Masi. Good morning colleagues. Honourable house leader.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order under rule 24(k), use of abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder. I have waited until today to raise this point of order because I wanted to review Hansard.

Yesterday, during her Member's statement, Ms. Green said while speaking of members of the public service, and I quote from page six of the unedited Hansard from Thursday, June 16th, 2016, "... while we may not like to speak to it, these higher levels raise possibilities of malfeasance and corruption in this spending of public funds." On the same page, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Green also said, "... these elevated amounts have increased the possibility of kickbacks and preferment." Mr. Speaker, the Member has raised some serious issues in her statement that could create doubts about the efforts and behaviours, not just of Cabinet, but of hard-working public servants in the NWT business communities, in the minds of the public. Perception is reality, Mr. Speaker. Using such strong language to suggest it is a possibility could very easily contribute to the public perception that the activities that the Member suggests could happen are actually or at least likely taking place.

Corruption and malfeasance are serious issues, Mr. Speaker. We would take those very seriously as a government. The Financial Administration Act and Contract Regulations are law, and we expect our employees to follow them. In addition, our employees are bound by a Code of Ethics that they must agree to follow. Rules are set out in the Financial Administration Manual to guide staff in proper contracting procedures, and advice and support is available to them from the Department of Finance and Procurement Shared Services. All noncompetitive procurement transactions have to be carried out under these established rules. They must all be properly justified, appropriately authorized, and recorded in SAM, the corporate financial management system.

If the Member has information about specific cases where this might have occurred, I urge her to bring those forward to the appropriate authorities, not paint the public service and the business communities with the same broad brush. Mr. Speaker, the remarks from the MLA from Yellowknife Centre seem to suggest a deep mistrust of government and its employees that I don't believe are helpful in advancing the business of the Assembly or maintaining positive relationships in this House.

I believe the Member's remarks violate the established rules and practices of the Assembly. On this basis, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully suggest that Ms. Green be directed to withdraw her remarks and apologize to the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. On point of order, I will allow a debate. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this complaint is frivolous and vexatious. I have not impugned any motive to any person, business, or employee of the government. What I have said is that there is potential, with raised amounts of sole-source contracts, for improper conduct. The government has been very vigilant about the need to respond to assessing risk and to meeting that risk with extra vigilance. I am pointing out that this needs to be the case.

I have the greatest respect for the civil service. They are professionals who are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. The government does and has a responsibility to guard against the loss of public property or funds. That is why, for example, we have segregation of signing authorities in the spending of public funds to ensure oversight and prevent problems. Major funds are involved in sole-source purchasing, $41.6 million, according to the last available report from two-and-a-half years ago. Under the new guidelines, sums as high as $100,000 could be spent sole-source.

It was not my intention, and nor did I say, that any individual is guilty of this action. I pointed out, with significant sums now authorized for expenditure under the elevated sole-source spending, that we must ensure sole-source spending is monitored closely. With elevated sums available, there is elevated risk. I know the government is paying close attention to the risk in its 2016-17 business plans, and that is as it should be. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. On point of order. I will take the point of order on advisement. I will get back on the ruling within the next few days. Masi. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in education, our greatest successes are seeing the faces of students realizing that they have accomplished something remarkable. To see a student graduate with pride in their achievements, surrounded by their families, friends, and communities is one of the focuses of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and a priority of this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, we are working to ensure our students have the opportunities and resources to realize those accomplishments. We are striving to provide a responsive, sustainable, and meaningful education system for our students, starting from our earliest learners to our older students. We have developed a continuum of education strategies to address the needs of our learners. Right from the Start, the Early Childhood Development Strategy, focuses on pre-school needs, providing services, programs, and opportunities for families with children to have the best start in life. We incorporate principles of play-based development and physical and mental stimulation in all of these programs. This is the period where children are learning to think, solve problems, create relationships, and learn. This is the most critical time in a child's life, to lay the foundation for future success.

Once a child enters the school system, Junior and Senior Kindergarten are bridges between early learning principles and more formal education. Education renewal in the NWT is already underway, focusing on the JK to the grade 12 system. Students are learning differently now than they did even ten years ago, so we have to teach the way they learn.

Education Renewal is targeting the different needs of students and focusing on their strengths and competencies. Self-regulation, resiliency, teacher and student wellness, identity, and connections to culture and tradition are all woven throughout the strategy. This is a continual process of building on successes, introducing initiatives, and working with education boards and councils to determine what is working and what needs improvement.

Beyond JK to 12, the Skills 4 Success Strategy focuses on improving employment success for NWT residents by closing skill gaps for in-demand jobs and more effectively responding to employer, industry, and community needs. With the Northwest Territories Labour Market Forecast and Needs Assessment and the Labour Market Information Resource, we can help northern residents with the opportunities available in the next 15 years.

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, we had the highest secondary school graduation rates in ten years, at 67 per cent across the territory. We certainly still have work to do, but the incremental increases we are seeing are encouraging. As well, Aurora College celebrated 111 graduates this spring, with degrees, diplomas, and certificates from the Schools of Business and Leadership; Education; Health and Human Services; Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Speaker, education is critical to the success of our territory. We must work together to provide a system that helps all students, regardless of where they live, how they learn, and what struggles or barriers they may need to overcome. We have the responsibility to provide an innovative and responsive education system accessible to all kinds of learners, which will create limitless opportunities for northern youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide an update on efforts to support gender equality in the Northwest Territories today. Equal opportunity for the development of the human potential of both women and men is a benefit to society as a whole and is the responsibility and concern of individuals, government, and non-government organizations. The Status of Women Council of the NWT, Native Women's Association of the NWT, Yellowknife Women's Society and the YWCA of Yellowknife have challenged us and other NWT politicians, policy makers, and individuals to take the short introduction to gender-based analysis plus, or GBA Plus, online training to show our commitment to inclusive and equitable policy and programming.

We have been challenged to take the training by Canada Day, July 1st. Those who have taken the training are encouraged to take a picture with their certificates and upload them to social media, tagging any or all of the women's groups. I have posted my certificate, and I encourage others to do so.

Gender-based analysis is an important tool for governments in advancing gender equality. The Government of the Northwest Territories has set the groundwork for GBA through the Equality of Women and Men in the NWT Policy but there is still a great deal of work to be done in this area. The Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to improve gender equity in appointments to territorial boards and agencies. Gender-based Analysis Plus is an analytical tool that we can use to look more carefully at the factors in that equity.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to this important initiative, I would like to provide a brief update on the 60thmeeting of the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women in New York City. The Member for Yellowknife Centre and I attended as part of the national delegation led by Canada's Minister responsible for the Status of Women, the Honourable Patty Hadju. The delegation included provincial and territorial Ministers, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations.

The meetings were an opportunity to attend sessions on women in politics, gendered wage gaps, empowerment of Indigenous women, addressing domestic violence in the workplace, and violence prevention. I also had the privilege of participating in two bilateral meetings at the invitation of Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden. New Zealand has faced similar challenges with violence against Aboriginal women and girls as well as family violence. In New Zealand, half the violence in the country is family violence. Key components to their plan are cultural identity, community leadership, and the understanding that protection for the family is protection for all. There were some very interesting perspectives and experiences that were shared. I look forward to exploring these further as possible best practices for the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, violence against women and girls remains a serious issue in the Northwest Territories. Our government has been working with other governments and the National Aboriginal Organizations to focus the national attention on violence against Indigenous women and girls. Earlier this year, I was also pleased to lead the Northwest Territories' delegation to the second National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Winnipeg, where we had the opportunity to engage in the national discussion on how we can take action together to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Efforts to address gender equality in the Northwest Territories need to be broad in scope, and involve many partners, such as the Gender-Based Analysis Plus initiative highlighted today. We need to learn and work with other governments, taking advantage of opportunities like the United Nations' meetings and the national roundtable. It is also key to make sure that research, planning, and coordination are well-guided at home.

Once again, I have challenged all MLAs to take the GBA Plus training by July 1st, and I look forward to seeing each Member's certificate on their Facebook pages. I also encourage each MLA to expand the challenge to all of their constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.

Mr. Speaker, June 21stis National Aboriginal Day. This day is an opportunity for all Northerners to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the Northwest Territories' Aboriginal people and the wealth of traditions, lifestyles, and languages that make up the fabric of the Northwest Territories. As the only jurisdiction in Canada to recognize this day as a statutory holiday we are leading the way for the rest of the country through our strong commitment to honour the Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis people.

Our experience shows that we are stronger and more successful when we work together as partners. I believe the foundation for working together with our Aboriginal government partners has been solidly established through the Government of the Northwest Territories' commitment to engage with Aboriginal governments in the spirit of respect, recognition and responsibility. Mr. Speaker, our partnership approach is unique in the country, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to show the rest of Canada how we do business in the Northwest Territories while serving as Chair of national forums such as the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group.

The Aboriginal Affairs Working Group has provided an important forum for provincial and territorial Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs and the leaders of the national Aboriginal organizations to engage in collaborative and respectful dialogue on issues affecting Aboriginal peoples across the country. I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that the partnership provinces have been forging with Aboriginal leaders since 2009 has now expanded to include the federal government. Last week I was pleased to co-chair the first meeting of the Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Forum with the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. This new forum replaces the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group and includes the Federal Government as a full partner in addressing the issues that are important to Indigenous people in Canada. During our meetings last week, Ministers and Leaders confirmed a new relationship in support of improving outcomes for Indigenous people and promoting reconciliation in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, it has been an honour to have had the opportunity to chair the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group over the past two years. I am proud that the Northwest Territories will hold the distinction of being the final chair of the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group during the time that we achieved the long-standing goal of having the federal government become a full partner with us. I believe that the Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Forum will be instrumental in providing national leadership to ensure a strong future for Indigenous people across the country. I look forward to working collaboratively with my national colleagues on issues affecting Indigenous people both throughout Canada and here in the Northwest Territories.

It is critical that we recognize that the full participation of Indigenous people is not only key to the wellbeing of communities, it is also key to the wellbeing of our nation. There can be no stronger economic, social, and just society than one that lifts up all citizens to take their rightful place in our country. This is the path to reconciliation and the Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to this path for the Northwest Territories and for Canada.

Mr. Speaker, on June 21st, I invite all Northerners and all Canadians to join us in recognizing the many ways in which Indigenous people have contributed to the success of our territory, our country, and the important role they will continue to play in our future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Premier for his eloquent words. Similarly, I will be speaking on the same. Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday we mark National Aboriginal Day in the NWT and across the country. Since the day was proclaimed by the Governor General 20 years ago, National Aboriginal Day has become an important celebration, a way for Canadians to honour the First Nations.

Over those 20 years, Aboriginal communities across Canada have gathered yearly in celebration, pride, and respect. Sadly, too often non-Aboriginal Canadians don't join in. Many don't recognize that this is a Canadian holiday, not an Aboriginal one. That must change.

Mr. Speaker, over those 20 years, some things have changed. Residential school victims received a prime ministerial apology. The Idle No More movement brought Aboriginal issues to national attention and garnered significant mainstream support. Most notable is the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. While its process was painful for everyone involved, the Commission's necessary work broke new ground. Its Calls to Action point the way for a healthier, more respectful future relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

I am proud that the government of the NWT moved quickly last year to respond to the TRC's Calls to Action. The TRC report outlined many areas where relations can be improved. The NWT made its intentions clear in response. However, there is work to be done.

Mr. Speaker, we can also take some pride in the NWT on what they have already done. Aboriginal languages are official languages here in the NWT. Our legislature sessions can be conducted in those languages. Our schools incorporate them. Our curriculum includes the residential school legacy, essential knowledge for us to bridge the gaps between us and build community.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the Northwest Territories leads the country by being the one jurisdiction in Canada where National Aboriginal Day is a full statutory holiday. I'm proud that I can work in this Assembly with my Aboriginal colleagues, with mutual respect and appreciation of our different heritage and cultures. The NWT leads the way for all Canadians to fully and respectfully partner with the Aboriginal nations in the Canada of the future. Mr. Speaker, the NWT should take the lead and formally campaign the federal government to finally declare National Aboriginal Day as a full national statutory holiday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, small business is the life blood of a diverse and thriving community. How well our economy is doing should be measured by private sector growth and job creation outside of the public service. Growing our private sector will increase competition and productivity, and give Northerners more choice for goods, services, and employment. These are real opportunities that this government cannot afford to ignore.

Mr. Speaker, this government has many programs that assist small businesses, but it needs to do more. Only by changing the foundation of our economy can we move forward. One solution is very simple: the government must send a strong signal that the NWT is open for business. Today, I am asking the government to keep its promise to Northerners and cut the tax rate for small businesses and make the NWT the most tax competitive jurisdiction in Canada's North.

No one can deny that small businesses create jobs, and in this year alone I have seen that happening all over my home community here in Yellowknife. From the restaurants now offering world-class gourmet fare, a brewery that soon will be expanding production, and a farmer's market that contributes nearly $1 million per year to the local economy, it is an easy thing to take pride in seeing all these entrepreneurs succeeding. I want to ensure this success and help all businesses reach their full potential and keep investing locally.

Mr. Speaker, this government ought to listen to local advocates for business. Yesterday, I tabled a letter from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce supporting a tax cut for their members and for all businesses here in the NWT. I want to thank the Chamber for their advocacy and again ask that this government be clear on delivering on its promise to cut taxes for small businesses.

Economic uncertainty is rife throughout the NWT, Mr. Speaker, both due to commodity prices and because of this government's unpredictability in its relationship with the private sector. That's why we need to assure potential investors and entrepreneurs that we are open for business and this is the best Northern territory to invest in. Mr. Speaker, let's be smart on our tax policy and provide the fuel for sustainable economic growth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow afternoon, I will get the honour of attending the Thomas Simpson School graduation at the Papal site, weather permitting. If it is going to be bad weather, we are into the school.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the 17 graduates and graduands for reaching this major milestone in their lives and achieving a major goal in their lives.

The uniqueness of the Thomas Simpson School graduation is that it has students from the smaller communities from the Nahendeh riding as part of this celebration. These students come from their small communities and spend three years of their lives away from their homes to achieve this goal. This year, we have two students from Nahanni Butte, Nathan and Josh, and one student from Wrigley, Rochelle. I know they had to face extra challenges by coming to Fort Simpson, but they succeeded. Part of their success is thanks to the couples that look after the residents to ensure the out-of-town student feel at home and have the support they need to graduate. I would like to thank them for making a difference in these young people's lives. I know these student will look back on this with fond memories.

Mr. Speaker, like I said on June 8th, I have to thank all the teachers, including Ms. Nathalie Lavoie, who is retiring at the end of this school year, all the principals, support staff from the Deh Cho Divisional Education Council, and other school support staff who worked just as hard to get these 17 to this stage. As well, I need to recognize and thank the communities, people who volunteer their time to offer out-of-school activities, friends, and most importantly family who were there to encourage them along the way. As well, it's time for them to be very proud of their graduates' success.

Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say that I know a majority of these young people. Their commitment and hard work has finally paid off, and tomorrow afternoon will certainly be one of the biggest moments in their lives. They have a lot more to achieve.

Today, I want to pass this message on to these young people: I wish them the best in whatever future endeavours they choose. Please remember, education is a lifetime journey and it does not stop tomorrow. As a big supporter of youth and education, I look forward to seeing what they do next with their lives. To those of younger youth, like the Bompas kindergarten and grade six students who had their graduation ceremony last Friday, take a look at this year's grads and realize, just like them, you have what it takes to succeed and you can be a grade 12 graduate, too, one day. Just keep working hard, keep taking the challenges head on, realize that mistakes are learning opportunity, and dream big.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate each and every graduate in the NWT, whether it is high school, college, or university, for the achievement they are celebrating this year. I applaud the parents, families, teachers, and communities for the support that they have shown their students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Member's statement. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I was thrilled to join the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women in New York in March for an important conference. We attended the 60thAnnual Meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, with women from around the world and across Canada. I was inspired by the work being done to prevent violence against women and children.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about one document that particularly impressed me. It's from Australia. "Change the Story" is a framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and children, published last year by a national organization called Our Watch. This report was peer-reviewed and it draws on evidence-based best practices.

Our Watch takes as a starting point that violence against women and their children is not inevitable and it is preventable. It is a prevalent and serious human rights abuse. Their goal is an Australia where women are not only safe, but respected, valued, and treated as equals in both private and public life. This goal is ambitious but realistic, if endorsed by the whole country.

Our Watch is responding to an urgent need for collective action. One woman is murdered by a current or former partner each week, and Australian police deal with over 600 calls a day related to domestic violence. Aboriginal women experience violence at twice the rate of non-Indigenous women. The scope of violence against women resonated for me, given that the high levels of violence against women in the NWT prompted us to describe family and community violence as a crisis in our mandate.

Their response resonated, as well. "Primary prevention requires changing the social conditions, such as gender equality, that excuse, justify, or even promote violence against women and their children." Primary prevention activities include social media campaigns, workplace initiatives, and school programs that change fundamental values and practises.

Everyone has a role to play. With government leading the way, a broad-based movement for change can and will bring about social transformation. Think about the campaigns to wear seat belts or end drunk driving, and you get the idea of the kind of movement they are talking about. Australia is a world leader in primary prevention, and it's time for us to join them. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le Président

. My statement today is on the proposed Prairie Creek Mine, its precarious financial position, and the environmental liability at the site. This property was first discovered in 1928 and almost went into production in 1982 before silver prices crashed. The site is currently owned by the Canadian Zinc Corporation.

According to a 2016 Pre-Feasibility Study for Canadian Zinc, the company requires about $244 million to take the property into production. In its 2015 annual filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company noted that it has incurred losses of over $109 million since its inception. Last year, it lost over $8 million alone. In the latest available financial statements to December 31, 2015, the auditors stated there is "substantial doubt about Canadian Zinc Corporation's ability to continue as a going concern." Over the last five years, its stock has dropped from about 75 to 25 cents a share.

On the financial security side, the Minister of Lands tabled information in this House earlier in this sitting indicating that GNWT now holds financial security of about $2 million in cash, cheques, and a guaranteed investment certificate. There may be an additional $250,000 under a surface lease. Unfortunately, that lease limits the environmental liability of Canadian Zinc to a totally inadequate reclamation plan negotiated by the federal government whereby buildings do not have to be removed and the tailings pond can be simply abandoned as is. That lease expired at the end of 2013 and is currently in an over-hold tenancy status, with an annual payment of $5,680. It is not clear if GNWT now holds this lease, and what, if any, actions have been taken to renew the lease and ensure there is proper and adequate financial security to cover the current conditions of the site.

The calculation of the current environmental liability at the site is a complex one that is clouded by previous ownership of the site. Canadian Zinc itself claimed the environmental liability of the site was $9 million in 2014. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, colleagues, and mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The federal government calculated the liability at over $19 million, should the site actually go into production. The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board settled on over $17 million. Clearly the financial security currently held would not allow for a proper remediation of the Prairie Creek site, and leaves the taxpayers at risk. In these times of fiscal restraint, this is not sound public policy. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Escort support of pregnant women is limited. I have had several constituents come to Yellowknife to have their baby, and not one of them had their spouse there to help them. It's not because they did not want to; it's because we do not have the support in place for fathers during the delivery of their children.

Mr. Speaker, it is a very special moment in the lives of families when a woman delivers a baby. I think we can all agree that we try to make it as comfortable as we can as an experience, in that special moment when a child is born. Mr. Speaker, this government has identified that we need to grow our population. You know, if we have a low population, that indeed it also reflects our Territorial Formula Financing.

Mr. Speaker, it is only practical to grow our population, that we ensure measures are in place to support families so that programs and services reach parents and children through our Northern communities and they can grow into large, vibrant, and abundant families. Mr. Speaker, supporting families, including support for fathers so they can play a big role in the delivery of the children, is important and integral, and I'll have questions for the Minister later on. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are all aware of NTCL's recent financial troubles. It's a territorial issue. Barging is an essential service for many of the communities up the Mackenzie and in the Arctic. Concerns about the delivery of fuel and other supplies have been addressed by multiple Members in this House.

Hay River is the base of operations for NTCL, and because of that we have additional concerns. Taking an educated guess, I would say NTCL probably has more land in Hay River than any other private entity, and probably by a large margin. Much of it is owned, but a fair amount is leased land. NT has operated out of Hay River for over 70 years. if they ultimately go under, there are serious concerns that these parcels of land will require extensive environmental remediation. There have also been barges sitting idle in the river for years, and there are questions about their effect on the environment.

The question is: who would be responsible for the clean-up of the lands and waterways? If leased lands are returned to the town, the Town of Hay River could be on the hook for millions. On top of this, the town is owed nearly $700,000 in unpaid property taxes.

Bankruptcy is not a foregone conclusion, but I'd like to know if the GNWT has a contingency plan as it relates to potential liabilities for the Town of Hay River. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a couple of individuals in the gallery today. My parents, Dick and Loretta Abernethy, are with us, as well as, all the way from Oxford, Nova Scotia, my aunt Diane Harrot is with us. This is the first time she's been to the Northwest Territories. Welcome to the gallery, welcome to the Northwest Territories. It's great to see you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to take this opportunity to recognize our colleague's parents. They are also Yellowknife North residents, Dick and Loretta Abernethy, and of course Auntie Diane visiting. I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, Deneen Everett. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure today to recognize Emmanuel Lamvu, who is sitting to your right. He and his fellow student, Ivan Ceria, have been pages here and they are at the William McDonald School in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Deneen Everett, executive director for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. Thanks for doing all the hard work advocating for small businesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, welcome to the Chamber. It's always great to have an audience. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. The GNWT has already set out a clear road map heeding the TRC's Call to Action, tabling Meeting the Challenge of Reconciliation last October. My question I'd like to ask the Premier is: what is the government doing to follow up on these commitments as a one-year anniversary of the TRC? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are working with all of the governments across Canada, and of course the Government of Canada, to make sure that all of the recommendations are followed up on. I guess the biggest area for us to follow up on is for residential school survivors that have indicated there is additional need for healing and reconciliation, and so we will be looking into what further action we should be taking in those areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Premier for his reply. Mr. Speaker, when the Assembly of First Nations created the federal government on its delivery of the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People, the government earned an A grade on only one thing, and that was establishing a national Aboriginal Day. I would like to ask the Premier, will he commit to formally request that the federal government follow the NWT's lead in making Aboriginal Day a fully-fledged statutory holiday?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe previous governments have done so, and we're quite prepared to do the same.

That's appreciated, and I think that there might be some further consideration at the federal level given to that if we were to raise it again, so thank you to the Premier for that commitment. Then lastly, for the interests of the public, can the Premier describe how the GNWT will be recognizing Aboriginal Day in 2016?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government first and foremost, and the only jurisdiction in Canada has recognized this as a statutory holiday.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the weekend of March 1st, there was some concerns raised about who you need to contact to get information on smaller airports. In the past, it was a regional staff, but I've heard this has changed. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Transportation please advise the House when it comes to dealing with afterhours issues for smaller airports, they do not have government staff. Who do they contact, and is there a 1-800 number? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I missed the very last part of the Member's question, if it was a 1-800 number, but we take all airport safety and issues seriously in the smaller communities. If you cannot contact a local contractor, I suspect you can get right hold of the Department of Airports, which would be our local director.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess my question is if you're going to be contacting the NWT or the Department of Transportation, is it a regional contact or is it a territorial Yellowknife contact?

It probably depends on the issue, the concern that the people will have, so you can actually go through the regional person or come right directly to headquarters.

I guess I should have clarified. These are after-hours issues on weekends. In the past, it's been my understanding, what I've been told by people in the communities that there was a regional contact. Now, it is territorial contract. Can the Minister confirm this is the practice?

Any 24-hour issues that they may have with some of these airports, there's always a duty manager on location in Yellowknife. There's a flight supplement number, which could be accessed through a 1-8-7-7 number, which I can provide to the Member anytime they want. Airline companies, I suspect, are the ones that are having these issues, and they're probably well aware of this number, but we'll gladly share that with the Member anytime he wants.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer, and that's great to hear there's a 1-8-7-7 number. When the Minister talked about the contact being duty officer in Yellowknife, was this always the practice to have the duty office in Yellowknife deal with it, or was it a regional office? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Centralizing the functions of the duty manager resulted in the department saving over a quarter million dollars by identifying more effective and cost-saving practices for answering calls received afterhours.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I tabled some correspondence for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce that advocates to decrease the small business tax rates to two per cent, and the larger business tax rate by one per cent, which would give the Northwest Territories the lowest and most competitive tax rates for businesses in Canada. The Minister of Finance indicated he supports this recommendation.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as part of our mandate, I believe the support to small businesses was part of the 18thLegislative Assembly's mandate, and it is something that we would have to consider. We're going through an exercise and a budget session right now. We will be taking part in our business planning process in September, and we know it is part of the mandate. It is a concern of many of the Members in this Assembly, so as we continue to go forward, we will explore the possibility.

I can say that we have probably about 50 per cent of our small business is in the Northwest Territories, I believe, don't pay any tax at all, but having said that, recognizing that it is in the mandate and a priority of many of the Members, it's something that we would have to consider.

Not sure if that was a clear commitment to the recommendation, but I appreciate that the Minister's speaking about developing approach. Can I take that to mean that by the next budget, Mr. Speaker, we will have a small business tax cut continued in that budget?

Mr. Speaker, I can't make that commitment here as to what's going to be in the next budget without going through the budget planning process, and as part of that process is the business planning process in September, which we take part in along with the Regular Members. So I'm sure the issue will be raised at the time, and it's something that we can determine then, if it's financially viable to include into next year's budget cycle.

Mr. Speaker, certainly, we on this side of the House can advocate for things, but the department needs to drive the bus. Will the department be bringing forward in their next business plan a tax cut for small businesses?

I appreciate the Member letting the department drive the bus when it's convenient for Members on the other side. We will work with the Members as we have committed to do, and bring in a lot of the issues in the mandate forward. There's times where we try being erased to the bottom with the other jurisdictions across the country as far as business tax go, and in our case, because of the high cost of delivering programs and services up here, it gets to be a little unaffordable.

I have made the commitment to work with Members opposite when we go through our business planning process, and as we develop our Main Estimates for next year.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, year on year, corporate tax revenue has shrunk. I think that sends a signal that we are losing investment. Measures like this send a clear signal that the North is open for business, and we aren't drawing much from our small tax, our small taxes anyway. It's a sacrifice that will result in economic growth. It's supported by many in the Northwest Territories, including our business community. I'd like the Minister to give a firmer commitment that it will be in the business plan for the fall sitting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, there's a number of reasons why business is not as lively across the Northwest Territories as it usually is. Part of it is because of lack of investment, and what we're trying to do going through the exercise that we're going through now is to have more money that we can invest into more opportunities for our businesses to take advantage of some of the money that we will make available.

Again, it is an issue that needs further discussion, and I have committed to being a part of those discussions with the Members across the floor, and with my Cabinet colleagues as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The most recent anti-violence campaign in the NWT was called What Will It Take. It was aimed at changes by standard responses to violence against women. Can the Health and Social Services Minister report on what that campaign accomplished, including how many people took the workshops and where they were offered? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member has indicated, the campaign was intended to break down some of the myths and stigma that exist around family violence and create awareness. The program has had a number of workshops delivered across the Northwest Territories. In 2015-2016, as an example, there were 26 workshops that took place. Twelve of those were facilitated by the Status of Women with 146 participants in communities across the Northwest Territories. We also had other facilitators providing the workshop. FOXY facilitated 14 sessions for youth across the Northwest Territories. I don't have the participation numbers for the number of people who attended the FOXY sessions, but I will get that information and share it with the Member and committee.

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. Does the Minister have an evaluation of this campaign that he could share with the House, other than strictly relying on participation numbers?

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the Department of Health and Social Services worked with the Program Review Office to develop a comprehensive evaluation of framework for the What Will It Take campaign. Based on this frame work, the new participation feedback forms are being developed, and they will be completed in time to provide to participants during the 2016-17 delivery of What Will It Take, and that will help us get the information and evaluate the effectiveness of the program long-term.

Thank you to the Minister. It's good to hear that these plans are in place and going forward. How does the Minister plan to follow up the What Will It Take campaign, or alternatively, can he advise us how long this campaign will run for?

Mr. Speaker, the department has $82,000 in annual funding, and ongoing funding which was available to implement What Will It Take training across the Northwest Territories. We're looking at branching out and launching a broader media campaign to create awareness of the program, but also to start working to break down some of the other myths that exist around family violence.

We have been attending the community healthy living fairs that have been taking part in the Northwest Territories and we’ve been promoting What Will It Take. We intend to keep running this program. How it looks in the future will depend completely on the evaluations and the effectiveness, which we'll be in a better position to assess once the questionnaires have come in after the 2016-17 delivery of the What Will It Take campaign.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you to the Minister for that. My last question is in reference to the change to the strategy, sorry, Change the Story strategy which I referenced in my statement. What would it take for the Minister to create a territorial primary prevention strategy on violence against women?

Mr. Speaker, we work in cooperation between the departments, and addressing family violence is a priority for the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Social Services. Education, Culture and Employment clearly has a role in helping break down some of this with younger people and youth, and the Status of Women certainly as a partnership. We work together trying to come up with mechanisms and programs that will help us break down the stigma and reduce family violence.

I hear the Member. I'm not familiar with the program that she is describing. I'd certainly love to sit down with the Member and committee and get a bit of an update on what she has learned and see if we can share that with departments to move forward, to continue to combat violence against women and children in the Northwest Territories.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Sunday will be Father's Day. I'm hoping that the Minister of Health and Social Services could deliver some good news. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister of Health and Social Services please explain the existing support for families during the delivery of their children?

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are physicians across the Northwest Territories providing obstetrics services. We also have midwifery services in Fort Smith, Hay River, as well as the MORE OB program up in Beaufort Delta, and we have birthing here in the Northwest Territories. Unfortunately, and I think it's to the Member's point, there are individuals that do have to come out of their smaller communities to centres like Yellowknife or Fort Smith, Hay River, or Inuvik to facilitate birthing. To bring those individuals in, the mothers, we do bring them in on medical travel and we do provide, whether it's one of our boarding homes or other mechanisms, places for them to stay when they have to come to one of the centres. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for acknowledging that. Our challenge with supporting family, yet from small communities, pregnant women have to be brought here for their own safety and wellbeing at Yellowknife, and they stay here for extended periods of time, and they're separated from their children. Can the Minister explain, how does the department support fathers to ensure that they could be with their spouses during the special moment at delivery?

Mr. Speaker, unless there's a clinical need, medical travel isn't available or escorts aren't available for birthing mothers who have to come to one of the centres, and it is up to the family, the father, to find their own way to the central location where the birthing is going to take place.

Mr. Speaker, there's been discussions in terms of the efficiencies in terms of government spending and revenues, and one of the focus points has been the issue of medical travel. Will the Minister commit if there is perhaps down the road an opportunity to review the program, would the Minister commit to ensure that the involvement of fathers during the delivery of their children is considered with the view of trying to support families in that special moment?

Mr. Speaker, medical travel is actually currently being reviewed and one of the pillars that is being reviewed is escorts when and how they should be supported. We did go out for public engagement. We got a significant amount of feedback from residents across the Northwest Territories as well as other stakeholders and we are moving forward with that plan. I’ll have a conversation with the department, certainly, and I’m certainly willing to continue to have a dialogue and discussion with the Members across the floor about what we should be covering under escorts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t hear a commitment from the Minister. Will he commit once again to support the review of medical travel at the same time with the view of support and follows to be involved and besides their spouses, during the moment of delivery of their children? Yes or no? Masi.

I’m not going to commit at this time to covering fathers during birth, but I will certainly look at exploring the possibility of how we can be, you know, provide better support and other mechanisms. But at the end of the day, our medical travel is incredibly expensive. We have escorts for certain criteria. Criteria like a patient who is under 19 years of age who needs an escort. A patient who is breastfeeding an infant and requires an escort. A patient who has a medical or physical disability of a nature that they require an escort. There’s a lot of criteria that we have to apply and in the situation of birthing, those situations may not apply unless there’s a clinical need on behalf of the mother. But we will certainly look at it, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral question. Member of Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about NTCL. My questions are for the Minister of MACA and he might have to tap into his expertise in Finance and Lands as well.

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NTCL owes about $685,000 in property taxes, last time I checked, to the town of Hay River. Does the department have a contingency plan for this money, if NT can’t pay it, as the town’s an unsecured creditor? Or is the town expected to absorb this cost? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my first advice to the town would be to seek some advice from their lawyer or their accountant and in fact, I would advise all communities that find themselves in this similar situation to seek the proper advice. If the $685,000, or $600,000, just close to $700,000 is owed for property taxes, the town does have the ability to explore the recovery taxes as per the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

s I stated earlier, NT’s probably the largest holder of land in Hay River, by quite a large margin. Is the government aware of how much land will revert back to the GNWT if NTCL does go bankrupt or how much will revert to the town or how much will revert to the feds.

The Member is correct. The company does own a large number of properties in Hay River. As for the actual number of which ones are, if any are GNWT owned, I would have to follow-up and get that more detailed information and how much is owned by the town. So I’ll commit to the Member that I’ll try, I’ll work to get a breakdown of exactly where these properties are from, if they’re leased, they’re owned and I will provide that information to the Member.

I thank the Minister for that. My next question is the town, the land that does revert to the town or the GNWT, well, I guess the town is my concern. Much of it is going to need environmental remediation. I mean, NT’s been there for 70 years, there’s you know, hydrocarbon contamination on a lot of the sites. There’s contamination from paint, from all this kind of stuff. So is the town responsible for the environmental remediation? Because it could be tens of millions.

Mr. Speaker, the environmental remediation would be the responsibility of the owners. So if the town owns the land, responsibility for remediation would be theirs. If the GNWT owns the land, then the responsibility for the remediation would be the GNWTs. We have an Environmental Liabilities Committee, which would do an assessment whether contamination exists on the land and so the land would go to on our environmental liabilities list and would be remediated according to the GNWT priority and procedures. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where whoever owns the property would be responsible for the remediation.

Masi. Oral question. Member of Hay River North.

I believe this is my last question. My fourth.

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I’m also concerned about the waterways because there’s been barges sitting idle for years and I’m wondering who’s going to be responsible for the clean-up of that? Is that a federal responsibility or is that something the GNWT is going to help out with?

Mr. Speaker, as far as the waterways go, that would still be a federal responsibility, so it seems that in this case, it could be, you know, the town has some interest in it, the GNWT may have some interest in it and the Government of Canada may have some interest. So I think it would be wise for the three organizations to get together and decide a plan to do some remediation if the company goes, I mean, the company is in receivership, so we’ll have to come up with a plan going forward. But I do know on the government side of it though, we do have our committee that would do an assessment on any remediation that we might be responsible for.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Maybe it’s environmental liabilities day or week. I apologize, I didn’t give the Minister much heads up on this. It’s been a busy week. Earlier this week, I made a statement about the significant financial security shortfall for the Cantung mine and how our government really didn’t deal with the issue after we inherited the site under devolution. Today, though, I made a statement about the significant financial security shortfall for the Prairie Creek site. Can the Minister of Lands tell this House whether the GNWT holds the surface lease for the Prairie Creek site? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Lands.

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes, the administration and control of the site has been transferred to the GNWT. However, through provisions of the Devolution Agreement, any historic liabilities are still the responsibility of Canada.

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. There are terms and conditions in that lease that limit the liability of Canadian Zinc and leave GNWT taxpayers at risk of having to pick up the unfunded liability of the site, which could be as little as $6.5 million or perhaps as much as $19 million. That lease is also in over-hold tenancy right now. Would the Minister tell this House what actions he is taking to close the financial security shortfall under the lease?

Mr. Speaker, as the Member noted, the current lease is in an over-holding tenancy and production is not allowed on this lease. Under the NWT Lands Act, the company will need to negotiate a new surface lease that allows for production and at that time, we’ll negotiate updated securities in the context of the most up-to-date reclamation plan. The Member is correct that there is some liability that’s held there and he mentioned the figure 2 million and out of that, $250,000 was for the surface lease.

I appreciate the response from the Minister. The issue is, the security under the lease is not going to cover what’s actually at the site now. The issue is this company is having some financial issues. I outlined the financial warning signals on Prairie Creek in my Members’ statement. Can the Minister tell us what work his department does to monitor and track the financial stability of companies where we hold financial security and if we have developed thresholds or triggers for us taking action and the action might include things like bumping up security or turning the site back to the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, as I said in my opening response, the federal government has accepted responsibility for historical remediation or liabilities. However, on a go-forward basis, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, they monitor the activities of the mineral and development petroleum companies operating in the NWT and including the financial status of the company and the work is delivered through ITI’s financial analysis and royalties administration division. As much as we would like all the companies operating in the NWT to be financially stable, our main concern is to ensure that we have all the proper securities in place so that if they were to have some financial trouble, at least we would have the protection of remediating any liabilities that might occur.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I appreciate the answer. In the absence of any action by our government to ensure full and adequate security for Prairie Creek, it’ll be increasingly difficult to demonstrate due diligence. Without due diligence, it will be harder and harder to turn this site back to the federal government.

The clock is ticking and we have less than three years to sort it out. Can the Minister commit now to voluntarily turn the Prairie Creek site back to the federal government to avoid us picking up the expenses of remediating another contaminated site? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that any remediation that needs to be done at this site when it was, now, is the responsibility of the federal government. On a go-forward basis, we need to ensure that as the Member said, we need to ensure that we’re doing our due diligence to ensure that this government and the people in NWT are adequately protected when we have these sites going up.

I’ll explore this further and see if there’s any options out there. We want to ensure that we protect anything that we’re responsible for since taking over those responsibilities through devolution.

Oral Questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister for Transparency and Public Engagement let members of the public and Members of this House know how the Open Government Policy is coming along? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Transparency and Public Engagement.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Of course, this is one of the topics that’s going to be on our agenda for the summer caucus. We are doing research in this area and we’ll hopefully be presenting some options to caucus when we meet in the summer.

Has the Minister reached out to other jurisdictions and learned what they are doing with open government policies? I know that the federal government has made a commitment to having open government policy by next year.

Mr. Speaker, we have looked at initiatives that are taking place in other jurisdictions. Hopefully, they will provide some guidance to us as to the options that we will be looking at in our jurisdiction.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister intend to have a work plan or a schedule completed by the end of the fiscal year? Can he make that commitment?