Mahsi. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Minister of Public Works and Services.

Mr. Speaker, through the Petroleum Products Program, the Department of Public Works and Services provides fuel to 16 NWT communities not served by the private sector. The Department supplies fuel to these communities by truck during the winter road season and by barge in the summer. Prices for consumers typically change once or twice each year, in spring and in fall, after a new supply of fuel is delivered to the community. The wholesale price that the Department of Public Works and Services pays to buy heating fuel and gasoline in bulk has dropped over the past year. Recognizing that our residents benefit most from heating fuel price reductions during the colder winter months, I am pleased to advise that the Department has reduced heating fuel prices for consumers in all of the 16 communities served by the Petroleum Products Program. We have made this decision even before completing the fuel resupply for this season, anticipating lower fuel purchase costs. Initial price reductions averaging seven cents per litre came into effect on February 8 for all 16 communities. For the five communities where the resupply of fuel was just completed, further price changes were made on February 15, reducing the price of heating fuel by an average of 22 cents per litre and gasoline by an average of 20 cents per litre. As fuel deliveries to communities are completed over the coming weeks and months, further price reductions are expected. Reducing the cost of living is one of the priorities of this Assembly. While we cannot control the wholesale cost of petroleum products, the department is committed to helping where we can by passing on cost savings on fuel products in the form of lower prices wherever possible, as soon as possible. Managing energy costs is an important responsibility of both residents and government as we face challenging economic times. With this in mind, the energy division of the Department of Public Works and Services is working to improve energy awareness, promote energy efficient behaviours, and seek out and adopt affordable alternative and renewable energy solutions that will benefit residents, businesses, and government in the long-term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment of Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories joined Canada-wide efforts to recycle end-of-life electronics with the launch of the new Electronics Recycling Program on February 1. Electronics can contain hazardous chemicals and heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and mercury. These chemicals and metals can make their way into our environment if we do not properly manage the disposal of our old electronics. This new program is integral to leading environmental stewardship in the Northwest Territories, a priority of this Legislative Assembly. Old electronics will be collected at the bottle depots in our ten largest communities and one-day collection events will be held in other communities within the next year and then every two years thereafter. This program has been in the works for some time. In 2008, members of the public identified electronics recycling as one of the top three priorities for the government’s waste reduction and recycling program.

In September 2013, an electronics recycling program was launched in four Northwest Territories communities. Last year, stakeholders were also consulted for their views on the program. The program is designed to be revenue-neutral, which means it will pay for itself through the collection of environmental fees charged on new electronic and surplus in the Environment Fund. Fees are charged on designated electronics, including televisions, desktops and portable computers, tablets, printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and scanners at the point of purchase. There is no refund on electronics returning for recycling. The program has been designed to ensure a level playing field for all electronics distributors and retailers, including online sales. All distributors and retailers will be subject to on-site compliance reviews. Cost-savings have been found by using the depots, transportation systems, and processing already in place for beverage container recycling. The electronic waste will be shipped to a registered electronics recycling facility in Alberta to ensure environmental health and safety standards. During the next year, we will work with local electronic retailers to identify any issues of compliance and make improvements to the program. Environmental handling fees will also be reviewed following the first year of operation. Expansion of the program to include a more comprehensive list of electronics will be explored during the next two years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide Members with an update on an exciting new initiative to support on-the-land programming in the Northwest Territories. We know that there is huge demand for on-the-land programs in the NWT. They are important components of community wellness, healing, healthy living, and environmental stewardship and protection. They support the traditional economy, sustainable livelihoods, and building capacity in our communities. The benefits of on-the-land activities are well documented, and residents have told us that these programs are a priority for them, most recently through the Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness, which was established in the 17th Legislative Assembly. Government alone cannot meet this demand. While there are many sources of funding for on-the-land programs, it can be challenging for organizations to deal with multiple funders for a single project, and to navigate different application, administrative, and reporting requirements. In 2014, the departments of Health and Social Services and Environment and Natural Resources, in partnership with Tides Canada, co-hosted a workshop which brought together funders, program partners, and community representatives involved in supporting and delivering on-the-land programs from across the territory. The outcomes of that workshop led to the creation of the NWT On The Land Collaborative Fund, which was developed to maximize the amount of funding and other resources available for on-the-land initiatives in the NWT, and to make them easier to access. The fund brings together government, charitable and other partners, so we can combine our efforts and pool our resources, including funding, expertise, tools and equipment, and other supports. In addition to the Government of the Northwest Territories departments and Tides Canada, current partners include Dominion Diamond Corporation, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, TNC Canada, the PEW Indigenous Leadership Initiative, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, and community advisors from across the Northwest Territories. The first call for applications to the fund was issued in late 2015, and applications closed on January 31 of this year. The response to this first call for applications was overwhelming and very positive. More than 200 applications were received from across the territory, with requests for funding totalling almost $9 million. The collaborative partners met in early February to review each application and select funding recipients. This was a significant undertaking, and Minister Schumann and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of the funding partners and community advisors to making this process a success. The huge response to the call for applications to the Collaborative Fund is further evidence that on-the-land programs are a priority for NWT residents. The collaborative approach provides us with an opportunity to leverage new funding from external partners while also putting our own resources to more efficient and effective use. Beyond funding and other resources, the Fund is designed to provide practical support to program organizers. The community advisors provide guidance to applicants through the application process and play an essential role in the review by providing recommendations and regional insight to the funders. Through this first review cycle, collaborative partners allocated almost $400,000 to 27 exceptional projects, with recipients from every region of the territory. Projects range from small local projects, such as the new Nature Club in Hay River and the Women Coming Together initiative in Lutselk’e, to large regional and territorial programs such as the Northern Youth Leadership Society and the Foster Family Coalition’s Camp Connections. In addition to direct funding of these projects, collaborative partners were able to use their networks and expertise to connect many other applicants with additional sources of support and referral. On behalf of all of the collaborative partners, including my colleague Mr. Schumann, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, I want to congratulate all of the recipients and thank all of the applicants for their leadership and dedication to on-the-land initiatives in their communities. Members agreed that this government was going to change the way that it did business, and we are already delivering on that shared priority. This is a brand new way of doing business for our government. It is a demonstration of our commitment to finding new approaches to address shared priorities, and to working in meaningful partnership that improves the lives of all NWT residents. Funding collaboratives are relatively new in Canada but have seen great success in other parts of the world. We are proud to be part of this innovative new approach. The early results of the NWT On The Land Funding Collaborative are very promising, and we expect to welcome even more funders and partners to the team in the future. Minister Schumann and I look forward to keeping Members updated on progress on this important collaborative effort as it moves forward.

Mahsi. Ministers’ statements. Deputy Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Bob McLeod will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the First Ministers’ meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Mahsi. Ministers’ statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for those of you old enough to remember, 1969 was a big year. The Vietnam War was on, Nixon was in office, The Beatles released Abbey Road, and the world watched Neil Armstrong take those first historic steps on the moon. Know what else happened that year? Moose Kerr School was built in Aklavik.

---Laughter

While all those other things have passed into history, Moose Kerr School, nearing 50 years of age, is still expected to serve the 160 students and 14 teachers working there. Samuel Hearne High School, which was also built in Inuvik at the same time as Moose Kerr, was demolished and replaced a couple of years ago. Despite its age, Moose Kerr is still standing, and my constituents and I want to know: When is the government going to do the right thing and replace this piece of aging infrastructure? The students who go to Moose Kerr deserve a learning environment that is modern, innovative, and above all, safe. I am concerned about the safety hazards posed by this old building. At the time this school was built, asbestos, a known carcinogen, was routinely used in building products. Samuel Hearne was built at the same time and in the same region, and was found to contain asbestos. It stands to reason that Moose Kerr poses this risk also. I am equally concerned about the risk posed by busy traffic around the school. Pedestrians and automobiles don't mix, and many parents in Aklavik are concerned that, unless a parking lot is built soon, someone is going to be seriously hurt in a traffic accident around Moose Kerr School. I have repeatedly asked for assurances in this House and have been told by the Minister of Education that the replacement of Moose Kerr is in the capital plan. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Specifically, I was told in this House on February 21, 2014, that Moose Kerr School was scheduled for replacement and renovation in 2019, which is 20 years after its last major retrofit in 1999, and in keeping with capital planning specifications. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the status of this project.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories has a strategy for growth. We know that to develop our economy, create growth for our communities, and enhance our society, we need to attract new people to make their homes here in our great territory. We need more skilled professionals and tradespeople who want to set down roots, build their homes and businesses, and create opportunity and wealth in the Northwest Territories, and as we know, the more we build our own population, the better the balance of federal transfer payments to support our programs, services, infrastructure, and overall capacity as a territory. In the mandate that we adopted earlier this session, we agreed to “increase the number of immigrants working in the NWT and increase investment by immigrants by implementing an immigration strategy that prioritizes streamlining application processes, increasing awareness of immigration programs, and consolidating our administrative support.” We need a made-in-the-North immigration policy. We need to be able to attract the specific skills and talents that will build our Northern economy in the 21st century. The North has a long history of immigration. Newcomers made essential contributions to the fur, mining, and transportation industry. More recently, immigrants have supported our small business sector and secondary diamond industry. Every year, we celebrate as a group of permanent residents join us as Canadian citizens. We need to ensure that immigrants feel like they can live here. We need to identify specific actions to fulfil our mandate in the area of immigration, and measure our success. We need to ensure that the process for establishing a business is clear and that we’re connecting skilled individuals to new and existing opportunities. We need to identify barriers for new Canadians and do the hard work required to remove those barriers. We need to work with our federal counterparts to clear the hurdles to residency status, health care, and other important services. An immigration strategy is an exciting opportunity for the Northwest Territories, both for immigrants themselves and the communities where they will make their new homes. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Today, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Northern Youth Abroad and congratulate the organization as it released the names of selected 2016 participants, including 29 participants representing 19 communities from across the NWT. Northern Youth Abroad began in 1998 and served youth living in Nunavut until expanding also to serve youth across NWT in 2005. In fact, it was through the hard work and determination of those involved in education in NWT that Northern Youth Abroad was able to expand to serve our young people, and has continued to do so for the past 11 years. For that, I am thankful for the group of volunteers. Northern Youth Abroad offers unique programs and inspires self-confidence, promoting cultural exchange, building leadership, and providing young people with the skills and motivations to achieve their full potential. All this is done in a setting where youth get to gain high school credits, work experience, and job skills while travelling to new and different environments where they are encouraged to grow and learn. Northern Youth Abroad's placements have brought youth from the North all across Canada and internationally, but it's important to state that the most important work for each participant is done in their communities, with the help of hundreds of volunteers from across the NWT. Northern Youth Abroad provides the experience that promotes leaving your comfort zone, facing challenges, and realising your own potential, but it does it in a way that is totally tailored to support each youth and contributes to their success. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the departments of Municipal and Community Affairs and Education, Culture and Employment for their long-term funding for NYA, and to thank Minister McLeod and Minister Moses for doing this as well. Please know what an important investment impact that this support has made. I have been fortunate to have been personally involved in seeing the great impact of this organization and program over the past eight years and have volunteered as a facilitator for the NYA program since 2008. As a facilitator, I have seen youth grow from year to year and listened to their stories. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks, colleagues. Northern Youth Abroad invests in long-term success of the participants by strong dedication to support program alumni in whatever next steps they choose. One of the most important aspects of it, and what you will see, we have one of their past participants now sitting in the Legislative Assembly in Nunavut, and I would think in the short term we may have one here sitting with us. As well, they have selected for the first time, a former alumnus, Karen Aglukark, to become the first chairperson of that organization, and we have two alumni, as well, who are members who sit on the board, including Sam Mantla of Gameti. At this point in time, I would like to thank that organization for helping support our youth and their growth.

Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, the 2016 Arctic Winter Games begin on March 7 in Nuuk, Greenland. This will be the biggest event of its kind in the history of Greenland. Sixteen sports will be held in Nuuk with a hockey competition held in Iqaluit. The games bring together young athletes from all over the circumpolar world in friendly competition, and it is an opportunity to share in the rich cultures of northern regions around the world. The games celebrate sport and social exchange in northern communities and are an incredible opportunity for those living and often remote areas of the world to build partnerships, embrace diversity, and help our future northern athletes develop their potential. I am proud to have the opportunity to attend the Arctic Winter Games this year and cheer on Team NWT in person. In particular, I would like to recognize the many fine athletes from my riding of Kam Lake: Brian Johnston, Lauren Eggenberger, Stephen Messier, Shakita MacLennan--Jensen, Akash Yadev, Deanne Whenham, Lacey Munroe, Lonan Bulger, John Angel, Logan Debogorski, Leonard Karambera, Kiah Debogorski, Liam Laroque, Hayly Soares, Kandis Villebrun, Tamara Toole, Sylvain Rourke, Andre Balasanyan, John Roche, Emil Balasanyan, Destiny Hobbs-Stewart, Devon Fillion, Shara Lafferty, Braden Johnston, Brynn Martin, and Tatston McQueen. I'd also like to recognize coaches and mission staff from Kam Lake: Aaron Wells, Gina Michel, Scott McQueen, and Jan Vallillee. I want to thank all of our NWT team athletes and coaches for their hard work leading up to the games and wish everyone the best of luck. Go NWT! Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to promote and praise our integrated environmental management system in the Northwest Territories. This system is the result of hard-fought, constitutionally protected land rights agreements negotiated by Aboriginal governments. Some parts of the Northwest Territories now have legally binding land use plans, environmental assessments, land and water management, cumulative impact monitoring, and environmental audit functions in place. These components work together to protect our land and water, ensure we benefit from resource development, and allow people to have a meaningful say in decisions. Our system is the envy of many around the world searching for ways to build sustainability and use traditional knowledge. If there are problems with our so-called regulatory regime, these stem from chronic underfunding, a failure to properly implement the components as originally negotiated and legislated, and attempts to circumvent and undermine it. The mining industry continues to complain about our environmental management system due to perceived uncertainty. Mr. Speaker, if you want to see uncertainty, go to the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario where there was a development free-for-all with no inspections, no consultations with local communities, and at the end of the day no mines. Our co-management boards have been working together for years, and since 2008, through a number of standard procedures and consistency working groups to develop guidance on application forms, community engagement, water use policies, and more. This work has not received the recognition it deserves from this government or the mining industry. Attempts to unilaterally change the system have resulted in legal action. The legitimate and legislated way to improve our environmental management system is through the five-year Northwest Territories environmental audit. I look forward to the 2015 audit to be released soon, and to the response from GNWT that is to form part of that report. This will be the first time our government has actually responded to the audit. I would like to hear our mining industry and this government begin to promote our world-class environmental management system. The continued negative messaging around our system is driving away potential exploration and development. Environmental management is not a barrier to development. It is the foundation of certainty of investment and stewardship of the land. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. ---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to my colleagues. One of the unfinished pieces of business with our environmental management system is the absence of participant funding, something available to all Canadians south of 60 in terms of federal environmental assessment. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Lands. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This weekend is going to be a busy one in Hay River, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to let everyone know about some of the exciting events that are going to be happening in our region. This year will be the 34th annual Kamba Carnival held just across the river at the K'atl'odeeche First Nation. It's an annual celebration of spring and a tradition in the region, attracting people from all over the North. It features snowshoe races, talent shows, dog sledding, fish-eating competitions, traditional games, and more. There's something for everyone in the family to enjoy, so it's always a good time, plus there's cash prizes for a lot of the events, so it will be definitely worth your while to check out. Another great event that has become an annual tradition is the Polar Pond Hockey Tournament. This year, a great group of volunteers turned the river at the Fisherman's Wharf into seven three quarter-sized hockey rinks. There will be about 30 teams participating in three different divisions: 18-plus, old-timers, and the women's division, also known as the competitive division. Teams play four on four with no refs or goalies and players are guided by sportsmanship and fair play. There is great hockey, food, drinks, and a live band, so it's a great time and it's really like nothing else around. The other big event this weekend is Weekend Warriors put on by Race Hay River. This is a two-weekend racing circuit that takes place on the Hay River by the ice crossing. Racers compete in snowmobile, cross-country, and drag races, then ATV and dirt bike races. There's usually around 150 entries and some nice cash prizes, so it attracts a lot of good talent and makes for a lot of exciting races. There's lots going on in and around Hay River this weekend, but there's plenty of time to check out all of the events. The weather is going to be great, so I encourage everyone to come down to Hay River and take in all the festivities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I call Members' attention to the CBC North story of January 11, 2016, titled, “Woman says she was forced to evict two of her kids to keep her rental home.” The story details the tragic experiences of a low-income mother. Income support refused to pay her rental allowance for the month because of overcrowding. In order to keep her place, she had to evict a teenage daughter and a son in his early 20s. The mother of nine children with finally able to rent a two-bedroom home in December with support from ECE and the family was set to be reunited. But wait a minute, come January when staff learned she was sharing a two bedroom home with her three children, Income Assistance told her it could not support overcrowding. They said two of her children would have to go, or no more financial support. To give at least two or three children a room to themselves, she started sleeping on the couch in the living room. Not good enough. Two bedrooms means two people and two kids have to go. As this mother so accurately put it in the CBC story, “They don't support overcrowding, so in other words, they’re promoting homelessness.” To avoid losing her home, she faced what she called her worst nightmare. In January, her 22-year-old son began sleeping at the Side Door, a youth homeless shelter, while her 16-year-old daughter was now crashing on a relative's couch. Income Assistance approved her rental assistance the day after these family evictions. The mom is now left to worry about her children's safety. The story contains an email reply from ECE to reporter questions, which says, “For the safety of NWT residents, in situations where income assistance clients are living in an overcrowded residence, ECE works with clients, other departments, NGOs, and landlords to address the situation.” There doesn't seem to have been, however, much flexibility or common sense in this case. The story of these experiences raises a lot of questions. In the broader sense, we know there isn’t near enough housing to accommodate our citizens, so it's a choice between overcrowding and homelessness. You just can't escape the numbers. I’ll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to talk about something that is a very important item to the small communities and that is the attendance of students K to 12. Absenteeism is very high in some of our small communities and I would like to recommend to the Minister -- not now, I'm not making a recommendation now, but in the future I recommend that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment start to collect data so that they could determine the level of absenteeism in all of the communities, but specifically in the small communities. We know that if a student misses one day of school per week, that's an 80 per cent attendance rate, then at the end of 12 years of school, or 13 with kindergarten, they would have missed two and a half years of schooling. I think those numbers do come out at the end of the day when people graduate from grade 12 and they've missed two and a half years of school, then it shows. They are at approximately a grade 10 level when they finish grade 12. I think that one of the things that I'm going to do is that I will be discussing the rates of absenteeism and the attendance with the principals of the schools in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh and see what they see as a solution. Previously, in one of the small communities, we had a breakfast program. Absenteeism was very high, attendance was down, and the breakfast program seemed to change that. A lot of students were starting to come in and have breakfast and then they were able to spend the entire day in the school, but that was discontinued because the cost was considered too high. I think that the cost is not too high, that we should have programs like that. But again, I wouldn't be standing here making a recommendation, but I would get the principals' opinions on how to get the classes in the seats, then present that to the Minister in another forum. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Honourable Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge all of the youth participating in the Arctic Winter Games to be held in Nuuk, Greenland from March 6 to 11, 2016. The 2016 Arctic Winter Games is not only an athletic competition, but also an international circumpolar celebration, which provides an opportunity for our youth to develop new friendships, talk about the wonderful assets of the Northwest Territories, and learn about other cultures. I'm extremely proud that 21 of the participants are residents of the Range Lake riding, and no matter how each of them does, it's an honour that they're going to the games representing our community and the NWT as a whole. I cannot emphasize enough how proud I am of all the youth participating in this event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take this opportunity to speak about a role model, a mentor, innovator, elder, family man, and respected resident of Inuvik, the Beaufort Delta, and the North. Otto Binder was born in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. During the 1940s and '50s, he herded reindeer at Reindeer Station. He met his wife Ellen Pulk, daughter of Sami herders who brought the reindeer to the Mackenzie Delta region in the 1930s. In the early 1950s, Otto moved his family to Aklavik where he began working as a game warden so that his children can receive an education. Soon after, he became an RCMP special constable, a job that made use of his knowledge of the land and his fluency in Inuvialuqtun. Otto's role as a special constable helped bridge the gap between the Inuvialuit and the police, and his presence in the RCMP helped other Northerners like Gerry Kisoun and many others, see the benefit of becoming a special constable. After around 25 years in the RCMP, Otto retired and worked as a barge captain on the Mackenzie River for a decade before retiring to spend time back on the land. The Binder Family reacquired the reindeer herd in 2001. Otto would help his son Lloyd out occasionally during the winter until he was 85, then continued to provide advice. Lloyd mentioned that like many of his generation, he preferred to remain active into his last decade. It was difficult to become housebound. Otto continued to live a remarkable life surrounded by his family and friends. I had the honour of presenting Otto with a plaque on his ninetieth birthday during my first term as an MLA. Afterwards, every time I saw Otto, he'd always give me words of encouragement and support when I saw him about the work that's being done in this House. Otto passed away peacefully in his home in Inuvik on Thursday, February 25, at the age of 93. He will be greatly missed by many Northerners as well as people in the circumpolar region of the world. There will be a service held this Saturday in Inuvik. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his friends. Quanani. Mahsi cho.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Minister's statement earlier today I talked about the On the Land Collaborative Fund, and I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the collaborative partners who are in the gallery today.

First, Stephen Ellis, the Program Lead for Northern Canada Tides Canada; Geoff Ray, the executive director of NWT Recreation and Parks Association; Sabrina Broadhead, the Director of Aboriginal Health and Community Wellness with the Department of Health and Social Services; Claudine Lee, the head of the Environment Communities, Dominion Diamond Corporation; and Steven Nitah, the Senior Advisor Indigenous Leadership Initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize some of the people on the On the Land Collaboration Fund. Sarah True, Regional Environment Assessment Coordinator for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Sarah was the administrative lead for the first round of applicants, coordinating all the partners and the massive number of applicants received. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to acknowledge Stephen Ellis, the northern leader of Tides Canada, and thank him for his visionary leadership in self-determination. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome everybody into the House today, and in particular, Mr. Geoff Ray. He and I go way back in terms of doing a lot of work, whether it was the anti-tobacco work that we did, helping create legislation in this House, as well as the Get Active campaigns and many healthy living initiatives. I'd like to welcome him to the House. Thank you.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Geoff Ray, an individual I have worked with for a number of years over the time. Hopefully, I'll continue to work with him as an MLA. As well, I'd like to recognize Sabrina Broadhead, who was a former colleague of mine and was a mentor when I first started the job. Welcome.

Recognition of the visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we may have missed individuals in the gallery, welcome. It's always nice to have audience as part of our proceedings. Mahsi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I made a Member’s statement on the Housing Needs Survey. I'd like to ask the Minister some follow-up questions. Yesterday I indicated the last survey I had was 2009, but it's actually 2014. There was an update done. The NWT Bureau of Statistics has worked with the NWT Housing Corporation to do a survey on housing. This survey began decades ago, and it's done approximately every five years, most recently in 2014. The survey reports on nationally acceptable indicators such as suitability, adequacy, and affordability. This is how they determine the core need. I'd like to ask the Minister if the Housing Corporation is continuing collecting information in this manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the NWT Housing Corporation does use the Bureau of Statistics to provide survey information every five years, and we will continue to do so. Thank you.

I was wondering if the Minister is contemplating collecting additional data in a different way in order to supplement the needs survey for future development of programs.

Yes, I really took heed of the 18th Legislative Assembly’s priority about wanting change within the government, and to be as transparent and as inclusive with the public as possible

.

The needs surveys that are provided every five years does give us the basic information, but we're actually looking for more information: a breakdown by community on what the people using the community -- the chiefs, the people, the LHOs, et cetera -- would like to see, and programs to be maintained, to be sustained, and to be expanded upon.

When the Minister reaches out to the communities and gets community input on what they see as key in their communities for housing programs, how quickly, after that, then, can the Minister make changes to programs so that communities can take advantage of the programs, say, this coming summer?

In all honesty, it is a question that I probably cannot answer. We are waiting to find out the negotiations that will be happening this coming week, actually, in Ottawa, with the Housing Minister and the definition of the budget coming down from the federal government. Once we get that funding and we know exactly what we're dealing with, or lack of what we're dealing with, then we will be able to develop a plan and start implementing program changes or upgrades.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

.

So I take it that if we don't get any money from Ottawa there will be no changes; that's not too good. Will the Minister take a serious look at the sale of public housing as a reduction in core need in the small communities? Thank you.

As stated earlier, my goal is to ask the communities what they want in each community. It's not up to me. If I'm doing the process according to accreditation standards and best practices, it's not up to me to define what the community needs. It's for the community to define what they want. We will be making choices whether the federal government gives us extra money or does not. We will be trying to base the Housing Corporation’s programs on what the communities need individually. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have some questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. As I mentioned, my constituents also want a school that could provide subjects -- for example, automotive. You know, many of our schools in the territory do not have, whether it's a two-bay garage or anything like that, that students can actually bring vehicles in and do automotive work or welding, carpentry; that sort of thing. I'd like to ask the Minister: The 20-year capital needs assessment dated 2011 showed a $24.8-million replacement of Moose Kerr School being funded over four years, starting with $2.9 million in 2018-2019. A later five-year capital needs assessment dated 2013 shows the replacement of 3,600 meters squared, Moose Kerr School, but without any funding. Can the Minister please clarify: What is the current status of Moose Kerr School replacement project in the capital plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Typically, for capital planning purposes, the replacement or major renovation of a facility is planned at 40 years from the date of construction or 20 years from the date of a major renovation. My understanding is that a large capital project was completed in 1999, and there were additions to the building including a community library, three classrooms, and a science room, and that there also has been some small capital funding included in the 2014-2015 capital that had been carried over into 2015-2016. Any maintenance upgrades in the amount of about $2 million from 2008 to 2012 was spent on Moose Kerr School in that time, and there's various amounts of projects that happened in that time as well. I just want to let the Member know that as a Minister early on in this government, we are planning on getting out into the communities and the schools to do visits to the communities as well. One of our first tours will be up in the Beaufort Delta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Will the Minister ensure that a planning study is undertaken as soon as possible, as the community of Aklavik expects?

As mentioned, based on the typical planning model, Moose Kerr School would be identified for renovations or replacement in approximately 2019 or 2020, but the existing condition of the building would need to be assessed prior to a recommendation for renovation or replacement. As I mentioned, technical assessments and numerous elements have been replaced or repaired through the maintenance funding, as I mentioned earlier, and that addressed a lot of issues. Once again, I would be willing to work with the Member to do a community visit and look at the building. One of our policies as well is with school utilization. It’s good for all Members to know, I think, that once school utilization hits an enrolment of about 85 per cent, then a school will be looked at in terms of being replaced or additions would be added to that. The utilization over in Moose Kerr School is at 48 per cent.

As you may recall, the former Minister committed to actually replacing this school, and so I ask the Minister: Will the Minister commit to red-flagging this project in the Capital Plan, so that the students can get into a safe, modern school, without the aging relic of a bygone era that they are currently stuck in.

As mentioned, if there was to be a replacement or major renovations to the Moose Kerr School, it would be in 2019, and that is during the life of this government. I will go back to the department and look at how we can put that possibly into the planning study before it gets into the building stages. I once again want to assure the Member that we will be doing a community tour up in the Beaufort Delta during the month of March.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. As I mentioned in my Member's statement a made-in-the-North immigration policy could be a key element in the Northwest Territories' goal to increase its population and generate wealth and economic activity. The department had targeted last April 2015 as the date for implementing the NWT Nominee Program, which would identify and fast track opportunities for immigration. Can the Minister advise the House of the status of an immigration strategy for the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, enhancing the Nominee Program is critical for the Northwest Territories, as the Member had stated in his Member's statement, in achieving its population as well as economic growth objectives, and also meeting some of the staff needs for northern businesses and northern employers. We have had success moving forward, but the department, I'll have to say, is currently developing an immigration framework, which will provide an integrated approach to implementing and monitoring long-term objectives of the Nominee Program, while also supporting territorial population growth. The framework will be developed with extensive consultation with all stakeholders, and as mentioned in previous answers to other questions during this session, we do have the labour market review that's coming out, as well as our Skills 4 Success Initiative that's going to help drive us to see what needs we have throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his reply. Has the department had the chance to learn from any successful nominee programs in other provinces or territories, and if so, what have we learned?

Yes, as best practices, the department does go look at other jurisdictions to see what's happening with their programs, and we try to fit that and adapt that to northern situations. We have also a consolidated program delivery and dedicated specialized resources to the program. We've engaged employers and stakeholders that do need some of the personal resources to help them do their jobs, and just for the Member, in 2015, there were 106 nominees and their dependents approved under this program, and 460 since 2009.

Thank you to the Minister for sharing those numbers because that answers my next question. I'll jump to my last question. Can the Minister identify any new ways in which we could help prospective employers and immigrants to find opportunities in the Northwest Territories?

The department is currently working on an immigration communication strategy, which will continue to promote and raise awareness about the program. Increasing the awareness is critical for all employers, as well as stakeholders in the Northwest Territories. We also have a 1-800 number and employers can check online to see how they can get into the program, and we are, I believe, looking at a goal of 60 nominees for 2016.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding that the Department of Lands now coordinates GNWT participation in environmental assessment. Since the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act came into force in 1998, participant funding has been made available for exactly three of the more than 70 environment assessments or impact reviews that have taken place. Can the Minister of Lands tell this House who is responsible for participant funding for environment assessments in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the national scale participant funding is part of the overall federal environmental assessment regime in Canada, which also applies to the Inuvialuit Settlement region. The absence of participant funding in the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act is a long-standing issue. The GNWT takes the view that the Government of Canada is responsible for participant funding based on the fact that the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act remains federal legislation and Canada has retained key authorities, such as policy direction and appointment to boards on the basis the boards are funded by Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and I'm glad I'm not a pencil today.

---Laughter

The current federal government has realized the mistakes associated with excluding Canadians from pipeline project assessments and has announced changes in the way that citizens can be involved in such decisions in the future. Can the Minister of Lands tell this House what he is prepared to do to ensure NWT residents have access to the resources necessary to meaningfully participant in environmental assessments?

The reason I dropped my earpiece before was I have had feedback that I do tend to snap my earpiece a lot. I just realized I was doing it, so I dropped it, so I picked up the pencil and now I'll break it.

---Laughter

The GNWT continues to press the Government of Canada to address this issue. Officials from the Department of Lands raised the issue in early 2015 in a meeting with INAC senior officials. Obviously, the GNWT supports decision-making in the environmental assessment process but we will continue to work with our counterparts in Ottawa to see if there's ways that we can address the issue of participant funding.

I appreciate the Minister's response and his work with his earpiece as well, but the benefits of participant funding are well documented and they include building confidence in our environmental management system and creating buy-in for our residents while considering projects. I'm wondering if the Minister can just provide a little bit more information about what specifically the GNWT is prepared to do to push this issue with the federal government. I understand he mentioned letters that have been sent in the past, but is this something he'd be prepared to take up with the new Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

We recognize the value of having our NWT residents participate in a lot of these processes, and I will commit to the Member that I will continue to raise the issue with our federal counterpart. We are fairly new in devolution. The responsibilities we're taking over are fairly new. I will take up the cause and continue to raise that issue with Ottawa so people in the Northwest Territories are able to be funded to participate in some of the hearings.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the response from the Minister. I'd be happy to work with him on this issue. I've got a little bit of experience in this area and would be happy to share that with him, though Canadians south of 60 degrees are entitled to participant funding through federal environmental assessment legislation. Here in the Northwest Territories there's the Interim Resource Management Assistance Program, or IRMA, to build capacity in Aboriginal governments outside the areas covered by land rights agreements. This is a very helpful initiative, but can the Minister tell us whether the GNWT is prepared to enhance our resource management legislation with a real participant funding program that is actually legislated? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will take the Member up on his offer to work with myself on advancing some of these issues, again recognizing the fact that we're early in devolution and we're trying to work our way through the process and make sure we have a very strong regulatory system in the Northwest Territories. If that means funding some of the participants to make their cases to the respective boards, then it's something that we will continue to work on. Again, I will take the Member up on his offer.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my 23 years of living in Fort Simpson, I've noticed there are some differences in how a section of Highway No. 1 -- not No. 7, No. 1 -- was maintained from Fort Providence Junction to Fort Simpson. As well, I've heard a number of issues raised by my constituents. Can the Minister of Transportation please advise this House how the section of Highway No. 1 from Fort Providence Junction to Fort Simpson is maintained?

Mahsi. Minister of Transportation.

Highway No. 1 is broken into two sections. The first section is from the Providence Junction at Highway No. 3 to Redknife, which is maintained by the Providence crew. That is managed by the North Slave region. From Redknife to Fort Simpson is the second section of Highway No. 1. That is run and operated through the regional staff in the Fort Simpson office. The maintenance on Highway No. 1 is done in accordance with the NWT Highway Maintenance Manual, which provides guidelines for various summer and winter maintenance. The supervisors in both regions are well-experienced and considerably skilled people at maintaining the road, and in the wintertime, both sections are maintained on a daily basis.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Can the Minister provide the House with the cost to maintain each section of the road, Fort Providence Junction to Redknife and Redknife to Fort Simpson?

To maintain each section of this highway is largely dependent on the weather and conditions of the infrastructure. There are a number of things that contribute to that, but both sections' cost is very comparable in maintenance.

I really didn't get an answer from the Minister, but that's all right. I'll move on to my next question. I find it very interesting that the Department of Transportation would split these two sections of the highway. Can the Minister please provide the rationale on why the North Slave district has a responsibility to maintain a section of the road and not the Fort Simpson District?

The Department of Transportation has divided the highway system in the NWT into four sections. We have the South Slave, the Fort Simpson section, the North Slave region, and the Inuvik Region. The boundaries for each regional operation are based on a range of factors such as operational efficiencies, workload, capacity, cost and service, and traffic levels, weather, and geography.

Mahsi. Oral questions, Member for Nahendeh.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I’m a little bit concerned with the answer. My challenge is: How can the North Slave District really manage this section of the highway? I understand the great work the Fort Providence staff do, but management based out of Yellowknife have no real vested interest in this highway if they don't drive down it. Will the Minister commit to looking to have the Fort Providence to Redknife section of the road transferred to the Fort Simpson District for more efficiency, or if that is not possible, can the Minister have his staff post on their website and on signage along the highway section between Redknife and Fort Providence Junction, and tell the users where they can raise their concerns to about the road conditions?

All highways in the Northwest Territories are of great concern to the Department of Transportation and we take maintaining and looking after them very seriously. If the Member, or any resident of the Northwest Territories, has a concern with our highway system, they can always get hold of the department or myself personally.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I spoke earlier, athletes from the NWT, including many from my own constituency, will be competing in the upcoming Arctic Winter Games. It's evident that we are giving the necessary support for athletes competing in these games, but what about other athletes throughout the Territories who have not been so fortunate as to gain entry into these games? Cynthia Simmons, a proud Northerner and an amazing speed skater, is competing for a chance at gold at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games this week in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. In fact, she is the sole athlete competing in these games from the NWT. I for one salute her courage and tenacity for being our ambassador at the Special Olympics and hope that she will return with a gold medal on her shoulders and a warm welcome from a proud territory. My question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs is: What programs and funding are provided to our athletes, and how will those programs work to send future athletes to games such as the Special Olympics?

Mahsi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

We were very disappointed in the six sports that were excluded from the 2016 Arctic Winter Games, and we tried very hard to get an alternative event planned. Unfortunately, one of the jurisdictions backed out and we were unable to pull that together. We have given the excluded sports an option to find an opportunity to find a development opportunity, a tournament that they can go to as they would if they were competing in the Arctic Winter Games. We have a very strong, healthy support system for all of our athletes. We have the $650,000 that we use for multi-sport events, and we continue through many of our programs to have opportunities for athletes to compete not only at a territorial, but at a national level as well.

I know that the Minister is very keen on sports and a real champion. In fact, recently he committed almost $25 million to build the athletes' village for the Canada Winter Games.

---Laughter

Given that, will the Minister commit to allocating some of those funds and improving our programs for sport-oriented training and healthy community initiatives, in particular for youth development in the Northwest Territories?

We were quite disappointed that the 2023 Canada Winter Games were not bid on by the capital city. I think it would have been a fantastic opportunity for not only the athletes in the Northwest Territories, but all the people involved in sport across the Northwest Territories, so we were quite disappointed. The $25 million that the Member spoke of, that was a commitment that was made to help facilitate the games and provide an athletes' village, and then be used for some much-needed housing afterwards. We have a very strong, robust support system for our athletes and our youth across the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to provide that support.

Well, if it's not about spending new money, maybe we can ask the Minister if he will commit to avoiding any cuts to our already excellent support for youth and sport in the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

We value the input of all of our youth across the Northwest Territories. There have been no decisions, as the Member well knows, that have been made yet, and we will debate all aspects of the main estimates during the business planning process that is upcoming in just over a month. We will have that opportunity to debate and have feedback from committee as we move forward.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I definitely did not get a commitment, but I look forward to working with the Minister on these discussions going forward. I do think, as a champion of sport and youth, though, this should be an area that he finds easy to support, so I'll ask again if he’ll remain committed to sport and recreation in the Northwest Territories through enhanced funding, or at least keeping funding the same.

I am committed not only to the development of our athletes across the Northwest Territories, which I think has been clearly demonstrated in my time as the Minister responsible for sport in the Northwest Territories, and I remain committed to that. I would like to see not only to the athletes, but to the health and wellbeing and the physical activity of all our children across the Northwest Territories, all of our athletes across the Northwest Territories, and I will continue to do what I can on my part to see that level of commitment carried on. Again, as I said before, no decisions have been made, and we have an opportunity to debate this further. If there are opportunities somehow to enhance any of the funding that we have in the Northwest Territories, then we will seriously have a look at that.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The story of the rental assistance client being forced to make her children homeless because four people in the two-bedroom trailer is considered overcrowding. My first question is: What is overcrowding? Can the Minister inform us if universal uniform standard numbers are used to define overcrowding as it relates to eligibility parental assistance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of speaking to individual cases due to privacy laws that protect personal information, we cannot speak to personal individual circumstances or caseloads that are within our department. However, in terms of overcrowding, I don't have the exact number that the department does go by. I can inform the Member, though, that the department does currently get its guidance from sources like the National Occupancy Standards and the Residential Tenancies Act in assessing the appropriateness of housing of clients.

Thank you to the Minister for his answer. I'm looking for two things now. I'm looking for a commitment for the Minister to provide that information about what the standard is for overcrowding that the department uses, and my second question is: Who enforces these standards?

When a client comes to the office, our CSOs, I believe, do a great job. Within the last government, a lot of changes and improvements and developments have been made, compliance and audit of the files have been developed, our regional managers actually do a monthly compliance of the workloads that their CSO's do. We have increased the staff training, as well as development. We also got to understand that in some cases, with some of our clients, they also need to live up to what is in the lease agreements with their renters as well, when going through this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister. My questions the Minister is: Can he make a commitment to inform this side of the House what overcrowding is in terms of rental assistance and who enforces these standards.

As mentioned earlier, we do take guidance from the National Occupancy Standards, as well as the Residential Tenancies Act. That was reviewed in the last government, but we don't have a specific policy related to overcrowding. Obviously, we do want to provide the best possible outcomes for families and those that are in need of being housed, but it is a shared responsibility of individuals as well as the social departments within the governments. If that's something that we do need to set as a policy or standard, like I mentioned, we'll have to look at what the National Occupancy Standards do have and maybe also bring it before committee to see any recommendations that they might provide as well.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister. What I heard the Minister say here is that there are no specific standards for overcrowding as it relates to rental assistance, and so I'm wondering on what basis any standards are enforced in terms of how many people live in one dwelling. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

As mentioned, when clients do go on income assistance or need that top up for market rental rates, the clients also have to adhere and still need to live up to the elements of what's in the lease agreement. When they get income assistance, they have to also abide by what they signed in the forms. Our Client Service Officers are just following policy, following legislation, and the landlords are also following what's in the lease agreements. When we fill out forms, we've got to make sure that we do it in the best way that's going to keep the family in the home.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput

Quyanini, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Suicide is a major concern in the NWT and particularly in the Beaufort Delta region where we have the highest rates of suicide in the territory. Suicide is preventable and most people who die by suicide show warning signs. What is the department doing to prevent suicide and raise awareness of the issue in the NWT? Quyanini, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Health and Social Services.