Debates of Feb. 28th, 2017

This is page numbers 1991 - 2054 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 community.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 145-18(2): Progress In Negotiating Land, Resources And Self-Government Agreements

Western Canada Lottery And Sutcliffe Report

Department Of Justice Progress Report On Governance Access And Privacy

New Behchoko Sports And Recreation Complex

Fortieth Anniversary Of Northern United Place

Unified Vision And Strategy For The Northern Territories

Small Business Incentives

Hockey Tournaments In Nahendeh

Supports For Priority Hiring Candidates Under The Affirmative Action Policy

Benefits Of Sport And Traditional Games For Indigenous Athletes

Aklavik Road Repairs

Federal Review Of Laws And Policies Related To Indigenous Peoples

Strategy For Revitalization Of The Great Slave Lake Fishery

Committee Report 7-18(2): You Are Standing For Your People: Report On The Review Of The Members’ Conduct Guidelines

Motion To Receive Committee Report 7-18(2) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Federal Review Of Laws And Policies Related To Indigenous People

Unified Vision And Strategy For The Northern Territories

Critical Incident Investigation Recommendations

Process For Filling Unfunded Positions

Supports For Priority Hiring Candidates Under The Affirmative Action Policy

Arsenic Levels In Kam Lake

Earnscliffe Strategy Group Contract

Western Canada Lottery And The Sutcliffe Report

Aklavik Road Repairs

Housing Engagement Survey

Lobbyist Registry Proposal

Junior Kindergarten Funding And Implementation

Tabled Document 303-18(2): Government Of The Northwest Territories Response To Committee Report 3-18(2): Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report

Tabled Document 304-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 477-18(2): Housing Engagement Strategy

Tabled Document 305-18(2): Federal Lobbyist Registration For Earnscliffe Strategy Group

Tabled Document 306-18(2): White Paper On The Independence And Accountability Of Election Administration In The Northwest Territories

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Justice, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Justice

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Sport, Recreation And Youth Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For Municipal And Community Affairs

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 67-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department Of Municipal And Community Affairs, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As a point of clarification, I understood this was meant to be personal health and fitness ventures, rather than team sports. Can the Minister clarify, please?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is a variety. The ones that will meet with the organizations will be more towards the group sports and recreation activities. We do have some programs that individuals alone can apply for as well, schools can apply for. We have a whole host of programs to meet the health and wellness needs of residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

No questions. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I know I have raised the issue of support for seniors in sports. I think I got some kind of a commitment out of the Minister that this was something that they were going to evaluate. Could the Minister tell us where their current thinking is at, if we can get support for seniors in sports? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do recognize that when we were providing services, it tends to be that mostly youth were taking part in the activities for sports and recreation. There is a huge population that has gaps, including seniors and women. We were also noticing that we need more women involved in some of our supports for sports and recreation. These are two areas, along with others, that we will be addressing with the five organizations when we look at the gaps in services, the overlaps, and try to decide where best all of the five organizations, and ourselves as the Government of the Northwest Territories, where we should be gearing our strategy, our long-term action plan, to address the needs of all residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Glad to hear that. Can the Minister give us a timeline for when this policy funding review is going to be finished? Does she contemplate having it done in time for the next fiscal year? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our beginning meeting will be at the beginning of the fiscal year in April. I am very hopeful that we will have it done in time for the end of the fiscal year. The reality is we are dealing with five organizations, so what I would like to see as a timeline might not be the same timeline that all of the five organizations -- there are some issues that need to be hashed out, so I do see it taking a little bit of time to deal with it appropriately. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that answer from the Minister. Is this something that is going to be done in time for the business plans for next year so that we could see an allocation within the business plan for seniors' involvement in organized sports activities? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I can commit to is that I will do my best. Our department will do the best to try to get the working group resolutions out and finished and agreed to by the next business planning process. We will share that with the organizations, that that is our timeline, and we will push them towards meeting that timeline. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Seeing nothing further from committee, Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask about the annual Non-Government Organization Stabilization Fund. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has had quite a lot to say about this fund. I wonder if the Minister could speak to how this fund has been successfully deployed to encourage volunteers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The NGO Stabilization Fund is actually one that I am very familiar with. It is a resource very critical to these social agencies, the non-government social agencies within communities in the Northwest Territories. It was presented during the capital planning process.

There was a bit of miscommunication. It was promoted as it was really to support volunteers. That is a little bit incorrect. The assumption is that non-government organizations do use a lot of volunteers for their boards. A lot of the boards actually have to have volunteers. They cannot be paid positions. The funding will remain exactly the same as it was. I can commit to that as long as I am the Minister of MACA, that I will not let that funding be touched by any other. It is specifically for stabilization of non-government organizations that provide social programs to the communities' critical services, services such as shelters. Anything that is a critical service that the Government of the Northwest Territories would have to do on its own is specifically what that funding is for, and it will remain so. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister. I could not have said it better myself. The standing committee completely agrees. Will it remain in this department or return to the executive where it can serve more of a central stabilizing role for our non-government partners? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Debates of Feb. 28th, 2017

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