Mahsi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today and extend my best wishes to the 270 athletes, coaches, and managers from 18 communities who will make up Team NWT at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland from March 5 to 11, 2016. For over a year now, young people from across the Northwest Territories have been preparing themselves physically and mentally for this opportunity. I congratulate all of the athletes who have persevered through the territorial selection and have achieved their goal of representing the Northwest Territories at this prestigious international celebration of sport and culture. The Youth Ambassador Program has been giving NWT youth important opportunities to develop leadership skills and experience, and Youth Ambassadors will be joining Team NWT in Nuuk. Not only is this an important program for developing NWT youth, it is beginning to receive some international recognition. After seeing a presentation on the NWT program, the host society of the Nuuk games was so impressed with the NWT’s work that they have decided to develop a Greenland Youth Ambassadors program for their games. We are looking forward to the collaboration between representatives of our two nations and congratulate the 15 youth selected as NWT Youth Ambassadors for these games. At this time, I would also like to acknowledge another group of young athletes and the efforts being made on their behalf. There are a number of sports that will not be included in this year’s Arctic Winter Games because of either a lack of facilities or other resources. So they don’t miss an opportunity to compete and develop at higher levels, we are supporting other activities for athletes in these sports. Some of the highlights of this concurrent initiative include the midget hockey team traveling to Europe to compete in a series of exhibition games, curling teams participating in developmental clinics, and youth dog races that coincide with the dog-mushing circuit. As Team NWT makes its final preparations for the games, it is important to acknowledge the monumental contributions that volunteers and parents have made to support these young men and women. Without the coaches, officials, or the hundreds of volunteers who give freely of their time, we would not be able to have a Team NWT. We owe these people our heartfelt thanks. I also want to thank all of our sport and recreation partners who have contributed to this process. Our partners include the Sport North Federation and its Territorial Sport Organizations who select and manage the teams; the Beaufort Delta Sahtu Recreation Association; the Mackenzie Recreation Association; and the community governments who hosted various selection events along the way. Their contributions are significant and play an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles and vibrant communities in the Northwest Territories. These partners have provided guidance and support, and organized the many selection events across the Northwest Territories that resulted in the final selection of Team NWT. Supporting the ongoing development of youth is a priority of this Assembly reflected in the GNWT’s new mandate. Support for the Arctic Winter Games and the Youth Ambassador program are two examples of the government’s work on this priority. In anticipation of the Opening Ceremonies and Team NWT’s participation in the 2016 Arctic Winter Games, I encourage all participants to continue to work hard and to always do their best. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and cultural delegates a fun and rewarding experience at the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has made improving accountability, transparency and collaboration a key priority. Having an effective and up-to-date access and privacy regime is fundamental to that priority. Every day the Government of the Northwest Territories collects and produces a tremendous amount of information. We have a responsibility to make sure that our citizens have access to this information, while also protecting the personal information entrusted to us. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act demonstrates our government’s commitment to protecting privacy and providing access to information. The act gives all members of the public the legal right to request access to information held by government departments and public bodies, and to request a correction to personal information. The legislation sets out when a public body may collect, use, and disclose personal information. Refusals to disclose records may only occur if the Act provides for it. The NWT Information and Privacy Commissioner has the independent authority to review decisions made under the Act including how a public body has collected, used, or disclosed personal information. The area of access and privacy continues to evolve, and we need to make sure that we can respond to changes in technology and the development of integrated programs and services, as well as a variety of other issues raised by the public, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and past standing committees. Since the Act was introduced in the NWT in 1996, there have been a number of changes in Canadian policies, practices, and legislation relating to access to information or protection of privacy. Changes were made to the Act in 2004 and again in 2005 to respond to issues that had been raised either in our Assembly, from the Privacy Commissioner, or from those who use this legislation in their day-to-day activities. During the 17th Assembly, a commitment was made to proceed with a full and comprehensive review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In the initial phase of the review, the Department of Justice conducted extensive research into access and privacy legislation in other provinces and territories, as well as a detailed examination of our current legislation. Based on this research and review, the Department of Justice has started consulting with other government departments, public bodies and the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The results of those consultations are being consolidated and will be included in our final report.

We also want to hear from the public on this important matter and will be seeking their views during the next phase of our review. We want to ensure that the act offers a proper balance between providing access to information and the protection of an individual’s privacy. We will be asking people to comment on whether the current privacy provisions need to be enhanced to allow for greater protections, as well as other issues that have been raised by stakeholders and public bodies. Beginning April 15, the Department of Justice will be posting a consultation document on its website, where everyone will be able to share their opinions on it. We will also be sharing it with the stakeholders and those who have expressed interest in the review. The deadline for submitting a written request will be June 15, 2016. Analysis and feedback received from the public, GNWT departments, public bodies, and the Information and Privacy Commissioner will be reflected in a report that will be published in the fall of 2016. The findings from this report will assist us to bring forward a proposal for possible amendments to the act. I hope Members will encourage their constituents to participate in this public consultation and have their say. We all need to contribute to improvements to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act in order to improve access, protect our personal information, and help keep our government accountable and transparent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, many communities face challenges in providing programs and services to their people because of a lack of affordable housing. The lack of housing makes it hard to recruit and retain staff. Lowering the cost of living is one of the priorities of this Assembly and increasing the availability of safe, affordable housing is one of the key actions to address this priority. The private market is not adequately meeting the need for more affordable rental housing, particularly in rural and remote communities. This is because the development and ongoing management of rental housing in small communities carries a capacity and risk profile that many developers are unwilling to meet. To help address this issue, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is developing more market rental housing units in our rural and remote communities. As new employment opportunities are created in communities through devolution and decentralization, and job vacancies are filled, there must be available and affordable housing to support these workers. Currently, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has 133 market rentals in most non-market communities. This number will grow to 205 units by 2017. The Housing Corporation is also working closely with education and health stakeholders, which are areas of particular concern, to improve the availability of information on Housing Corporation rentals. In the past, rents were based on individual unit costs and could vary significantly. There are now standardized rents using the same community zone system as other NWT Housing Corporation rental programs. The new rates are fairer and will give new staff more certainty about their housing costs. As the market rental rate is directly related to the cost of construction and therefore unsubsidized, the NWT Housing Corporation has been using modular homes for the first two years to make these units as affordable as we can for tenants. The NWT Housing Corporation has determined that this approach provides direct savings of up to 30 per cent compared to stick-built units. This past year, the NWT Housing Corporation worked with several northern contractors in the delivery of the market housing units. Through the request for proposal process, proponents in the South Slave, Beaufort Delta, and the Sahtu were awarded tenders. In the Sahtu, the units are under construction using an on-site structural insulated-panels approach, while the other two proponents offered factory-built modular housing. In this next phase, we will be looking to foster more innovation through a request for proposal process and will encourage the northern manufacturing sector and contractors to engage and participate in this process as we work towards the development of northern housing solutions to address our housing needs. Contractors and developers can expect a proposal call this spring for 2016-2017 projects. Reducing barriers to staffing caused by a lack of housing in non-market communities is an important way that the NWT Housing Corporation can support community employment and address the high cost of living. The introduction of more available, quality, and affordable market housing units helps to ensure that our communities are able to attract people and provide important front-line services to our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Assembly has made it a priority to focus on culturally appropriate delivery methods for mental health and addictions services within our communities. To accomplish this we need to improve the services and supports that we provide to our residents. We know that the current system needs improvement, and we must rethink the way mental health and addictions services are delivered. This is why we have updated the Mental Health Act, and we are conducting an external review of mental health and addictions programs as the first steps towards developing a Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Framework. In early 2015 I established a Mental Health Quality Assurance Committee to consider the care provided to a specific client, with a view to determine whether there was a need to improve the provision of mental health services. The Department of Health and Social Services secured the services of a renowned psychiatrist and professor at Dalhousie University, who is an expert on adolescent mental health, to lead this review. The committee submitted its final report to me on October 1, 2015. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document entitled, “Quality Mental Health Care: An Action Plan.” This action plan addresses each of the recommendations in the Case Review report. The action plan will also support continued work in the coming months to advance the development of the broader Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Framework that will aim to address gaps in the current system, improve service and program delivery, improve inefficiencies, and ensure public safety. We are working with a team of external experts to conduct a review of the current mental health and addictions system here in the Northwest Territories. They will examine the strengths and weaknesses of our system by looking at leading and emerging practices in other jurisdictions facing similar issues. The review will help ensure we have the best possible allocation of resources within the system so that programs are effective, efficient, and meet the needs of our residents. We will also reach out to front-line staff in our system and traditional knowledge holders in our communities, to ensure that the recommendations are appropriate and workable on the ground level as to implementation. The comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Framework will guide program development over the next five years. It will incorporate the recommendations of the external review to improve program delivery and ensure client and community well-being. The framework will provide a basis for the development of a mental health services action plan, an addictions action plan, and an action plan specific to children and youth. Communities and stakeholders have told us we need to improve the way we deliver mental health and addictions services to children and youth. Their mental health needs are distinct from those of adults, and require specialized services and supports. We recognize there is a critical need to enhance and improve services so that children and youth can receive appropriate care and services. This is a priority focus of the framework, and this is why we are developing a Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan specific to their needs. The new Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Framework will also address access to on-the-ground, culturally appropriate services. Work in this area is already under way and continues to expand. One example is a two-week pilot Mobile Treatment Program that recently took place in Fort Resolution in late January. This pilot was quite successful and we will use the findings to help us develop more programs that are delivered at the community level. We will also continue to work with Aboriginal governments and communities to support the successful on-the-land healing programs that are developed to meet the unique needs within each region. We are committed to strengthening the mental health and addictions supports and services for all of our residents. The action plan that will be tabled later today is an important milestone in our work to improve the mental health system in the Northwest Territories, but it is also just one step in an ongoing process. I am committed to seeing that process through, and to making meaningful improvements within the term of this government. The new strategic framework will ensure that we meet this commitment so that residents are able to receive the appropriate services at every stage of their journey. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Mahsi. Ministers' statements. Deputy Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Alfred Moses will be absent from the House today to attend the Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Colleagues, please allow me to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery today of Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. As many of you know, Mr. Whitford has many roles: former Commissioner, former Speaker, former Minister, former Member, former Sergeant-at-Arms, honorary Clerk, and honorary Captain, Royal Canadian Navy. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Whitford to the House this afternoon. It's always a pleasure to have him in the gallery.

---Applause

Mahsi. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, people in my riding are experiencing serious issues around land tenure. Members from the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding can't buy land, and the current lease structure is a barrier to securing property. A lack of tenure limits residents' ability to obtain mortgage or benefit from government programs like those offered by the NWT Housing Corporation, programs that would make a positive difference in the lives of those people. Instead, land is rented from the Government of the Northwest Territories at 10 per cent of the value per year. Ideally, that would be rent to purchase the unit. For example, people could pay 10 per cent of the value for 10 years, and then they would become landowners. But Mr. Speaker, people are required to pay this amount as long as they live there, and most people can't afford that. Now there are arrears with no relief in sight. Property tax arrears include substantial interest, 15 per cent per year. If arrears continue to go up, people could face the sale of their homes. The current Property Assessment and Taxation Act does not allow for discount on payments of arrears in the General Tax Area. Another serious concern is a lack of provision for the eventual settlement of the Akaitcho Territorial Government land claim agreement in this area. It does not state how, currently, a rent structure will fit into the land claim process. It doesn't consider rent being charged to future land claim beneficiaries on what is rightfully their own land. I don't know how their arrears will be dealt with when the land claims are settled. The NWT Metis Nation Agreement-In-Principle states that the government and the Metis Nation will discuss real property taxation assistance as part of the final agreement negotiations. Prior to the final agreement, existing interest on Metis land would be identified. There are critical points as it relates to the issue of affordable rents being charged for the lots in this riding. I understand other residents in the Northwest Territories deal with similar land tenure and taxation issues in their regions. This government must make it a priority and find a solution. I urge Cabinet to work with our land claim organizations to resolve this increasingly serious issue.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for many years Northerners in and around Yellowknife could look forward to a fun gathering to celebrate the end of winter and the welcoming of spring. Caribou Carnival started way back in 1955 and was a staple of life in the region for more than 50 years. Unfortunately, Caribou Carnival ran out of gas a handful of years ago, but in 2012, a new group of dedicated volunteers came together to create a new festival. Believing that Yellowknife Bay was the place, and knowing Yellowknifers, Northerners, and visitors would love to celebrate the departing cold winter and welcome the coming spring, the Long John Jamboree was born. For four years, the Jamboree has celebrated the best parts of being a winter city: games, music, arts, food, heritage and sports, games on the snow stage, live music in the carnival tent, art exhibitions, the heritage photo booth, La cabane a sucre, the Burn on the Bay, and of course, the international Inspired Ice Carving Competition have made the Long John Jamboree a winter festival the city and territory can be proud of. Most importantly, the Jamboree has never charged a dime for admission. It has always been open to all -- for free, Mr. Speaker. Along with the snow castle, the dog derby, hockey games, snow volleyball, heli rides, Twin Otter rides, kite skiers, and kick-sledders, Yellowknife Bay is crammed with activity, fun, and celebration in late winter. Now, heading into its fifth season, the Long John Jamboree is itself coming up against tough times. The uncertain economy has affected support and sponsorship, and many of the regional volunteer organizers have moved on to make way for new blood. As we speak, volunteers are dedicating hours of hard work and creativity to make the fifth annual Long John Jamboree a reality, but a community-run non-profit festival can only be as strong as the supporters it has. The Jamboree can use our help and needs full community support. I'd like to congratulate the dedicated volunteers and organizers of the Long John Jamboree for their hard work, and I want to urge everyone to join in and make a contribution, no matter how small. Communities are made up of people coming together to make things happen. Celebrations like the Long John Jamboree deserve our support. I look forward to seeing everyone down on the ice March 25 to 27. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to recognize it in my statement the youth of our territory and region. Today, the 21 students from the Chief T'selehye School in Fort Good Hope are coming back from their trip from Edmonton, back to their home community after experiencing and touring some of the institutions that offer education, such as Grant MacEwan and NAIT. The exposure and the recognition for these individuals, the parents, and the community leadership, as well as a school staff, I want to recognize their hard work and efforts to making this a reality. Also, this previous weekend, we had 120 students right across the territory, and some from my areas well, participating in the Traditional Games Championships here in Yellowknife, and aside from that, there was the volleyball tournament. These functions really play a significant role in boosting the morale and the social fabric of this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput

Quyanini, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the costs of living in Nunakput. Nunakput communities have among the highest community price index in the Northwest Territories. Prices are almost twice as high as in Yellowknife, and Nunakput communities do not benefit from highway or infrastructure. Goods are barged or flown into the communities. Still, labour and professional services are not always available. For example, doctors and tradespeople are flown in. People fly to Inuvik or Yellowknife for medical treatment. A flight from Inuvik to Ulukhaktok in one of our northern carriers costs as much as $2,700, and a flight from Inuvik to Yellowknife around $900. A southern vacation is out of the reach for a typical family. Medical travel costs are a serious burden to our healthcare system in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Fuel prices are set by the government’s Petroleum Products Division. They are fixed based on the rate that was paid in annual bulk fuel price purchases. People in communities served by the PPD are protected from spikes in the price of fuel, but they do not benefit when prices go down. The high cost of living has a devastating effect on elders and other people on fixed incomes. It is hard to encourage people to stay in their own homes when they struggle to pay for home heating fuel and groceries. The price of fuel to go out on the land harvest traditional foods can be prohibitive. If you're unsuccessful in hunting, should you have spent that money at the store? Some people have to take this avenue as there are no guarantees when hunting, and if you are successful, would you still share with an elder who was not part of your family? As we continue to debate the mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly and begin our work as MLAs, we must be mindful that people in Nunakput and all of our ridings are struggling to have a comfortable place to live and enough food to eat. We must work together to find ways to reduce the cost of living for people in the Arctic such as developing alternative energy sources and engaging in federal government improvements through the Nutrition North program, while looking at creative ways for larger centres to assist smaller communities. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Quyanini, Mr. Speake

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the new year I had an opportunity to go hunting up in my riding, and while hunting in the Yukon side of the territory, on our way back traveling with some of my constituents we had whiteout conditions on the Northwest Territories side of the border. At that time, one of my constituents brought it to my attention that it's very difficult to see the delineators alongside the highway. Many times in this House, I've commended the Department of Transportation with the widening efforts that's on the highway, but now we need to ensure that we put those delineators back in place. Also the signage that's on these highways: Many of those signs are outdated, you know they been there for a number of years. It's time to change them up. I'll have some questions for the Minister later today. Thank you.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to take the opportunity to recognize the athletes, coaches, and youth ambassadors that are representing the NWT at the Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland from my riding. However, before I do that, I need to think their parents, coaches, and chaperones for all their help in getting them to the games. These folks spent hundreds, maybe thousands of hours, to help them get prepared. The Arctic Winter Games are great combination of athletic competition, celebration of friendship, sportsmanship, and fair play that shows the world how competition can be done with a northern flair. I've been very fortunate to know the athletes personally and witness their commitment to excellence. These young people have spent years getting ready for these games. I applaud them for all their hard work. I had the opportunity to speak to two of the athletes and they are very excited about representing the NWT as well as the community, region, and their families at the games. I'd like to congratulate the following athletes: Kevin Anaviluk, commonly known as Kevin Roach to myself who's playing basketball and he's from Fort Simpson, and Sky Lennie, who is participating in the snowshoe biathlon, originally from Wrigley and now resides in Fort Simpson. I'd like to congratulate Ms. Valerie Gendron, the table tennis coach. Ms. Gendron is well known for her commitment to youth and now she's expanded to table tennis. As the Minister said in his Member's statement today, I have one of the 15 youth that was selected to be part of NWT Youth Ambassadors Program. As most people are aware, this is a great opportunity for youth development, and I congratulate the Minister and the government for developing this program. I would like to congratulate Melissa Pascua-Matte for being part of this year's Youth Ambassadors Program. I look forward to hearing their stories upon returning from the games. Like the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, I would like to thank all the partners who contributed to the process for the past two years: Sport North, Territorial Sport Organizations, the Mackenzie Recreation and Parks Association, Beaufort Delta Recreation Association, and various schools and recreation departments across the NWT.

In closing, I would like to wish the athletes, coaches, mission staff, youth ambassadors, parents all the best in the games. I envy you. All the best. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to propose that we in this House work together to further the NWT Disabilities Council's vision that all individuals have the opportunity and access to achieve their full potential. We can do that by creating a new five-year plan for them. The previous five-year action plan for persons with disabilities comprised 34 main action items under five pillars of education, employment, disability supports, income, and housing. The action plan was endorsed when it was completed in 2008 and apparently, quite promptly forgotten. Fast-forward to 2015 when the NWT Disabilities Council took stock of the action plan. The council met with senior managers of all departments accountable for actions in the 2008 plan. In some cases, Mr. Speaker, council staff discovered that senior managers didn't even know a plan existed. The council also gathered information by surveying 321 people who live with a disability, care for someone with a disability, or provide a service. The council's item-by-item review revealed that many of the priorities identified in the 2008 plan remain to be addressed.

The 2015 review includes these recommendations:

Figure out how many people are living with a disability in the NWT and what their needs are;

Address the accessibility of both public and private buildings to address functional accessibility and social inclusion for the disabled;

Re-assess income support for people with disabilities;

Address affordable and accessible housing concerns; and

Continue work on the priorities from the 2008 plan.

I am told that recently that council briefed our Ministers of ECE and Housing about the contents of the review. Where should we go from here? The council says the direction should be forward. The recent GNWT-funded evaluation of the plan's status, with full input from responsible departmental participants, is done. We don't need an internal review to mirror that work and hold back progress. What we need, what the council wants, is to get all the stakeholders to the table with authority to update and recommend changes for a new five-year plan. That new plan should have costed deliverables, resources for implementation with annual evaluations built in. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to request permission to conclude my statement

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi, colleagues. At the last election, nine of the Members here in this House, including four Cabinet Ministers, answered yes when they were asked if they would support the creation of a new strategic plan for improving disabled persons’ situations and services. I'll have questions for the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities later. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided]

Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games are an amazing opportunity and unique privilege for northern youth. I especially want to recognize the participants from my riding who are competing in the following sports: Adam Nadli, Dene games; Mikaela Vandell, table tennis; Christina Bonnetrouge, badminton; Lois Philip, principal, who is attending as mission staff; Brandon Thom, NWT Youth Ambassador; coaches Jeremy Kielstra and Thorston Gohl. I understand at 2:30 today, at the Deh Gah School, I will be attending a send-off rally for the athletes. It is encouraging to see youth from all small communities on Team NWT. As my colleagues in the House have highlighted we need to do all we can to increase the number of athletes from small communities participating at the games. The trip to Greenland is a major event for these young people. Many of us have never been to Greenland, and that has motivated many of you to train and compete with extra effort. That said, I also want to recognize and encourage the efforts of those who did not make it. I'm sure this was disappointing and may seem unfair. Most important, however, is that you keep playing. As the saying goes, you miss 100 per cent of the shots you don't take. You are still part of the competition and you have all the opportunity to practice your skills and try again. To this year's competitors I also want to say, after the games don't give up. The healthy lifestyle, self-discipline, and motivation that have come from striving for your personal best are what count the most at these Arctic Winter Games and every day forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Lance Crook. He's a local Hay River boy who just last week completed his medical residency and is now officially an attending physician. I'm not surprised by Lance's success. He's always been a hard worker. Before beginning on his career path, he was already an accomplished guitarist and a journeyman tradesperson. Dr. Crook attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a Bachelor of Science honours degree in biochemistry. He went on to complete the Island Medical Program in Victoria and received his medical degree from UBC, which is one of the top-ranked medical schools in the country. We've all heard stories about gruelling residencies are, but Dr. Crook somehow managed to get through all while helping his wife raise their four young children. I'm excited to say that Lance is now moving back to Hay River to practice medicine. I want to congratulate Lance and I want to congratulate his mother who I know is very proud of him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It's my pleasure to introduce today a number of people who are advocates for the disabilities community in the Northwest Territories, and in particular Denise McKee, the executive director of the Northwest Territories Disabilities Council; Samantha Thomas, who is a member of that board; Rhonda Hoffos, who's the executive director of the Canadian Institute for the Blind, NWT; and Darren Jacquard, who's the vice-president of the NWT Autism Society. I'd like to thank them for coming today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome to the gallery today a constituent of Inuvik Twin Lakes and also my official agent in the past election, Mr. Denny Rodgers. I would also like to welcome to the Assembly my constituency assistant, Krysten Cardinal, and I'd like to welcome all the young folks into the gallery as well. I would like to welcome all folks into the gallery as well. ---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and like yourself, I'm going to take this opportunity to welcome and recognize one of our distinguished Northerners and Yellowknife North resident Mr. Tony Whitford. Welcome. Thank you.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Julie, for recognizing the visitors that you mentioned, because that was appreciated. Thanks for being here. I also want to recognize the Rotary Exchange Group that's coming out of Edmonton in the gallery today. This group includes four chaperones and 27 students from all over the world. We're really excited to have you here. Welcome.

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

Quyanini, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome my new constituency assistant Ora Williamson-Mercredi. Welcome to the gallery. Also, Mr. Denny Rodgers who works for the Inuvialuit Development Corporation in Inuvik. I don't see him but I sense he's back there. ---Laughter

And also to everyone in the gallery, welcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. At this time, I'd like to draw your attention to a couple of Pages from my region, Behchoko: Rianna Camsell and Nicolle Zoe that are here with us and their chaperone Victoria Apples. I'd like to welcome them and they're doing a fantastic job for us, and also the rest of the Pages as well. Thanks for being here with us. And to those in the gallery, welcome. It's always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Mahsi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I discussed rent that is currently being collected on lots in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding. I’d like to ask the Minister of Lands questions. Would the Minister be willing to consider adjusting the rent currently charged on land to a reasonable amount, especially for seniors and other people on fixed income? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands has already instituted lease-cost breaks for seniors, in recognition of high lease costs. The department is also examining the lease payment structure in settled and unsettled areas and how leaseholders can gain title through outright purchase or lease. The options in the unsettled area are quite limited. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm glad the Minister mentioned the Seniors and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief program. My next question is: Will the Minister consider applying that senior citizens’ property tax relief for individuals in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh that are renting their lot right now?

Mahsi. Minister of Lands.

We are quite limited to what we can do in the unsettled areas, because some of that land might be claimed by the claimant groups, but we would be willing to work with the Member and work with the claimant groups to see if there are any options that might be available to us. But because they are in the process of negotiation, as I said a couple of times already, our options are quite limited.

The Minister mentions the land claim organizations and the work that goes on there for those negotiations. I'd like to ask the Minister if he could contact those organizations, not necessarily trying to establish a side table, that is not my responsibility or authority, but just to have the discussion on this issue. This is a serious issue, and if individuals want to move forward to fix their units and so on, as I indicated in here, we need to resolve this issue. I would like to know if the Minister would be prepared to talk about this issue specifically with land claim organizations.

I take the Member's point about the high cost of leases. I think I have seen some of the numbers, and they are paying a fairly high cost. We can make contact with the claimant groups to see if there is a preliminary discussion we can have. As the Member said himself, we don't want to start a side table to deal with this. I will commit to the Member that I will make some contact with them and see if we can initiate a discussion as to how we can move forward.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, one of the options that may not be apparent to everyone that used to be a fairly standard process was an equity lease process, where the individual ends up owning the land. At this point, since they are renting the land, can the Minister look at something that may be just a little outside of the taxing authority, since they are renting the property and they are not taxing it, if they would look at something like rent-to-own once they have some sort of concurrence from the land claim organizations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am willing to have discussions in how we can move forward with this. We have to take a number of things into consideration. We would have to look at the legislation to see if we are able to even entertain that idea, so as I commented before, I will have a discussion with the appropriate parties and see if there is an opportunity for us to move this forward. I take the Member's point, again, about the rent-to-own, but because it's an unsettled area, it kind of slows the process down a bit. But we will have those discussions. We will see how we can move the issue forward.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I ask my question to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. As we all know from the information provided, this government is going through some difficulties with resources, and we all know there's a high demand for affordable housing all across our communities in the territory. My question is: In taking advantage of the new federal plan and announced infrastructure dollars available, is our Housing Corporation applying to access federal infrastructure social housing funding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The simple answer is yes, but I will expand a little bit on that. The territorial government is actually working in collaboration with the other territories, the Yukon and Nunavut. We have developed a tri-territorial business case to assist with our federal engagement. A conference call between the three territories is scheduled for tomorrow to confirm that, and to talk about any more decisions that we want to make. I'm also going to be meeting with Minister Duclos in Ottawa next week to bring forward our case and to emphasize on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Could the Minister advise the House as to the application in some detail, how many units are being applied for, and which region they are going to?

At this moment, I won't be able to provide that information. We're just going down to negotiate and to talk about the need that we have within the territories, and to advocate that it not be based on just base funding, that it actually be base plus, so that they take into account the low population that we have and the vast area, and the lack of infrastructural needs. Once we have done that and we find out what the budget is when it’s released, then we will be advocating and specifying where the monies would be going.

My question is: After the program is designed and the efforts of lobbying and the efforts of trying to secure funding for that program, is the Minister willing to share that information through a briefing?

Absolutely. As soon as we confirm any steps within the process, then we will let the committee and the Regular Members know. As soon as the information that I have is confirmed, then you will know as well.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is: When can we expect the information, and how will it be passed on to the Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To give you a timeline is, at this moment, I can't give you that, because it depends upon the budget with the federal government and the negotiations that we do with them. How I will disburse the information will be probably through the Standing Committee on Social Development, and then committee can decide how to disburse that to the Members.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like to follow up on some of the questions that I had previously. Can the Minister please advise this House: Does the department authority track issues that are brought forth to them, and how is this process done?

Mahsi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it depends on the situation. There are a couple of different ways information might come to an authority. As I said, we do have the patient representatives in the individual authorities, where individuals can go if they've actually had concerns about how services were provided. These patient representatives can actually do some investigation and research to find out what happened, and offer recommendations to the CEO to ensure that those types of situations, if any problems occurred, won't happen again. Those individuals track their own information and do share it with the CEOs, but that information is not always shared publicly. We also have situations where, if an individual is having difficulty navigating the system, we strongly encourage those individuals to get in touch with the system navigator who can help that individual navigate a system. In both these situations, we are often dealing with individual client information, and that information, due to privacy reasons, would not be shared, but it is tracked through a system navigator at a department level and for the individual patient representatives at an authority level.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I understand the confidentiality of these matters, but is it in any way possible that you can track in specific areas -- say that travel is an issue, appointments are an issue. Are you are able to provide a breakdown to us on the other side so that we are aware of what the issues are besides what we have presently?

As a standard practice, the information pertaining to an individual concerned in a complaint is only shared as needed to help resolve that complaint, and at this time, there is no central collection or reporting of information on these individual cases. I can say that the CEOs from the authorities meet on a regular basis, where they can discuss common or reoccurring issues or themes, so that they can work with the department to resolve the bigger picture issues. I can say that, as we move forward to a single authority, we will be better positioned to have some tracking mechanisms to track similar issues so that we can ensure that we are getting that information, so that we can make system improvements as a whole to ensure that reoccurring situations of concern are not occurring in our system.

I thank the Minister for that answer and I'm looking forward to this new system. Hopefully we will be able to make better changes to it. The Minister spoke about an audit that was done in 2013 regarding the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority. Can the Minister tell us if the audit was done by the department authority, or done by an external process, and who was engaged in the process?

The department does occasionally do quality reviews and other audits of the regional authorities. In the situation that the Member is talking about, it was an audit that was actually done by the department. These are internal systems audits, and the results aren't shared, but as I indicated the other day, I would be happy to sit down with the Member and go through the audit with the Member so that he has an understanding of where we are and what we learned for that particular audit. We do accreditations here in the Northwest Territories, and Stanton, the Beaufort Delta, Hay River and Fort Smith authorities are all accredited. To be accredited, you have to have a number of audits done on a regular basis to ensure that the authorities and the facilities are meeting certain standards. As we move forward in one system, we’re hoping to get an accredited system as well as accredited facilities, which will make sure that there are regular audits and reviews being done of service delivery to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our residents.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

I thank the Minister for that answer and I look forward to meeting with him on the audit. I guess my struggle is that the people of Nahendeh have lots of concerns, and they are feeling like their voices are not being heard. In saying that, will the Minister and his staff be willing to come to the region and listen to the residents' concerns and recommendations to help improve the health and social services system in Nahendeh, and potentially have an impact on the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Absolutely. I’m certainly willing to do a tour with the Member through his riding, meet with the residents, and hear their individual concerns, but in addition to that, I would still encourage the Member to have constituents work with the quality assurance representative in their authority. If they are having trouble navigating the system, please have them get in touch with the system navigator, and as we move forward to a single Authority, there will be a wellness council re-established in the region where the individuals, the residents, will have a voice on regional delivery, but more importantly on territorial delivery. There are lots of things happening. I think there are some good things happening and they are going to help improve health care here in the Northwest Territories, and I am absolutely willing to meet with the MLA and his constituents in his riding.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Mahsi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier and the Ministers, we take every opportunity we have to engage with the Prime Minister and the federal Ministers on issues like the Nutrition North program. We are fortunate that this term we have a Member of Parliament who is part of the governing body, and we also have a Minister from Nunavut who understands the food problems that Northerners in isolated communities face. We also know that the program is being reviewed, and we’re hopeful that positive changes are coming. We continue to lobby the federal government to follow through on their promise to increase the northern allowance by 33 per cent and hope to see it in this year's budget that is being tabled on March 22. This change, should it come through, will result in Northerners having more money in their pockets come tax time next year.

In my Member's statement today I also spoke of the high cost of fuel to heat our homes and to pursue traditional on-the-land activities like hunting and fishing, activities which can help residents lower the cost of living and eat healthy. Can the Minister tell us what the government is doing to lower the cost of fuel in our communities that are represented?

The cost of fuel is one that this government has taken immediate action on to lower the cost of living in the communities served by the Petroleum Products Division. The Minister of Public Works and Services announced on Tuesday that, effective February 5, the price of home heating oil was reduced by $0.09 a litre in Paulatuk, $0.07 a litre in Sachs Harbour, and $0.08 a litre in Ulukhaktok. With this reduction, heating oil prices in these communities have been reduced by approximately 20 per cent over the last year. We recognize that the cost of heating fuel and gasoline in our smaller communities is a great concern to residents. It was also announced by the Minister of Public Works and Services on Tuesday that the department will be closely monitoring the prices of fuel that is delivered over the coming months and passing any further reductions onto residents as soon as possible. The reductions in the gas prices have been a little less. They've been five per cent over the last year, but if the current prices remain, then we should be able to pass those savings on to the community residents as well. For the members of other communities, Tuktoyaktuk is considered a market community; the Petroleum Products Division does not operate in the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Through the NWT Housing Corporation, our home heating costs for public housing are subsidized at about $9 million a year, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources provides funding through the Community Harvesters Assistance Program, funds that can be used to offset the fuel costs for harvesters.

Can the Minister of Finance outline what other plans this government has to lower the costs of living for residents of the Northwest Territories, especially residents of Nunakput who face the highest costs?

Lowering the cost of living is one of the agreed-on priorities of this Assembly. In addition to the efforts that I’ve outlined earlier in this exchange, all of the departments are being tasked with examining their business plans to look for opportunities to lower the cost of living for NWT residents. I expect that we will have some proposals that we will be able to put in front of committee during the business planning review that should help. We continue to encourage people to move north to grow our population. This helps with our Territorial Formula Financing, and the more money we have means more money that we can spend on new programs to reduce the cost of living. We also have to look internally at reducing government spending in the near term so we can have the money to invest in programs that can help lower the cost of living for all Northerners, especially those in our isolated communities like the ones my colleague represents.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement earlier, I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation. As I mentioned, many times travelling the Dempster Highway, we have whiteout conditions, high-blowing snow, high winds. It's challenging. Many times, travelling the Dempster, there are no delineators along the highway. I’d like to ask the Minister, will the Minister ensure that we begin work on replacing delineators along the Dempster from kilometre 0 to kilometre 30, which has the majority of high winds?

Mahsi. Minister of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Reconstruction on the Dempster Highway has been in progress for the last several years, and the Department has spent numerous amounts of money on widening and doing significant safety improvements on that section of the highway, but due to last year's excessive rain and poor weather conditions, weather hindered the reconstruction work and also the replacement of the delineators for the snow levels and safety stuff that the Member is talking about. The department will be installing these things in the coming construction season, when weather conditions are favourable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am sure the Minister will know first-hand the importance of signage and delineators along our highways. Does the Minster know exactly which sections will be worked on this summer? Is it kilometres 0 to 30, as I mentioned, or is it further down the highway?

Additional maintenance work is planned for the complete section from the Dempster to the McPherson-Peel River section. We will be looking at all the signage and delineators as work continues this year on the widening of the highway.

I know the Minister will be up in the region next month, in the middle of the month. Will the Minister be open to travelling the Dempster with me for a trip so he could see for himself the challenges up there?

Time permitting, I would gladly take up the Member's offer to take me out to the Dempster.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance about the problems with the building of the fibre optic line down the Mackenzie Valley. The contracting company Ledcor has relieved its subcontractor for deficient work. The Minister has said that he expects the line will still be completed on schedule, but Ledcor says it won't be able to assess the effects of warm construction until the winter's end. Can the Minister tell the House what contingency plans are in place in case the project is delayed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department officials will be assessing the options available to the GNWT under the Project Management Agreement to ensure that the work gets completed. This will include working with Northern Lights and the communities to ensure construction can be completed early in 2017 and the line commissioned shortly thereafter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minster for his reply. Reports of problems with erosion and other problems with installation of the line go back to last summer. Can the Minister tell us what actions were taken by the government to address these issues?

Following winter 2015 construction, as the Member said, there was some erosion and slumping area of concern were identified by Lands inspectors and Ledcor personnel. Northern Lights produced and acted on the remediation plan, and all the sites that were identified are being attended to. Ongoing monitoring is in place and with additional remediation being staged this winter in advance of the spring melt.

Thanks again to the Minister for his response. Can he tell us how we can be sure the remediation work on known deficiencies will not increase the cost of the project and cost to taxpayers?

The structure of the P3 agreement with Northern Lights is such that the ownership, design, and construction of the fibre line was a transferred risk from the GNWT to Northern Lights. Additionally, Northern Lights has the obligation to fulfill the requirements of the regulatory permits. As indicated by Northern Lights, the cost of remediation was borne by Northern Lights in accordance with the project agreement. Unlike a traditional build procurement, the construction risk was transferred by the GNWT to Northern Lights.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question: We've seen some problems with cost overruns on some P3s, the Deh Cho Bridge comes to mind. Can the Minister tell us what the government's P3 policy says about analyzing risk and managing deficiencies in work contracted under P3s? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We should note that the Deh Cho Bridge was actually not a P3 project. It was a negotiated contract where substantial design and construction risk was still with the GNWT. Before the P3 procurement starts, the GNWT undertakes a detailed risk analysis of the proposed P3 procurement compared to traditional procurement. This ensures risks are reflected in the procurement and all proponents are clearly aware of the risks they would be assuming as captured in the project agreement. To ensure that deficiencies are being properly managed, there will be no service commencement unless the design, construction, and operating specs as specified in the Project Agreement are met as determined by an independent certifier. No payments will be made by the GNWT until the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link is independently certified.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, and they follow from my Member's statement. First of all, I'd like to hear a renewal of commitment from the Minister. The motion of the 17th Assembly called for the government to propose an approach for taking a new action plan forward. This motion is not binding on the government, obviously; it happened in the last Assembly. However, will this Minister honour this motion in the spirit of progress and continuity, and propose an approach by the end of June? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, certainly I'm not going to talk to a motion that was in the previous government, but I can say that this government is actually committed to moving forward with an action plan for persons with disabilities, building upon the work that's been already done, but also working with our partners who are doing incredible work within the communities to help and address the issues of persons with disabilities. This is consistent with our mandate, and we'll have a plan in place and be able to give some details of how that plan is going to roll out and when the action plan will be completed, certainly by the end of June. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister is one of nine MLAs, including four Ministers, who said yes to the Council's election question, “Will you commit to the development of a new strategic plan?” so half this House is on record promising support for a new plan. As the responsible Minister, will you commit to producing a new strategic plan in the life of this Assembly?

I'll read Hansard tomorrow but I think I just made that commitment in my previous answer. This is something that is consistent with our mandate. It's something consistent with what we actually said in the life of the last government, even though we didn't support the motion for technical reasons, and it is something that we're going to do in this Assembly.

My question now is about the process. The NWT Disabilities Council did an evaluation of the 2008 plan, but they do not want to go back and fix that plan. They want to start with a new plan. They're eager to come to the table with you and other members of the disability service and advocacy community. Will you commit to a process for developing this new plan that will be broad-based and include stakeholder groups who will work with responsible departments and work forward from today, rather than backward from 2008?

It's like the Member is reading my comments that I'm going to make later today in the response to the motion. Absolutely. This is going to require working among the departments to make sure that we're working as a system rather than silos, but more importantly, to address the needs of persons with disabilities and ensuring that we're providing the best services at the right time, we need to engage the stakeholders who are often champions and individuals who are at the front line working with persons with disabilities. As such, we are absolutely going to work with the council, as well as other organizations who are providing those services. We need to do this together, we need to be collaborative, and we need to put in a plan that highlights and addresses the issues moving forward.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation based on her Minister's statement on market housing for community staff. The modular homes are not an acceptable method of delivering market housing in the community where it has been delivered in Tu Nedhe before, in Fort Resolution. I would like to know if the Minister has done any sort of consultation with the communities on modular versus stick-built in the communities. Thank you.

Mahsi. Minster responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Housing Corporation did put all of these proposals for housing out to tender. Northern companies applied on them and were awarded, so it is northern companies that are actually bringing in these modular homes, and there was a significant savings compared to the stick-built proposals that were received. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So no consultation with the communities. The Minister is aware that the Housing Corporation has a program where they provide some money to private developers: so many dollars per unit to put market housing units on the ground. At this point, that number is too low to spur developers to construct some units. Would the Minister, in the savings of 30 per cent that she indicated, with respect to modular homes versus stick-built, consider looking at increasing the amount given to private developers to allow them to put market housing units on the ground in the communities? Increasing the subsidy to 30 per cent of the maximum unit cost might be an example.