This is page numbers 6207 – 6238 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 water.

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The House met at 1:31 p.m.

---Prayer

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Welcome back, colleagues. It is my pleasure to reconvene the Fifth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

I know that all Members have been busy since we last met here in March. Committees and departments have been travelling to many of our communities to hear the views of our residents of the Northwest Territories. Many of us also had the opportunity to spend time in our communities working with our constituents. The connection with our constituents is what makes our work so meaningful.

Colleagues, I was very happy to welcome back the 2015 Youth Parliamentarians as they gathered here for a week earlier this month. I had the pleasure of meeting with all 19 Members, and as usual, I am very proud of the young people involved.

I say that after every Youth Parliament, colleagues, but if our youth are any indication, the Northwest Territories has a very bright future. We heard our young people speak with poise and confidence about the issues that affect them, their families and friends. They bravely tackled issues we wrestle with all the time in this Chamber.

I extend my congratulations to the young people, the parents and teachers who support them, to those Members who made the time to meet and encourage the participants, and to our staff who made such a meaningful forum.

Speaking of young people, please join me in welcoming the Pages for this sitting of the Assembly. It’s always a pleasure to have them in the House. We have students from Boot Lake, Deh Cho and Yellowknife joining us during the next two weeks.

Colleagues, it is now my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016

during the Fifth Session of the 17th Legislative

Assembly. Yours truly, George L. Tuccaro, Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Premier McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to advise Members of the passing of Mr. George Braden this past Monday in Ottawa.

Mr. Braden was a long-time Northerner who graduated from Sir John Franklin Territorial High School before studying political science at the University of Alberta and Dalhousie University.

From 1977 to 1979 Mr. Braden was an advisor to the Honourable Bud Drury, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Constitutional Development in the Northwest Territories. In 1979 he was elected to the 9th Legislative Assembly as the Member for Yellowknife North.

The Assembly of 1979 was in transition. While all its Members were elected, the federally appointed Commissioner still had a direct role in the day-to-day administration of the Government of the Northwest Territories and chaired Cabinet meetings, which then included only three Members of the Legislative Assembly.

The number of Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to Cabinet expanded to seven at the beginning of the 9th Assembly, with Mr. Braden chosen as one of its Members. In 1980 Mr. Braden was selected by his colleagues to be the Leader of the Elected Executive, a position that

came to be known first as Government Leader and later as Premier.

As Leader of the Elected Executive, Mr. Braden continued the work he had begun with Mr. Drury of bringing increased decision-making power to the North and promoting responsible government by Northerners for Northerners. Devolution of responsibility for land and resources during this Assembly was the most recent example of how this work continues.

As well as Leader of the Elected Executive, Mr. Braden also held portfolios as Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Justice and Public Services, Minister of Priorities and Planning and Minister for the Status of Women.

During his time in government, Mr. Braden also began efforts to promote a new recognition of the Northwest Territories at the national level and a more prominent role in Confederation. This included efforts to win a seat for the Northwest Territories at First Ministers conferences and his leadership of this government’s lobbying for Aboriginal rights to be included in Section 35 of the Constitution. In fact, NWT Days first originated with Mr. Braden, when he and all 22 Members of the Legislative Assembly decided to fly to Ottawa during the debates on the patriation of the Constitution to lobby for the recognition of Aboriginal rights.

Mr. Braden continued his work to promote the Northwest Territories and advance its interests after he left office in 1983. This included several years representing the Government of the Northwest Territories as deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs in our Ottawa office, where he worked to assert this government’s role as a major participant at the international level and increase its official contacts with provincial governments and other national institutions.

Mr. Braden was also Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Expo ’86 Pavilion, staffed entirely by Northwest Territories residents and promoting the fur industry, serving country food and hosting 1.5 million visitors over six months.

In recent years, Mr. Braden served as senior policy advisor to Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson, himself a former Legislative colleague and past Premier of the Northwest Territories. He continued to be a constant promoter of the North and its potential and was a reliable advisor in Ottawa for many visiting Northwest Territories politicians, senior officials and other leaders.

Mr. Braden will be remembered not just as our first Premier, Mr. Speaker, but as one of Canada’s nation builders. He has earned this recognition for both his vision and leadership in guiding this territory along the path towards responsible

northern government and his support for placing Aboriginal rights in the Canadian Constitution. I am honoured to stand here today as Premier, and as his successor, to continue the work he dedicated much of his life to.

A book of condolences has been set up in the Great Hall beside a portrait of George that also depicts the Northwest Territories Expo ’86 Pavilion, a project very close to his heart. I welcome all members of the public to come and sign the book and offer their own memories of this great Northerner.

Mr. Braden was a true champion for the Northwest Territories and we have lost a good friend and contemporary this week, Mr. Speaker. Many of us knew and worked with George and with his brother Bill, himself a two-term Member of this Assembly. His mother, Esther, is also well known to many of us as a dedicated community builder. I invite Members to join with me in offering our profound condolences to his widow, Lise Beaudry-Braden; Esther; his sister, Sandra; brothers Bill, Max and Pat and their families, represented today by his niece Carmen, on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories.

I would now ask Members to rise with me and observe a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Braden and his contributions to this territory and its people.

---Moment of Silence

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Members back to the continuation of the Fifth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly. We

have been working together for almost four years now on our vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories.

We have made progress on that vision in our time together, and I thank Members for their support and guidance on the many projects and initiatives we have successfully introduced.

As a government, we are committed to what is best for the people of the entire Northwest Territories. Hearing from Members in this Chamber about the views, values and priorities of the people they represent is one way we make sure our initiatives and decisions reflect what Northerners want and need.

As I have said throughout our term, the Northwest Territories has the potential to be an engine of economic growth for this country. We have the

potential to be a net contributor to this nation, not to be drawing upon it for support.

That is a goal worth striving for, the goal of a territory rich in jobs and opportunities for all its residents, with the financial means to pay its own way and the authority to make its own decisions about its future.

Creating a strong, sustainable, prosperous North is about choices, Mr. Speaker. While I have often said that the Northwest Territories has great potential and a bright future, that future is based on making realistic choices.

We need a strong and diversified economy to have the kind of Northwest Territories we envision. Growing that economy has to start with the advantages we enjoy. Those advantages include the ingenuity and ideas of the hardworking people who live here. They also include the wealth of natural resources the Northwest Territories has been blessed with.

Economic and social development in this territory have long depended on resource development. For decades, mining in the North Slave, South Slave and Sahtu gave Northerners jobs and literally built our communities. Oil and gas development has done the same for people and communities in the Mackenzie Delta and the Sahtu.

We all know that resource development can be a mixed blessing. None of us who sit in this building only a few kilometres from the former Giant Mine site can forget the potential downside of resource development that is not well managed.

That is why devolution is so important to us, Mr. Speaker. Devolution means Northerners making decisions about how to protect our land and environment and responsibly develop its resources. It means taking our time and applying made-in-the-North solutions that reflect northern priorities and values to resource management. Devolution means not having to make the mistakes of the past again.

We have learned from the past, and we have studied the best examples of responsible, sustainable development from around the world. The path to jobs and prosperity for Northerners lies in embracing our future and the natural advantages we enjoy. It does not lie in turning our backs on the legacy Northerners have been given in the hopes we can find some other basis for a strong economy and prosperous future.

But while our future is bright, Mr. Speaker, we cannot make the mistake of believing that it is inevitable. Our natural resource wealth cannot be transformed into prosperity for Northerners if we cannot develop it and move it to market.

That means making some deliberate and strategic choices about the path forward, Mr. Speaker. It means recognizing the advantages we possess, but

also addressing the challenges that we need to overcome.

It means investing in our people so they have the skills and training they need for jobs in newly vibrant industries.

It means research and development to better understand the Northwest Territories resource base and the latest best practices from around the world for responsibly developing them.

It means refining and improving the regulatory system we inherited as part of devolution and making sure it gives us the tools we need to responsibly and safely manage resource development according to northern values and priorities.

It means securing the fiscal capacity and flexibility to invest strategically in the energy, communications and transportation infrastructure that will help the Northwest Territories compete in today’s global marketplace and allow us to grow our economy, providing long-term jobs for our residents and revenues for northern governments.

It means strengthening our partnerships with Aboriginal and other governments, identifying the common priorities we can work together to pursue in the best interests of all Northwest Territories residents.

As we head towards the end of the 17th Assembly,

we continue to make progress on our priorities and enjoy successes. In the area of partnerships, we were pleased to have the K’atlodeeche First Nation become a signatory to the Devolution Agreement in March. We recently concluded an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and an agreement on capacity building for staff with the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Nationally, the Northwest Territories has taken a lead role in chairing the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group and supporting the National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which I attended along with Minister Ramsay.

In the area of the environment, Minister Miltenberger and I had the privilege of signing the Transboundary Water Management Agreement with the Government of Alberta in March. This agreement, many years in the making, is one of the first agreements of its type anywhere in the world and will ensure that decisions about water use in our two jurisdictions consider the needs of the ecosystem first.

Minister Miltenberger and I also represented the Northwest Territories at the recent Quebec Summit on Climate Change in April. Along with Nunavut and Yukon, we communicated the importance of addressing this issue, particularly in the North, while not impacting the high cost of living in the

North, undermining food security or threatening emerging economies.

We continue to take steps to build a strong, well-managed economy that creates sustainable benefits for Northerners. That work includes implementing the Economic Opportunities Strategy and Mineral Development Strategy and finalizing an Oil and Gas Strategy. It includes taking action on the high cost of energy and continuing to promote population growth in the Northwest Territories. We also continue to take steps to refine and improve the legislation transferred to our government a year ago, ensuring we have a strong system for managing development in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Fiscally, we were pleased to announce last month that the Government of the Northwest Territories has successfully negotiated a second increase in the federal borrowing limit and agreement to review the definition of self-financing debt. Our borrowing limit now stands at $1.3 billion, up from the $575 million limit we had at the start of this Assembly, when we identified increasing the limit as a priority.

This increase in our borrowing limit gives the Government of the Northwest Territories increased flexibility to invest in much needed infrastructure that will support the responsible development of the Northwest Territories and its economy and bring down the cost of living for communities and residents. The decision reflects this territory’s economic potential and recognizes our disciplined fiscal management.

We need to continue to exercise discipline in our spending decisions, even with this new borrowing limit. Before we make any spending commitments, there are some parameters that we all need to recognize. The first one is that we should only be considering strategic investments designed to support long-term economic growth for the territory, such as investments in public infrastructure.

Ensuring our territory has the energy, transportation and communications infrastructure business and industry need to be competitive in the North needs to be a priority. That investment will pay off in a strong and diversified economy that provides jobs and services to residents, while growing the Northwest Territories corporate tax base. Increased investment in public infrastructure will also continue to make our territory and communities an attractive and sustainable choice for current and new residents and help lower living costs.

The other parameter we need to recognize is that we cannot borrow to fund ongoing program and service delivery. While the desire to maintain existing programs and services or establish new ones might be strong, we can only do so if we have the revenues to pay for them. Going into debt to fund operations is not sustainable and must be avoided at all costs.

While our economic prospects are good as a territory, we have to face the fact that our economic growth is still slow, a result of the global economic slowdown several years ago and the more recent drop in world oil prices. That will continue to limit our revenues and our ability to pay for our operations. We will all be required to take a hard look at our books and work together to align our expenditures to our revenues, both for the remainder of this Assembly and into the next one.

We need to be diligent and follow our normal planning processes. Decisions on new investments will be made as part of the Government of the Northwest Territories normal planning processes and will include discussions with Members of the Legislative Assembly and other stakeholders.

Mr. Speaker, politicians are often called decision-makers, but “choosers” might be another way to put that. Faced with an array of possibilities and options, it is our responsibility to make wise and prudent choices based on our understanding of what will best match the needs, wishes and priorities of the people we represent.

Sometimes the choices are hard, even unpleasant, but the choices still have to be made. Where the best path is unclear, it is up to us to study the options, debate them in the Assembly and make a reasoned decision in the best interests of our territory and its residents.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 36(4) so that all Ministers’ statements provided to the Clerk can be delivered today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

While we are entering the final months of our term, the choices will continue and their impact will continue to be seen now and into the term of the next Assembly. It is up to us to make the best choices we can for the long-term future of our government and the territory, and I look forward to continuing to debate those choices with Members here in this House. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, resource development has long been the foundation of our territory’s economy.

Our rich mining and oil and gas sectors have generated significant employment, skill development and wealth. Vital economic infrastructure that continues to advance economic growth in other sectors was, in many cases, first built to support resource development.

We now have locally owned and operated airlines, hotels, restaurants, construction firms, telecommunications and logistics companies, and service and supply industries. They are evidence of the capacity of northern and Aboriginally owned businesses to leverage investments from resource development and to participate and invest fully in the NWT’s economy as successful business owners, operators and investors.

Our government has never veered from the assertion that the NWT is open for business to socially and environmentally responsible companies that are willing to invest and work with us to ensure benefits from sustainable development accrue to the northern economy and our residents, and to respect and protect the lands, water and environment to which our people and their communities are intrinsically tied.

Last week the National Energy Board and the NWT Geological Survey confirmed what we have known for many years: There is significant oil and gas potential in the Sahtu. Developing this potential will produce jobs and business opportunities for residents in this region and resource royalties to support investments across the NWT.

The announcement validates the GNWT’s ongoing work to complete our territory’s first-ever Call Cycle for Oil and Gas Exploration Rights and to advance the development of an Oil and Gas Strategy that will serve to guide oil and gas development in our territory well into the future.

Exploration and development has slowed, but we are using this opportunity to define the parameters that NWT residents feel are appropriate to both support and protect their families and communities for the future; and by providing a level of certainty and awareness required by proponents of major projects, we are working to renew interest and confidence in our investment climate.

In part, this is the work that was begun several years ago when our government first started looking at hydraulic fracturing and studying best practices related to it. Following devolution, that work further informed the development of new filing regulations for applications for hydraulic fracturing operations in our territory. We did this together, and in recent months we have visited communities to talk about how those regulations would enhance and become part of our regulatory system.

Mr. Speaker, this work and dialogue is not about deciding if hydraulic fracturing will take place in the NWT. In fact, our Devolution Agreement already puts this decision in the hands of NWT residents every time a project is proposed.

Public boards established under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act set the terms of water licences and land use permits. The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review

Board conducts environmental assessments and environmental impact reviews in the Mackenzie Valley, while boards established under the land claim screen and assess development proposals in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The various boards and regulatory agencies in the NWT hold public hearings and receive submissions from members of the public as well as technical submissions from the GNWT. These arm’s-length boards look at each application, consider all of the circumstances and make well-informed decisions.

It is a system that continues to evolve and has been proven effective in ensuring benefits from the development that has already occurred in our territory flow to NWT residents and businesses. Ours is an integrated and comprehensive process that ensures resource development decisions in the NWT are made in the public interest, informed by appropriate scientific and technical information, best practices, traditional knowledge and public input. It is one based in federal and territorial law as well as in obligations established in settled land claims and self-government agreements.

We recognize that our regulatory system, like hydraulic fracturing itself, is detailed and can be a source of uncertainty. We can and will address this with a focus on increasing the knowledge, understanding and awareness of both legislated and industry processes that will be key to the responsible development of our economy into the future.

Hydraulic fracturing technologies have advanced greatly in recent years, as have the public accountabilities demanded from companies that incorporate this development process. Today we are confident that regions like the Sahtu and the Beaufort-Delta can realize the benefits of their oil and gas resources without harm to the environment, and our proposed regulations will help make sure of that.

We have heard from the public and the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure that more time is needed to review the proposed regulations. We are committed to extending the engagement period until the end of August and beyond, if necessary.

That will give us more time to engage with NWT residents and offer us an opportunity this summer to meet and discuss our work in greater detail during the many gatherings and assemblies that will take place.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has taken the first step beyond simply mirroring the federal requirements that we have inherited and to making the NWT regulatory system our own.

For many years, and through many processes, NWT residents have told us that they place a great deal of value on the land and environment. They

have stressed the need for baseline surface and groundwater information, public disclosure, measures to address air quality, and enhanced reporting. The proposed hydraulic fracturing filing regulations address these priorities and make expectations clear.

Our government will take the time it needs to get the right rules in place for managing oil and gas development in our territory. We will continue to listen to Members, the public and Aboriginal governments as well as business and industry. Once we are satisfied that we have the right solution, we are prepared to move forward with filing regulations that will provide proponents a greater understanding of expectations and requirement before they prepare and submit applications. Should legislative change be necessary to further strengthen regulatory processes in this area, we are prepared to make recommendations for the consideration of the 18th Legislative Assembly.

This important step demonstrates that we are serious about unlocking oil and gas potential in the territory and ensuring that development is conducted in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.

It will not result in a sudden and unmanageable increase in exploration and development, but they will set the stage for us to realize a future that, like our past, is founded on the responsible and measured development of our territory’s vast resource wealth.

For the last four years, the 17th Legislative Assembly has proudly held a vision of a strong, prosperous and environmentally sustainable Northwest Territories that all residents, families and communities can benefit from.

Our government has long held that the economy and the environment are linked. That understanding is set out in the Sustainable Development Policy that we put into place in 1990. It is reflected in the Land Use and Sustainability Framework that we released last year and it is enshrined in our regulatory system. We want development, but we want development the right way, the responsible way that creates sustainable prosperity for our children and our grandchildren. But we cannot have prosperity without an economy that provides jobs and economic opportunities for people and revenues to our government to invest in infrastructure and deliver programs and services that support our residents to be healthy, educated and self-sufficient.

This is the work that we have and continue to be committed to realizing today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back. It’s good to be back in the House. We only have seven short days here, so we have to make them count.

I am a firm believer, as an MLA, to giving credit where credit is due. We have failed as a government as the 17th Assembly in one area that I

am going to talk about today, and that is coming up with a broad energy strategy. Fail.

In the absence of a clearly thought out strategy that considers our environment, our economy and our cost of living, this government will just keep acting in a reactive mode, running willy-nilly. Like when we had to come up with a Cabinet meeting, they went someplace to have a meeting and they came back and said, “We’re going to throw $20 million into the fact that we have low water and high diesel costs.” This is the way this government has reacted to everything related to this. Let’s just throw more money at it.

We had $60 million set aside at the beginning of this Assembly to actually do something creative and responsible when it came to energy, but we have literally blown all of that. We have failed to look at the creative opportunities to do things in the Northwest Territories for Northerners in the area of energy. Here we are now a few short months until the end of our term, we’ve got a Cabinet that seemingly is going to run willy-nilly on this energy piece and people are going to use this opportunity for whatever political bucket list they may have hidden in their drawer somewhere and I’m not very happy about it, Mr. Speaker.

I have been in this Legislature a long time, and without divulging any confidentiality, let me tell you I had the opportunity to sit through a noon hour briefing today which, bar none, wins the prize, top marks for the least substance on an extremely important issue that I have ever been involved in. It’s an absolute insult to the 11 Members on this side of the House that this government, if they have a plan, are not willing to share it or discuss it or take it out for public consultation to the people of the Northwest Territories.

So, we just keep spending our money fixing crisis to crisis management, just fixing problems as we go along. We are never going to get out ahead of the problem. Mr. Speaker, I’m not very happy about it. Like I said, I can’t divulge confidential information

that has been shared in committee, but this is something that we need to talk about. This is important to the people of the North, that we have a broad Energy Strategy.

We had two energy charrettes, and now, just about when the 17th Assembly is over, we’re going to

have a response from the government for those energy charrettes. It’s too important a topic.

I may not be here in the 18th Assembly, but this is

something we get a failed mark on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The past 48 hours has been host to a power struggle, a fight, not based on improving electricity rates or lowering our cost of living but a war of ego and ministerial legacy building.

I want to take this opportunity to speak about not what I believe is a legitimate RFP process in Hay River, but an ad that appeared in this week’s newspaper suggesting this government’s intention is to expropriate Northland Utilities, a successful, northern, private company, 60 years’ history, 50 percent owned by 27 Dene First Nations, and sure enough, today this Cabinet responded accordingly with an RFP bid in Hay River to do just that.

Undoubtedly, this ad comes in response to comments made by Minister Miltenberger at the 2014 Energy Charrette and some MLAs during the last Legislative Assembly sitting here, where it was claimed, with zero evidence, that eliminating Northland Utilities and the Public Utilities Board would reduce electricity costs.

Contrary to the personal views of our Finance Minister, which we seem to hear a lot of lately, Northland Utilities is not the middleman nor is it the boogeyman in our electric industry.

Furthermore, removing the Public Utilities Board, as hinted by our Finance Minister, would eliminate not only the independent oversight of all our GNWT tax subsidies to NTPC, it would eliminate all ratepayer protection and there would be no process to truly validate electricity rate structures across the North.

In essence, the people want to know, what is Cabinet’s intent behind the Miltenberger iron curtain? What is this new energy policy we keep hearing about in the McLeod government? Why is this same consulting group, which is on NTPC payroll, working so closely with this Cabinet? What secret deals are happening right now that will significantly cost the ratepayers and the taxpayers of the NWT? Furthermore, what cuts will there be to

the critical capital infrastructure, programs and services when this government dips into your money to expropriate a privately owned First Nation company?

Contrary to what we’ve been led to believe by this Cabinet, the taxpayer does not have the deep pockets to invest in energy infrastructure we require, nor do we have the brain trust in solving our energy concerns, and this is a given. But no, Mr. Speaker, instead we should be getting out of the way, like we’re seeing in places like in Ontario with Hydro One, but this McLeod government is keen on taking our hard-earned tax money with its newly minted American Express card and is willing to put First Nations last. But the clear message to industry: We’re closed for business.

Worried, Mr. Speaker? Everybody in this room should be. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to talk about the energy process, as well, and I support the Town of Hay River’s call for an RFP in the process. I’m the MLA for Hay River North. I represent Hay River. The town council has the option to go out for bid for process. I support that. The town council voted unanimously to go into that process and I support their look to government to bid from the Power Corporation.

I understand NUL is a northern company, Aboriginally owned, and they’re a Hay River company, a long-standing Hay River company. That’s the difficulty. But the people of Hay River have asked for us to look at the cost of living. They have asked us to look at the expense of power, one of our biggest costs out there, and the town council has responded to that request. Through this RFP, they have the right to put out a tender to ask for interested bidders.

The Power Corporation and the whole structure of the Northwest Territories, we have a company and we have the Power Corporation, a Crown corporation in the whole NWT. Obviously, if the town puts out that call for proposals, those are the two head front runners. That’s the scenario. That’s the structure of the Northwest Territories power.

I’m sorry. I support NUL. I support a lot of those people who work in Hay River. But the process of the Town of Hay River should be left to the Town of Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A culture of entitlement is afoot and you can smell it a mile away. You only need to look so far as page 2 in Monday’s newspaper or even page 6 of today’s paper. What you’ll see is a monopoly saying competition is bad. Better yet, let’s make one company, they say, and eliminate all the competition by absorbing them.

Is anyone really fooled by this? I know the public isn’t fooled by this and they want to know who is defending the public’s interest. Because I know, they know, a lobbyist will defend the corporate interest.

Yes, I said a lobbyist, Mr. Speaker. It’s true. ATCO has hired their own operative on the ground, making deals. Who knows what they’re doing to look after the private interests of ATCO? I won’t say this person’s name – they don’t need to be called out by their individual name – but I can tell you, they have extensive experience being one of our former Finance Ministers here in the Northwest Territories in the last century.

What does this mean? Who’s working for the Northerners? Who is working for the everyday family? I don’t know. But I can tell you this operative is meeting with the who’s who and I’ve even been told they’ve been meeting with some MLAs.

What’s ironic is in my 15 years of experience, I’ve heard time and time again the business has always said, “We just want a chance to compete. Competition is good.” Competition is absolutely necessary. They will say they want to be given a chance to come to that table to put their best bid. And guess what. If it doesn’t work, sometimes it just doesn’t, and they will accept it, but they want the chance to compete, a fair shot. But ironically, a billion dollar company is saying they like business as usual.

So, as they create a facade, as we’ve seen in the paper, it’s nothing but a fear tactic, a fear tactic that I would call a campaign of entitlement. It is creative writing at its best and I give them good points for that. I understand that they care about what matters to them, but I’m not afraid of this billion dollar company, nor should any MLA in this room nor even any Cabinet Ministers should be afraid of them. We need to do what is right, and what is right is the Town of Hay River has called for a public process. We need to support them and respect that. And may I emphasize, a dually elected Town of Hay River council and their citizens demand this.

I’m not afraid of their lobbyists. Bring them on. They can work as hard as they can. I’ll work even harder, as I can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, and welcome back to the House to all my colleagues.

While we were away, as we’ve already heard today from the Premier, the Premier and the Finance Minister received a long-awaited present from the federal government. Finally there was a response from the federal government to the GNWT request for an increase to our borrowing limit, and it was a positive response. We, the GNWT, now have an additional $500 million of room in our borrowing limit. There was an added bonus. It sounds as though what constitutes debt will change, giving us even more room in our borrowing limit, another present from the federal Finance Minister. Oh, how to use all that new money? There are many possibilities. It’s a conversation we have yet to have, but one that we must have together as an Assembly.

I’m very hopeful that this change in our financial position will have a positive impact on a very worthwhile territorial project here in Yellowknife, an expansion to Avens - A Community for Seniors. As Members are aware, Avens is trying to build a new facility to accommodate more NWT seniors who need supportive housing and to do badly needed renovations to Aven Manor, the current outdated long-term care centre at Avens.

The numbers are irrefutable. The cohort of NWT seniors is growing and will continue to grow over the next 15 years, likely doubling. The numbers of seniors needing housing of one sort or another are also indisputable. We, right now, have elders needing supported living who have nowhere to live, something the new facility at Avens could fix. Yet this government has, to date, been unable to assist the Avens organization to accomplish their goal to start building. Why? Well, there are a couple of answers. One is, “We can’t provide Avens with capital dollars, it’s not in the plan, we have no money.” Another, “We can’t make a commitment to book beds in the new facility, that counts against our borrowing limit.”

Well, the financial landscape has changed. The borrowing limit is significantly increased. So, now will the government reconsider their position on the Avens expansion project in light of our changed financial situation? Will they take action to reduce the need for seniors housing, to accept the responsibility to provide for our elders not five or 10 years from now, but now?

We have a willing partner with a proven track record of getting it done, a partner who will build the facility for us and for our seniors.

There’s no excuse anymore. It’s time to get it done. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the opportunity earlier today to participate in the Education Hall of Fame inductees ceremony here at the Great Hall. I’d just like to acknowledge and recognize the nine recipients this year, or the nine inductees I should say, but also congratulate anyone who got nominated for this very prestigious, significant recognition.

More particular, I’d like to recognize and acknowledge Ms. Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen, who is a long-time resident of Inuvik, who has had over 30 years of contributions to the education system in the community of Inuvik and more so over the last 14 years at the Aurora College. Speaking with Ms. Van Nieuwenhuyzen, she was very honoured to be inducted into the Education Hall of Fame. Myself working with her on a personal level, she’s done a lot of great work in Inuvik as a volunteer, as an ambassador for education,…(inaudible)… ambassador of traditions, cultures, healthy living, and I just want to recognize her for that.

I did have an opportunity, as I mentioned, to speak with Marja and I asked her if she would like me to say anything on her behalf and if there was any recognition that she would like to give to other people who made her who she is and helped her do the job the best that she can. She did mention that in her work for the Council of Disabled Persons in Inuvik, she’d like to recognize and thank Billy Moore for all that she has taught him, in working with the Native Women’s Association recognizing over 300 women that she’s had the privilege of knowing, learning from, working with and for, as well as the late Bertha Allen who has supported her over 20 years in her role of doing the great job that she has done, and the love and guidance that she has received from people like Lucy and Jimmy Adams, Judy Lafferty and Mary Barnaby. She’ll always cherish the moments that she had with them, and working at the Aurora College and with GNWT and her former colleagues, and bosses, Ms. Miki O’Kane and Doug Robertson, for providing guidance, leadership and helping her do the job she did at the college. She’d also like to acknowledge and congratulate all the inductees into the Education Hall of Fame and recognize their contribution to the education of our residents, whether it’s through academics, culture, traditions,

or volunteering and for their ongoing support in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents from all regions of the Northwest Territories gathered last week to discuss ways to re-localize their community economy. The Building Localized Economies forum, hosted by Ecology North, was an exciting opportunity for people to share thoughts and experiences on how to capture local, lasting and meaningful jobs, restore our depleted environment and develop economies that actually serve communities.

They showed the combined domestic and local market economy that communities seek is far richer than the global market economy forced upon them today.

They explored the concept of economic gardening, local meat and fish processing, raising vegetables, co-ops and community markets, and biomass, solar and wind energy as costs of renewable energy plummets, and ways in which communities can take back power for governance and well-being.

Myriad related topics on localizing our economies were covered through inspiring panel discussions and open forums. Fifty-plus people participated daily, with hundreds more providing local perspectives and questions through the digital democracy IserveU Internet connection.

From the Fort McPherson community biomass energy system we learned of the role of elders, project challenges and solutions and policy needs. From Lutselk’e we heard about a rare community solar power purchase agreement with NTPC, partially enabled by trainee installers.

Jackie Milne’s description of Hay River’s Northern Farm Training Institute project and Savoury Institute Hub showed that food is the heart of our economies, and equally can-do and successful farmers market in Yellowknife was inspiring to many.

From Norman Wells came everything we need to know about successfully producing all of the potatoes we are ever likely to require.

Important connections were made, with Fort Good Hope’s need for a fish processing expert matching available expertise from a fisher in Yellowknife, key to enabling Fort Good Hope’s local fish processing and storage plan.

Similarly, policy to address the current loss of fish and restaurant waste for composting was clarified.

Mayors also highlighted community partnerships as key.

The need for strategic redirection of government funds from perverse subsidies to rebalancing the playing field away from fossil fuels and towards localizing the provision of our core needs by focusing on human needs and renewable resources was recognized repeatedly. The goal is successful and innovative community empowerment that builds a strong local economic foundation, rejects a boom and bust approach and restores the commons.

Programs like the Tlicho Wilderness Training Programs, social initiatives...

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Programs like the Tlicho Wilderness Training Programs, social initiatives such as Dene Nahjo and social supports like eradicating poverty, paying a living wage and ensuring a basic guaranteed income all pay big returns on local economic development.

Attendees urged Ecology North to make this an annual event. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in thanking all those who made this happen, and wish them the best of success with next year’s forum. 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. Today I want to take the opportunity to make mention of loved ones who have passed away in the Sahtu region and also around the Northwest Territories.

There are many important events and things that are happening in our region. People are going about their work. People are doing things that they need to get done in our small communities. But there’s a time in our communities, especially when a loved one has passed away because of sickness or sudden death, that the community, for a moment, slows down and takes care of the loved ones, with food, coffee, with visiting. They grieve together and they mourn together for the loved ones in our small communities. Tradition partly kicks in in these rituals and we remember these young people or these older people because of the contributions they made in the community or in the region or in the territory.

Today we recognize my friend, Mr. George Braden, who at one time was a colleague of mine. Mr. Bill Braden, his brother, sat next to me. Today we

remember his contributions to the Northwest Territories.

In our small communities, as politicians, leaders, people in schools, hospitals and private industry, sometimes we’re busy and we don’t make time because of our schedule. I know that for people in the small communities, when leaders come then they appreciate it for a moment to sit with them and talk with them and eat with them and pray with them for that moment. Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of just leaving here, because we are required by law to be in this Assembly here, so sometimes we have that internal conflict that we should go or should we stay. Only we can make that decision.

I want to say there are a lot of good people in the Northwest Territories, and we do our best to be in those communities to support the families as much as we can. Our prayers go to all the families for the loss of loved ones since the last time we have sat as the Assembly.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to recognize the exceptional youth of my riding and thank them for making their voices heard. Firstly, in the gallery today I have 13 students from the Fort Simpson Bompas Elementary School whom I will be recognizing later today. I hope you’re enjoying the speeches called Members’ statements today. Because we just started, they are taking much longer, and I thank you for your patience up there.

In the first week of May, like Mr. Speaker said, young people from across the territory gathered here at the Legislative Assembly for the Youth Parliament. That included Ms. Sylvia Pascal-Matt from the Thomas Simpson School, who represented Nahendeh and did a fantastic job. I also want to say her younger sister Abigail is also here with the Grade 6 class here today. Welcome.

While I was in Fort Simpson this past month, I had the opportunity to speak with these Grade 6 students at Bompas Elementary. I spoke with them about the role of the MLA, how government operates and how people can effect change. Bompas students as well as students from the Thomas Simpson Secondary are gearing up and training hard for the annual NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River next week. The Grade 6 students mentioned how useful it would be to have the community of Fort Simpson fitted with a new track and field. Not only could they train for competitions like the annual Hay River meet, they

could even host it one day, serving as ambassadors for Fort Simpson.

The community of Fort Simpson has not had track facilities since the early 1990s. Sadly, our children of Fort Simpson are training in the playgrounds and training on a gravel road next to the school. An outdoor track would enable students to practice and train properly, not just one sport but many, helping them find new ways to have fun and stay active. Participants at any skill level would benefit, from first-time beginners to those training for territorial and national high performance competitions. It would also be a valuable addition to the community at large, giving everybody in Fort Simpson a new place to exercise and, as I said, the capacity to host meets would also enable students like the ones I spoke about to build friendships across the NWT, to work with their friends, meet new people and improve their skills.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

We all know the importance of physical activity and how it affects a positive educational outcome. The more exercise our students get, the better they are at learning. I look forward to the day that Fort Simpson students can train on a track of their own.

During question period, I will be asking questions with regard to working toward getting a track and field facility for the community of Fort Simpson. Mahsi cho.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Louis Cardinal Ferry Launch
Members’ Statements

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to let you know that this coming Saturday we have two graduates from Tsiigehtchic.

Deron Andre and Vanessa Lennie will be graduating this Saturday in Inuvik. Family and friends will be travelling to Inuvik to help celebrate this occasion.

As you may know, at this moment we are isolated. The ferry will be launched tomorrow, from what I’ve been told, and hopefully we can have the ferry in operation by this coming Saturday.

I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you very much.

Louis Cardinal Ferry Launch
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize members from the Braden family in the gallery: Carmen Braden and her partner, Eli Purchase; Laurie Nowakowski and her partner, Andrew Robinson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a constituent in the gallery today, Ms. Cheryl Fennell. Welcome.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Lafferty.

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize and welcome here in this House the 2015 Education Hall of Fame inductees who are here with us in the gallery. They are Lea Lamoureux, Ted Blondin, Doris Camsell, Dean MacInnis, Reanna Erasmus, Bruce Green, Carole Bachand, Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen and Michel Louis Rabesca. I would just like to say congratulations to all of them as the 2015 Education Hall of Fame inductees.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my Member’s statement I spoke about the Grade 6 class in Bompas Elementary, so I would like to recognize them here today. It gives me great pleasure that they have taken the time to drive over to Yellowknife. I just want to say, as well, to the students there that their names will be in Hansard, an historical document. Your names will be in Hansard for the next hundred or more years. I would like to welcome teachers Leanne Josie and Bernie Leader, chaperone Martina Isaiah, and the students: Fayth Sibbeston, Etanda Hardisty-Beaverho, Tamara Lennie, Grace Day, Charlene Brown, Stevie May Gargon-Lacasse, Abigail Pasqua-Matte, Tamara Deneyoua, Seneah Allen, Kylan Antoine, Jeremy Larter, Marie Anderson and Kyra Sanguez. I’m glad you made it here today. Welcome.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very proud as the Member for Hay River South to have had two constituents from the Hay River South riding who are inducted into the Education Hall of Fame today. Doris Camsell, who has been a big contributor to traditional language and culture for her First Nation that she comes from in Fort Providence. She has been a wonderful asset in Hay River in the education field, and I would like to recognize her husband, Doug, who is also with her

today. He is also a well-known mariner in the Northwest Territories.

I would also like to recognize Bruce Green, who taught high school for many, many years. He is the father of the famous Brendan Green – I had to mention that – and Bruce’s wife, Marilyn, who is also here today, who is Brendan Green’s mother. Mr. Green was well known for his science teaching at Diamond Jenness Secondary School and had a particularly outstanding knowledge of mushrooms. I am sure he is watching this morel mushroom harvest, this rush we are having in the Northwest Territories, very closely. Welcome to the House and congratulations on a well-deserved recognition today.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize members of George Braden’s family here today. George was a couple years ahead of me in school. I appreciated the Premier’s tribute to George today. I know the family did too. George was a couple years ahead of me, but he always seemed miles ahead of me in terms of leadership. He was a very thoughtful guy and always far ahead of us. So, recognition to Carmen Braden, his niece, and Eli Purchase and Andrew Robinson, who are with us today, and my heart goes out to the whole family, of course.

I’d also like to recognize other constituents, particularly and joyfully there’s a great energy in the House today with all these young folks and the Education Hall of Famers. There’s a couple of Weledeh residents in particular. Congratulations to everybody, but Lea Lamoureux for her attendance initiatives out at Kaw Tay Whee School in Detah, and of course Reanna Erasmus for her amazing decades of dedication to early childhood and inclusive education. So, a real tip of the hat to those constituents.

I’d also not like to forget about our Pages today. They always do such great service for us. I know Emma Willoughby here is from the Weledeh riding. So, welcome to our Pages. Mahsi.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to also recognize a couple of the recipients of the educational award. First to my sister-in-law Doris Camsell, congratulations, Doris. Behind every good woman is a real good man, so also to Doug Camsell. I’d like to recognize Doug, also, my brother-in-law, and also to Ted Blondin and Violet Camsell and to the other recipients of the award.

Also to the Braden family and my colleague at one time, Mr. Braden. Also, I’d like to welcome the young... I think I see my niece up there, Mahalia. |I’d like to welcome her and wish her well with the

Government of the Northwest Territories internship, and she’s one smart cookie.

I want to also recognize the young people in the gallery. I hope that one day you’re down here. Stay in school. Help us out here. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Moses.

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

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize and acknowledge all our inductees into the Education Hall of Fame. I appreciate all the work you’ve done over the years in your position as an educator, as a volunteer, as a contributor to your community.

Ms. Marja Van Nieuwenhuyzen wasn’t able to join us today because she is in Holland attending her mother’s 90th birthday celebrations with her family

and friends. So, on her behalf, I’d just like to say thank you to the Department of Education, as well, for recognizing her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Hawkins.

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too, like others, would like to first acknowledge the Braden family and thank him for his individual contribution to the Legislature in its day and certainly to the path that all of us have enjoyed. He’s helped us along the way through his wisdom and guidance in his early years as our first Government Leader or, as we refer to them now, as Premier.

I wish we had more time today, but I’d like to recognize just a couple of the Education Hall of Fame winners here today. Dean MacInnis is a constituent of Yellowknife Centre and it’s quite fitting that he’s received the significant contribution to safe and caring environments for students. I know of his reputation at Sir John, and it’s certainly one of great esteem, not just with students but with his colleagues who work there. So, people do think very highly of the work, and it shows. He’s recently been made principal of the school, a school I happened to graduate from one or two years ago. More like 26, unfortunately, but that’s the truth.

Lastly, under the Education Hall of Fame folks, I do want to say a special hello to Reanna Erasmus, a lady who I truly cherish. Her vibrancy and excitement and passion for children is certainly infectious. She’s done wonders and amazing things with the Aboriginal Head Start and certainly her early childhood education, and I thank her for that.

Finally, I would like to note a deep personal hello and certainly a welcome to the children of Fort Simpson. I went to school there, and Mr. Menicoche talked about the old track in the old days. Well, I’m just a little bit older than you and I remember running on it in the old track and field days, and I hope one day you too will enjoy that

experience and have that memory of your own. Thank you very much.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bouchard.

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

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a few Hay River residents who were distinguished Education Hall of Famers, as well, Ms. Camsell and Mr. Green. Mr. Green taught me Grade 10 biology and I didn’t have the stomach to go on dissecting frogs, but he’s also a wrestling coach. He helps out in the community quite a bit, and Mrs. Groenewegen talked about he’s involved in morel mushrooms now.

I’d also like to recognize Ted Blondin, an alumni from U of L who I went to school with. Thank you very much.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. I’d like to welcome also here today Doug Camsell, Captain Doug Camsell, from my old working days up in Tuk before coming to this Assembly. A lot of good times. Welcome to the House, Doug. I’d like to welcome also Ms. Mahalia Newmark, raised in Tuk for a lot of years. It’s always good to have people from back home. I’d like to welcome everybody here for taking an interest in the proceedings here today.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. In my research, I understand that there are 71 positions within the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority. Thirteen of these positions are vacant. The following communities have vacancies: Deline has three vacancies, Tulita has one, Norman Wells has eight vacancies, Fort Good Hope has one vacancy.

Why are these important vacancies not filled, some of them since September 2014 of last year?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; there are a significant number of vacancies in the Sahtu and we recognize that it’s a problem and we’re working closely with the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority to find ways to fill these positions. There are active recruitments on a number of positions, and in some cases until we can find somebody on a more permanent basis, we have been filling some

of them with casuals, but that doesn’t change the need to find permanent staff.

There’s a number of reasons that we may be having difficulties. Some individuals, some of those positions require real solid knowledge, skills and ability and some statutory requirements, but the Sahtu Authority has held discussions with community leadership on more effective approaches to providing a range of culturally appropriate mental health services, because one of the larger vacancies we have is around mental health services in the Sahtu and they’re in the early stages of designing a pilot project in partnership with one of the communities to see if there’s a more innovative way or a better way to involve local people to provide some more stability in the Sahtu. So, we’re looking forward to seeing how that goes. In the interim, we continue to actively recruit, and hopefully we’ll be able to fill those positions in short order. Thank you.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

I look forward to the pilot project partnership study. The communities of Deline, Tulita, Norman Wells, Colville Lake, the mental health and addictions counsellors positions have been vacant since August 2014, September 2014. These positions have been vacant for well over a year. I want to know from this Minister and also from our Health and Social Services Health Board about these positions. We have given the Minister some creative ideas, solutions.

Why are we not having these positions filled? Can we not do something different? We seem to be running up the same old issue of credentials and academic credibility. Well, we have another method using the Aboriginal context of looking after ourselves. Why is the Minister not exploring that issue?

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I hear the Member, and that is exactly the type of thing that is being done with this new pilot study, looking at new ways to involve communities and find alternate ways to provide services in communities and looking at local solutions.

I have also had an opportunity to travel around the Northwest Territories and talk to leadership, and every time I meet with leadership, I talk about the vacancies that we’re seeing across the Northwest Territories, and I ask them to work with us to encourage youth to pursue some of these professions.

As a note, some of these professions do have statutory requirements, so it does tie our hands a little bit as far as who we can put into those positions. But I do take the Member’s point. We are going to be working with the Sahtu. I know the CEO in the Sahtu has been running a number of competitions and is looking forward to this new relationship to see if we can have some success through this pilot.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

There are some very well-educated, culturally credible people in the Sahtu who can be working with the health board.

I want to ask the Minister, within our own health board there are some people who are either on sick leave or are on extended leave because they are being overworked within the Health department. Some of the workers are even complaining to me that there aren’t proper support mechanisms within the health board. Some of them need to be recognized and be honoured by their experience, and yet they’re being overlooked. There are other people coming to the health board that are taking on the managerial positions, who are actually being trained by these qualified social workers or mental health workers and they’re not given the credence, I guess, or the recognition that they deserve.

When is the department going to look at our own Sahtu homegrown labour force?

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

As a government, we’re always looking for ways to train local people for local work, and if we have individuals who are in the system who would be appropriate for succession planning purposes, we often look at those individuals. But in some situations, I mean, it is frustrating, and I understand the Member’s frustration. If there is a statutory requirement for a job, when you need that in order to have a licence to perform the duties articulated within the job description, that can be a barrier, which is why we have to look at other alternatives such as this pilot project that we’re talking about in the Sahtu region.

But at the same time, there are programs available to us, such as the Regional Recruitment Program to bring local people into local work. But we are looking at a number of ways to train local people. For example, we are hopefully going to be opening up the long-term care facility in the Norman Wells area in the next year or two, the next two years, and we’re working with the Gwich’in, the Sahtu and the Inuvialuit to arrange training for local people to take on many of those roles.

I hear the Member. I support what the Member is saying. We’re looking for creative solutions. We’re working with the Sahtu. The chief executive officer in the Sahtu is constantly working with the leadership in the communities to try to find ways to encourage youth to pursue careers, and we’re looking for ways to train local people, where possible.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would strongly suggest to the Minister and also to our CEO, go to the homegrown, qualified statutory social workers in our communities, sit down with them and say, “what’s the issue,” because certainly they aren’t being heard. This has been told to me.

This is not happening. They’re telling me directly. I’m saying right now in this Assembly to this Minister, if they can do that we would certainly clear up a lot of issues that will put people in good positions within the Sahtu health board. There are some issues that we cannot speak of today in the House that need to be addressed. I’m asking the Minister if he would do this with our health board and CEO.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I’ll pass that message along to the chair of the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority and have him strongly encourage the CEO to meet with the individuals the Member is referring to.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This spring we had an early spring up in the Mackenzie Delta, about a week early actually, and over the last few days the water has dropped a lot, there’s no more ice on the river, and as far as I know, the ferry is supposed to be launched tomorrow.

I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation, will the ferry be launched tomorrow? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The plan is to launch the ferry tomorrow, Thursday; at the very latest, early Friday. Thank you.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Just over lunch today I got the latest update from Tsiigehtchic and the water level is very low, you can see the landing.

What is the status on the landings right now? Are there people working on it, building it up, getting it ready for the ferry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

The water is subsiding and the slipways are ready. Equipment is now working to improve the landings, so yes the landings are ready. We are expecting the service of hauling vehicles to actually start on Sunday. We are trying to speed it up to try to coincide with people wanting to travel over to Inuvik for the graduation. We have put a bit of a rush on it, so the department tells me that they are hoping to resume service, but safety is very important. There is some welding that has occurred while the ferry was on land, so we have to ensure that those things are taken care of before we are able to haul the public. Thank you.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

That was going to be my next question, but the Minister answered most of it. What is the holdup on the ferry? Is there welding still needed? I didn’t really get that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

When we put the ferry into the water and start to run the ferry across the Mackenzie River, we have to ensure that there are no issues. We don’t anticipate issues; we just need to do a test before we actually let the public onto the ferry. There is no real holdup. It is going as we initially scheduled for the ferry to operate. Generally on average the ferry has started on June 1st . We’re

hoping that we’re able to at least meet that day this season as well. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, the graduation is on Saturday, and I would like to ask the Minister, does he think that the ferry will be ready for people to travel on Saturday? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

The information I have right now is that the service will begin on Sunday. As I indicated, we would like to try to get the ferry running on Saturday so that we can accommodate people wanting to go to watch the two graduates from Tsiigehtchic. We recognize that that’s something that the community wants to see, so we are working hard to try to make that happen. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Finance. I would like to start by noting that the new debt limit of $1.3 billion contributes to financial potential. We need to move forward as a territory, but we certainly have to use this potential wisely, focusing first on our people and communities rather than servicing the global corporations that rarely are yielding the economic development we seek.

With this new flexibility, and recognizing the dire issues our people face, what are the Minister’s priorities in the allocation of these newly authorized opportunities? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The increase to our borrowing limit, the second one of this government, is part of the legacy that the 17th Legislative Assembly is going to

leave for the 18th Legislative Assembly, the ability to

have flexibility and choice. We went forward with the request and justification for the increase of the borrowing limit on the basis that we needed to be able to make critical investments in economic infrastructure that will help create the conditions for development that will help spur the economy and

increase our tax base and give us more money into our coffers in terms of revenue.

That has been the approach that we’ve used so far. We’ve used it consistently. We continue to use that fundamental approach that we cannot borrow money to invest in programs that are added to our base on a permanent basis, which would put us on a path that would be very quickly unsustainable, and we just have to look around at jurisdictions that have done that.

So, our focus is going to be on working, in the life of this government, with committee to have the initial discussions. There are budgeting and business plan processes already underway for the next budget, and all those discussions will take place within that process. Thank you.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I have no problem with these funds, of course, going to infrastructure, but I hope the Minister will include consideration of the evidence, which is the faltering economy and raising debt and failure in many areas with the types of infrastructure we’re putting in place, as he makes those considerations. Although we’re making some progress in small communities, housing issues, for example, continue to plague us for a much worsening trend in Yellowknife. We have never had sufficient financial headroom to adequately address housing. Yet our disabled and young single mother families wither on the waiting lists.

How will this new room for infrastructure dollars be slated to alleviate the terrible housing situation that is accumulating and that exists for our people today? Mahsi.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I appreciate the fact, the government has always appreciated the fact that there are far more needs than there are resources. There are two issues we have, two critical issues. First is we have to make sure that our expenditures don’t outstrip our revenues, and that is going to be a real challenge as we move forward, given some of the cost pressures. Then we have to make sure that we have processes to look at how we’re going to make critical investments in economic infrastructure, infrastructure that will create conditions for economic development.

Clearly, there are going to be a whole host of needs identified. In fact, the Member has raised some. Since the news came of the federal budget, the phones have been ringing with folks that all have good and well-needed projects that they want built and we are, in the life of this government, we started the business planning process for the 18th Assembly. The debate that the Member is talking about, about how will we fit these in, what choices do we make, what hard choices do we make to make sure that expenditures and revenues don’t strip each other are all things that are going to be

started in this Assembly but will be carried to fruition in the 18th Assembly’s budget. Thank you.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thanks to the Minister. I’ve always thought that a well-served people will generate their own economy and give their returns to government. The recent Localizing Our Economies forum indicated a huge amount of interest across the NWT in creating strong local economies that benefit the people of the North through local food and energy projects, as examples. Such projects need little investment, compared to large infrastructure projects and subsidies to boom and bust resource extraction industries, yet they create relatively many local lasting jobs that return perpetual benefits to our communities.

What are this government’s plans to invest this increased capacity in localizing our community economies, such as through locally owned and controlled renewable food and energy projects? Mahsi.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I was briefly at the gathering the Member talks about, and there was a lot of interesting discussion. I will indicate two things, first that there is an enormous amount of activity already underway by ITI, by MACA, by ENR, in all the areas that we have a concern with in terms of local economies but also with the broader economic issues that we are all tasked with making sure that we manage the $ 1.9 billion budget, make sure our revenues match our expenditures. So, once again, there’s a process in place, as the Member is well aware in his eighth year as a Member of this Assembly, that will deal with the discussions through the main estimates process, the business planning process, of how do we move forward and what investments we make and can afford to make, keeping in mind this borrowing limit is not free money. This borrowing limit is money borrowed that has to be paid back, and that has to be factored in as well.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister again. I don’t disagree with many of his comments, although I think if he looked at what our paybacks are with the current interest with the investments that this government has been doing, he would find that, in fact, the costs far outweigh the economic benefits to the people of the Northwest Territories. They’d certainly benefit people outside the Northwest Territories.

To date, this government has failed to address the growing lineup for seniors care beds across the Northwest Territories. As we heard earlier today, waiting lists are longer and longer while spending years servicing the proper protocols on capital the situation worsens, forcing seniors to leave or suffer the consequences.

Within this new debt limit is the government prepared, at last, to commit to addressing the growing needs of our elders, particularly in Yellowknife?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I first think it’s important to make a note or a point for the edification of people listening, and that is that if we didn’t have the diamond mines we would be short about $1.5 billion a year out of gross domestic product, and I can tell you, if we had that big a hole in our economy that we would be in a far more difficult and bitter position than we would ever think by the loss of those types of activities.

We need to make sure we work with industry to have sustainable, balanced development. The Minister of ITI talked about that in his Minister’s statement today. We mustn’t forget that we have to do both. The local economies are good, but they won’t generate the types of revenues that we need to maintain the Northerners and the lifestyle and at the level that we have become accustomed to.

In regards to the seniors, those issues are being looked at. We have some of the best seniors’ benefits and programs in the country, and we will continue to have, and we will work on the capital requirements that are there.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to use this opportunity to clear some of the air and we’ll call up this ATCO concerned problem about their ads and even some of the innuendos where they’re bemoaning on the street that they’re being muscled out of the Northwest Territories.

Frankly, let’s just put it on the table. I have questions for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

I want to ask clearly this: Is there any mandate by this Cabinet or certainly this Minister in any way to attempt to run ATCO out of Hay River or the Northwest Territories? We need to clear this up first.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The interest of the NWT Power Corporation is very clear that on Monday the Town of Hay River passed a motion to initiate a public process for the renewal of their franchise, and we have indicated that we would take part in that public process. There is no broader issue other than that. I am aware of some of the concerns and angst and

heartburn in different areas, in corporations, in board rooms and some of the Members of this House, but they are unfounded and ill-founded.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

When was the last time the Northwest Territories Power Corporation put a competitive bid in the Town of Hay River for the Hay River franchise? What would be helpful here to understand is how long each franchise agreement is put into place. It is my understanding that it has been years since the last one that the Northwest Territories actually fully competed in, because, as I understand it, they fully withdrew from the last process they may have been considering to be involved in.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

If my memory serves me correctly, it was during the life of the 15th Assembly there was a renewal process, and at that point there was some talk of the Power Corporation putting forward a proposal for that franchise. But at the end of the day, the government of the day instructed the Power Corporation not to proceed.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

I think, actually, the official record should note it’s probably the 14th Assembly that has

that credit from withdrawing from that particular competitive process.

That actually now leads perfectly into my third question, which is: Who directed the NWT Power Corporation to withdraw from fully competing in the competitive process for the Hay River franchise agreement – a tough word to say today – and was it politically motivated or was it done through any other reason, because they withdrew in that day?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Mr. Hawkins, asking questions of previous governments, it has already been said. Could you restate your question to the Minister?

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

That’s okay, Mr. Speaker. I think I have already sort of stated my issue for the record. I will go to the next question with no problem. Thanks for your guidance, Mr. Speaker.

Is there any reason that ATCO, the billion dollar company we talked about earlier today, could not bid on the upcoming Hay River franchise agreement? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I will limit my comments to making the observation that it’s a public process and I understand that the Town of Hay River has sent copies of the RFP to both ourselves, the Power Corporation, and to ATCO. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe we should just get down to the nitty-gritty here. Has the actual RFP been called for by the Town of Hay River, and if so, is the Minister aware when the NWT Power Corporation will be submitting a bid for this particular process? Lastly, on the same point,

how long does the cycle for review of this process take? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I understand the process is now open and will remain open until the end of June or the very first part of July. We anticipate that the Town of Hay River intends to move very quickly in terms of evaluating whoever submits bids and picking a successful proponent. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Seeing as how we just did an induction into the Education Hall of Fame, I am going to have some questions today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regards to some of the Education Renewal and Innovation Strategy that his department has undertaken over the last few months.

Mainly in terms of the funding formula, I know there were discussions about how we fund our education authorities and I would like to ask the Minister, at what stage are we in finalizing and working on this new funding formula on how we finance our education authorities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The new formula framework that we were discussing with the standing committee a couple of days ago, it is at a stage of going through the final stages. We’re at the point of finalizing that in the fall of this year, 2015, and obviously that will be going to Cabinet and going to the standing committee once we go through the process.

The formula funding framework has not been changed for the past 25 years, the contribution that we give to the education school boards. This is the work that has been ongoing for a number of years now. Now we are at the final stages. In the fall of 2015 it will be available. Thank you.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

I am glad to hear that the Minister has mentioned that over the last 25 years we have been funding our schools and education authorities across the Northwest Territories the same way we have for 25 years and we’re actually making changes now.

Can I ask the Minister, are we going to be seeing increases in some of the funding that we are giving to the schools and the authorities, and where are we going to see the most significant increases? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Part of the process is to identify where the changes should be happening with the $150 million we distribute throughout the Northwest Territories, and we should be doing things differently. That’s what we’re focusing on. So, we have been working with the school boards on this particular matter. This is an ongoing document that we’re still working with. As I stated, it will be available this fall, 2015, and it will be ready to be rolled out in 2016-17. Mahsi.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

I’d like to ask the Minister, in developing this formula funding for the education authorities, were the actuals in the budgets of our schools and our authorities taken into consideration when we were developing this formula funding so that the schools actually get funding that will offset what they are spending each year?

Have the actuals been taken into consideration when we’re developing this formula funding?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Yes, those discussions have been initiated by both parties, my department and also the school board superintendents. The actuals have been discussed, and not only that but based on the needs of our school operations. So, those are the discussions that we’ve been having with the school boards. So, yes, the actual is part of the discussion that we’ve had. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.I know, as I mentioned and I’ve said in the House before, that the cost of travel and the cost of doing business in the Beaufort-Delta is a lot higher than it is in other regions across the Northwest Territories mainly because of the high costs of travelling between some of the coastal communities and the community of Inuvik, and also the high costs of food. I know in our Education Renewal and Innovation Strategy that we’re developing, we’re putting new food and breakfast programs into place and whether those things are all taken into consideration with the high costs of travel, the high cost of food prices taken into consideration when we are doing this formula funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

That’s the very reason why we’re changing the 25-year-old formula contribution framework, and we’re taking all those into factor, and based on the cost of living, the CPI and doing business in those isolated communities, the fly-in/fly-outs. So, yes, all those are on the table for discussion we’ve had, and we’ll continue to make those changes as we move forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to ask the Minister responsible for Sport and Recreation and Youth some questions about track and field that I raised in my Member’s statement earlier today. I noted that, of course, Hay River is hosting the prestigious NWT Track and Field event next week and it’s actually their 25th anniversary, and our children from the

small communities look forward to those track meets. However, my concern, as pointed out by the Grade 6 students, is that back in the smaller communities they don’t have proper practice facilities. In fact, in Fort Simpson they would like to see a new track and field.

I was wondering if the ministry has done any assessment of the smaller communities of how to produce… It would be similar to playground equipment, provide track facilities so that they can practice on the same kind of turf so that they can get the same type of experience as they do when they get to Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

[Microphone turned off] …on that, but I can tell the Member and all the Members that the communities, with their community public infrastructure money and with some changes to the gas tax money, are able to use some of those funds to identify infrastructure. Track would fit the criteria and they’d be able to make the decision to put a track in the community if that was their desire. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I’m glad there’s some flexibility as the Minister has said. There are just some new changes to the rules.

What other ways does the ministry support track and field in NWT communities? Thank you very much.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Through a lot of our youth programs that we have with our sporting partners across the Northwest Territories, they run a lot of clinics in the small communities. There are many different types of sporting clinics they have in the communities. Track may be one of them. I would have to confirm that. But there’s a lot of opportunity out there for those in the small communities who have a desire to get somebody in there to help them with some training. The opportunities are there. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Much has been said about some extra money for infrastructure. I was wondering if the ministry can consider that moving forward, because I know that, like I said, I

referenced finding some funds to help our schools with playground equipment.

I wonder if we can work towards finding a small pot of additional funds to assist communities in creating track-type facilities as well.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Again, all the money we give for capital infrastructure, we give to the communities and they make the decisions. As well, with the gas tax money. With some of the new Building Canada Plan money, if the project fits and that criteria fits, they would be able to use that too.

As far as identifying any other pots of money, we’ve been able to work very closely with our provincial and territorial colleagues in trying to access any extra monies that might be available. If there are any monies available from the federal government, we’ve become quite good at trying to access some of that money and passing that on to the community. At the end of the day, we’ve always said that the community has the authority to make the decision on infrastructure projects like this and we will support them in any way that we can.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that, like the Minister had said, he has been exposed to other types of funding. Federally, it may even be CanNor, because I know that in the smaller communities you can build small facilities for lower costs just for the same type of track conditions that are in Hay River. But in Fort Simpson we’re talking about a full standard track, and that’s probably a couple hundred thousand dollars. That’s the capacity that they’re asking.

Moving forward, will the Minister help us do a capacity estimate, as it were, to create a new track?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

That’s one of the roles that our department plays now, is we work with the communities to help them with technical advice, financial advice if we have ways they can access the funding or use the funding, and any other advice that we can give them. We will work closely with the community.

I can say that I believe it was the community of Fort Smith that just finished a track that they used some of their capital money to build too. I haven’t seen it yet, but I understand it’s a fairly good track. The opportunities are there, and again, the communities will take advantage of those opportunities and we will work very closely with them.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member’s statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance, is it the intention of Cabinet to waste taxpayers’ dollars to expropriate a successful First Nation-owned business in the Northwest Territories when this money can be better spent and more responsibly used to address real issues? We heard some today here from Mr. Bromley such things as homelessness, housing, mental health or education.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve indicated previously, the Town of Hay River has initiated a public process through a motion in their council on Monday for a public process to renew their franchise, and we, the Power Corporation, are going to submit a bid sometime before the call for proposals closes on July 3, 2015.

I would also point out that the Power Corporation is a Crown corporation owned by every man, woman and child in the Northwest Territories. We, in effect, have about 42,000 shareholders, and about half of those shareholders are Aboriginal, and about over 3,000 of them live in Hay River, and they have expressed a very strong interest to have a public process to see if they can deal with the cost of power, the cost of living. This is not about ATCO. This is about the people of Hay River and the high cost of living that they’re trying to come to grips with.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

I was trying to find an answer in that to my question. The issue will be eventually if NTPC is successful, we are going to be talking about taxpayers’ money, and I think we need to come back to the point of the question.

To change things up a bit, I would like to take a moment to ask the Minister about a report, a report that the Minister has been referencing publicly in this House at a recent energy charrette and in media, whereas the Minister has more or less summarized that having one electricity distributor in the North will be more cost effective and can lower rates.

Can the Minister indicate what report he is referencing? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

This is a public process in Hay River and there is no guarantee that NTPC will be successful. We have to find out who else is going to submit bids. At the end of the day, it is a competitive process because Hay River is looking for the best bid possible because there is a 30 percent differential between

the price of power in Hay River and the neighboring communities of Fort Smith and Fort Resolution.

In regards to reports, there have been a number of reports done, in 2009 and, previous to that, the Robertson Report. As well, we’ve had many discussions, we have had our own Energy Strategy, we’ve had two energy charrettes, we had a power system plan put out by the Power Corporation as well at the time we were contemplating expansion to the transmission grid build-out. Thank you.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Can the Minister of Finance please clarify that this report that he doesn’t want to answer the question to, a report that we know and we have some degree of reassurance that was done in secret by the Cabinet without any knowledge to Ordinary Members and that we assume and are led to believe was done by the same consulting firm InterGroup that is on the payroll of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the exact organization that the Minister is responsible for and is set to gain from the expropriation of Northlands?

All I am asking is for the Minister to clear the air and set the record straight. Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

The Premier has indicated earlier today that consultants on the work that we did on the franchise agreement and whether we issued support to NTPC bidding was done in house. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To put the Minister’s answer in context, this was a response done in camera, so I can’t believe we are talking about that in the House here. But I can tell you that, quite frankly, Ordinary Members have not seen this report yet, so we are talking about a report that is still not before the House or before Members, and what we know is that I can’t comment on something we haven’t seen.

NTPC is the only organization set to gain anything from the expropriation of Northland Utilities, and yet the Minister of Finance claims to open up competition. Yet it is he who writes the policy and sets the rules for the electric industry.

Can the Minister explain how Cabinet is providing a path to competition and lowering of electricity rates when they’re working in a vacuum? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

In point of fact, my understanding is that the authority for bidding on franchises is enabled in the legislation for the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. It comes under the purview of Municipal and Community Affairs, and the community of Hay River – and every community has the right in the Northwest Territories – chose to trigger that process on their

own behalf after doing their own due diligence on what they thought would best meet their needs and help them deal with the high cost of living and the inequities between the power rates in the neighbourhood that they reside in in the South Slave. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like to follow up on my statement about the potential for getting the Avens expansion project off the ground this year, not in five or 10 years’ time.

I would like to first ask the Minister, I know that there has been a working group, a joint working group between the department and Avens that has been getting together and meeting and doing some work over the last number of months. I would like to ask the Minister, first off, for an update on where the work of the working group is at. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I and my Cabinet colleagues, as all Members in this House, are committed to the seniors of the Northwest Territories and obviously we want to make sure that our programs and services are meeting their needs. We as a department have Our Elders: Our Communities elders strategy which is focused on aging in place which ultimately does address or talk to the need for additional housing units or beds for seniors here in the Northwest Territories.

Avens is an incredibly important partner of ours and we have been working very closely with Avens to move their project forward. We have provided Avens with $25,000 to participate in the working groups to move this project along. We also helped, or rather, got out of the way of Avens so that they could move forward with the leveling of the ground on their campus. We do have a working group and as part of that working group there are two sub working groups and one of them is to continue to advance the partners to the GNWT’s capital planning process. Second is to participate in oversight of the financial model related to multi-year block funding and client rates outside of the current regulatory environment.

These aren’t simple questions. These require a significant amount of analysis and work. I know the Avens is frustrated with the progress, as are we. Recognizing that things haven’t been moving as fast as, say, Avens or even we had wished they would, the department is actually going to be

contracting with a consultant to support the detailed financial regulatory as well as legal analysis necessary to provide an accurate and comprehensive range of funding options to help move this project forward. I expect that work to be done in October. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for the information. I have to reference his comment to Our Elders: Our Communities and that the focus of that is aging in place. That’s all well and good, but we all know that seniors reach a point where they cannot age in their own home, and that’s where we need to provide for them in a supportive living environment of some sort. So, I’m pleased to hear that there’s work going on. I’m dismayed to hear that it’s going to be October before there will be results, but I can appreciate that it’s complex.

So, I’d like to ask the Minister, in light of our changed financial landscape on the heels of the announcements from the federal government, has the Minister had an opportunity to consider our changed financial landscape, and if so, what new options does that provide for us in relation to this specific project? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

The Cabinet has regularly spoken about our current fiscal situation and the fiscal realities facing both the government of today and the government tomorrow.

In the Premier’s statement earlier today, he said this increase to our borrowing limit gives the Government of the Northwest Territories increased flexibility to invest in much needed infrastructure that will support the responsible development of the Northwest Territories economy to bring down the cost of living for communities and residents. We’ve also been incredibly clear that this money is not intended to be used for operations or maintenance, which would be a big problem.

The construction of a new facility, the new 30 beds for Avens, comes with an O and M price tag as well. For instance, when we moved forward about five years ago with the development of the dementia facility on the Avens compound as part of the capital planning process, it also came with a $3.9 million annual operation and maintenance cost to hire staff and provide those services. All that money is coming from the Government of the Northwest Territories. The current facility also has a $3.4 million price tag for the long-term care beds or the supported living beds that exist within the Avens compound, and construction of a new Avens facility would come with increased O and M costs as well.

So, we have to make sure that we do our due diligence, that we do our analysis and that those costs are understood and reasonable and that we can afford to continue to provide those services. The build is just one part of it. The ongoing maintenance is another part. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for that extensive response. I didn’t really hear an answer to my question about options based on our new financial situation. So, I would hope that that would be coming in the near future and I’d hope it would be a discussion that Cabinet would have in conjunction with Regular Members. It’s been promised, but we’ve seen no evidence of that yet.

So, I’d like to ask the Minister at this point, I appreciate that he’s doing everything he can, but we still have seniors who have nowhere to live. There was a situation that was highlighted in the paper last week, a senior who was being, he’s still there now, but a senior who is being removed from his current place at Avens and had nowhere to go to. So, until the Avens expansion is done, hopefully within a year, I’d like to know what the Minister is doing in the interim to accommodate seniors, like the one in the paper last week, who are in need of assisted or supported living housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

We’re doing a number of things. We’re doing things in partnership with the Seniors’ Society as well as our other health and social services authorities across the Northwest Territories.

The Member is aware that we have recently opened nine beds in Behchoko. We are in the middle of constructing nine more in Behchoko. There are 18 beds being constructed in Norman Wells. More beds were put into Fort Smith. This isn’t just a Yellowknife problem. We know that the Beaufort-Delta has experienced some real congestion there as well.

With the territorial admission process that all residents who wish to utilize our long-term care or, sorry, the supported living beds provided in our different facilities must go through. That process does an assessment on the needs, the risks and the factors, and we can put individuals in beds in different communities. There are some vacancies in Fort Smith that we have suggested are available, but we’re also moving forward with the construction of beds, which should help alleviate the burden in Yellowknife but it doesn’t take it away. I recognize that and we are working closely with Avens to make progress on the construction of more beds here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister again. I appreciate that we are building more facilities. I think the Minister mentioned 27 beds. Our waitlist, unfortunately, is probably at least twice that and probably more like three times that. So, those beds will be welcomed, but we need to get more beds, and Avens is an opportunity to do that.

From the Minister, I’d like to know the earliest date that he can give me for Avens to move ahead and build their facility with government assistance. Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

It would be impossible for me to give a hard and fast date. As the Member knows, we have a pretty thorough capital planning process, and for us to bring forward the project into the capital plan, we have to have a very, very thorough analysis articulated clearly, all O and M costs so that we can make decisions together as a Legislature.

I already mentioned the work that we’re doing in the department with our consultant, who is clearly going to be moving forward and doing the analysis needed to build that super strong business case that will allow us to move forward with this particular project. I’m hoping that we can have this work done in October, which will help inform the process. Hopefully, we can have something in the capital planning process in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a follow-up to my statement, I have some questions for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. Obviously, he has indicated the Power Corporation will be bidding on the Hay River franchise.

Can I get an evaluation of what the Power Corporation did in order to decide that they were going to bid? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The Minister of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A review was done of costs in Hay River, all the publicly available information that was there in regards to the services provided. Then they also did their own estimates of the cost of potentially running those systems of the Hay River franchise, as well, and put forward those numbers, and they were then brought forward and assessed by a Cabinet committee.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

I’m just wondering if the Minister can indicate to me – obviously they have done an assessment and believe there can be a cost savings – have they done any assessment on what they expect that savings to be if they were to get it? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

There are two numbers that are clearly known. One is the current

cost of power per kilowatt in Hay River, which is 31 cents and in Fort Smith and Fort Resolution it’s 21 cents. At this point, what I can say in the House is that it is anticipated that we would be able to significantly close that gap that now exists between the cost of power in Hay River and those in the neighbouring communities. Thank you.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Along the lines of the Power Corporation and NUL competing against each other, has the Power Corporation looked at other jurisdictions where there is a Crown corporation and privately owned companies that compete and operate amongst each other and other utilities? I know there are some power and some phones, but just to know how they operation and how do we operate here compared to other jurisdictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

There is a very fragmented system in Alberta. BC has BC Hydro, which is their major power utility that has enormous sway over most of the province. But I would have to commit to get back to the Member. I don’t have any further information that I could just off the top of my head indicate what systems are in place in other jurisdictions, though I would say, clearly, in Ontario they have a utility and they are divesting themselves of some of their assets, and Manitoba Hydro, as well, is a very, very major utility in Manitoba. But I will commit to get back to the Member with the information.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my questions about the cost savings, has the Power Corporation put into the calculation the amount that it would cost to purchase the assets? I think there is $12 million on the books, but I think there has to be a premium if we’re taking a hostile takeover. Have we calculated that into the cost savings?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Yes, that factor has been calculated in and we are going to be taking on the community of 3,000 as a rate base, added to our rate base that we never had before, so it’s anticipated that the cost of power, which now pays for that infrastructure, will continue to pay for that infrastructure.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of ITI. On May 22 there was a press release issued by the Government of Canada, the first time in history the National Energy Board and the Northwest Territories Geological

Survey did an unconventional petroleum assessment in the Sahtu. The facts are there. There are a billion barrels of oil in the Sahtu. The recoverable rate is yet to be determined. The unknowns are still yet to be looked at.

I want to ask the Minister, now that we know the amount, possibly, of the oil in the Sahtu region, and even the percentage recoverable of that oil, what do we do with this information that’s been released by the National Energy Board and by our own government?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This was welcome news for us. It’s something we’ve known for a long time, is that there is great resource potential for both oil and gas in the central Mackenzie Valley. The report would indicate that there are close to 200 billion barrels of oil there. We have only drilled two wells. I believe Conoco was the company that drilled two wells in the area. There is a lot of work that will go into determining what the resource really will be like. The exploration should continue and wells can be drilled and a determination made on what that resource would look like, but if you look at other deposits and basins around the world, a recovery rate of somewhere around 6 percent to 9 percent would leave us somewhere in the neighbourhood of 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil. We’ve been promoting the fact that we thought there was between three and five billion, but it could be much, much more than that figure.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

In regard to the energy briefing note that I received from the Minister’s office, that in comparison to the amount of oil that’s been reported, and just on the best guess estimation of recoverable oil in the Sahtu region on a comparison basis, the Norman Wells conventional oilfield so far to date has pumped 274 million barrels of oil. There’s a huge amount in the Sahtu.

I want to ask the Minister, based on his reports and his understanding to recover that oil, we have to use the new technology called hydraulic horizontal fracturing. Does the Minister feel confident, given the time that we have now, that this new technology is sound, is safe, and that it can do what it says it can do, extract the oil so that the Sahtu region of the Northwest Territories can benefit on many fronts and that this information is solid, evidence-based, not hearsay or not thinking what other risks can be considered as not concrete evidence that this is a dangerous technology to use in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

I think, with the resource that is in the Sahtu, it’s important that the government continue to take the long game approach to the development of those resources.

Two big decisions were made. Obviously, the decision to move forward with devolution and negotiate a deal for the people of the Northwest Territories, that was very important. The other decision that was key to all of this was the fact that we wanted to build the capacity to regulate the oil and gas industry here in the Northwest Territories. We didn’t want to be regulated from Calgary; we wanted to have some input on policy, on direction. That was a big thing for us and we moved forward. We have the regulatory authority onshore to develop these resources, and we are in a process right now where we have draft filing requirements out for public review. We are consulting with Aboriginal governments around the territory, as I mentioned in my Minister’s statement earlier today. We are going to take some time. We are going to ensure that we hear from everybody we need to hear from. We’re going to try to get the information out there the people need to make informed decisions about these new regulations.

The fact of the matter is we are regulating the industry. These are our resources. They belong to the people of the Sahtu, the people of the Northwest Territories, and who better to manage the environment and these resources than the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

That’s been our goal and the goal of the Sahtu people, to manage our own resources. That is why the people in the Sahtu strongly voted for a land claim. It says in our land use plans and it says in our land claims that we will direct our own destiny and deal with the issues that need to be dealt with in our jurisdiction.

I want to ask the Minister, given what we know in the Sahtu, the reports are there, the facts are clear that this is the amount of oil that we have in our region sitting there, what do we do now that the oil prices are not quite where we want them to be? What is the triggering part that the department thinks can get the companies to come back? What are the factors that would make it so the companies could come back and further test the wells to really determine what’s recoverable under their leases?

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

There are many things we can do. We continue to discuss with industry, opportunities to partner. We have to look at the opportunities to invest and continue to invest in infrastructure that is going to lend itself to resource development here in the Northwest Territories. I mentioned a lot of that in my Minister’s statement earlier today as well. This is a long-term approach. This is why it is so vitally important that we get our Oil and Gas Strategy together so we can collect our thoughts and move forward on developing resources on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories.

In the case of the Sahtu and the negotiations with the land claim and subsurface rights, the volume of oil and resource that is in the Sahtu, it is going to be multi-generational if it’s developed in the right way, in a sustainable manner. It will provide employment and economic opportunity for the Sahtu for generations to come. We can manage this and we can get the benefits from it if we do it right. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The amount of gas and oil in the Northwest Territories, a lot of it is up in the Mackenzie Delta, Beaufort-Delta, a lot of oil in the Sahtu. They use the technology of hydraulic fracking in the Fort Liard basin area. The Lone Pine Reserves have used vertical hydraulic fracking in the Cameron Hills.

I want to know from the Minister, based on the ‘70s use of the oil and gas exploration in the Cameron Hills, as the year of 2012 in Fort Liard they used the horizontal fracking technology there, has the Minister from his department or ENR collected any type of evidence that says what the anti-fracking people are saying about horizontal fracking in the Northwest Territories? Has there been any type of solid, qualified, certified evidence that says no, this is bad for the Northwest Territories, it’s not a good method to use, and we need to wait until we have further evidence to show that it’s minimizing the risk?

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

No, we haven’t. The other thing I should mention is that not all reservoirs are created equally. There are different types of rocks. Some hydraulic fracturing that would occur, say, in the Bakken, would require more water than it would in the central Mackenzie Valley. It all depends on the type of rock, and the rock we’re talking about with Canol and Blue Fish wouldn’t require as much water as other hydraulic fracturing operations around North America. That’s definitely something I think we need to continue to get out.

I believe there have been 175,000 wells for shale oil that have been fractured, hydraulically fractured in North America without incident. Some of the concerns are around shallow gas fractures that have taken place in the eastern United States.

If you’re going to be in the energy business, like I believe the Northwest Territories is going to be in the energy business, you’re definitely in the business of protecting the environment. You’re not in one without the other, and I think we can manage effectively both the economy and the environment.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The time for oral questions has expired. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8 on the orders of the day called oral questions.

---Unanimous consent denied

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 24-17(5), asked by Ms. Bisaro on March 3, 2015, regarding 2015 transitional housing income support.

1. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro asked four questions,

the first being: "Does the Department of Education, Culture and Employment income support division have a definition of “transitional housing” that they use to determine a client's eligibility for income assistance?"

Mr. Speaker, an individual's eligibility for the Income Assistance program is determined in accordance with the Income Assistance Regulations under the Social Assistance Act and is further prescribed in the Income Assistance Policy Manual. The Income Assistance Regulations and policies do not include a definition of “transitional housing.”

2. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro's second question was:

"If yes, please provide it. If no, how does the department determine if a client is in transitional housing, and if they are, how does the department determine if the client is eligible for income assistance?"

Mr. Speaker, all clients' eligibility for the Income Assistance program is determined in accordance with the Social Assistance Act, Income Assistance Regulations and associated policies. Specifically, a client must be a “person in need,” as defined in Section 1.1, and meet one of the residency requirements set out in Section 1.11 of the regulations.

3. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro's third question asked:

"What policy governs clients whose only accommodation option is a motel or hotel room? Why are they not eligible for income assistance?"

Mr. Speaker, as discussed in response to the previous two questions, an individual's eligibility for the Income Assistance program is determined in accordance with the Income Assistance Regulations under the Social Assistance Act and the Income Assistance Policy Manual.

The Income Assistance program includes a variety of benefits such as allowances for food, room and board, accommodation, fuel and utilities, among others. Under Section 3.3 of the Income Assistance Policy Manual, transient living accommodations in a hotel, motel, tourist establishment or hostel are not

eligible for an accommodation allowance because the accommodations are not bound by the Residential Tenancies Act and there is no written tenancy agreement between the client and landlord; however, while someone residing in a hotel or motel is not eligible for a rental allowance, they may still be eligible for other income assistance benefits, depending on their circumstances.

Going forward, the department is committed to reviewing how it provides rental allowances as part of the Income Assistance program.

4. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bisaro's fourth question was:

"Explain what a client in an emergency housing situation, i.e. no housing options, should do to find accommodation. Who should they go to?"

Mr. Speaker, ECE provides funding to help non-government organizations (NGOs) operate emergency shelters in the NWT. These shelters are available for people who are faced with an emergency housing situation. The department works with the NWT Housing Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services to address the complex issues associated with homelessness. I commit to continuing the conversation with the social envelope departments as part of our integrated case management work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

I have a Return to Written Question 25-17(5), asked by Ms. Bisaro on March 3, 2015, regarding the GNWT Staff Retention Policy.

The Government of the Northwest Territories Staff Retention Policy provides a process for the redeployment of staff whose jobs are eliminated or transferred to another community. The policy focuses on the retention of employees within the public service but does provide layoff as an option where redeployment is not feasible.

The Staff Retention Policy was updated in May 2013, and the reporting requirements were changed. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the document entitled “Report on the Staff Retention Policy for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013” and the document entitled “Report on the Staff Retention Policy for 2013-14 and 2014-15.” These documents provide information on employees who were identified as affected employees under the Staff Retention Policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

I have a Return to Written Question 26-17(5), asked by Mr. Dolynny on March 3, 2015, regarding daycare inspection reports.

Mr. Speaker, I committed to making inspection report information publicly available during the February/March 2015 session. The health and safety of children in the care of licenced child care facilities in the NWT is a top priority of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. As of mid-May 2015, a summary report of the child daycare licensing inspections that occur after April 1, 2015, will be available to the public on ECE's website. Due to access to information and protection of privacy considerations, inspection reports from prior years will not be included. All licenced programs have been officially informed that all inspections beginning April 1, 2015, will be posted in the daycare and will be available on the ECE website. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

I have a Return to Written Question 27-17(5), asked by Mr. Bromley on March 10, 2015, regarding horizontally fractured wells in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Bromley's questions are with respect to each horizontally fractured well in the NWT to date. I can confirm that to date there have been two horizontally fractured wells in the NWT: Mirror Lake P-20 and Dodo Canyon E-76. Both were exploratory wells drilled by ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp. in the Sahtu region near Norman Wells. Both wells were authorized by the National Energy Board prior to devolution on April 1, 2014, and both now fall within the jurisdiction of the Government of the Northwest Territories regulator of oil and gas operations.

My objective is to be as open and transparent as possible about the regulation of oil and gas operations in the NWT. However, some of the information that Mr. Bromley has requested is currently privileged under Section 91 of the Petroleum Resources Act and cannot be disclosed until the statutory privilege period is over.

In addition, some of the information requested does not fall within the regulatory responsibilities of the regulator under the Oil and Gas Operations Act. However, in an attempt to be helpful, I have provided alternative sources of information where possible.

Mr. Bromley asked the following questions:

a) What was the source of the water used and how

much was consumed?

The volume of water used for the horizontal hydraulic fracturing process was 7,676.1 cubic metres for the Mirror Lake P-20 well and 6,317.35 cubic metres for the Dodo Canyon E-76 well. These volumes may include fresh water, produced water and/or recycled water.

This information is publicly available on the FracFocus.ca website. I am pleased to report that on April 7, 2015, the office of the regulator of oil and gas operations signed an agreement with the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission for the use of FracFocus.ca. This office will post information about any future hydraulic fracturing activities within its jurisdiction on FracFocus.ca when it has the consent of an operator to do so.

Under the Oil and Gas Operations Act and its predecessor legislation, the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, the regulator does not regulate the source of water used for horizontal hydraulic fracturing. However, information on this and other questions related to water use for these wells as well as for associated access roads, camps, et cetera, can be found on the Sahtu Land and Water Board or the Sahtu Board online public registry at www.slwb.com, water licence number 813L1-004.

b) What was the quantity of greenhouse gases

emissions due to flaring, and how many days did flaring occur?

The information requested is currently subject to the privilege provision at Section 91 of the Petroleum Resources Act, and the regulator is therefore unable to disclose it for a period of two years from each well's termination date.

The privilege period for the Dodo Canyon E-76 well expires on January 23, 2016, and the privilege period for the Mirror Lake P-20 well expires on February 23, 2016.

c) What was the amount and composition of each

additive used during fracking, and how is the flow of unrecovered produced water tracked underground?

Information on the amount and composition of each additive used during the horizontal hydraulic fracturing of the two wells in question is publicly available on the FracFocus.ca website. Information is provided on the trade name of the hydraulic fracturing fluid, the supplier, and the ingredients of the fluid, including, for each ingredient, the chemical abstract service number, the maximum concentration, in percentage by mass, of the ingredient in the additive and the maximum concentration, in percentage by mass, of the ingredient in the hydraulic fracturing fluid.

The same information is available on the Sahtu board online public registry as a requirement of the water licence associated with the two wells.

A Surface and Groundwater Monitoring Plan was approved by the Sahtu board under water licence S12L1-005, also held by ConocoPhillips, and will be reviewed annually by the board and reviewers, including government authorities responsible for fish and water resource protection.

The Sahtu board concluded that this monitoring program will identify any changes to groundwater and surface water quality caused by land use activities associated with the ConocoPhillips program.

d) How much produced water has been recovered

to date, what chemicals are in the recovered water, how is it being transported and disposed of, and what NWT communities does it travel through?

Under the Oil and Gas Operations Act and its predecessor legislation, the regulator does not regulate the transportation and out-of-territory disposal of wastewater associated with horizontal hydraulic fracturing. However, the water licence issued by the Sahtu board requires annual reporting of the monthly and annual quantities of each and all wastes produced associated with the wells in question, including flowback fluid, drill waste and produced water. These reports are available on the Sahtu board's online public registry.

The flowback fluid would be expected to contain the same chemical compounds found in the hydraulic fracturing fluid as well as chemical compounds from the rock formation in which the well was drilled.

The water licence requires that all drill waste solids and fluids be stabilized and removed for disposal to an approved waste disposal facility outside of the NWT and that all produced water and flowback be deposited at an approved waste disposal facility outside of the Northwest Territories.

e) What monitoring of methane gas leakage from

the well pipe stems was carried out and what has been the amount of methane leakage that occurred during and following the fracking operations?

Methane gas leakage from the wells, as distinct from gas flared with approval of the National Energy Board, the regulator at the time the wells were drilled and completed using horizontal hydraulic fracturing, is regulated under Sections 56 and 57 of the Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations. Those sections place ongoing legal obligations on operators to leave wells in a condition that prevents leakage and to ensure that the well is monitored and inspected to maintain its continued integrity and to prevent pollution.

In addition, a leak may be reportable as a "spill" in the NWT. Operators are required to report spills through the Northwest Territories - Nunavut spill reporting line. Information on spills is publicly available through the hazardous materials spill database on the website of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The land use permit issued by the Sahtu board for these wells, Number S13A-001, requires that all such spills be reported as described above and that

a detailed report on each spill be submitted to the Sahtu board within 30 days of the incident.

Furthermore, the annual report required by the Sahtu board under the water licence for these wells must include a list of unauthorized discharges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

I have a Return to Written Question 28-17(5), asked by Mr. Yakeleya on March 11, 2015, regarding comparison of impact of hydraulic fracturing and other developments.

Mr. Yakeleya asked the following questions:

1. What is/are the cleanest burning fossil fuel(s) for

heating use and for generating electricity?

The cleanest burning fossil or carbon-based fuel is natural gas, which is primarily composed of methane (CH

4

).

A general rule of thumb is that the smaller the molecule, the cleaner burning it is. Of all fossil fuel molecules, methane is the smallest.

The average emission rates (lbs/MWh) from natural gas-fired generation are 1.135 lbs/MWh of carbon dioxide, 0.1 lbs/MWh of sulfur dioxide, and 1.7 lbs/MWh of nitrogen oxides. Compared to the average air emissions from coal-fired generation, natural gas produces half as much carbon dioxide, less than a third as much nitrogen oxides, and 1 percent as much sulfur oxides at the power plant.

2. Please provide the city of Yellowknife’s annual

energy consumption, with a breakdown of each source of energy.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled “City of Yellowknife Energy Use (Gigajoules).”

3. Please describe a typical hydraulic fracturing

operation, including how many times a well is “fracked.”

Step 1 – Drilling:

Once a drilling location is established, the drilling can begin. A drill bit is then mounted on the end of a drill pipe. As the bit continues to grind its way down, air is pumped down the pipe to flush rock cuttings from the hole and lift them to the surface. The hole is drilled to just underneath the first amount of fresh water underneath the surface. Then the drill pipe and bit are removed. Next, surface casing is inserted into the hole to isolate the fresh water zone. It also serves as a foundation for the blowout preventer, a safety device that connects the rig to the wellbore. Then cement is pumped through the casing and out through the opening of the shoe at the bottom of the casing.

The cement is then forced up between the casing and the hole, sealing off the wellbore from the fresh water. The cementing process prevents any contamination of the fresh water aquifers. The pipe and bit are lowered back down the hole to drill through the plug and the cement and continue the vertical section of the well to approximately 500 feet above the planned horizontal leg. This depth is called the kick-off point, where the curve will begin so that the horizontal section can be drilled.

Step 2 – Perforating the Casing:

First a perforating gun is lowered into a targeted position within the horizontal portion of the well. Then an electrical current is sent down the well to set off a small explosive charge that perforates the well casing with tiny holes and out a short, controlled distance into the shale formation. The holes created by the “perf” gun serve two purposes: It provides access for the hydraulic fracturing fluid (HFF) to enter the formation and subsequently allows natural gas to enter the wellbore.

Step 3 – Shale Fracturing:

The fracturing of a well creates a complex network of cracks in the shale formation. This is achieved by pumping water, sand and chemicals down the wellbore under high pressure. After these cracks are created, the sand will remain in the formation, propping open the shale to create a pathway for the gas to enter the wellbore and flow up the well.

Step 4 – Repeat in Stages:

During each stage, monitoring is done to adjust and record all of the stage parameters to maximize the natural gas or oil production from the shale. After each stage is completed, a plug will be set and new perforations created to direct the HFF to the next stage. By segmenting the well in stages, a greater amount of gas is produced from the lateral length of the well.

Step 5 – HFF Removal:

After hydraulic fracturing is completed, all of the plugs placed between hydraulic fracturing stages are drilled out to remove the restrictions in the wellbore. The completed well is then opened up to remove the HFF so that natural gas can be produced. The HFF that is recovered from each well is either treated and reused or transported to a certified storage facility.

Step 6 – Flaring:

Toward the end of the HFF removal process, gas will start to travel up the well along with the HFF. Since the amount of gas increases as the water decreases, a flare is commonly set up.

Step 7 – Harvesting the Natural Gas:

After removing the HFF from the formation, the sand will remain in the shale to provide a pathway for the gas to flow into the wellbore to the surface.

Once at the surface, the gas is processed and delivered.

There is no set correlation between how many times a well may be fractured and its decline rate. For each well, a decision has to be made based on the specific geology. It is not uncommon for any given horizontally drilled well to undergo 60 to 150 fracture treatments.

4. Please provide a table or graph showing the

annual water use of:

a) a typical hydraulic fracturing operation:

ConocoPhillips was allowed to draw water from nine different surface water sources; however, only five sources were used. The total water use of the project was 105,127 cubic metres, which included water for an overland ice road, which was the largest water use, ice pads for the two wells drilled, water for the drilling operation and water for the hydraulic fracturing treatment of the two wells. The flowback fluids (produced water) totalled to 5,673.2 cubic metres. This water was hauled to treatment plants in British Columbia and Alberta.

b) Imperial Oil’s facilities in Norman Wells:

According to the water licence granted by the Sahtu Land and Water Board (SLWB) to Imperial Oil Inc. for its Norman Wells Proven Area, the operator is not allowed to exceed the total allowable water withdrawal limit of 3.500 million cubic metres per year and must not exceed the withdrawal rate of 16,000 cubic metres per day.

The annual water withdrawal rates for Imperial Oil’s Norman Wells Project from the Mackenzie River can be found in Imperial Oil’s annual water licence reports which are available on the SLWB’s public registry.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for Imperial Oil Norman Wells Project.”

c) The City of Yellowknife:

The City of Yellowknife’s water licence granted by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB) allows for the use of up to 575,000 cubic metres of water per month. The City of Yellowknife must not exceed the total allowable annual water withdrawal limit of 3.600 million cubic metres.

The annual water withdrawal rates for the City of Yellowknife from the Yellowknife River can be found in the City of Yellowknife’s annual water licence reports, which are available on the MVLWB’s public registry.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for the City of Yellowknife.”

d) The Diavik Diamond Mine:

Diavik Diamond Mine’s (DDM) water licence granted by the Wek’eezhii Land and Water Board (WLWB) applies a phased approach to water withdrawal. Between the periods of November 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009, DDM was authorized to withdraw 1.750 million cubic metres of water annually.

Following January 1, 2010, DDM is authorized to withdraw up to 1.280 million cubic metres of water annually. In regards to the dewatering of the A21 pool water, DDM is authorized to withdraw up to 11.400 million cubic metres during this process. During in-lake dredging activities, DDM is allowed to withdraw up to 3.500 million cubic metres.

The annual water withdrawal rates for DDM from Lac du Gras can be found in Diavik’s annual water licence reports which are available on the WLWB’s public registry. The dike at A21 has not been constructed yet, and therefore there isn’t any water volume data reported.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for Diavik Diamond Mine.”

5. What is the Department of Industry, Tourism

and Investment doing to educate NWT residents about the technology used in hydraulic fracturing?

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers provided an overview of hydraulic fracturing practices and technology on a tour it participated in with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) in the Gwich’in communities of Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Inuvik in August 2014. ITI is also funding the Gwich’in Tribal Council to complete a project through the Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund to gather information on public perceptions and questions related to hydraulic fracturing in Gwich’in communities, with results expected by the end of May 2015.

The results can be used to identify public information and knowledge needs related to hydraulic fracturing.

Furthermore, ITI intends to build community awareness of hydraulic fracturing during community public engagement on the draft NWT Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations from April to June 2015. ITI also intends to include hydraulic fracturing information in future oil and gas education and outreach activities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

I have a Return to Written Question 29-17(5), asked by Mr. Yakeleya on March 11, 2015, regarding impacts and benefits of mining.

Mr. Yakeleya asked the following questions:

1. Which mining companies contribute to non-

profit organizations

in

the

Northwest

Territories, and how much do they contribute?

Mining companies generally have an interest in contributing to community and local non-governmental organizations and support of community-driven initiatives. The Mining Association of Canada, through its program entitled “Towards Sustainable Mining," provides companies with a set of tools and indicators to ensure that key mining risks are managed. Social investment contributions are also committed to by mining companies through participation and impact benefit agreements.

It is not possible to provide exact dollar figures for financial contributions and/or in-kind support for NGOs only because programs and events may involve several organizations, and reporting on community support varies by company. For example, companies may list organizations and programs supported, but not dollar figures for each contribution.

In the NWT for the fiscal year 2012-2013, a total of $23 million was contributed by the three producing diamond mines. This dollar figure includes contributions made to individual events, festivals, traditional activities, raffles, community organizations, schools and support provided under private agreements.

Additional information on the programs and organizations that have received funding from the diamond mines can be found on page 11 of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines' "Measuring Success 2014: NWT Diamond Mines Continue to Create Benefits" report.

Mining exploration companies also contribute to non-profit organizations by providing financial, in-kind and volunteer support. These contributions are often made on a case-by-case basis from companies headquartered in various jurisdictions; therefore, there is no readily available summary available to speak to total contributions.

2. How many NWT residents who work for mining

companies active in the NWT live in communities other than Yellowknife?

Statistics on workforce residency provided by mining companies generally differentiate between northern and southern workforce and seldom include community details in their reports. Exploration companies typically seek to hire NWT residents to support and lead field research programs; however, exploration companies are not required to report on workforce residency. The Government of the Northwest Territories does have access to workforce residency data through its socio-economic agreements.

Available numbers on workforce residency indicate that in 2013 a total of 642 person years were

contributed by NWT residents working at the Diavik Diamond Mine and Snap Lake Mine together.

Yellowknife residents provided 482.9 person years, and all other NWT communities provided 159.1 person years to both mines in 2013.

During the first half of 2014, Dominion Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. reported that Yellowknife

residents provided 260.05 person years, and the communities 77.2 person years for the Diavik Mine. These numbers do not include contractor employment, which may include staff hired from NWT communities other than Yellowknife.

The Ekati Mine does not report employment by community, and in its 2013 SEA report, Ekati reported that 59 percent of employees were northern based, and of those, 60 percent were northern Aboriginals and 40 percent were northern non-Aboriginal.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled "Workforce Residency at Diavik Diamond Mine and Snap Lake Mine (2013)."

3. How many lakes have been lost to diamond

mines and how much water was drained from NWT lakes to accommodate diamond mines?

There are three diamond mines that are currently operating in the NWT and one mine currently under construction. These are:

Ekati Mine: To date, open pit mining is underway at five out of a total of eight kimberlite pipes located under small lakes. Some underground mining is also underway. The Jay Pipe Project is currently in environmental assessment.

Diavik: To date, open pit and underground mining has occurred at two out of the three kimberlite pipes located in shallow, near shore areas of Lac de Gras. The last pit, referred to as A21, will be developed in the coming years.

Snap Lake Mine: Fully underground mining of one kimberlite dike beneath Snap Lake.

Gahcho Kue Mine: Currently under construction and will require dewatering of sections of Kennady Lake to access three kimberlite pipes.

Of the three operating diamond mines, only one mine, Ekati, has drained entire lakes in order to conduct mining operations. Diavik only dewatered near shore lake sections that were cut off by ring dikes.

In total, five small lakes and two sections of another lake have been drained, accounting for removal of approximately 21,105,882 cubic metres of water.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled "Water Volumes at Ekati and Diavik Diamond Mines."

4. How many fish were lost when these lakes were

drained, and what has been done to compensate for the loss of fish habitat?

The approval to conduct fish-out activities and drain lakes was granted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or DFO. These approvals were provided years before the recent changes to the Fisheries Act. DFO provided a Harmful Alteration, Disruption or Destruction, or HADD, authorization to those developments that triggered a Fisheries Act Section 35 authorization. The authorizations provided approval to drain a lake but also required compensation to ensure that DFO's No Net Loss Policy was achieved. That meant that DFO collected money to alter or augment fish habitat in other areas to compensate for the loss of habitat from draining entire lakes to mine kimberlite pipes. DFO should be contacted if additional details are required about the HADD and DFO's fish habitat augmentation efforts.

Regarding the number of fish removed from the lakes prior to draining them, DFO required that a fish-out plan be submitted for approval. The detailed information is retained by DFO. Generally the development plans required that fish be removed from the lakes prior to draining. Fish were measured and catalogued for monitoring and research purposes. Many of these fish were provided to local communities as per agreements made at that time. In addition, in some instances efforts were made to move fish to other lakes in order to reduce the number of fish lost.

Again, DFO should be contacted to provide additional details for all water bodies where fish-out activities occurred at the diamond mines.

Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled "Number of Large Bodied Fish Removed from Lakes at the Ekati Diamond Mine."

5. What is the impact of winter roads to the

diamond mines on caribou herds?

Studies from Alaska, Norway and other regions have shown that caribou and reindeer tend to avoid roads and transmission lines up to a distance of about four to five kilometres, although the effect depends on the level of traffic. Relatively narrow roads with little traffic may act as a partial barrier when newly built, but caribou will eventually cross the road and get used to crossing the road. Roads with greater levels of traffic, especially large trucks, are avoided more than roads with limited traffic. In Norway, roads that are side by side with transmission lines are avoided more than single roads and may act as more complete barriers to caribou movement. Roads can also enable greater levels of hunter harvest, if the road is through an area that is used heavily by caribou.

Winter roads to Gameti and Wekweeti made hunter access to Bathurst caribou by pickup truck fairly

easy up to 2010, even when the herd had declined to lower numbers. Areas accessible by truck can result in heavier harvests than areas accessible only by skidoo.

Satellite radio-collar locations of Bathurst caribou since 1996 have indicated that there have been generally few caribou wintering near the winter roads to the existing diamond mines at Ekati, Diavik and Snap Lake; however, distribution of Bathurst caribou and caribou from neighbouring herds varies from one winter to the next.

Nevertheless, caribou can also be affected by a wide variety of natural and induced factors that include insect harassment, disease, weather, climate change, predation, harvesting, increased energetic costs related to avoidance of industrial development, such as roads, mines, communities and cumulative effects.

Officials from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the NWT diamond mining companies participate in the ENR-led Bathurst Caribou Management Plan, and also participated in the Bathurst/Bluenose-East Barren-ground Caribou Technical Working Group that was tasked with reviewing information about the two herds and drafting recommended conservation actions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 25-17(5), I wish to table the following two documents, entitled “Report on Staff Retention Policy for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013,” and “Report on Staff Retention Policy for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to Return to Written Question 27-17(5), I wish to table the following four documents, entitled “City of Yellowknife Energy Use,” “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for Imperial Oil – Norman Wells Project,” “Annual Withdrawal Rates for City of Yellowknife” and “Annual Water Withdrawal Rates for Diavik Diamond Mines.”

Also, further to my Return to Written Question 29-17(5), I wish to table the following three documents, entitled “Workforce Residency at Diavik Diamonds and Snap Lake Mines,” “Water Volumes Removed at Ekati and Diavik Diamond Mines” and “Number of Large Bodied Fish Removed from Lakes at the Ekati Diamond Mine.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a document that was actually buried in our legislative library and was actually never a tabled document of our House. It’s the Electrical Generation, Transmission, and Distribution in the Northwest Territories, A Design for Tomorrow, in December 28, 2000, referred to as the Robertson Report. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, May 29, 2015, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that pursuant to Section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts be reappointed for a term of five years as Information and Privacy Commissioner;

And further, that the appointment be effective October 30, 2015.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, once again, seek unanimous consent to return to item 8, oral questions, on the orders of the day.

---Unanimous consent denied

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Orders of the day for Thursday, May 28, 2015, at 1:30 p.m.:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers’

Statements

3. Members’

Statements

4. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

5. Returns to Oral Questions

6. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

7. Acknowledgements

8. Oral

Questions

9. Written

Questions

10. Returns to Written Questions

11. Replies to Opening Address

12. Petitions

13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

14. Tabling of Documents

15. Notices of Motion

16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

17. Motions

18. First Reading of Bills

- Bill 48, An Act to Amend the Mental Health Act

19. Second Reading of Bills

20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of

Bills and Other Matters

21. Report of Committee of the Whole

22. Third Reading of Bills

23. Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, May 28th , at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 3:51 p.m.