The Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have an Aging in Place Strategy that we're following here in the Northwest Territories. Actually, in the previous Assembly, we had already agreed to go out and do some work to review homecare services in the Northwest Territories. That review is currently underway. Once that review is done, I have an opportunity to speak to committee on how we can actually enhance homecare services here in the Northwest Territories, whether it's through new programs or whether it's through modified programs, but it needs to focus on providing services in communities. Once that work is done, I will be in a better position to have a conversation with the public and with committee on how we can enhance and improve homecare services for all of our residents here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to ask if the Minister has had any discussion with federal counterparts in the area of increased homecare support from the federal government.

I did have a meeting with a federal Minister when we were at the most recent federal/provincial/territorial meeting. We did talk about seniors. We did talk about aging in place. We do understand that there is going to be some dollars available through the federal government, but we haven't got clear indication of exactly how those dollars can be spent and what they can be spent for. But there is certain going to be money available for social infrastructure through the federal government at some point. We will certainly keep committee and Members apprised of our discussions with them, so when we know something, they know something.

I'd like to ask the Minister if there will be more education and training for homecare workers in the NWT, should the money roll out? I don't want to make it a hypothetical question. I want to ask the Minister if there will be more education and training for future homecare workers in the NWT.

The homecare review that we're doing right now isn’t dependent upon the federal government. We're doing that work because it's necessary. Once we complete that work, we’ll be in a better position to actually have a conversation with committee and the public about how or what needs to be done around homecare. I wouldn't think it's too much of a stretch to assume that we need to look at our programs and provide different, maybe alternate training, than we currently do, so that we can help people age in their communities, which we know is better for patients and residents and clients to stay in their homes and age in their homes for as long as they can until it is no longer safe. I anticipate there will be training, but I can't say at all what that might look like today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm trying to avoid a hypothetical question. Has the Minister and the department talked about the use of homecare nurses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Homecare services that we provide are a wide range of services. Not of all of it is nursing services. We do provide homecare nurses in a number of communities and regions throughout the Northwest Territories, but we do provide home support workers in every community in the Northwest Territories, with the exception, I believe, of two. We actually have contract relationships with those communities to provide some of those services. It may not be practical to assume that we'll ever get to a position where we can have a homecare nurse in every community of the Northwest Territories, but we are certainly looking for ways to enhance our services, whether that's additional home support workers, or maybe nurses in some regions where appropriate and where practical.

Mahsi. Item 7, oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's Opening Address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled, “2016/2017 Marketing Plan, Northwest Territories Tourism.”

Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled, “Public Accounts 2014-2015.”

Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I talked about the document “We Live Here For Caribou

,”

a cumulative impacts study on the Bathurst caribou herd. I'd like to table this document.

Mahsi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Whereas

Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 has been tabled in this House;

And whereas

the Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 requires detailed consideration;

Now therefore, I move,

seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be referred to Committee of the of the Whole for consideration.

Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried. Motion is referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019; Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates 2016-2017; Tabled Document 3-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2015-2016; Tabled Document 4-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operation Expenditures), No. 3, 2015-2016, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

Mr. Chairman, the committee would like to begin the review of Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019.

The Committee will take a short recess and discuss the matter when we get back.

---SHORT RECESS I now call Committee of the Whole to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document No. 1-18(2) titled, “Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019.” I will turn to Premier McLeod for opening comments.

One of the priorities set by all Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly is to improve governance through more accountability, transparency, and collaboration. The development of this government's mandate is the first step to achieving that priority and strengthening consensus government. For the first time in the NWT, we have tabled a proposed government mandate. The mandate explains how the government will advance the priorities established by all Members of the Assembly this past December. The mandate enhances accountability by producing clear commitments that elected representatives and the public can point to when asking questions of government Ministers. The government's proposed mandate enhances the transparency of the GNWT because elected representatives and the public can now better understand how the government gets from the Assembly's 25 priorities to a particular set of programs and services. Finally, development of the mandate has increased collaboration by creating a dialogue between all members about the best way to achieve our priorities. MLAs have helped Cabinet to focus, strengthen, and clarify our commitments. Overall, the mandate enhances accountability, transparency, and collaboration by having the debate about the mandate right here in public on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. Through the priority-setting process, all Members decided what was important to prioritize. Through this mandate, Cabinet is proposing how to accomplish those priorities in ways that are effective and affordable. The purpose of developing the mandate was to make strategic choices. All of us knew coming into this Assembly that our resources would be finite and that the economic climate would be difficult. The process of developing the mandate has allowed us as Members to have a conversation about what choices are most strategic and why, before we get into the business planning details of how much and how fast.

As a result of your feedback, we've added commitments to communicate to our residents the potential risks and benefits associated with various resource development options; strengthen our commitment to land use planning; expand pathways to graduation; acknowledge Housing First as a proven method to address homelessness; reflect the importance of the fishery to food security and our economy; prioritize mental health supports in schools; fully support the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; be clear about our commitments to resolving outstanding land, resource, and self-government agreements; work with the Government of Canada to reduce the cost of living by improving Nutrition North and lowering taxation; and advance the principles of open government by making the GNWT a better government. This mandate is responsive to the majority of views expressed in Caucus. It commits us to a course that is ambitious, but within our means. I welcome discussion and debate on the proposed mandate before ultimately putting the mandate to a vote.