This is page numbers 207 - 232 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 housing.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for his answer. Lastly, advocacy groups like NWT Citizens for Midwifery are made up of moms, women with knowledge and experience in this area. Can the Minister tell us what opportunities there will be for these groups to be involved in the important initiative going forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

It's going to be really important to get feedback from as many interested parties as possible, and over the next year, the department will reach out to community members, Aboriginal organizations, healthcare practitioners, and others from across the Northwest Territories to help develop an understanding of the strengths and gaps in the priorities for the enhancement of midwifery services at a territorial and Yellowknife level. The timing and details of the consultation plan will be developed by March 2017, and we hope to have a completed proposal for development of the territorial midwifery program at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Transportation regarding the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, specifically about the progress the department has made to fulfill the social and environment commitments made before construction began. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is a national level strategic project that is much more than a construction of a highway. Both contractors, EGT and Northwind, are gaining experience in major construction project management, logistics management, human resource management, media relations, and financial management. This experience will give them the confidence to take on further challenges that will enable them and the people who work for them to be successful. This capacity building benefit will assist northern companies to become strong and capable, and have the confidence to take on future challenges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Another aspect of capacity building is in delivering training opportunities to residents in the region. Can the Minister detail the training opportunities available to residents?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Delivering meaningful training opportunities contributes to a sustainable future of northern residents who wish to enter into the construction industry. To date, the contractors' training focuses have been on operating heavy equipment. As I mentioned earlier this week, more than 70 people from the region are now trained as heavy equipment operators, and more than 30 individuals have been trained as Class 1 and Class 3 drivers with air brakes. Another heavy equipment operator training course is going to be available for Beaufort-Delta residents in the 2016 season. Nine seats are available in a 15-week course that will be delivered in Fort Smith beginning in April.

We encourage residents to contact Aurora College for more information and apply on these courses. These training opportunities will provide valuable and transferable skills to allow residents to take advantage of job opportunities associated with other developments ongoing across the Northwest Territories.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

During the environmental assessment for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway project, the Department of Transportation made many commitments about reducing its impacts on the environment and the people of the Inuvialuit settlement region. My question is: how does the department track its progress on these commitments, and how is the department measuring its performance against those commitments?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

The department has made over 230 commitments during the environmental assessment, and each one has been implemented, monitored, and reported on. Most of the commitments are also being tracked through the regulatory approval, such as land use permits and water licences. These permits and licences come with all typical monitoring and reporting, so there's constant and timely feedback. We track the status of all commitments on a real-time basis, and any issues or potential issues are brought forward to the management group on a timely action.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide assurance that the department is implementing its environment stewardship responsibilities for this project? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

The department is working closely with many regulators that have mandates regarding the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, including the Inuvialuit Land Administration and the Inuvialuit Water Board, as well as the departments of Lands and Environment and Natural Resources. Recognizing that the new highway will change access to fantastic nearby fisheries, the department has provided funding and other resources to fishery managers to create a fisheries management plan along the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway corridor. To satisfy wildlife commitments that came from the environmental assessment, DOT is working very closely with the local ENR office by supporting a dedicated ENR wildlife biologist. That biologist also works closely with the environment and wildlife monitors working for the ILA and for the contractor. These monitors are on site whenever there is active work going on, in order to observe the wildlife and report any potential impacts.

In addition, the department has three environmental staff dedicated to this project. One focuses on the regulatory requirements and environment commitments. Two others are located in Inuvik and are permanently working on the highway. They work with the contractors' staff, environmental and wildlife monitors, and any stakeholders and regulators to ensure nothing is missed and as issues arise.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It's in regards to carrying on the torch here on Sahtu regional trades technical centre. My predecessor brought this up many times. In my research here, I want to quote a motion that was passed. It says, “Now, therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member of the Yellowknife Centre.” This is a document dated February 2014. It says, “The GNWT will conduct a planning study in the 2014-2015 fiscal year for a Sahtu regional institute of technology, and further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this motion within 120 days.” I think we're beyond that 120 days. I'm wondering if there is a response. No, I'm just kidding. My question to the Minister is if we can reactivate that study and move forward, revisit it to see if there's viability for this trades tech centre in one of the Sahtu communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The feasibility study that was conducted in 2014-2015 to examine the viability and a regional institute of technology in the Sahtu was brought forth to the department, and we shared that report with the Member for Sahtu at that time in the 17th Legislative Assembly. Unfortunately, the final report did mention that it was not feasible at this time to move forward on this initiative. The Member did ask if we would revive that report. I have no problems sharing that report with the new Member and moving forward to see how we can best look at providing programs and services in terms of trades and industry work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

I welcome that initiative here, and some things have changed since that time. I guess one cost measure in favour of this institution to revisit or review, is that the four bands in the Sahtu most recently have formed a joint venture, acquired some building assets from the former hotel owner and have moved on to acquire another…

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Member for Sahtu, could you ask your question, please?

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

My question of the Minister is: will he be willing to look at the building bought by the bands as well, because we've got a building?

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Any decisions regarding increased training facilities or training program deliveries need to be made with a territorial context, as well as subject to the GNWT's capital planning process. What I would like to share with the Member, though, is that the Sahtu does have a regional training partnership that has been re-established. From my understanding, they stopped operating in 2013; however, the ECE Sahtu regional office is utilizing community employment officers as points of contact for community leaders, businesses, as well as residents to bring forward these training initiatives. I would be looking at working and also discussing some of these options, in which the department is also an active member. I'm looking forward to working with the Regional Training Partnership Committee to see what options there are in the Sahtu.

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

It's good to hear that there's principle to engage on a move-forward plan. My next question is: is it the willingness of the Minister to come and visit one of the Sahtu communities, have a look at these buildings and the other elements to form a forward plan here for revisiting the institution of setting up of Sahtu Tech?

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

A couple of things. The Skills 4 Success Initiative that we're going to be working on is going to build the foundation for what is needed out in the labour force, as what are the community needs. I did mention earlier in this session that we were going to be releasing the Labour Market Information Report that's going to guide us along the way in terms of all regions and what they need in terms of labour market workforce. With the department and my commitment to getting out to the committees and the regions to see what is needed, I can work with the Member to look at when we can make a visit to the Sahtu.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.