This is page numbers 119 - 156 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 program.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. One part of the previous question that he didn't answer was whether he might be prepared to share the results of this evaluation with at least this Member and perhaps others on this side of the House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I'll go through the department and get a bit of a summary of the pilot intent and what actually the results were and share that with the Members, but at the end of the day, we ended up having to put more security in that building to provide patient watches as well as other security. Those two positions were unfunded. The remaining 14 nursing care aids continue to exist, providing the exact services that the Member is referencing, important services within our healthcare facility. These two positions were created for the sole purpose of doing an assessment. The assessment didn't prove out, as a result those two positions ceased to exist.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier on in my statement the questions for Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My first question is to the Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment. Can you please outline the types of support that area available to trappers under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fur program is one of our longest-standing programs and the government is very happy to be able to continue to contribute and support trappers, because we know that any funding that we provide and any return to the harvesters goes directly to the communities and protects their way of life. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment currently retains responsibility for marketing and promotional activities and managing the high procurement program to support traditional crafts. The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program is jointly managed by the departments of Environment and Natural Resources and Industry, Tourism and Investment. Environment and Natural Resources is now responsible for the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program delivery and administration of the Fur Marketing Service Revolving Fund, with the exception of marketing and promoting of Hide and Fur Procurement Program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

My other question is: The trapping industry is important in my riding of Nunakput. What are some of the trends and issues impacting the industry in the Beaufort Delta region?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment consults with the Inuvialuit Regional Council and Inuvialuit communities to ensure harvesters have access to markets by continuing to enhance existing programs. In 2013/2014, Industry, Tourism and Investment incorporated muskox hides into the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program as a means of guaranteeing substance harvesters added value for good quality hides. These hides are sold to Jacques Cartier Clothier Qiviuk for a profit with all revenue directed to the harvester. This includes the Prime Fur Bonus payment of $50 a hide, which is triggered when the sale is reconciled through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program. In addition to the hides, Industry, Tourism and Investment is developing a market outside of the local carving community for muskox horns. Interest from jewellery designers and knife manufacturers is being tested to establish demand and values for possible inclusion into Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program. Beaufort Delta communities produce some of the best wild fox, wolves, and wolverine in the Northwest Territories. These are sought after by knowledgeable fur buyers who are willing to pay top prices. We're also working to incorporate seals into the program. We will be seeking exemption from the European Union for Aboriginal seal products, so Industry, Tourism and Investment continues to encourage harvesting in all these communities.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

That last comment is leading to my next question. In my region harvesting seals is important both feed and a source of cash income. What is Industry, Tourism and Investment doing to maximize returns to harvesters?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

As I indicated, the Government of the Northwest Territories has begun the process of obtaining the European Union Recognition status on behalf of Inuvialuit hunters to be exempt from the EU International Seal Ban, and we're also working with our neighbours in Nunavut, I understand. Once completed, this initiative will provide Northwest Territories' seals and seal products to all European Union markets. Under the Hide and Fur Procurement Program, negative impacts of the European Union’s seal ban had been limited by maintaining prices to harvesters at $55 per skin. This amount has recently been increased to $70 per sealskin in order to increase the supply of NWT seal pelts to the Hide and Fur Procurement Program, and I should add that all of the hides that we procure through this program are quickly taken up for local manufacturers. All the NWT seals are shipped to processing plants to be tanned and returned to supply local craft demand. The intent is to operate on a cost-mutual basis. Presently, with the program, seal, beaver, and moose hides continue to grow and become more popular with the crafters. Our ability to meet demand is tested. For 2016, we expect to see sales of $180,000 in raw material that will generate close to $800,000 in local products like mitts, mukluks, and hats.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Member for Nunakput.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

with the state of the economy in the NWT, will the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment promote and make plans to boost the economy in small communities by assisting hunters and trappers in acquiring traps and hunting gear for the upcoming 2016/2017 hunting season?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Under the Industry, Tourism and Investment Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Program, better known as the SEED Program, current trappers can access funding to purchase trapping supplies based on previous harvest records. Eligible trappers can access up to $5,000 over five years. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also administers programs to assist hunters and trappers. The Local Wildlife Committee funds, about $258,000, provides funding to defray a portion of the administration costs for local committees that represent the interests of community wildlife harvesters. Also, the Community Harvesters Assistance Program with approximately $1,074,000 provides funding, distributes by the Local Wildlife Committee to community harvesters in support of harvesting activities. In total, our government provides in the neighbourhood $2.5 million to support trapping industry in the Northwest Territories.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

it was great to hear Mr. Moses here today talk about the new Safe and Caring Schools Regulations, including a Territorial School Code of Conduct. They'll become enforced September 1. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment how these regulations and school code of conduct were developed.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and before

I begin, I would just like to acknowledge all Members for wearing their boutonnieres today in support of standing up against bullying. The regulations were worked on when the legislation was first introduced into the House during the 17th Assembly. These regulations will take effect on September 1, 2016, and a lot of consultation was held with DEAs, DECs, as well as superintendents and teachers, as well as students throughout the Northwest Territories to ensure that we got the regulations right when we developed these school codes of conduct. We also based it on the needs, the strengths, and the resources that each school and community had in their communities.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for his answer. Can you please elaborate a bit on how the youth were involved and engaged in this process?

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

This bill in particular was very unique in that it involved a lot of our students across the Northwest Territories. In each of the communities that the standing committee travelled to in the last government, they did not only interact with adults and partnerships with the schools, but they involved some of the students in the grades. What was really neat was, I know up in Inuvik they utilized the e-learning program where they're able to speak to students in Tuktoyaktuk from Inuvik, and here in Yellowknife, they did go to Sir John School and got a lot of feedback from the schools as well as through online submissions.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

When we talk about the Code of Conduct, could the Minister please provide us what kind of training the staff, and I mean not just the teachers but the administration, SNAs, and volunteers, are going to get to make sure the schools are safe.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Currently, the department has developed a handbook for all DEAs and DECs to help them understand what their roles and responsibilities are with all aspects of education, including creating that safe environment for students as well as teachers in the school community to participate in. We've also developed resources supports that are online, free training, and we've also worked to ensure that DEAs and DACs have the supports in place for when the regulations comes into effect September 1, 2016. We're also providing orientation workshops for all newly elected members within the DEA and DACs to make sure that they understand what their roles are when they're making decisions on behalf of the schools that they represent.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank the Minister for the answer.

During my Member’s statement I talked about training for youth, and you know it's great to train the staff and you know the people that run the school and that, but have you looked at potential training for youth so they can you know stop the bullying and make sure the schools are a safe environment.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Currently, there are a couple programs that we're running. First one is the Skills for Healthy Relationships program, that are targeted to grade seven to 12, the WITS Program which was mentioned earlier in the Member’s statement, and that's targeted from kindergarten to grade six. And then the other ones that we're having is Positive Behaviour Supports targeted from kindergarten right through to grade 12, as well as online resources, and obviously the Kids Help Line is another way that we can do that. Plus things that we do as well here, as we did in the Great Hall today, around creating awareness and speaking to the children, speaking to the youth, speaking to the leaders, and to the educators, that people should speak up and stand up.