This is page numbers 3261 – 3302 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m going to speak about an act that was assented to in the Legislative Assembly in June of 1985 and that’s the Mental Health Act. In the last 28 years, nothing of significance has been done to this Mental Health Act. There haven’t been any major amendments to this act to provide our workers and our stakeholders and those that provide the mental health services in the Northwest Territories to do a better job or else get the services to people that need it. Those 28 years is a long time.

The reason I’m bringing this up today is because on the Department of Health and Social Services website are four discussion papers that are looking at updating this Mental Health Act, which I have taken a strong look into the Mental Health Act and there were a lot of holes in it. It wasn’t very strong, and in some cases, it was very confusing to myself and health professionals when we looked at it.

Today I am encouraging all key stakeholders, concerned residents of the Northwest Territories who have family members who might have mental disorders or have people in their communities that they want to take care of, to review these discussion papers that are on the Department of Health and Social Services website, and add their feedback, add any comments that they might have, and provide input into making this Mental Health Act stronger to provide the right services and programs for the people of the Northwest Territories.

When I was looking at some of these other reports, in 2004 there was a Mental Health and Addictions Services Report that clarified that mental illness is a major cost-driver in the Northwest Territories, and

that, in the Northwest Territories at that time, suicide rates were twice the national average. I’m pretty sure nothing has changed in that time. In fact, at the beginning of this 17th Legislative

Assembly, when we were going through our orientation and getting our updates from the Department of Health and Social Services, it was mentioned that mental health and addictions is the biggest cost-driver for the Northwest Territories today.

I encourage all residents of the Northwest Territories and key stakeholders in the Northwest Territories who provide mental health and addictions services to review these discussion papers, give us your feedback so we can have a very strong Mental Health Act at the end of this government, moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night I attended, as did the Member for Frame Lake, an event sponsored by the local chapter of the Council of Canadians, a national non-profit group supported not by governments or corporations, but by individual citizens in Canada. The event featured a talk by Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the council.

Maude Barlow is an amazing person, the recipient of 11 honourary doctorates and untold awards and recognitions. She recently served as the United Nations first senior advisor on water issues. During this term, in July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation, and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights. This resolution provides an obligation for all countries, including Canada, to ensure these rights are upheld.

Maude has written 17 books and, most recently, one titled, Blue Future, Protecting Water for People and the Planet Forever. She always takes the long view.

During her talk, Maude detailed the global water crisis, providing specific examples of issues in Canada as well as around the world. She detailed the shocking consequences of the crisis that is happening today in the global south and what is beginning to happen in the global north.

From there she went on to describe some of the work she does to mobilize communities and coalitions, including her work with indigenous people, to deal with the waste people and removal

of clean water from our homelands around the world. One core observation was her understanding that production of most things, from the shirts we wear to the cars we drive, use and pollute water. For example, extraction of fossil fuels requires massive amounts of water. In the latter case, she also noted that that tragic double loss as we put all our efforts and creative thinking into fracking instead of renewable energy and efficiency.

Finally, Maude brought a message of hope. As revealed in Blue Future, she profiled how water and our need for it to teach us how to live together. This compelling woman has spent a lifetime fighting for democracy, healthy families and healthy communities, always with hope and compassion.

I left the event thinking, what a great Canadian. I wish this House could hear the inspirational words of wisdom she so generously shares. Thanks to the local chapter of the council for bringing their leader to town. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We either have the best incident reporting policy in Canada or we have the worst-kept secrets of oil and gas incidents in the Northwest Territories.

According to a recent CBC report, the National Energy Board, Canada’s pipeline regulators, showed that more than 70 incidents from spills, leaks and injuries or fires were reported in Norman Wells. That’s in six years.

Mr. Speaker, we have a problem. Are our regulatory laws strong enough? I say no, because we need to tighten them up, as per the report that CBC clearly indicated. This has shaken my confidence in our coordinator with our regulatory bodies and our legislation.

When you have Imperial Oil, a big time oil and gas operator in the North, who is one of the biggest violators of these incidents and stating there’s no impact to our land, our water or our air, it’s like having the fox telling us the chicken coup is fine.

First we had leaks of crude oil of thousands of litres. We had 40 million litres of water used for cooling the operation then released into the Mackenzie River going down to the community of Fort Good Hope with indications of levels of copper in them. We had water contamination of hydrocarbons released back into the water. Again, we have Colville Lake people telling us there’s something wrong with the water.

What are the rules? What if we had never heard of these 77 incidents? It frightens me to know that

Imperial Oil can do this and more. What else is it that we don’t know about since 1920 when Imperial was operating? I see more fighting. It’s what we know.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you. Now that we know, I’d say we are paid to solve problems. Let’s do this together.

I’ll have questions for the Minister of ENR at the appropriate time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure is pleased to provide its report on the tabling of the Pembina Institute Report titled Responsible Extraction: An Analysis of the Northwest Territories Mineral Development Strategy Panel Report and commends it to the House.

In conjunction with the release of Pathways to Mineral Development: Report of the Stakeholders Engagement Panel for the NWT Mineral Development Strategy in June 2013, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure commissioned the Pembina Institute to review the report and related documents, and offer its comments and recommendations on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ approach to future mineral development in the North.

The committee commissioned this review out of concern for the perceived industry bias and lack of public involvement in the work of the advisory panel that the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment commissioned in the preparation of the Mineral Development Strategy. The committee wishes to publicly release the Pembina Institute’s work, entitled Responsible Extraction: An Analysis of the Northwest Territories Mineral Development Strategy Panel Report, and offer residents an opportunity to get involved in the creation of responsible public policy for mineral development.

The Pembina Institute’s analysis supports some areas of the advisory panel’s recommendations, but

strongly recommends a more balanced approach and open public consultation as the government prepares to implement the Mineral Development Strategy. Members of the standing committee invite the public to comment on the Pembina Institute’s analysis as well as the Mineral Development Strategy Advisory Panel’s report. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment is ultimately responsible for the direction of the Mineral Development Strategy and has an important role in commenting on this work. The committee members are disappointed that the Minister has, so far, declined to offer a direct response to the Pembina Institute’s assessments.

As the Northwest Territories takes on responsibility for land and resources management, Northerners must work together more than ever before. Taxpayers cannot afford to support the exploitation of publicly owned natural resources. The Northwest Territories cannot afford another Colomac or Giant Mine. It is time to develop projects with legacies we can be proud to share.

Mining offers many opportunities, but for the long-term benefit of our people, it must be governed by responsible public interest policy, and supported as one of many vital components of a diversified economy that builds and sustains the Northwest Territories as a whole.

The committee will be formally tabling the Pembina Institute report and welcome public comment in the development of this important policy framework.

That concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure on the tabling of the Pembina Institute Report, titled Responsible Extraction: An Analysis of the Northwest Territories Mineral Development Strategy Panel.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Therefore, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Committee Report 9-17(4) be received by the Assembly and adopted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

An Honourable Member

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Question has been called.

---Carried

Committee Report 9-17(4) has been received and adopted. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize some of the people who are here with us today. There are some chairpersons of the school boards. John Stephenson is here with us, chair of YK No. 1. Gayla Meredith, president of NWTTA is here with us as well. I saw Ted Blondin earlier. He might still be in the gallery. He is the chair of the Tlicho Community Services Agency. For the Catholic School Board, Chair Simon Taylor is here with us, and also the superintendent, Claudia Parker, is here with us. I believe there is some staff that came in, as well, from my department: John Stewart along with other partners, Helen Balanoff, Sophie Hall and Laura McNeil. Thanks for being here with us. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize in the visitors gallery Sophie Hall, who has been a tireless worker on behalf of French first language education in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dolynny.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce a member from Range Lake. Mr. Huvenaars is here with us today and was introduced earlier by the Minister. What people don’t realize is that Mr. Huvenaars and I go way back. We used to curl together. We weren’t very good, but we curled together.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Ms. Bisaro.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to welcome the chairs of the two Yellowknife school districts who are here, Simon Taylor from Yellowknife Catholic Schools and John Stephenson from YK Education District No. 1. I want to say it was a pleasure to see Mr. Ootes and Ms. Baile here in the House earlier. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Bromley.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. John Stephenson, chair of the YK 1 and resident of Weledeh. Also, Simon Taylor, chair of the Yellowknife Catholic School Board, and some of the staff here today. Also, the residents of Weledeh, Jacob Schubert, one of our Pages today. Thanks to all the Pages for the service they are providing. I believe I heard John Stewart was in the gallery. I can’t always see behind me here, but another resident of Weledeh. I understand Roy Erasmus is in the crowd. I’m very happy to see him and any other folks that are returning for our

celebration coming up here tomorrow, particularly of course Jake Ootes and Marg Baile. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Beaulieu.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two Pages from Lutselk'e: Nathan Catholique and Ethan Rambough.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Yakeleya.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize former Member Jake Ootes and his lovely missus. And also to recognize Roy Erasmus, a former Member also for the Legislative Assembly. It’s good to see Jake.