This is page numbers 2895 - 2924 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was mandate.

Topics

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank yu, Mr. Speaker. As most Members know in this House, our intention is to run the ferry until freeze up this year, and after that we will be attempting to accelerate the winter road service to the regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

As I mentioned in my statement, with the opening of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway November 16th, I know a lot of my constituents - and I’m sure a lot of tourists - are awaiting the opening so they could be the first to travel this road. I’d like to ask the Minister what the department’s rationale is for this decision that will contribute to the isolation of small communities in the region.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To inform the Members of this House, because this decision was made quite a while ago to accelerate the ice road there and keep the winter ferry going as long as we could until the road was up to capacity was made in 2013, I believe, 2014. They began to do the accelerated construction of the ice road crossing. This was mainly around the energy concerns for the community of Inuvik and the low volumes that possibly shut down the kill well at the time. A propane mixture was going to have to be introduced to get through this dry spell of the well until something else was figured out in the long-term.

That’s not the case, however. The number of propane trucks has not increased in volume. In fact, the number has pretty much decreased in volume since 2013 to now. In discussions with our department and the proponents of the kill well, there’s no longer a need for us to have the ice road accelerated. There are also contingency plans put in place to have propane in the community to carry them through this closure. The other part of this is the weather around the Dempster. In 2015 the road was closed 40 per cent of the time that we did the winter ferry service, and that was at a cost of $1.8 million for 36 days.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

I’m not sure where the Minister gets all his numbers from. Last year alone we had in the neighbourhood of 140 tractor trailers on those ferries. I’d like to ask the Minister: how does the department plan to support the increased demands for travel and access likely to put pressure on regional infrastructure in the lead up and follow of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

As I’ve said, we’ve committed to the opening of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway on November 14th. Depending on weather, freeze up is at the end of October. We’ve committed to buying some lighter spray equipment this year, which is en route to the communities to accelerate the ice road construction. That will allow us to get on the ice roads sooner. Historically, that ice road should be open within three weeks to light traffic, and probably mid-November for heavy traffic. That’s based on the historical numbers that I have.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister just said the third week of November for light traffic and mid-November for heavy traffic, so that does add up to me just like some of his other numbers there. The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is this keeps the cost of living down. How does the Minister expect to keep the costs of living down in the region when they take out the ferries and rise up the costs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

This continuation of the winter ferry was a decision of the House of this Assembly. We have made $1.8 million as I’ve said. The road was open for 36 days based on it for $1.8 million with the Dempster possibly closed as much as 40 per cent of the time. It’s not good value for the money. The decision was made to put this winter ferry service into accommodate the Ikhil well. The situation right now is not a concern of ours. There seems to be from the producers’ side of things, there is not an effect of it going forward. We will continue to monitor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement earlier today, I brought up several issues that relate to our fledging agriculture sector. My first question is about lands. I’m aware that access to agricultural land is an issue for the Department of Lands but the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment has the agricultural file. I wanted to both pass on the message that the farmers who are actually putting in the sweat equity to get this industry off the ground are frustrated with a lack of support they’re receiving when it comes to accessing land. I want to ask the Minister: what is he doing to help them access affordable agricultural land in a timely matter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I want to remind this House this is the first ever agricultural strategy of the Northwest Territories. We tabled that in March. We were working towards this budding industry to bring local production of food to residents of the Northwest Territories. Yes, the issue of lands is one that we’re working on. It’s an interdepartmental working group working on this. It’s myself, ITI, Health and Social Services, ENR, the Department of Lands. We’re assessing this stuff. We’re looking at other jurisdictions and what’s going on. We’re continually talking with the federal governments so we’re not having the roles and responsibilities mixed up. We will continue to work on that, but yes, the issue of lands is a liability. This is one of the biggest things we have to implement in the strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

About half of the agricultural funding in the Growing Forward 2 program is spent internally on ITI by things such as promoting agricultural awareness, community gardens, and other non-commercial ventures so why does the Minister of Industry prioritize the socialist programs instead of flowing the money directly to the commercial producers?

Some Hon. Members

Why?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

When we tabled this strategy, we went out to consultations to develop the strategy across the Northwest Territories of people that are interested in agriculture. That fed into how we developed this strategy going forward. That was their strategy along with ours that we put forward in this House. We are finishing up our Growing Forward 2. They’re the last year of our five-year growing forward plan. We’re going to be moving forward with a new plan with a federal Minister, but right now we’re out doing a survey to see feedback on what we can do in the strategy. How can we make things work better and listen to what residents in the Northwest Territories have to say about implementing this strategy. To clearly answer the Member’s question, the strategy was developed in consultation with all of the farmers in the Northwest Territories.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Speaking of the strategy, many of the recommendations in the agricultural strategy relate to training, specifically during the community consultations it came to light that communities outside of the regional centres support train the trainer approach and a focus on experiential learning so that they can gain and develop agricultural skills within the community.

NFTI has been successful in providing both of these. He had residents or regularly denied funding to attend NFTI in favour of brief community-based workshops which offer no real experiential learning and which are no match for spending weeks on a working farm. Why over the past two years has ITI been systematically denying residents the funding they require to train with the Northern Farm Training Institute?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I have never heard that concern. If that Member has that type of information, I’d gladly sit down with him and discuss it.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I’ll take that up with the Minister later. I’ll fill him in. How about this? Why does ITI believe they’re better positioned than the Northern Farm Training Institute because ITI has been the one who has taken over the role of deciding what residents need to know if they think they know better than a farm training institute. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I don’t believe that’s the case. The strategy that we put forward, as I said, is in consultation with the people that want to do farming in the Northwest Territories. We’re back out doing a survey with them right now to see what we can do to implement to make this thing better going forward. We will continue to do that. 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. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services. During my visit to communities, I noticed that there seems to be a high rate of cancer in my riding. Can the Minister please tell me how many people from Nahendeh are being sent out for cancer treatment presently? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that there are residents of Nahendeh being sent out for cancer treatment. Some of those are in Yellowknife. Some of those are going south for radiology services or chemotherapy but at this point in time, I’m not prepared to actually give the number. The number is low. Given how low it is, I don’t want be in a position where we might be able to identify individuals by articulating the number but I will certainly discuss that with the Member later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that answer and I look forward to having a conversation with him. Can the Minister please tell us if there are support groups available for patients with cancer and if these patients are told about this type of program?