Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the hardworking tradespeople of the Northwest Territories, who have pursued very important skills that are in high demand, not only here but throughout Canada. I also want to recognize that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does support our tradespeople through apprenticeship programs, and the continuous support for the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Certification program.

The department assists and supports the development, maintenance, and delivery of designated trade and occupational training programs that contribute to the development of a skilled northern workforce, in partnership with industry professionals.

There is also a Certification Board with five trade advisory committees; carpentry, plumbing, electrical, heavy equipment technician, and housing maintainer trades. These committees are made up of representatives from industry leaders who can go on to employ these skilled workers.

My own riding of Kam Lake is known as the heart of small businesses in Yellowknife and, certainly, they have made use of these programs. Through the many businesses there, we have been able to see northern tradespeople given opportunities to develop their skills and enter our workforce, putting Northerners on the map for being some of the most skilled and dedicated tradespeople in Canada, and certainly the world. The benefits of the economic wellbeing of the entire territory driven by tradespeople are well-known, and this program will continue to have support from me and from business owners.

However, there are problems with it, Mr. Speaker. For example, in my riding, one of my constituents, a business owner, has 27 apprenticeship positions, but only received funding for two of those positions. That is a 25 per cent opportunity, the remainder being lost, potentially, to the south of 60. Mr. Speaker, we need to do a better job of providing full funding for apprenticeships so they can not only learn and develop their skills, but so we can enhance our skill markets.

I know another constituent who has brought people from southern jurisdictions to work in the Northwest Territories, supplementing their own workforce, but also creating opportunities for Canadians, not just Northerners. These are good examples of how we can attract people to unique northern opportunities in the Territories, and enhancing this program, I think, is a crucial step forward to developing a skilled labour force for the Northwest Territories.

I will have questions for the Minister later on today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two days ago, the Department of Justice released a request for proposal for a revamped A New Day program. At least, that is what the title says. However, those familiar with the current A New Day program might only recognize it as a gutted and sterilized approximation of the program they know.

A New Day is the NWT’s only healing program for men who use violence in their relationships. It was developed after two years of research and investigation led by the Department of Justice, and included staff and leaders from Health and Social Services, the John Howard Society, the Status of Women Council, the Native Women’s Association, the Salvation Army, the Tree of Peace, the Yellowknife Women’s Society, the YWCA, and the RCMP. The program provides flexible individual and group counselling services that are respectful, collaborative, and hold people accountable. It is delivered by permanent, full-time staff who provide culturally-appropriate counselling based on traditional knowledge, and with the assistance of elders. Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Speaker, it is accessible. It is easy for those seeking help to get help. These qualities are why the program is successful, why it fulfills dozens of requirements of the TRC Calls to Action, and why it is a Public Health Agency of Canada Aboriginal Best Practices program.

The Department of Justice was determined to end the program, but the Regular Members recognized the need for a men’s healing program, and we rallied together and ensured that the program would remain until there was something equivalent to take its place.

Well, Mr. Speaker, the RFP that describes what that “something” is has profoundly disappointed many of those who were engaged in designing the original program. Its contents came as a surprise to them, as their consultation was not sought this time around.

The result appears to be a program stripped of all of the qualities that make it successful; its accessibility, flexibility, outreach, cultural components, and the ability to allow for trusting relationships between clients and counsellors to develop. The first point of contact for clients will now be a GNWT coordinator, who will determine whether or not those who want to enter the three-phase program will be allowed. If they are, they will be assigned to facilitators, who are on non-exclusive, when-and-as-needed contracts. Facilitators are not required to have a background in issues of domestic violence, Aboriginal culture, or intergenerational trauma. Instead of fostering opportunities to build trust, clients may be assigned to a different facilitator for each phase of the program. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies. Further, facilitators must not have pre-existing professional relationships with clients. That virtually eliminates the ability of the current provider, as well as many of the others in the community, to participate in the program.

These are just a few of the issues that have been raised, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister, to see if these concerns are just the result of a poorly written RFP, or if A New Day is really “A Completely Different Day.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members’ statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to welcome Ms. Margaret Noksana, who is the chaperone for the two pages from Sachs Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize Jonathan Beland, who is our page from Range Lake in the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I, too, would like to recognize Marie Adele Football, here with us. She is a chaperone for our Wekweeti pages. Thank you for being here. Masi. Those who we may have missed, welcome to our Chamber. It is always great to have an audience. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, earlier I had talked about the completion of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, and my first question to the Minister is: what work remains to be done on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway before it is considered complete? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The contractors are working out there right now. They have 3.5 kilometres of embankment that they had to finish in the centre section of the highway. With that work, there are roughly 147,000 cubic metres of material that will be put in place to finish up those 3.5 kilometres. They had eight culverts to finish up, and two bridges, and all that work is nearing completion this winter. Moving on into the summer, operations have surfacing gravel, which will include crushing, stockpiling, and laying out the gravel, then finishing up the guard rails, signage, and such for the final touches. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response and the update. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister highlight the events that are being planned to celebrate the opening of the highway?

As I have mentioned before in the House in one of my Minister’s statements, there are three different celebrations going forward this year. The first one will be highlighting the completion of the Tuktoyaktuk ice road, which will be held on April 21st, and then there will be the grand opening of the highway on November 15th, the official opening of the highway, and then the final event would be in the summer of July 2018, which will be another opening, focusing on marketing travellers of the region on the highway.

I appreciate the response. The Minister mentioned celebrations on April 21st and also the grand opening November 15th and the opening in July 2018. Mr. Speaker, I'm curious to know: how much will the territorial and federal governments contribute to opening ceremonies for the highway?

The Department of Transportation has a budget for the grand opening in November, and the other two are going to be through sources funded through other allocations and different departments, including, probably, the federal government.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the direction. Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Minister is: what is the government doing to commemorate the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk winter road and the people with expertise that went into this annual construction and maintenance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department is going to be participating in that celebration, closing the final ice road. We will be doing a screening on a documentary called "The End of an Ice Age," which will be depicting the history of the ice road and its transition to an all-season road.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services in relation to treatment facilities down south. I'm not sure if the Minister would be allowed to answer this question, but I'm wondering what the cost is for an individual going to one of the four treatment centres, the average or anything that kind of gives me a feel for what the costs would be for us to treat one individual for a full program in the treatment centres down in Alberta and British Columbia? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.