This is page numbers 83 – 126 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 electoral.

Topics

Consensus Government
Members' Statements

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during debate in this esteemed House, some Honourable Members took our unique form of consensus government to task in its failure to deliver a binding result of non-confidence in a Member of the Executive Council.

Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear in stating my opinion that events surrounding the Mid-Term Review do not represent a failure of consensus government. Rather, it was a failure of good governance. Consensus government is not defined by how we choose our leaders or how we hold them accountable. Our system is based on the role of Honourable Members to get their fingerprints on legislation and spending decisions. Through our strong committee system and generous information sharing between Cabinet and Regular Members, each Member is afforded great opportunities to contribute to the development of our laws and how public funds are invested in our communities.

Good governance is another matter, Mr. Speaker. There is nothing inherent to consensus government that prohibits accountability mechanisms like the Mid-Term Review. In respect to holding government accountable, Regular Members serve as an unofficial opposition and work to represent the concerns of their constituents when government is failing to deliver results. Suggestions that accountability mechanisms like the Mid-Term Review or opposing what the Cabinet and Premier bring forward is party politics is simply false, Mr. Speaker. It is part of our jobs as Regular Members. It is the duty of this side of the House to ask tough questions and, yes, to make tough decisions when Cabinet is not performing in its duties.

Mr. Speaker, I share the frustration of my honourable friends on this side of the House who have criticized Cabinet's outrageous approach to the Mid-Term Review. They acted in bad faith. I think we deserve an apology, and the people of the Northwest Territories deserve an apology for how they handled the Mid-Term Review. But I do not believe that consensus government is dead, nor do I believe that it is dying. Now is the time for reform, to strengthen our ability as Regular Members to hold government to account, and to establish new, transparent rules and conventions that will restore trust in the public that our government is accountable to the people it serves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Consensus Government
Members' Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Climate Change Audit
Members' Statements

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Yesterday, the Auditor General of Canada released a very critical report on our government's management of climate change. Every jurisdiction in Canada is undergoing a similar audit to allow for some comparisons, best practices, and lessons learned, with a roll-up final report in 2018. While the NWT is a very small contributor to Canada's GHG emissions at 0.2 per cent, the effects are already being felt here, and we will experience some of the greatest impacts. We must do our fair share of mitigation and adaptation.

Environment and Natural Resources was reviewed as the lead department responsible for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. The Department of Infrastructure was also reviewed in terms of its energy efficiency mandate and impacts on infrastructure. The audit reviewed whether the departments took adequate steps to meet stated commitments on mitigation and adaptation.

The audit found, and these are direct quotes, Mr. Speaker, that:

• ENR did not develop a territorial strategy to adapt to climate change;

• ENR did not fulfill its commitment to provide departments and communities with information needed to take action on climate change;

• The territorial greenhouse gas strategy did not have a significant impact on reducing emission levels; and

• ENR did not address long-standing deficiencies affecting its leadership on climate change.

These are very serious findings that do not reflect well on our climate change efforts and commitments. Clearly, climate change has not been a priority of this government, even though it is contained in our mandate.

The Premier signed on to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change in December 2016. That agreement sets a crystal clear target for GHG reductions of 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. This is what we promised, and it needs to form the core of the upcoming Climate Change Strategic Framework. If our framework does not clearly demonstrate a set of actions to achieve such reductions, any applications for or access to federal funding assistance is at serious risk. I will have questions later today for the ENR Minister on how this recent audit will inform the development of the Climate Change Strategic Framework. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Climate Change Audit
Members' Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.] Mr. Speaker, on September 13, 2017, many people, including myself, lost a good friend in Joe Norn. In his younger days, Joe was known as "Sonny." Joe was born on May 19, 1946, and was given the name Joseph Maurice Norn. Joe was born to Albert and Ernestine Norn. Ernestine was a Lafferty, and her mom was Catherine Beaulieu before she married Napolean Lafferty.

Mr. Speaker, Joe had many relatives from the Beaulieu, Lafferty, and Norn families and even has some relatives here in the House. Mr. Speaker, I met Joe Norn when I was a kid and watched him box around the NWT. He was an excellent boxer and also fought in northern Alberta. Some of his friends called him "Smoking Joe."

Mr. Speaker, Joe is survived by his spouse Vitaline Lafferty; siblings Nora Rhinelander, Joan Delorme, Stan Norn; adoptive child, Angel Lafferty, and many stepchildren. Mr. Speaker, Joe is predeceased by his parents, Albert and Ernestine Norn; grandparents, Napolean and Catherine Lafferty, George and Helen Norn; and siblings, Marcel, Ernest, Herbert, Walter, Bill, Lena, and Leona.

Mr. Speaker, my sincere condolences go to the late Joe Norn and all his family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Our condolences and prayers go out to the family as well. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome chief medical officers from across Canada who are meeting in Yellowknife this week for the annual meeting of the Provincial Territorial Medical Advisors. We are in good hands here today.

Those joining us here today include Dr. Stephanie Starks, Yukon Health and Social Services; Dr. Ray Dkystra, BC Ministry of Health; Dr. Cliff Fabian, BC Ministry of Health; Dr. Neil Hagen, Alberta Health; Dr. Jude Coutinho, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; Dr. Bruno Rainville, Regie de l'assurance maladie du Quebec; Dr. Anne Tweed, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness; and Dr. Helmut Unruh, Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living. Welcome. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Welcome to our great territory. Masi for being here with us. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize two Pages, Satee Antoine and Destiny Klee, and the chaperone Lisa Moses, for coming here, and I thank them very much for their hard work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It is always a pleasure to have guests as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my last home visit, I heard a large number of concerns about the lack of moose in the area. There were concerns that some hunters were taking cows and that overhunting is occurring in the areas, as well as the lack of accountability when it comes to keeping track of the number of moose being taken from the region. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of ENR tell us if his department keeps track of the number of moose being taken yearly during the hunting season, and if not, why? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, harvest from licensed resident hunters is estimated from an annual survey. Results are sorted into three large areas: Fort Smith, Yellowknife, and Inuvik, for the whole of the NWT. For the 2015-2016 hunting season, I can inform this House that 182 moose were harvested by residents of the NWT. An additional 76 bulls were harvested by licensed non-resident hunters through outfitted and guided hunts in the Mackenzie Mountains that help bring money into our communities. The moose harvest by general hunting licence holders or people exercising an Aboriginal harvesting right within their traditional area is not tracked, or if it is by an Aboriginal government, it is not shared with the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Mahsi cho to the Minister for that answer. As I previously stated, there has been a number of cows being taken. This is a huge concern for the community and elders alike. We all know that taking a cow has a huge impact on our moose population. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister have his department look into doing a five-year ban on hunting cow moose to help increase the moose population?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Regular moose surveys in the Deh Cho region have shown a fairly stable trend and no evidence of any decline in the Mackenzie Valley. There was a community meeting in Fort Liard at the beginning of the month, and we actually heard that moose numbers in the Liard area have improved recently. Also, some of the other Deh Cho communities have not raised concerns over the moose population. I can inform the House that the next moose survey in the Deh Cho region is planned for November 2017 and February 2018, after which we will assess the population trend.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I guess we are talking to different people, because when I was back home, they were saying there was a huge decline in my area and a number of communities. Fort Liard Road was one of the places where people were taking moose from outside the region.

Mr. Speaker, in the past, there has been a ban from allowing hunters from hunting from the side of the road. It is my understanding from the residents this may have been stopped. Can the Minister advise if the department has revised their policy and regulations to stop hunting from the side of the road?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Specific regulations to ban hunting from the side of the road may not be needed. The Wildlife Act already has provisions to ensure dangerous harvesting practices are not occurring, specifically, no person shall discharge firearm, bow and arrow, or anything that pass along and travel portions of highway while hunting of wildlife.

Also, no person can harvest wildlife without due regard for the safety of others, and that is just common sense as well for property. This applies to all licenced hunters in the GNWT as well as harvesters with Aboriginal harvest right within their recreational area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I guess there are some concerns from the residents of my area. People are hunting from the road and there is a safety concern out there, so I greatly appreciate the answer and understand the rules, but we need to find out how we can enforce it. Is the Minister willing to come to my riding to do a regional tour to meet with the residents to hear about their concerns and other issues they have with ENR first hand? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I would be pleased to accompany the Member on a tour of his riding and hear from the folks in his riding. I will also give the invitations out to all the Members opposite that, if there is an opportunity for you to go to their riding and explain some of the work that we are doing within ENR, I would be pleased to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. In the summer of 2016, her department awarded a contract of Concept Energy Services in Hay River to construct 19 modular duplexes to communities throughout the NWT. How many of those duplexes have been completed and how many have been shipped to their destinations? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, what we have is eight of the 19 buildings are now partially completed. We have three that are in Ulukhaktok, one in Inuvik destined for Fort McPherson, and four are now under construction in Concept's Hay River facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Unfortunately, the contract is not publicly available, or at least I can't find it. Can the Minister tell me whether the completion rate, that is an eight out of 19, and the partial completion meet the terms of the contract with Concept Energy Services?