This is page numbers 6419 – 6480 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 public.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Minister of Lands, Mr. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That area is within the withdrawal area that we’re doing all the work on; therefore, I think we’ve made it quite clear that we’re not taking any applications for any areas within the interim withdrawal. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I’m not sure I want to thank the Minister because that was an answer that I didn’t want to hear. However, the moratorium was established for a reason. My understanding is the rationale for the moratorium was it was spurred by many new leases in the areas in the lakes around Yellowknife which have been issued by the federal government and there was an increase in squatters on the lakes. There was a large concern of the people who already had leases on these lakes that the lakes were going to be subject to overuse, and that was what prompted the current moratorium.

My question to the Minister is: What was the rationale for the moratorium that is currently in effect? Thank you.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

The rationale for the moratorium was to allow us time to do a proper density study and environmental studies of all the areas within the focus area. We had done some work previous to devolution, but with devolution we had a larger area that came over to the territorial government, so we expanded our time and we expanded the work that we had to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

So, a density study. I take the meaning of the Minister to mean a density study of lakes, because I’m pretty sure that that was the rational for the moratorium.

I’d like to ask the Minister another question with regards to requests for land leases. They certainly can be for different reasons.

I would like to ask the Minister if can he please advise me of all the reasons that the Lands department has had for lease applications. Has it ever been for anything other than a cabin or a fishing and a hunting lease? Thank you.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I’m not sure if the Member is asking during the time the moratorium was in effect. If that is her question, then I would commit to her that I will follow up with the department to see the number of applications we may have had and for what particular reason. I will share it with the Members in this Assembly. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. To the Minister: My question was not about during the moratorium period, but at any time.

What are the reasons that people are asking for leases for land within the moratorium area? My understanding is it is only ever for a cabin or hunting and fishing leases.

So, I’d like to ask the Minister if he could explain to me why he will not recognize, as I mentioned in my statement, that this is a significantly different request for a land lease. This is not a cabin or a hunting and fishing lease.

Why will he not help a motivated, ready-to-go-to-work organization and people get started on their project by approving this lease as an exception to the current moratorium? Thank you.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I’ve had the opportunity to meet with this group and I saw first-hand their commitment and their passion. However, this area is within the focus area and I do not wish to consider making an exception to one group. If I do that, then I may have a number of applications coming forward saying, “You make an exception for one group or organization or person, you can make an exception for me.” What that would do is open the door and that will go against all the work we are trying to do.

So again, I saw their commitment and passion first-hand and I commend them for that, but this is work that we anticipate to have done by mid-2016. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Is the Minister aware of the wide range of financial literacy courses available through the Junior Achievement Program?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We do provide financial literacy programs through our high school programming. Part of that is Grade 10 in career and life management studies and grades 10 to 12 financial management, career and technology studies. These are just some of the areas that we are currently delivering in our high schools.

Not only that but we’ve reached out to community learning centres, as well, across the Northwest Territories to deliver financial literacy, and also through different departments, such as career development officers, client service officers and probation officers. Those are some of the case officers that also went through the process and delivered the financial literacy courses in the regions and all the communities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

I’m going to ask the Minister again, is he aware of the wide range of financial literacy available through the Junior Achievement Program? Is the Minister willing to support a pilot project in the upcoming school year where the Junior Achievement volunteers – not paid, volunteers – offer courses to elementary or high school students? Because the Sahtu Educational Board wants this program to know what the Minister is talking. We want a Grade 8 program. Is the Minister willing to look at that?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I wasn’t aware of the new program that’s out there. If the Member is willing to share that information, by all means, we can certainly look at it. Mahsi.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

At one time this Junior Achievement Program did operate in the Northwest Territories and they stopped. Now the president of the program from northern Alberta NWT chapter of Junior Achievement has confirmed they are not currently, but they want to be, involved again in the Northwest Territories. So I’m glad that the Minister has indicated…

Will he direct his staff to contact the Northern Alberta and NWT Chapter of Junior Achievement and start kicking up the dust so that we can have a pilot project in the Northwest Territories? We have a volunteer here in the Northwest Territories willing to do that type of work. Will the Minister commit to this House that this will be done and prepared to look at it for the fall session of school for the kids?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

We went through all the options that we have: career and life management studies, financial management, career technology course studies that we currently deliver to top it off with other programming. So we have to weigh our options, what’s the best way to deliver those financial literacy courses into communities, into regions. So by all means, if that information is shared with us, we can seriously look at it and see what options we can work with. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, our children today are challenged with financial literacy. There’s money coming out. It’s going to be a bigger issue for them if they do not have the financial literacy. I think it’s key in today’s world that we give the children the opportunity to learn how to work with money, otherwise we’ll continue to have poverty in the Northwest Territories. We have to do this for our children.

I want to ask the Minister again, you know, in regards to the financial literacy by this junior program. Is he going to be pushing strong, this department, this government, to look at volunteers – not paid, volunteers – to come into our schools and provide this free of charge in light of the financial restraint that our Finance Minister is telling us of? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

When it comes to financial literacy, the courses that are being delivered in high school, the purpose of financial modules is to provide our residents with the knowledge, skills and abilities required to manage their finances from young adults right through retirement. Where Members were referring to providing tools to these individuals, we are currently providing those modules in our schools. There are 11 different modules, such as managing debt, mortgages, retirement, bank accounts, banking and credit. So these are some of the core courses we are currently delivering. At the same time, if there are other programming or courses that are available, such as Junior Achievement, we can look at it, as well, as part of our literacy course options into our school system.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement talking about getting agreement with the BC health authorities to benefit the residents of Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte. I’m recalling a similar discussion with the former Minister of Health and Social Services and I would like to ask questions of the current Minister of Health and Social Services.

Will the Minister commit to making an invoicing agreement with the BC Health Authority? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Canadian citizens, residents of Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte have the ability to receive medically necessary services anywhere in the country that they wish. The NWT actually has a reciprocal billing arrangement with all the provinces and territories throughout the country under our obligations under the Canada Health Act. These agreements ensure that residents obtain medically necessary physician and hospital services when they are temporarily outside of the Northwest Territories without having to pay up front. This is true everywhere, with the exception of Quebec who will likely bill up front and then, through our reciprocal billing, we will reimburse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I think the Minister’s talking about someone who wanted to privately do it, but what we’re talking about is residents not having any confidence of using our health care in those smaller communities and it’s sad to say that, standing up here today. But the residents want to have an arrangement with BC Health and I think one of the barriers was the electronic medical records, so we’ve got that now.

I was wondering if the Minister can move forward with making an arrangement where residents of Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte can go to Fort Nelson for their health care needs. Thank you.