond. to the importance of filing your income tax return. Thank you, Mr. Chair. MR. O'REILLY: Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess there are two items that I am CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank hoping I can hear from the Minister or you, Minister. We can now proceed to his staff about. First off, like my the clause-by-clause review of the bill. colleague had mentioned, I understand Would committee please turn to page 3 this is a complex area, but we have got of the bill. We'll go through this one to find a way to more effectively clause at a time. Clause 1. communicate this in general. Secondly, how are we working with people to try to ---Clauses 1 through 14 inclusive encourage them to file their taxes to approved take full advantage of this? I didn't see CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank any campaign around this during the you, committee. Committee, to the bill last tax filing season, so what are we as a whole. Does committee agree that doing to encourage people to file their Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax taxes to take full advantage of this new Act, is now ready for third reading? benefit? Thank you, Mr. Chair. SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod. CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank you, committee. Bill 17 is now ready for HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Yes, thank third reading. Does committee agree you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to the first that this concludes our consideration of point, and that goes to Member for Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Yellowknife Centre's question as well on Act? the communication. We do have communication people on staff now SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. under the corporate shared services, so CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank communication efforts should improve. you, committee. Thank you to the To Mr. O'Reilly's question, we work with Minister and your witnesses. Sergeant- CRA. CRA had a bit of a promotional at-Arms, please escort the witnesses campaign. We worked closely with them from the Chamber. What is the wish of to try and get people to understand that committee? Mr. Testart. they need to file their income tax because this is based on their income MR. TESTART: Thank you, Mr. Chair. tax filing. The fact that there is an Mr. Chair, I move that the Chair rise and opportunity for more money in their report progress. pocket, I think, would be encouragement CHAIRPERSON (Mr. Simpson): Thank or incentive enough, but our improved you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion to May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 43 report progress. The motion is in order 7. Acknowledgements and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. 8. Oral Questions ---Carried 9. Written Questions I will now rise and report progress. 10.Returns to Written Questions MR. SPEAKER: May I have the report, 11.Replies to Commissioner's Opening Member for Hay River North? Address 12.Petitions 11. Report of Committee of the Whole 13.Reports of Committees on the MR. SIMPSON: Mr. Speaker, your Review of Bills committee has been considering Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act. I 14.Tabling of Documents would like to report that Bill 17 is ready 15.Notices of Motion for third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the 16.Notices of Motion for First Reading Whole be concurred with. of Bills MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Do we have a 17.Motions seconder? Member for Inuvik Twin 18.First Reading of Bills Lakes. - Bill 27, An Act to Amend the ---Carried Environmental Protection Act Masi. Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. 19.Second Reading of Bills Clerk, orders of the day. - Bill 24, An Act to Amend the 12. Orders of the Day Coroner's Act CLERK OF THE HOUSE (Mr. Mercer): - Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of Residential Tenancies Act the Legislative Assembly Board of Management in Conference Room A at - Bill 26, An Act to Amend the the rise of the House today. Orders of Revolving Funds Act, No. 2 the day for Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 20.Consideration in Committee of the 1:30 p.m.: Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1. Prayer - Bill 16, An Act to Amend the 2. Ministers' Statements Education Act 3. Members' Statements - Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Health and Social Services 4. Reports of Standing and Special Professions Act Committees 21.Report of Committee of the Whole 5. Returns to Oral Questions 22.Third Reading of Bills 6. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery May 29, 2017 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 44

- Bill 17, An Act to Amend the ---ADJOURNMENT Income Tax Act The House adjourned at 4:00 23.Orders of the Day p.m. MR. SPEAKER: Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.

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