Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to supporting elders by building more seniors’ supported independent living units and marketing maintenance, renovation, and mobility upgrades to help seniors age in place.

I would like to advise Members that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is delivering on these commitments with five nine-unit seniors’ buildings in Aklavik, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Good Hope, and Whati. In each of these buildings, eight units will be occupied by seniors, and one unit will be designated as a caretaker unit. Designed in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Services, these buildings include common areas where therapeutic and lifestyle programming can be delivered directly to seniors. These buildings will let our seniors live longer in communities and may prevent early admission to long-term care facilities.

The Aklavik seniors’ complex, the Joe Greenland Centre was completed in the fall of 2015. The Fort Liard seniors’ complex is near completion and will be ready for occupancy within the next month. The Fort McPherson, Fort Good Hope and Whati seniors’ nine-plexes are scheduled for completion in the late fall 2016. These units are operated under the public housing program. Currently, there are 356 public housing units across the territory that are designated for seniors and that have had modifications incorporated that improve accessibility.

To meet the needs of an aging population, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is incorporating specific accessibility features in all new public housing units, whether or not they are intended for occupants with mobility challenges. These visitable design features include a no-step entrance area, wider doorways, and a bathroom on the main floor. Other visitable design features may include reinforced bathroom walls for grip bars, levered door handles, raised electrical outlets, and lowered light switches.

For seniors who need preventative maintenance, repair assistance, or modifications to improve accessibility in their own homes, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is consolidating a program information package to inform seniors and their families about assistance available to age in place. To further support senior homeowners, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation will meet with seniors in their own homes to increase access to preventative maintenance. Application processes can sometimes be confusing and challenging. We will be proactive in contacting seniors and deliver multi-year services rather than one-time applications, greatly enhancing access for seniors.

As June is Seniors’ Month, Mr. Speaker, we should all take time to celebrate our seniors and reflect on how important a resource they are. Seniors are never far from the thoughts of our government, especially given the coming demographic changes. The population of seniors in the Northwest Territories is forecasted to nearly double by 2031. Meeting the needs of our growing seniors population will need to be a focus for all of us in the coming years. The federal government has also recognized this changing demographic and has allocated one and a half million dollars to support seniors’ housing needs over the next two years within the Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is working in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services to respond to the growing numbers of seniors in our population and ensure that our government is positioned to address the housing and long-term care needs of seniors, so they can remain in their own homes and their own communities as long as possible and be assured of appropriate options if the time comes when they need a higher level of support. Mr. Speaker, we will do a better job communicating our programs for seniors and ensuring that they can be easily accessed. Our seniors deserve that. I know that everyone in the House views seniors as a priority. These actions will help our seniors age in place, and in so doing, improve their wellness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House today due to illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating one of my constituents from the hamlet of Aklavik: Ms. Davina McLeod. Ms. McLeod was recently recognized by Sport North and awarded the 2015-2016 Female Athlete of the Year. Mr. Speaker, at a young age, Davina was taught how to skate by her father, Dave McLeod, and how to compete competitively at hockey tournaments. The support from her mother, Nina McLeod, has never stopped. Regardless of where Davina had to travel, Nina was in the stands cheering on her

favourite

hockey star. Mr. Speaker, in March, at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games, the female hockey team made history, with Davina the captain of the team. They went on to win first place in Iqaluit. This is the first time that Team NWT female hockey won gold in the history of the Arctic Winter Games.

Mr. Speaker, at the all-native hockey tournament in Whitehorse, Davina played on a team with her brother and cousins. Their team made it to the finals. After three periods and a tie game, they went to OT and still no score. The game went to a shoot-out and the only goal came from none other than Davina herself. Davina was named most valuable player for the tournament.

Mr. Speaker, Davina also played numerous times in the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Cup. She has participated at various Canada Winter Games as well as the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. Mr. Speaker, aside from her hockey career, she has excelled in soccer and baseball. Mr. Speaker, she also graduated this past weekend. Mr. Speaker, the 2015-2016 Female Athlete of the Year: Ms. Davina McLeod. Mahsi cho.

Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

A lot of opportunities are critical to our small communities, as is the case with many of my colleagues, and any community in my riding. One or two positions makes a big difference. A single job loss has a ripple effect through families and will be noticed at school, the store, and the local RCMP detachment, for example. New jobs are few and far between. Like anywhere, job loss is a major disruption to a person's lifestyle.

So, Mr. Speaker, I was not surprised when the Chief of Fort Resolution was upset that ENR had reduced the number of seasonal fire fighters it is hiring to the communities due to changes made in the fire crew configuration. Mr. Speaker, I share his frustration. Two positions is an unacceptable impact to Fort Resolution. I agree that changing the configuration of fire crews has some merit, but it is unfair to the communities like Fort Resolution who will see fewer seasonal positions as a result.

Mr. Speaker, even if ENR thinks the overall distribution of resources is more efficient, the redistribution and the loss should not be borne by seasonal workers in small communities. It does not reflect the value of local employment to residents in rural and remote communities.

Mr. Speaker, the individuals who might have been hired as fire fighters this season are capable of working. Although, the total number of firefighters across the NWT has not changed, those people do not have jobs. There are opportunities in the warehouse to work as backup or another part of the GNWT. Some people thrive on the seasonal nature of firefighting work and the flexibility that provides. GNWT programs need seasonal workers with flexible hours. I can think of one individual who does not fit that 8:30-to-five office work, but this person would be an excellent youth officer from after school to maybe eight or nine at night. Mr. Speaker, ENR took steps to minimize the impacts of the change.

Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, your time has expired for Members’ statements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ENR took steps to minimize the impacts of the change to crew configuration by offering more permanent jobs. When it comes to small communities, people are much more vulnerable in situations of job loss. Mr. Speaker, the loss of seasonal positions in Fort Resolution is unacceptable. The precedent it sets is a critical issue not only for my riding, for all small communities across the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, recently the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines and the Mining Association of Canada commissioned a survey conducted by Abacus Data. It clearly shows that the citizens of the North overwhelmingly support the mining and exploration industry. More to it, Northerners not only believe the industry's economic contributions are substantial, but that our safety and environmental standards go beyond regular expectations. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, our residents believe that the development of new mines is a positive contribution to our economy and that this government must further support this key industry.

To add more clarity, let's delve into the survey numbers. Mr. Speaker, 86 per cent of the respondents believe a strong mining sector is vital to the long-term health of the NWT economy; 83 per cent say regulation of the sector works well; and 82 per cent would like to see more mining projects in the NWT. That translates into eight out of ten people having a positive outlook on the mining and mineral exploration industry.

Mr. Speaker, though these numbers are almost resoundingly optimistic, 84 per cent are still worried about the future of the NWT economy. Frankly, this is unacceptable. We have a responsibility, as leaders in this territory, to soothe the fears of our residents of our dismal economic expectations while also offering a real plan for growth and job creation. Clearly, a lot of faith is where these solutions lie in the industry that contributes almost 40 per cent of our GDP: mining and mineral exploration.

This budget now proposes to grow the mining industry by increasing the mining incentive program, both with no new mines opening other than small grassroots projects, unsettled land claims, and with little or no new investment for the private sector. I am obliged to ask: where exactly is this government's often-touted Mineral Development Strategy? When is it going to deliver real results for our economy? Mr. Speaker, according to the survey, 88 per cent of our people believe that the 18thAssembly is supportive of the mining and mineral exploration industry. I urge the government to prove to the residents of the NWT that their confidence in this House and in this government is not unfounded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday and today was a learning opportunity for myself as we started going through the Department of Education's mains. As many may have heard in the Committee of the Whole, I was very disappointed to hear that we lost two half-time positions within the department. One was a vacant position that was moved to the North Slave and the other one was to be eliminated as part of the reduction plan. I was really concerned because I was not aware of the eliminated position.

Mr. Speaker, as we were going through the business plans, the departments identified potential reductions whether it was program, services, or staffing. The proposed reductions were clearly identified by the departments during committee and by the Finance Minister during many briefings. During this time, the committee identified their concerns with the proposed reduction and provided the department and the Finance Minister with our recommendations. This led to another round of discussions about the proposals. This was challenging, but as I was finding out, this is all part of the consensus government.

However, yesterday during the Committee of the Whole, as we were going through the Department of Education mains, we had a hiccup. It seems that we had two half-time positions removed from the Dehcho. When I questioned the Minister about these reductions, he said they did go before committee with all the reductions and all the information provided to committee. My reply was that I thank the Minister for his answer but I regretfully disagree. I go on to say that at no point was I aware that these positions were going to be cut. This leads to my second lesson today. As I was doing research on the cuts, after speaking with research, the Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Finance’s special advisor, we were able to find out there was only one half-time position being transferred to the North Slave, which was vacant for a long time in Dehcho. The other half-time position was not going to be eliminated in the Dehcho.

Therefore, when I make a mistake, I own up to it as my father tells me to do. The Minister of Education was correct that the half-time position was identified in the business plan. I apologize to him and his department. As well, I am happy to tell the people in the Nahendeh riding that there were no positions being reduced from this department. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the research department, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and the Minister of Finance's special advisor for helping clear up this issue. As I said before, this was a learning opportunity to get better as an MLA and to better understand dealing with the business plans in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, hunger is a reality in the North. Caregivers can't afford to feed their children a balanced meal. They reduce the size of their kids' meals because they don't have enough food. They are going hungry themselves because they can't afford to buy food. Some lose weight as a result. These findings are part of a report by Food Banks Canada with the title, "What Will It Take to Make Real Progress on Northern Food Security?" It was published last month.

Mr. Speaker, 20 per cent of NWT households don't have enough food. Why not? Because of the high cost of store-bought food, because of the high cost of going out on the land, and because of the decline in the number of animals harvested for food. These are a few of the many reasons the report gives. Here in Yellowknife, Food Rescue distributes 200,000 kilograms of food discarded by grocery stores each year to schools, soup kitchens, and low-income families in need. Volunteers across the NWT have established soup kitchens and food banks. In fact, Food Banks Canada estimates food bank usage has increased across all three northern territories by 247, yes, that is 247 per cent, since 2008.

Mr. Speaker, let me provide some numbers which explain this increase. The federal government has estimated that food for a family of four costs $23,000 annually. Yet, half of the households in the small communities of the NWT have income below $30,000 a year. That equation equals hunger. Mr. Speaker, it is a shocking fact that households who rely on government income are those most likely not to have enough food at home, according to the report. This is a fact acknowledged by the GNWT when, in 2015, it raised the food allowance for income assistance clients for the first time in six years. The Finance Minister of the day said that the food allowance would be increased annually until it caught up to the Market Basket Measure. But there was no increase in this budget. Increases are scheduled for the next two years. Mr. Speaker, the Food Bank’s report makes recommendations which provide long-term solutions rather than opening more food banks. I want to highlight the recommendation to increase support for the consumption of traditional food with programs that increase access to the land as well.

Member of Yellowknife Centre, your time has expired for Members' statements.

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The territorial government has a role to play in lobbying the federal government to expand and improve the Nutrition North Canada Subsidy. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of an ombudsman. Mr. Speaker, during last fall's election, we were told by residents loud and clear that they wanted openness, transparency, and accessibility in government. This Assembly has responded. We focused on openness in the selection of the Cabinet. We enshrined it in our mandate. The government has even designated a Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency.

Mr. Speaker, all these are moves in the right direction and we should go further. One important way to do this is to establish the Office of the Ombudsman. An ombudsman is a public representative who looks into situations where ordinary citizens feel they have not been treated fairly by government. An ombudsman can help people understand their rights and investigate imbalance or unfairness in how people are treated. An ombudsman is a neutral investigator resolving disputes, analyzing how the government works, and helping it serve people better. Mr. Speaker, as MLAs, it is an important part of our job to be available to our constituents, to assist them with the concerns about how government affects their lives. That is a part of this job that I eagerly take on because the ability to help constituents is at the heart of public service. We live in a complicated world and this is a complex government. In that environment, it is easy to imagine where different interpretation or application of different laws or regulations can wind up in a situation of uneven or unfair treatment. In fact, we are aware of some individuals' matters that have been unresolved for years. An ombudsman can help make sure citizens aren't left behind by the complexity of government. If someone is treated unfairly or unequally, an ombudsman can ensure he or she has an avenue to understand the process and address the inequality. It can help government be more efficient by correcting areas where the system should work better. Mr. Speaker, nine provinces and the Yukon have ombudsman offices. The importance of the office is illustrated by Yukon, in fact. Its office began as part-time and became full-time in 2013 because of the high demand. It recently expanded to a five-person office. Yukon has also adapted its legislation to allow Aboriginal governments to request ombudsman services. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous concept to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we committed in the mandate to develop legislation within two years to create this office. That was the right thing to do. It is an important element of government openness and accessibility. I urge the government to maintain this commitment as a high priority. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice regarding this important matter at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.