Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Transportation.

Mr. Speaker, early in the new year, an important milestone was achieved with the announcement of conditional federal funding to construct the Tlicho all-season road. This represents a critical step towards fulfilling the mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly to capture opportunities for investment in transportation infrastructure in the Northwest Territories.

This milestone was achieved through the strength of our partnership with Canada and the Tlicho Government. Together, we recognize the importance of strategic infrastructure investments for improving the standard of living in remote northern communities.

With the construction of the Tlicho all-season road, many of the opportunities that those of us living in connected communities take for granted will become available to the residents of Whati. The project will help build economic stability across the region and contribute to sustainable and self-sufficient communities.

Mr. Speaker, transportation affects the cost of every component of household expenditure, meaning that any improvements to the transportation system help reduce the cost of living. An all-season connection to Whati will eliminate the community’s dependence on the existing winter road, which is increasingly challenged by the impacts of climate change. Replacing the southern section of the winter road will also increase the window of access to Gameti and Wekweeti, improving the resiliency and reliability of the transportation system for all Tlicho communities.

All-season access results in efficiencies, including lower travel time and shipping costs, which will translate into savings for consumers. Reducing the cost of freight helps to improve the standard of life in communities by making it more affordable to deliver a diverse range of essential goods from food and fuel to building materials for local houses and construction projects. Lowering operating costs for local businesses will allow them to be more competitive in territorial markets. In addition, the road will connect Tlicho residents to a larger selection of services such as education and healthcare, which may become more affordable with improved access.

The project will also contribute to new employment opportunities for residents in a variety of sectors. Job creation helps support the self-sufficiency of all Northerners by providing the resources necessary to access the amenities we need.

Construction of the Tlicho all-season road will result in significant employment and allow Northerners to benefit from the kind of training and experience that forges life-long skills. Through the development of a strong northern workforce, residents will also be better positioned to take advantage of future economic opportunities when they arise.

All-season access will also support key industries operating in the Tlicho region. Improved access will likely attract increased numbers of tourists interested in exploring this culturally unique region of our territory. Lands for recreational and cultural purposes will become more readily accessible, creating opportunities for businesses interested in promoting the natural beauty of the region.

Year-round access will also result in further interest from industry to develop and explore for natural resources in the area. Enabling such development is critical, not only because the resource industry remains the top contributor to territorial GDP, but also because it is responsible for providing a significant amount of employment, education, and training opportunities in the NWT. By increasing access into the Tlicho region, there is the potential to continue resource development and consequently provide jobs and training to residents for generations.

Improved transportation infrastructure gives people the tools to live strong, healthy, and successful lives. The Tlicho all-season road will contribute to vibrant communities and help capture opportunities that support economic prosperity in the NWT.

The Department of Transportation will continue to work closely with the Tlicho Government to advance the project through the environmental assessment and construction phases.

Finally, the Department of Transportation continues to work with the Department of Finance on preparing project procurement. The departments anticipate the release of a request for qualifications in the very near future, which will position us for the development of a request for proposals pending a decision on the environmental assessment for the project. We look forward to hearing from the bidders and working together on a successful plan for construction at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order to address the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has made the commitment to work in partnership with other orders of government to address affordable housing requirements in support of their service delivery to Northwest Territories' residents.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is addressing this priority through its mandate commitment to develop northern solutions for northern housing as part of its strategic plan, Building for the Future. Today, I want to provide Members with an update on this collaborative work.

There has also been strong collaboration with the other two northern territories around our common goal of increased federal engagement. Given our unique economic and geographical conditions, Canada’s three territories face greater challenges and levels of housing needs than our country’s southern jurisdictions. To that end, the Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories worked together to develop a pan-territorial business case outlining the key housing priorities that we all share.

The increased support for northern housing in the 2016 federal budget is a product of that work: $100 million for the North, and specifically over $35 million for the Northwest Territories; $15 million of the Northwest Territories' allocation is going directly to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to address housing issues in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is working on an agreement with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to coordinate the delivery of housing programs with this money. Discussions have been productive, and I am looking forward to a productive partnership.

Supporting the housing aspirations of Aboriginal and local governments is one of our commitments to support safe and affordable housing. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has also been working with the K’atlodeeche First Nation to support the development of social housing on the Hay River Reserve.

This work has led to the completion of the land designation process for ten lots, which will allow for federal leases on reserve land. It is anticipated the Public Housing Program will be delivered on these lots. The parties are working to complete the land designation process for six more lots.

I have also been approached by the Akaitcho First Nations, the Hamlet of Aklavik, the Salt River First Nations, and the K’asho Got’ine of Fort Good Hope about partnering in housing projects, which demonstrates the commitment of community governments to working in partnership to meet the needs of their community members.

Additionally, my territorial colleagues and I successfully obtained a commitment from the federal government to include addressing northern housing issues as a major pillar in the national housing strategy that is under development. Work has now been initiated with our federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts to translate these broad goals, priorities, and outcomes into a multilateral agreement that will lead to greater federal involvement in northern housing.

Mr. Speaker, good progress has been made in achieving these milestones. I expect that, in the near future, we will be close to delivering on most of the areas related to our mandate commitments. This will be perfect timing, as the results of our housing engagement survey will help to inform us on the future direction of housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, residents of the NWT have told us they want to advance food production in their regions and communities. With the support of federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories funding, community-based gardens, greenhouses, farmer’s markets, and other food-related businesses and associations are flourishing across the NWT.

Access to locally grown, locally sourced foods continues to increase for residents of the NWT. Small-scale entrepreneurial opportunities are becoming available through markets, festivals, and conferences.

While a few commercial food production ventures are gaining traction and presence in the NWT, expanding production and creating greater diversification within this commercial sector is our next objective. We have committed in our mandate to introducing a strategy that will guide and support the growth of an agriculture sector for the NWT.

To help inform the development of that strategy, we have engaged with commercial farmers and others interested in seeing the sector expand -- as well as with experts who work with various aspects related to food production. We have had conversations with colleagues in this House and within our government, and with enthusiastic residents.

We see the development of the NWT agriculture sector as a component of our government’s economic development agenda to increase economic opportunities and diversity at the regional level through the local production of food that can replace what is imported at a greater cost from the south.

Over time, the implementation of this strategy will also support and advance commitments that we have made to address the cost of living, improve food security, foster healthy families, and enhance capacity-building programs for our youth.

Mr. Speaker, many of the key resources to our agriculture sector are already in place, including keen, interested participants; strong community support; public and private investment; and market demand, but we have learned that there are still some critical elements needed to facilitate the safe, responsible, and sustainable development of this sector.

We need to establish concrete regulations for the safe management and production of food and sale of agriculture products in the NWT. We need formal approaches for identifying and accessing land. We will also need to invest time and resources in building the skills, education, and infrastructure needed to realize our potential.

The strategy that I will be tabling during this session will provide a plan to address these shortfalls and provide a blueprint to build our agriculture sector for the future. This strategy will set the stage for actions, investments, and development of legislative tools that will advance the increased production of fresh, healthy, safe, and more affordable locally grown food choices, and new economic opportunities for our people.

I look forward to the work ahead, and to delivering on this commitment of our government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, caribou herds across northern Canada have been declining. Many are at or near historic low numbers.

These declines prompted the Committee on Status of Endangered Species in Canada to assess barren-ground caribou across Canada, including herds in the Northwest Territories, as a threatened species in November 2016.

Decisions on this listing and a resulting recovery strategy will be made by the Government of Canada in consultation with the Government of the Northwest Territories and our co-management partners. Canada’s consultation on the legal listing of barren-ground caribou as a threatened species under the federal Species at Risk Act is expected to take a least a year.

Mr. Speaker, the legal listing as a threatened species results in automatic prohibitions to protect the species and its habitat on federal lands only. It also results in a requirement for provinces and territories to identify and protect critical habitat.

This government is committed, through our priorities and mandate, to effective co-management of caribou herds and other wildlife, which can lead to improved food security through enhanced local production and traditional harvesting depending on the status of the herd.

Recovery actions to conserve barren-ground caribou herds in the Northwest Territories are already under way. These actions will contribute to the recovery of the species. Department of Environment and Natural Resources staff will continue to work with their federal counterparts to coordinate consultation with stakeholders prior to the listing.

The Northwest Territories Species at Risk Committee will assess the territorial status of barren-ground caribou in April.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue our collaborative efforts with our co-management partners, stakeholders, and NWT residents to conserve barren-ground caribou for present and future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I live at the end of the rail line. Now that the winter roads are open, every time I look out my window I see a lineup of Super Bs waiting to fill up with fuel brought north via the rail. As soon as one truck fills up it heads down the highway and another one takes its place. I like to see this because it means people are working.

You know who doesn't like seeing those trucks? Anyone who's walking to the new health centre in Hay River. That's because the health centre was built with absolutely no safe pedestrian access. Everybody who has to walk to the hospital, including seniors and parents with young children, has to dart across the highway at a point where there are no pedestrian crossing signals, no crosswalk, and not even enough light cast on the highway from nearby streetlights to assure anyone that they'll be seen.

If they manage to dodge the Super Bs and cross the highway safely, and luckily so far everyone has, then they'll make their way onto a road with no shoulders and no sidewalk. From there, they have to traverse an uncontrolled railroad crossing and make their way further down the road with no sidewalks and through a parking lot before they finally reach safety. If they want to get home, they have to do the same thing again.

Mr. Speaker, this is a serious public safety concern. For those who don't drive, can't get a ride, or can't afford a cab there is no choice but to walk to get where you're going. In many cases, those people are our elders and often the most frequent users of the healthcare system.

In order to access an essential service, they're being placed in danger because of a failure in government planning. We also have to consider the safety of the employees at the health centre, many of whom walk to work. If I brought this up yesterday when WSCC was here they might have tossed a couple of the Ministers in jail. That's how serious an issue this is.

---Laughter

Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I'm baffled that we built a hospital that is not safely accessible by foot. It was my understanding that we were supposed to have some lights installed last year. What happened? I know the health authority in the Town of Hay River has been fighting hard to get the lights installed, but as far as I know the responsibility lays with Public Works and Services.

So, Mr. Speaker, how much longer must our sick and elderly dodge traffic on a dark and often icy highway? We need the lights installed and we need them installed three months ago. While they're at it, how about a sidewalk, as well? I'll have questions for the Minister of Public Works and Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The previous Member's statement sounds familiar to some degree. Mr. Speaker, tourism is big business in the North. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has released a strategy document, Tourism 2020, full of information and plans and pointing to the need for an implementation plan.

This is much needed and will help guide investment and work in the tourism industry. I do feel that the implementation plan should set some priorities, particularly on growth and development of this sector, in order for some of the goals and the plan to be realized.

Growth in the interest from travel trade and tour operators is a vital piece of this puzzle. The GNWT must take the initiative in changing the landscape for businesses. We should make it smoother and easier for owner/operators to enter this sector and stay competitive. The current operators are working hard turning sweat equity into solid returns. That's paving the way for us to grow this sector, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I say we must make that a priority area for implementation. Tourism operators don't just need support to develop product and experiences. They also need a trained workforce and guidelines to ensure quality. We need interdepartmental commitment and partnering to bridge the gap for youth entering the workforce, and we need to offer the NorthernMost Host Program training to younger age groups. We should encourage youth to seek work experience in this sector and support them when they want to pursue it as a career option. One way to do this would be to find our Canadian regional partners for post-secondary training and education in the tourism sector and develop a network now of alumni to mentor returning students. This means going beyond the standard strategy and working across departments to make this a priority.

I feel strongly that marketing is an important component of the plan. I applaud ITI for its efforts to build a recognized brand and a successful destination marketing campaign. I think, if we are able to align our efforts with Destination Canada, we can expand our market even further. This is an easy win and will pay off in the higher tourist volumes we are looking for.

Mr. Speaker, great work has been done. We have a strategy. I encourage the Minister to consider how we are aligning with national efforts in this sector and build the partnerships needed to get some traction and reach some of the targets from the strategy. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On November 3, 2015, the Minister of Health tabled "Mind and Spirit: Promoting Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in the Northwest Territories." This is the mental health strategic framework for 2016 to 2021.

Mr. Speaker, mental health is a critical issue that this government must address, not just for our citizens today but also for future generations of Northerners. I'm glad to see this government recognize this with its new strategy, and I'm equally pleased that the federal government has allocated to the Northwest Territories $6.1 million over a 10-year period to fund new mental health initiatives, along with robust tracking standards to adequately access the state of mental health for our people. Of course, there's never enough money for this critical need, but this is a start of a conversation and a new funding agreement that I hope we can take further.

Despite the seriousness of mental health and addictions, these issues and those who struggle with them are still subject to social stigma and embarrassment. In fact, according to a recent study, only 49 per cent of Canadians said they would socialize with a friend who had a serious mental illness.

Mr. Speaker, although mental illness and addictions cut across society, I want to speak about how it affects the most vulnerable members of our society, the youth and those dealing with addictions.

Mr. Speaker, 70 per cent of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence. Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group. Similarly, people with substance use problems are three times more likely to have a mental illness. More than 15 per cent of people with a substance use problem have a co-occurring mental illness.

To put that into our Northern perspective, Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories between 2008 and 2010, alcohol and drug issues were involved in the majority of mental health hospitalizations. They made up 68 per cent of the patients and 49 per cent of the costs to the system. Hospitalization rates included drugs, alcohol, mood disorders, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, and anxiety disorders. Mr. Speaker, at this time I'd like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, people with mental illness and addictions are more likely to die prematurely than the general population. Mental illness can cut 10 to 20 years from a person's life expectancy. It keeps people from being productive at home and at work and for too long has held Northerners back from achieving their full potential.

With a new action plan and new support from Ottawa and Indigenous governments, now is the time to take a stand and assure Northerners we are taking real action on mental health and addictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are real people affected by education budget cuts. There are five women in the social work access program at Aurora College here in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, when Aurora College decided to cut the social work program, it meant that five families were adversely affected and were hurt by this decision. Aurora College made that decision because the government asked them to make program cuts.

Mr. Speaker, no new students can go into the social work program next fall, which means that the program the students are in now, the program that they've invested their SFA in, is now worthless. The Department of Education's decision has ruined the professional dreams of the students. The decision determined that these students will not be able to be social workers in their own home communities.

Mr. Speaker, students were informed on February 2nd that the social work program that they had worked so hard towards had been cut. They were left with no idea what will become of them. They are heartbroken. Some of the students relocated to Yellowknife for this course and are full-time mothers on top of heavy school workloads, and have sacrificed a lot to get where they are. They have worked long, hard hours on their education, and now it has been taken from them. All of the goals that they have worked towards have been pulled out from underneath them.

Mr. Speaker, they have received government grants for their education. Their education is their right. How can the government take that from them? They were directed towards this path by SFA, income support, and other career counsellors.

Mr. Speaker, after all this hard work and effort, they were stuck and financially devastated by these budget cuts. The government wants Northerners to stay and contribute to their communities, yet they have destroyed the hopes of students in the social work access program. The students feel that this is brutally unfair, and something needs to be done.

People from the government came to see the students this past fall and talked about Skills 4 Success, yet the government is cutting college programs that would help students make something of themselves and help them be a part of the future of their communities. Marci cho, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I spoke about the social work program and the way the college was communicating with their students. A second e-mail was sent to the students at 10:32 a.m. that day about an important message regarding the 2017-18 rent, tuition rates, and program changes.

Mr. Speaker, I need to share with this House what was said because to date I have not been informed by the department or the college. I've had to hear what is going on through Facebook, the students, and the news. This is very sad, to say the least. Again, like I said previously, communication is very poor.

Mr. Speaker, the e-mail stated:

In order to align GNWT expenditures for project revenues, all GNWT departments have been tasked with identifying expenditure reductions. Aurora College, like all GNWT departments and arm's length agencies, has been undergoing the difficult but necessary challenge of identifying ways to reduce our budget while minimizing impacts.

Based on the information we have so far, a number of actions are being taken. Planned actions will help position Aurora College for fiscal stability and ability to deliver relevant, high-quality programming that sets learners up to participate fully in the NWT labour market or pursue further education. Programming offered by Aurora College will focus on programs that improve employment success for NWT residents, close skill gaps for in-demand jobs, and effectively respond to employer and industry needs.

Mr. Speaker, the e-mail goes on to say that there are going to be changes to the Bachelor of Education and the Social Work Diploma programs.

● Effective immediately, there will be no more student intake.

● The program will continue for up to two years, for social work, and three years, for the education program, to allow the 2016-17 first-year students to complete and to bring back students who are partway through the program and could complete by June 2020.

● Program end date will be June 2, 2019 for the social work and June 2020 for education.

To add insult, the college is going to increase student rent with increases over the next two years, and tuition for certificate, diploma, and degree programs by increasing by $300 per term in 2017-18. Mr. Speaker, I wish to seek unanimous consent to finish my Member's statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues for allowing me to finish my statement. By $300 for this term in 2018-19. Mr. Speaker, I find it very interesting that the college is taking more funds from the students' SFA to cover the costs. To me, it's taking money from Peter to pay Paul. This is very disappointing, to say the least.

Mr. Speaker, the e-mail goes on to say:

In these difficult economic and changing labour market requirements, we have had to re-examine the way we do business in order to set Aurora College up for long-term stability and success. To assist us in moving forward, we are in a strategic planning process that will help set our course for the next decade. We have the Skills 4 Success Framework and Action Plan, and we have a number of strong partnerships across the territory that will fully support us in offering community deliveries.

In my opinion, it looks like the strategic plan has already been done because we are cutting programs already. It looks like they are going to use the Skills 4 Success Framework and Action Plan as a strategic plan. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, monsieur le President. As the government consults on its NWT Energy Plan and Climate Change Strategic Framework, one non-governmental organization has done its part in pointing the way to a clean energy future, with minor funding but major commitment. Alternatives North has produced a way forward to 100 per cent conversion to renewable energy for the Northwest Territories.

The analysis is contained in the report "A 100 per cent renewable energy NWT by 2050 – Starting the Conversation," which I tabled in this House on November 2, 2016. It was also the subject of one of the Ledge Talks here in our Great Hall last week.

The really good news is that the Northwest Territories could indeed be 100 per cent renewable by 2050 using presently available, already proven technologies. The report established criteria and evaluated over 100 renewable energy options covering all sectors of energy use, heating, transportation, the mining industry, and electricity production. The report is very strict in rejecting any technologies that are not already commercially available.

It finds that in a 100 per cent renewable energy future, biofuels could provide up to 90 per cent of the energy supply in the Northwest Territories. Biofuels like fossil fuels can be transported and stored for up to several years between fuel deliveries. The key biofuels are wood, wood chips, wood pellets, compressed and liquid biogas, and bio-jet fuel. Currently, less than 10 per cent of the Northwest Territories' energy supply comes from local sources, but hydro, solar, wind, and particularly local biomass could increase that to 70 per cent which would create new green jobs in the Northwest Territories. New economic opportunity accompanies the conversion, with the need for everything from electricians trained in wood and solar, to sustainable forest managers in trades knowledgeable in the latest energy efficient construction methods. The report stresses the need to stop installing new non-renewable energy sources we will have to live with for years to come.

We've heard the Premier and Finance Minister say many times that there are no economically viable alternatives to oil and gas as energy sources in producing the NWT Energy Plan and Climate Change Strategic Framework. Our government should provide its analysis of the options presented in the Alternatives North report, including which renewable energy options it considers the most viable. Then, based on that analysis, GNWT should also determine ---

Member for Frame Lake, your time for Member's statement has expired.