Debates of June 8th, 2016

This is page numbers 455-492 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statements 41-18(2): Energy Initiatives Of Public Works And Services

Minister’s Statement 42-18(2): Update On The Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Minister’s Statement 43-18(2): Northwest Territories Climate Change Strategic Framework

Minister’s Statement 44-18(2): Development Of The NWT Energy Plan

Need For Suitable, Adequate And Affordable Housing

Impact Of Migration On Homelessness In Yellowknife

Community Housing Development Plans

Addressing The Need For Affordable Rental Units

Self-Government Initiatives In The Sahtu

Employment Opportunities Relating To Housing Construction

Territorial Housing Issues

Economic Solutions To Reduce Need For Subsidized Housing

Ulukhaktok Arena Closure

Congratulations To Echo Dene School Graduates

Midwifery Services In The Northwest Territories

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Construction Schedule For Charles Tetcho School In Trout Lake

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Communications Strategy

Improvements To Housing Corporation

Supporting Housing First Clients

Implementing The Deline Community Self-Government Agreement

Reducing The Need For Emergency Shelter Services

Costs Associated With Modular Homes

Midwifery Services

Responsibilities Associated With First Nations Housing

Ulukhaktok Arena Remediation

Replies to Budget Address

Tabled Document 56-18(2): Report Of The Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission 2016

Tabled Document 57-18(2): Northwest Territories State Of The Environment Report Highlights 2016

Tabled Document 58-18(2): North Slave Resiliency Study Final Report

Consideration in Committee of the Whole on Bills and Other Matters

Motion 30‑18(2): Tabled Document 50‑18(2) Main Estimates 2016‑2017 Environment And Natural Resources, Corporate Management Operations Expenditures (Pg. 87) Reinstatement Of Funding For Public Education Coordinator In Field Support Unit

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With our current arrangement, again, in particular with our water wing here, we initially attack fires… Even over the years, the majority of the time utilizing four people and there have been many occasions where that fifth person is left at home. I spent most of my career in the fire program as a firefighter a lot of times, and the old days we had the big medium helicopters, we can take two five-man crews, and as we evolved to the intermediate rotary wing, they've done it across the country, this is where we see the efficiencies. The initial attack process is to ensure that we gain control of that fire within the first 24-hour period and normally that's done within the first few hours. Again, the majority of our fires we end up utilizing four people. Again, we also, on the other side save an extra trip with the rotary. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell, and just a note to the committee: sidebar conversations are making it sometimes difficult to hear, so if you want to keep those to a minimum. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the deputy minister for that answer. It clears up things and I'm not questioning his expertise, because that I assume being a deputy minister and fighting fires that's why you're sitting where you are. I thank you very much for that and now I have a better understanding of what you're saying. Back to the firebreaks in regards to this here. Has the government looked at working with these small communities, especially after seeing what has happened in Fort McMurray, developing firebreaks in the community and utilizing the staff if it's a slow, and I'm praying we're a slow season, or working with the communities to fund them so that they can actually make a firebreak a little bit larger, like a

kilometre

away from their communities, to make it more safe. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we have. We work with MACA; we work with the communities on implementing their wildfire protection plans, and again, it's a joint effort. The communities, of course, are responsible for ensuring they're prepared for emergency events like wildfire. We provide a lot of technical advice. On the question with our own resources, we provide our resources as well to help to do the mitigation efforts and fuel breaks in this instance. If we have a slow season, we also utilize our crews to work with the community therein enhancing those fuel breaks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Mr. Campbell for that answer. I hear there's a partnership. Has the department looked at working with the communities to help them fund so they can do it themselves with the technical support of the department? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ultimately I guess what we're trying to do is to work with the communities and to see how we can leverage our funds with their funds and also to look at other areas where we can find more funds. An example will be a few years ago through a federal program we were able to, along with the communities, access funding where we had enough funding to build and enhance many of our few breaks that are in place now. Thank you, Mr. Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Thompson?

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. Again, I was having a hard time hearing, and I apologize to Mr. Campbell. We're able to access funding for the federal government. I understand that and it was very successful; however, right now that funding, I'm assuming, is gone and so is the department willing to look at within their coffers to see if there's funding available especially for the smaller communities like the Trout Lakes, the Jean Maries, the Nahanni Buttes, the Lutselk'e, the Fort Res, these small communities that don’t have a lot of money and are, you know, a little bit strapped, and after I had seen what happened in Fort McMurray, that really scares me. If it happens there, we're going to lose communities, and so is the department willing to look at or even, and maybe it is shot for this budget, but next year's budget, so that we can work with the communities, have money available to do firebreaks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Thompson. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Absolutely we're willing to look at other possible opportunities here to gain those resources. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you very much. I thank the deputy minister and Minister for their answers and I'll be working and I'll be probably doing some Member’s statements on it anyways, so I thank you very much and I appreciate all your expertise because it is very valuable to the government. So you can't retire for another five years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mr. Chairman, I move to report progress.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. I will now stand and report progress. Thank you, Minister and your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. May I have the report, Member for Hay River North?

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017. I would like to report progress, with one motion being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Do we have a seconder? Member for Deh Cho. Motion is in order. To the motion. Question’s been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Item 23, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Clerk Of The House (Mr. Mercer)

Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 1:30 p.m.:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers’ Statements

3. Members’ Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Acknowledgements

7. Oral Questions

8. Written Questions

9. Returns to Written Questions

10. Replies to Commissioner’s Opening Address

11. Replies to Budget Address

12. Petitions

13. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

14. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

15. Tabling of Documents

16. Notices of Motion

17. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

18. Motions

● Motion 15-18(2), Reappointment of Human Rights Commission Members

● Motion 16-18(2), Appointment of the Equal Pay Commissioner

● Motion 17-18(2), Extended Adjournment of the House to June 13, 2016

19. First Reading of Bills

20. Second Reading of Bills

21. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

● Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017

22. Report of Committee of the Whole

23. Third Reading of Bills

24. Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House adjourns until Thursday, June 9, 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:43 p.m.

Debates of June 8th, 2016

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