Thank you. I’ve already committed to share the results of this review with committee. We’ll look at what those recommendations are, what they say and, as well, we’ll be able to review what he proposes as a response. We also indicated that we will have a

separate meeting with Mrs. Leishman to as well review some of those findings with her, as well, so she can have some closure to the circumstances that she has been dealing with. So we will share that information with committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I’ve been a bit concerned about the contaminated sites and waste sites in Tu Nedhe. I want to know what the plan is for this government, GNWT, to work with the federal government in cleaning up the contaminated waste sites in the NWT. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a shared responsibility with the federal government. We have a responsibility for those sites that are on Commissioner’s land. The majority of contaminated sites are on federal Crown land. So if the Member has specific questions about those that fall directly within our jurisdiction, we can talk about those in detail.

The broader issue of contaminated sites is one that part of the negotiations for the devolution in taking over of authorities. It’s a significant part of that discussion. As well, one of the concerns, as I’ve indicated earlier, is that we understand, and what we’re starting to hear is that with the federal government looking at restraint, that they’re withdrawing money, that in fact the areas like contaminated sites and the money that’s currently there are going to be impacted. How much, we don’t know specifically at this point. So we will have to see what’s possible.

That’s a general statement. If the Member has specific questions about sites, I’d be happy to sit down with him to look at what the specifics are. Thank you.

Thank you. I think that would be a good start, to have the Department of Environment and Natural Resources look at the sites that the GNWT is responsible for. I think if we start there and recognize a shared responsibility between the federal government and the GNWT on contaminated sites that may be outside the community, some of them, maybe not all of them, but there are also contaminated sites that are the responsibility of the GNWT. To identify those and determine what the plan is I guess is what I’m asking the Minister. Thank you.

When I look at the list that ENR has and that the Government of the Northwest Territories has responsibility for, there are five in Fort Resolution that I have on a list here. As well, I think there are two in Lutselk’e. Thank you.

Can the Minister tell me when the department plans to start the process of cleaning up those seven sites for now? Although my understanding from the community is there are more contaminated sites than that, but that would be, like I said, a good start. What’s the plan to start?

I’ll have to commit to get back to the Member. The information that I have before me indicates that three of the sites in Fort Resolution there is work being done in terms of excavation and clean-up. The two in Lutselk’e I don’t have any information that would indicate to me what state they are in in the process. I will commit to get the Member an update on all those seven sites.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

There seems to be a bit of a difference between what the community thinks the clean-up should be and what the government thinks the clean-up should be. The community in Lutselk’e feels that the one contaminated site that’s been a bit of an issue is more contaminated than the government feels. I was wondering if the Minister could ensure that the officials from ENR do a bit of a community consultation, at least with Lutselk’e, before they do the complete scope of work on the clean-up.

There are the two sites: the tank farm and the power plant. I will get the information, I will get an update, I will share that with the Member and then I’ll seek his feedback to see about if what’s being proposed looks like it’s going to meet the requirements or if there are other things that need to be included.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of the Housing Corporation. It’s in regard to my Member’s statement and under the Human Rights Act there are certain obligations we have as governments to ensure that we also do not discriminate or harass our clients, whether it’s social housing or whatnot. Under the act it’s clear that it’s against the law to discriminate against a tenant, rental applicant,

based on the personal characteristics or grounds. I mentioned the whole area of race, religion, age, disability, sex, gender, marital status, political beliefs, social conditions, and individuals who may have a criminal record.

It has come to my attention that individuals are being refused from even being able to pick up an application to fill out the application to apply for housing, especially with the local housing authority. I’d like to ask the Minister what we are doing to ensure that we are living up to our obligations under the Human Rights Act to ensure that we are not discriminating against tenants from picking up applications.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m unaware of the situation the Member speaks of. If we have cases where individuals are refused applications, I would like to know the details so I can follow up with it, because we wouldn’t condone that type of treatment to those that want to apply for public housing.

This has come to my attention not once but several times. I believe that we do have an obligation under the Human Rights Act as a government to fulfill our obligations as providers of services and to ensure that we are not discriminating clients. What is the Housing Corporation doing to ensure that front-line workers, whether it’s housing authorities and staff, are aware of their obligations under the Human Rights Act?

Our front-line workers at the LHOs have been doing what they do for a long time and they’re well aware of all the issues out there. Again, without knowing the particulars of the issue that the Member is raising, once I find out the particulars I will be able to follow up. I can assure him that all our front-line workers are well aware of their responsibilities and take them very seriously.

These are serious allegations and I hope the Minister will take some leadership here. These allegations where an individual cannot go into a housing authority and pick up an application, is told that we will not give you an application, are against the Human Rights Act. I’d like to ask the Minister if he can write a letter to the local housing authorities making them aware that they cannot discriminate an individual from picking up an application and they have every right to fill out that application and process it. I’d like to ask the Minister if he could commit to writing that letter.

The Minister will show some leadership but the Minister has to know what he’s dealing with. Without knowing the particulars,

again, I can follow up with it once I know the particulars.

I would mention that if tenants out there feel like they’re being discriminated against, there is a process to go through the Human Rights Commission if they feel like they’ve been discriminated against. They have that avenue. Again, I will commit to following up on the issue that the Member is saying because we do take it very seriously. We wouldn’t want to see anybody denied an application because of previous tenancy.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take the Minister’s advice and suggest that all tenants who are having this situation do go to the Human Rights Commission and file their complaints and maybe that’s the only place they’re going to get some reprieve here. I’d like to ask the Minister again, will you consider writing a letter to your local housing authorities and making them aware of the Human Rights Act and that it is a discriminatory matter if you are not allowing people to pick up an application?

I will commit to the Member that I’ll follow up on it, and if I need to, I will make all the LHOs aware of their responsibilities. I don’t think I’d be telling them anything new. I think they’re all well aware of their responsibilities.

Like I said, they’ve been doing this work for a long time. They know what they’re up against. I would like to speak to the Member and get the details of the issues of the cases that he’s raising so that I can follow up on them, because I wasn’t aware of this issue until the Member raised it in the House today.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.