Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, our government has a responsibility to make sure that Northwest Territories residents have access to the best education programs possible. We owe it to our students to give them programs that are well designed, up to date, and position them to go into the kinds of jobs that employers are looking to fill. We also owe it to our young people to make sure that the system and institutions through which we deliver education programs are managed efficiently and effectively and that the chains of responsibility among all the decision makers are absolutely clear.

As Members will recall, there was significant debate in this House and in the media last winter over how decisions were being made about Aurora College programming and who was making them. Although there was significant evidence showing that two of the college’s programs were not having the intended results, there was little agreement on what to do about them. Many ideas were shared during that debate, including a strong call to make foundational changes to the way we do business so the people of the Northwest Territories have the kind of educational institution they need and deserve.

These were the circumstances last March when I decided to announce a foundational review of Aurora College. At the time, I said the foundational review will help inform the government's long-term vision for Aurora College and position it to provide the necessary skills and knowledge our residents require to participate in and contribute to the social and economic fabric of the NWT for decades to come. That is still our vision for this much-needed review, Mr. Speaker.

At the end of June I wrote to the Standing Committee on Social Development to confirm that I had incorporated its recommendations into the final terms of reference for the review so that we could engage independent expertise to conduct the review. At that point, our intention was to have the review completed in December 2017, and this is reflected in the terms of reference that are available on the ECE website.

At the end of August, committee replied to my letter indicating that they had some concerns with the proposed timelines for the project. I replied on September 1st, advising committee that I recognized and shared its perspective and agreed that we need to take the necessary time to ensure the review is both thorough and strategic.

I also advised committee that my officials would work with the contractor to develop a detailed work plan and that I would advise them if any change was required on the timing of the review as a result.

As Members are aware, we have recently completed the contracting process and are working with the contractor to develop a detailed work plan that will also set out the schedule for the review. That work plan is currently being finalized, and I look forward to sharing it with committee before the end of session. I appreciate committee’s advice about the timelines and have decided to extend the timeline for the review to March 31, 2018. This will give the contractor the time required to complete a good, thorough review and consult with everybody they need to.

Once the contractor completes the review, a departmental response will be prepared to support implementation of its recommendations. We will be sharing that response with committee for input prior to finalization of the implementation plan. Based on the review and the departmental response, the college will develop a long-term strategic plan and the government will start implementing recommendations. Recommendations with resource implications will be advanced through the 2019-2020 business planning process.

Part of the contractor’s job will also be to review and consider the results of an assessment of the college commissioned by a previous government in 2013. While it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to speak to the decisions of that government, I will be tabling this assessment later today so the public is able to see the whole report.

I provided all Members with copies of this report on June 20th, and while that assessment contained many good recommendations, including a recommendation to undertake a more comprehensive review of the college, this is a different time and a different government.

It is important that this government’s decisions be based on current evidence and current circumstances. At the same time, we don’t want to lose any of the good work from the previous study and will ensure that it is one of the inputs the contractor considers as part of the current foundational review.

One of the major challenges of this project has been finding the right balance between doing the work well and doing the work quickly, Mr. Speaker. While we would all like this work to be completed quickly, I believe it is more important that the work be done well, as it will help set the course for the college for the next 10 or 20 years.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to take the time that is needed to do this review well. We owe it to current and future Aurora College students to set a strong, clear course for decades, not for just the next two or three years. This is an issue that is too important to rush, and I look forward to working with Members on a long-term solution for the college, not a short-term fix. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, our government has made commitments in its mandate to investigate and implement renewable and alternative energy solutions, explore the potential for the development of hydroelectric power and transmission lines, and develop wind and solar energies to replace diesel. Transitioning away from expensive fossil fuels for home heating and electricity generation will be critical for reducing the cost of living for residents and protecting the NWT environment.

Today I would like to provide Members with an update on some of the energy initiatives being undertaken by our government to fulfill these commitments. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year our government completed a comprehensive public engagement on energy and climate change. This public engagement, done in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, allowed us to gather input from residents to help inform the development of a new energy strategy.

We heard that the people of the Northwest Territories support the transition to a lower carbon economy. To achieve a lower carbon economy, we must use less fossil fuel. People understood that our dependence on imported fossil fuels contributes to climate change, causes pollution, and leaves us at the mercy of fluctuating world market prices.

People also understood only too well the challenges of life in the North, especially the challenge of our high cost of living. While most people want to see more renewables and alternatives, they also associate these choices with an increased cost.

Mr. Speaker, we heard that we must set realistic and achievable emissions targets. We heard that future carbon tax revenues should be redistributed to those impacted. We heard that energy efficiency programs and financial incentives should be expanded and be more flexible.

The proposed Energy Strategy, Mr. Speaker, would lead us over the next decade and beyond. Our government, with input from Regular Members and the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, will release a draft of the strategy this session for public input.

The draft strategy sets out a long-term approach to addressing the affordability, security, and sustainability of energy supply and use in the Northwest Territories. The goal of this strategy is to guide the development of affordable, secure, and sustainable energy for transportation, heat, and electricity, support energy efficiency and conservation, and promote renewable and alternative energy solutions for the NWT.

Once we finalize the 2030 Energy Strategy, this government will develop an action plan to support its implementation. Mr. Speaker, while we have been hard at work addressing this mandate commitment, progress has been made on a number of innovative projects to improve energy affordability, reliability, and sustainability in the Northwest Territories.

For example, this government intends to pursue a megawatt scale wind project in Inuvik, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the NWT’s largest diesel community. The GNWT will undertake technical and regulatory work, refine cost estimates, and undertake community consultation as we move towards a decision to construct. We are assessing the suitability of further smaller-scale wind projects in Sachs Harbour and Norman Wells. Both communities are due for power plant upgrades as part of NTPC’s capital plan, and we will collect wind data over two years to make an evidence-based decision about using wind to displace diesel in these communities.

Mr. Speaker, we are also installing a second exhaust heat recovery system in Inuvik’s power plant to capture and use residual heat from the natural gas generators. This project will supplement our existing residual heating system to provide building heat, heat the liquefied natural gas we use to generate power, and heat the Town of Inuvik’s water supply, as opposed to having to use diesel.

We are also studying the potential to use this residual heat for district heating of buildings in the community. By capturing wind energy in Inuvik and diverting residual heat, we are making progress in reducing Inuvik’s reliance on diesel and moving towards alternative sources of meeting the town’s needs for energy.

Meanwhile, in Tulita, we are installing 45 kilowatts of solar. This is in addition to the 55 kilowatts installed in the community of Aklavik last year. Our total for installed solar power in the NWT is almost 850 kilowatts. Mr. Speaker, this makes the NWT amongst the leaders in Canada in terms of solar capacity installed per person in the territory.

Finding and developing new, innovative options for energy is one aspect of addressing our energy needs. Another aspect is making our government assets more efficient. Through the Capital Asset Retrofit Fund, we have created a work plan which includes $3.8 million in upgrades, including lighting retrofits, large biomass heating systems, and insulation upgrades. Of note is the 950 kilowatt biomass boiler in the Inuvik hospital that is expected to save $100,000 in heating costs and offset 1,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Mr. Speaker, we rely on energy in our daily lives. Access to secure, affordable, and environmentally sustainable sources of energy is essential to the prosperity of the NWT. Energy drives our economy. Energy is essential for everyday living in the North, and everyone in the NWT has a part to play in achieving a more sustainable NWT.

We look forward to even more success as we move to finalize and start implementing the new 2030 Energy Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, in 2016 I tabled a document titled "Building a Culturally Respectful Health and Social Services System." This document was a commitment made to ensure that cultural safety is woven into the fabric of the health and social services system and integrated into all aspects of management, operations, and front-line services.

It speaks to the importance of honouring traditional healing practices. It also speaks to working in collaboration with partners to ensure that all aspects of health and social services are culturally safe and respectful for our patients and clients.

In my meetings with leaders of Indigenous governments over the past few years, they have stressed how important it is that we work together to improve health and social outcomes in the Northwest Territories. Leaders have stressed that, historically, health and social services have been provided in a way that has not always respected or incorporated Indigenous peoples’ presence, culture, traditions, or needs, and they have told us we need to change.

In May 2016 we met with representatives from Indigenous governments across the Northwest Territories to talk about how we can make these changes happen. We agreed to set up a task team to come back with recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, over the past year staff from the health and social services system have worked with staff from several Indigenous governments to explore options for working together. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions made by staff from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, the Tlicho Government, the Dehcho First Nations, the NWT Metis Nation, and the K'atlodeeche First Nation.

Together, we have developed a draft terms of reference for an Advisory Body of Indigenous Knowledge Holders that would work with the Department of Health and Social Services, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, and the Tlicho Community Services Agency.

The mandate of this group would be to provide guidance on how our health and social services system can better incorporate Indigenous traditions, culture, and healing practices leading to improvements in care and health outcomes for our residents.

Mr. Speaker, the proposed terms of reference have been shared with leaders of Indigenous governments across the Northwest Territories, asking for their feedback.

In the very near future I plan to meet with leaders and reach agreement on how we can move forward to ensure there is a formal, structured process for transforming the NWT health and social services system by incorporating Indigenous knowledge and traditions throughout our program and our service delivery. This work will help further the department's vision for best health, best care, for a better future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, our government made a commitment in its mandate to supporting mineral exploration and the mining sector through a number of actions that I want to update Members on. Our government recognizes the need for a strong, diverse economy where all NWT residents have a chance to get ahead.

The foundation of our economy is socially and environmentally responsible resource development. The Northwest Territories' abundant natural resources are not only key to growing and sustaining our economic future, but are also essential to lowering the cost of living, as well as developing training, educational, and capacity-building opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, our economy depends on the strength of this foundation and the revenues and the opportunities it provides. This is why we continue to address some of the most pressing issues in our natural resource sectors and to unlock our territory's potential.

We continue to invest in the NWT Mineral Resources Strategy, the guiding document for supporting a strong, well-managed future for our territory's single largest industry. There is much we can be proud of in the implementation of this strategy so far.

We promised to place renewed focus on mapping the geoscience of our vast territory. Amongst many important projects, the NWT Geological Survey released two reports with new information on our high-potential Slave Geological Province. Today we can announce these reports have resulted in the strongest staking rush we have seen in our territory since 2014.

In a two-week period following the late June release of these studies, 34 mineral claims were staked. This surge can be linked to the new geochemical information released. Major diamond companies were among those staking these claims.

This brings 2017's totals to 184 claims covering 139,019 hectares of land in the NWT. To put this into perspective, the entirety of 2016 saw only 83 claims and 42,404 hectares. It is a sign of progress in exploration after some challenging times. We are pleased to see responsible mineral development growing from the grassroots in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, these staked claims are only one piece of the exploration puzzle. New projects require ongoing work, which can be cost-intensive and challenged by adverse market conditions. That is why we expanded our support for early-stage exploration by more than double, investing nearly $1 million in qualifying prospecting and exploration projects.

We are committed to supporting the exploration industry, and this investment by our government is proof of that commitment. To complement the financial incentives, we have also extended our work credits program, which provides extra work credit for exploration work completed to help encourage explorers to keep exploring over the long term.

As of today, these explorers will have access to an extraordinary collection of core samples from past work completed across the territory at the new geological materials storage facility in Yellowknife. This will allow analysis of historical samples for new mineral potential at a fraction of the cost of drilling new samples.

Mr. Speaker, at the heart of the competitive, well-managed mineral regime, we want to foster good legislation. In our mandate, the government committed to evolve our legislative, regulatory, and policy systems for land and resource management, including new mining legislation and regulations. Under the Mineral Development Strategy, we committed to the development of a made-in-the-North Mineral Resources Act that reflects the unique needs of our territory and the input from our people.

I am proud to say we have made strides on an aggressive timeline to collect input from Indigenous governments and organizations, industry stakeholders, interest groups, and all NWT residents during the public engagement phase of this important project.

The North has always been about partnerships. Indigenous groups and other stakeholders are critical to create a legislative model that ensures sustainable, responsible development while respecting the Section 35 rights of Indigenous people and the spirit and intent of agreements we have reached with them.

We remain on track to deliver our territory's first ever home-grown mining legislation in the life of this Legislative Assembly. A standalone Mineral Resources Act will allow us to reflect the unique regulatory needs and the specific priorities of our territory, ensuring we protect our land and cultural heritage at the same time we develop our economy.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, although the NWT has not produced a drop of oil or gas for the first time since 1936 in the past six months, we haven't forgotten about this important sector. We know our potential is significant, and our work is ongoing to identify an approach and a strategy that will realize the benefits that this sector holds for our communities and our people.

We must, however, ensure the strategy we develop is consistent with the approach that our government is taking in its Energy Plan and Climate Change Strategic Framework. We will continue to improve our territory's investment climate, and to ready our businesses and residents to capitalize on the opportunities that responsible oil and gas resource development will bring.

In the meantime, however, there may be a more immediate domestic market for our oil and gas resources as a cleaner and more affordable source of local energy that supports our vision of greater energy security. We will work to ensure that this is part of the strategy that we are now looking to bring forward in the new year.

Mr. Speaker, building and maintaining a foundation is a long-term task. There is much we can be proud of in the work we have done so far to strengthen responsible resource development, but we still have a long way to go. We are committed to putting in the hard work and focusing on what we need to get done to support the strong, resilient natural resource industry the Northwest Territories needs to unlock its potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [no translation provided]. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate the students who have graduated from high school this year in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. In Lutselk'e, there were three who graduated; Nathan Lockhart and Curtis Lockhart, who are twins, and Ethan Catholique. In Ndilo, there were four graduates, Brent Betsina, Frank Betsina, Laveena Black, Kevin Mackeinzo. In Fort Resolution, there were eight graduates. This matched the most that had ever graduated at the Deninu School, I believe. They were Laney Beaulieu, Roger Beck, Jacob Boucher, Zachary Klugie-Mulder, Michelle Lafferty, Tamara Lafferty, Tori Lafferty, and Desiree Mandeville.

Mr. Speaker, I was able to attend the graduation ceremony and speech in Fort Resolution, and I am proud of the students who have worked hard to achieve these accomplishments. The families who supported them in their education goals, and the graduates also, should be very proud of themselves.

Best wishes to the graduates in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding. I hope they appreciate the wonderful things they have learned to take into the future. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend the graduation ceremonies in Lutselk'e and Ndilo, but I offer my congratulations to those students, as well.

Mr. Speaker, this year, we saw 15 people from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh graduate and move on to new aspects of their lives. On Wednesday, September 20, 2017, both the Minister of Finance and Minister of Health spoke about looking forward 20 years to see people with good jobs, jobs that will allow them to take care of their families, who are in their own homes and provide healthy food for their families.

Mr. Speaker, this goes a long way to providing a healthy environment that will afford people good opportunities for success moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, it is pretty obvious by now that I am committed to advocating for more open and transparent government. With Right to Know Week being celebrated the week of September 25th to October 1st, and with international Right to Know Day being held on the 28th of September, I think it is appropriate to remind the government of its mandate commitment to increase transparency and accountability.

Mr. Speaker, international Right to Know Day originated in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2002 with 15 original countries signing on. Since then, the popularity and scope of Right to Know Day has grown immensely. In Canada, Right to Know celebrations have expanded into a week-long event coast to coast, and they even present awards in recognition of those who support access-to-information rights.

Mr. Speaker, I, for one, applaud this government's steps since it has developed its mandate to make transparency a priority, most evidently by creating a new portfolio with responsibility for these matters. However, most accomplishments in transparency have been symbolic rather than concrete.

In the spirit of Right to Know Week, I would like to see the Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency commit to accomplishing a few concrete actions that will make a significant difference in the overall accountability of its government to Northerners and ensure the public's right to know is well enshrined in the policies and legislation of this government.

First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, let's make the municipal governments subject to Access to Information regulations. It's not acceptable in this day and age that a public government has no legal obligation to provide access to public records and to protect the personal information it collects; having limited resources is reason enough to be accountable to the citizens which they serve.

Next, let's make requirements for mandatory breach notifications where there has been a material breach of privacy or where a privacy breach puts an individual's information in jeopardy or exposure. Most jurisdictions are moving towards this, and we've already implemented it in our health sector, so let's expand upon it and make it applicable in all areas of the public sector and government.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, and most easily accomplished, let's allocate more resources to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The work is ever expanding, more so if this government takes my other recommendations into account, and more resources are going to be required to keep up with the workload.

Mr. Speaker, let's celebrate this upcoming Right to Know Week and implement some real changes in how we hold ourselves accountable to our citizens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Voices on Housing. As mentioned over the past few days, strategies and action plans are essential to achieving our goals and objectives. Today is Voices on Housing, a survey completed and tabled by the Housing Corporation this past May.

Mr. Speaker, it may sound convincing in the House; however, out there in the remote areas of our great territory, it matters by deliverance. Our listening audience, Mr. Speaker, wants security, certainty. They ask: should I mortgage or sell? Is my family secured by government programs? Is there future commerce and marketplace stability for my business?

As referenced in the Voices on Housing survey, I quote, "results from the housing engagement survey are intended to assist in developing new actions in support of the NWT Housing Corporation's strategies." Later I will have some questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a number of programs to support those people who rely on the traditional economy of hunting and trapping to support themselves and their families.

This is good news, but I believe the GNWT can and should be doing more to help our residents who want to continue to lead a traditional lifestyle. After all, most of these people live in our smaller communities, where prices are high and families rely on the benefits of the hunt to feed and clothe their families.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to see assistance be provided to the hunters in Nunakput to enable to tan hides before sending them to market. This would allow those hunters to command the highest possible prices for their goods. There are two ways that the hides can be tanned; traditionally, or through industrial processes. Traditionally tanned hides are the highest-quality hides that are produced here in the Northwest Territories. The work is time consuming and physically demanding, but the result is hides of unrivalled beauty. They are truly a work of art, Mr. Speaker.

The GNWT's own promotional materials even acknowledge the traditional economy tanned hides "cannot be produced by industrial tanning techniques," and that the hides tanned in the traditional way are "durable, lightweight, and strong."

Even the hides produces by industrial tanning techniques would allow northern harvesters to maximize their hunting profits. I have spoken with ITI and I am aware that the idea of a commercial tannery in the Beaufort Delta has been considered in the past, but that was not pursued because of concerns about high capital costs and facilities.

I would like to see the department revisit this idea. Just because it wasn't viable 10 or 15 years ago does not mean that it is not viable now. Market forces do change, Mr. Speaker. Things that were once common may become more rare and prized over time.

Another idea that the department could explore is the provision of home tanning kits, providing the materials to harvesters who are looking for their own hide tanning options, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT must continue to work for ways to support our traditional economy in the Northwest Territories. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's time for this government to renew the GNWT Anti-Poverty Action Plan. The two-year plan expired in the last fiscal year, and when it was in currency it provided an important blueprint for addressing the needs of those who live in poverty or who are at risk of poverty. Now we need an updated and comprehensive plan that prioritizes actions to carry us forward in our common goal of reducing poverty.

Mr. Speaker, one of the limitations of the previous Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan was that it didn't include a monitoring, reporting, and evaluation framework, so it's hard to say now what effect poverty-reduction efforts have had. There was a commitment at the last Anti-Poverty Roundtable to develop this framework, but I am unsure what progress has been made on this.

Mr. Speaker, poverty remains a significant issue in the NWT. During the summer, the Conference Board of Canada produced a report measuring social outcomes in all three Territories. I'm going to highlight a few findings. The first is that a quarter of the Indigenous population lives in the bottom 20 per cent of household income. Secondly, almost a quarter of youth aged 20 to 24 are neither working nor in class. Third, income changes little across generations in the NWT, meaning that poor people remain poor.

Mr. Speaker, the conference board has three suggestions for improving social outcomes in the NWT. First is to have more people finish high school and post-secondary education, and we hear that's going the right direction from my colleague from Tu Nedhe. Then to bump up an income for people who do finish education, especially for Indigenous people, is very significant.

Second, we need to improve access to health care. I realize this is a challenge because of the limited health personnel available in remote communities, and I am also aware that the government is attempting to address both of these issues, both educational attainment and health.

The third suggestion, and the one that is the focus of my statement today, is to ensure there are ongoing investments in poverty reduction strategies. The starting point is to renew our Anti-Poverty Action Plan, introduce the evaluation framework. Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, colleagues. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the starting point is to renew the Anti-Poverty Action Plan, introduce the evaluation framework, and prioritize action that not only alleviates poverty but moves people out of it for good. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.

Masi. Colleagues, I'd like to draw your attention to people in the gallery. We have with us Mr. Dave Ramsay, former Member of the 15th, 16th, and 17th Legislative Assemblies and also a former Minister as well. Welcome. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. It's fall, and once again we are seeing our streets filled with tourists drawn from around the world to enjoy our spectacular aurora viewing. While further interim measures have recently been announced, we are still without a solution supported by the tourism sector, or resourced with dedicated funds from this government.

As I have pointed out before, aurora tourism is the NWT's biggest success story in sustainable and renewable economic diversification. It's a $40 million a year industry, and a study last year showed that having a visitor's information centre boosted expenditures by about $5 million alone in Yellowknife. As I've also pointed out, visitors' centres at the 60th parallel in Inuvik and in Dawson are operated by the GNWT and only open in the summer.

Anyone with eyes knew that the Yellowknife visitors' information centre was crumbling to ruin. The warning flags have been up for years. For more than a year, the Northern Frontier Visitors Association, which operated our very popular centre, has appealed to this government to take action so tourists won't be left out in the cold, with no welcome or advice.

We appreciate the City of Yellowknife's effort to offer a stopgap, but this will not be the comprehensive service replacement required. There has been no progress on a full-service centre to operate temporarily until we have a new visitors' centre open. The numbers prove how inadequate the move to the museum has been. There were 725 clients served in July this year; the same period last year, 3018. That's a catastrophic drop.

As I have said before, it is simply inconceivable that Yellowknife would not have a world-class tourist information and interpretive centre. How is it possible that this government operates visitors' centres with comparatively low figures, but has sat on its hands in ensuring service for the NWT's tourism epicentre? It is as if our government has simply vacated the field for supporting tourism in Yellowknife.

It is time to stop ignoring our guests and get serious about maximizing tourism benefits. I am looking for this government to commit operating and capital funds in this budget cycle to begin construction of a new centre and to explain its plan for service in the meantime. I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statement. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a small community health centre, staff have to be ready for just about anything. Tsiigehtchic Health Services regularly offers services and support for everything from check-ups to homecare to emergency treatment, plus specialized services for students, elders, and those living with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, we have a community health representative and a homecare worker resident. While a nurse visits from Inuvik weekly, and a doctor once a month, staff have to be on their toes, and they are often called to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Residents, including elders, often need help getting to and from the health centre or perform typical errands that have a big impact on health, like collecting groceries or prescriptions. Right now, staff are pitching in when they see those needs are going unmet, using their own vehicles without compensation for their time or for cost of fuel.

In addition to this, Mr. Speaker, I am also concerned about potential liability problems, although staff are certainly providing a valuable public service. That is the key phrase, Mr. Speaker; a "public service." To that end, I would like to propose working with the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure that a government vehicle is available to staff at the Tsiigehtchic health centre, and continue to provide the best possible care for residents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions later today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I made a statement praising Hay River's liveability. It is a beautiful and safe place to raise a family, so do not take this the wrong way, but Hay River needs more cops.

Currently, Hay River is allocated seven general duty constables. Those are the men and women who patrol the community and respond to the day-to-day calls, from the routine mundane ones to the serious and potentially life-threatening calls. That is seven officers to cover the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but seven officers does not necessarily mean seven officers.

The NWT has the highest vacancy rate of allocated positions of any province or territory. In addition, each officer is entitled to anywhere between 15 and 20 weeks of annual leave. There is also a list of required training courses that the RCMP must attend. Those courses can last up to two weeks. What all this means is that there are times when there are only three general duty constables available to cover all shifts.

On top of this, the RCMP have to perform duties that are handled by sheriffs in most other jurisdictions. Court is held in Hay River every second Monday, with trials on the following Tuesday and sometimes Wednesday. The RCMP are responsible for transporting prisoners to and from these proceedings, and monitoring them while they are in court. That means up to six days a month there is one officer who is unable to respond to calls, patrol the community, or assist in investigations.

The fact is, and the RCMP will confirm this, we will need more general duty constables in Hay River. Let us consider how we stacked up against other jurisdictions. We are 50 per cent bigger than Fort Smith. They have six positions, compared to our seven. Inuvik has 12 positions, despite the fact that Hay River fields twice as many calls per constable that result in charges being laid, each charge charged as hours of paperwork. The staff shortage impacts public safety, officer safety, and I can't imagine it is good for the mental well-being of these officers who are being asked to do more than is humanly possible.

There are simple solutions that the department must be aware of but has not acted on. The obvious, allocate more positions in Hay River. A men's shelter would significantly cut down the number of calls the RCMP responded to. Just look at what the sobering centre has done in Yellowknife. Third, task the sheriffs with handling prisoner transport and overseeing prisoners while in court. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to address an important way that this government can support our growing and diversifying economy.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in our economy, as we heard from a Member earlier today. That applies to the City of Yellowknife, and it is becoming more and more a reality in all regions of the NWT. Tourism is growing in terms of where our visitors are coming from. Most visitors used to be from Japan, but now more are coming from China, even Korea and other countries. The tourism season is also growing. We are seeing more tourists here now in the summer, when mostly they used to be here during the colder months.

Tourism is one sector where we are moving positively in the direction of our mandate goals of job creation and economic diversification. It is important for this government to support this growing industry, and certainly not stand in its way. For that reason, I am asking this government to support our municipalities with enabling legislation to let them apply a hotel levy.

The City of Yellowknife is currently implementing a Destination Marketing Organization strategy to aggressively market the capital as a tourist destination. It will coordinate all ways of marketing the city, and draw on all of the city's resources to attract visitors. Mr. Speaker, increasing tourist traffic by just 10 per cent could bring in millions in additional dollars.

The City of Yellowknife has taken the tourism ball and is running with it. Allowing them to institute a hotel levy will provide resources so that they can develop local tourism as they see fit. In the capital, it could help attract national level conferencing and gathering opportunities. In turn, that will support a more robust, active, healthy downtown core. Since Yellowknife is the starting point for most NWT visitors, growth in the capital will benefit all NWT communities and regions.

Mr. Speaker, the hotel levy resolution is supported by the city, the NWT Association of Communities, the local hotel association, and NWT Tourism. Our communities want to develop their own tourism potential, and we should be working to support them and helping them take advantage of these opportunities. Mr. Speaker, let us change the CTV Act. Let us support the levy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been a long week of doing eulogies, and today it will continue. Today, I would like to speak about a beloved member of the community of Fort Simpson who passed away late last week. Peter B. Shaw moved to Fort Simpson in the 1980s. Before moving to Fort Simpson, Peter had travelled the world. After his arrival to town, he called Fort Simpson home, and hardly travelled outside very much.

Some of Peter's most memorable commitments to the community included the Santa Claus Parade, the Memorial Day Poppy Sale, and Memorial Day Celebration as part of the Canada Day Parade. Peter was the first member of the community to initiate the Santa Claus Parade, and it is thanks to him that the residents of Fort Simpson enjoyed it every year.

Peter was a member of the volunteer ambulance services in Fort Simpson for many years. Peter would respond to calls alone when no one else could accompany him. His commitment was unmatched. A current member of our community, Mr. Calvin Spencer, moved to Fort Simpson and was trained by Peter as a maintenance operator, as Peter was the maintenance operator for the then Department of Public Works for the federal government. Calvin recalls Peter's commitment and helpful. If he called him at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning for assistance with boilers, he was there in a heartbeat.

As a businessman, Peter was a big supporter of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce. He really supported local businesses and liked to see members of the community thrive. Peter ran a large craft shop for a number of years. He would buy traditional Aboriginal crafts from all over the Deh Cho to sell in his store. Not one soul in the region who did crafts would be turned away from Peter's door, and he saw the value in every piece he purchased. Peter would go so far as selling tourists crafts that they did not have money for, with the promise of them paying the bill later on. Peter's faith in humanity was so large that he received the promised payments from the tourists after their departure.

Sometimes Peter would not even mark up the crafts from his purchases. He hardly made any profits and would even have a hard time parting with the crafts he sold. Unfortunately, Peter's store burnt down with all those beautiful crafts and artefacts. Back in the day, Peter had the first video rental store in Fort Simpson. He was a river monitor, staying up late hours of the night, ensuring that he was the first to respond. Peter had a love of the nature and was able to feed ravens out of his own hand.

Peter's lasting marks on the community will never fade. Anyone who has ever met Peter will promise you he did not have a mean bone in his body. He treated everybody with the same kindness and respect and was respected and loved in return. The staff at Nahanni Inn were his family, and his seat at the coffee shop will always remain known as Peter's spot. He passed on after leading a peaceful life as a very humble man who sought no recognition. We will sadly miss him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Our condolences to the family, and also to the region as well. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to take this opportunity to welcome and recognize Yellowknife North constituent and resident Dave Ramsay, former MLA and former Minister for our government.

I also would like to take this opportunity to recognize Pages Jaylen Base and Kristen Grey from Mildred Hall who are Yellowknife North residents, and thank all the Pages for the tremendous work they do for our Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Mr. David Ramsay, the former Member for Kam Lake. He has left big shoes to fill, and that is a good thing. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize David Ramsay. Welcome. Good to see you again. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Did we miss anyone in the gallery? It is always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Welcome. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement of a moment ago regarding the RCMP staffing levels in Hay River, I would like to direct these questions to the Minister of Justice. The RCMP presented to the GNWT a request and a business case for two additional general duty constables in Hay River. Will the department include these positions in next year's budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department is working closely with "G" Division to develop a business case to support additional policing resources in the community and is working its way through the GNWT planning process for 2018-2019. We have heard not only from the Member opposite but from the RCMP about this request, which does seem reasonable. Thank you.

I understand that upcoming budgets are often kept pretty close to the chest, so I appreciate that answer. I will take that as a positive. One of the other issues I touched on is how the RCMP are responsible for duties that sheriffs are generally responsible for in other jurisdictions.

My question is: why can we not put the responsibility for transporting and overseeing prisoners to and from court and while they are in court on the sheriffs instead of the RCMP? I am sure it is a much cheaper option, and there is already a sheriff in the courtroom. Why can we not do this?

The department and the RCMP have formed a committee to review current practices and recommend the most effective model for providing prisoner security. Currently we are looking at the situation in Yellowknife, and this would appear to make sense in many ways.

I know that, in Nunavut, I think exclusively in Iqaluit, the sheriffs have taken over duties that were formerly conducted by the RCMP. We will be looking at this, initially for the Yellowknife courthouse, but perhaps, after that, looking at other communities where this might also create efficiencies.

That is a great start. Another issue that takes up the time of the RCMP, and it is tied in with this last one, is the prisoner transport to and from Yellowknife to attend court in the South Slave. They have to do that because the remand centre in Hay River is no longer being used. This comes at a cost to the RCMP.

That is the RCMP budget that is used to transport the prisoners, and they do not even get the GNWT rate when it comes to flights. Can I ask the Minister: why does the RCMP not get the GNWT rate for these flights, and can we get it for them to save them a few bucks and put that back into community safety?

Of course, the RCMP is a federal agency and have their own procurement rules, but I am happy to have our department working with the RCMP to see if efficiencies and cost savings can be found.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, this is something I have brought up in the House many times, and it is all tied in with everything we have just been speaking about. The remand centre in Hay River is not being used. This would save the RCMP money, and it would save everyone time.

I would like to ask the Minister: can I get an analysis of why the remand centre in Hay River cannot be used? What I always get is it is a minimum security centre. Well, there is a remand centre surrounded by a minimum security centre. Remand is located in minimum security prisons in Alberta, other places in Canada, and places in Australia. Why can we not do it here? Why can we not put that back into use? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that the last time that the remand centre was used in Hay River was 2005. Inmates on remand are considered high-risk, and for that reason they have to be housed in a medium- or maximum-security facility, and currently the facility in Hay River is minimum-security. Housing remand inmates in that facility would hinder the operations, simply because the facility, as I mentioned, is minimum-security, not medium or maximum, which is required.

I do know that there is a lot of traffic of prisoners back and forth to court, and that can add some additional expenses. I am hoping that members of my profession will be using video conferencing more often to reduce some of those costs.

It is really a matter of security to have Hay River act again as a remand centre. It would require considerable changes to the facility as it now stands to raise it from minimum to a medium or maximum, and at this time we are not contemplating those costs. Thank you.

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

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Infrastructure questions on Highway No. 6; that is Highway No. 6 that runs into Fort Resolution. I would like to ask the Minister what the current status of the highway is insofar as the construction phase. Whether they are currently on the highway, they are shut down for the winter, that type of status, I am looking for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe we had a successful season. Prior to me getting this portfolio, there was a contract awarded to a local contractor, along with Aboriginal groups, in the region to rehabilitate this Highway No. 6. They have been continually working on specifically kilometre 42 to 62. That work began late November of 2015 and was completed up the last year. This year moving forward we want to rehabilitate 14 kilometres of that highway and continue to invest in it, and application of chipseal will be part of that as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to ask the Minister when Highway No. 6 will be completed 100 per cent to a chipseal state.

I do not have that type of detail with me. I know I have a budget for chipsealing across the Northwest Territories, and we continue to move that forward through our various bundles. I will get that information for the Member, when he can expect to have that highway completely chipsealed.

Insofar as local business and so on on the highway, I would like to ask the Minister if there was a lot of local labour, and the sense I am trying to get is the numbers, if the Minister has the numbers, of what percentage of the people working on site were from Fort Resolution and so on. Just a feel of what type of local business and local employment was seen on Highway No. 6 to date.

I can gladly try to get that information for the Member pulled back from the department and see what we have got for information. It was a joint venture, as I said, with the two Aboriginal groups and a local contractor from the area. I should be able to get those exact numbers for the Member.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Highway No. 6 there is one bridge, Little Buffalo River bridge. I would like to ask the Minister if there is an intention of rehabilitating the Little Buffalo River bridge. Thank you.

I know there is ongoing work on Buffalo River bridge and the Hay River bridge moving forward on the bundles that we have allocated the money to. The specifics around Little Buffalo River bridge, I will have to get the details on that and see if there is any planned work on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked questions of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about Student Financial Assistance. I would like to follow up with some questions with the Minister here today. I have heard from various students throughout the years that they were not as successful in high school as they should have been. As they start looking at their future, they realize they need to upgrade their marks, and they start looking for institutions that offer this type of program and funding. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise us: are students eligible to access Student Financial Assistance to attend college or university to upgrade so they can get into their chosen field of education? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member's concerns, as well as his interest in the support of post-secondary education programming, as well as our Student Financial Assistance program. In determining a student's eligibility for funding, Student Financial Assistance cannot take into consideration any courses that are considered upgrading, as they are not a post-secondary course.

However, if a student is enrolled in a full course load at post-secondary level, the student can enrol in additional classes that may be considered upgrading. In situations like this, Mr. Speaker, it is important for students to contact the Student Financial Assistance office to ensure they still meet the regulatory requirements to be considered a post-secondary student. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that answer. We will work with them on that. I am familiar, basically, in that you have to take 60 per cent of a work load to get that. I thank the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, if the department is not able to fund students to upgrade, what funding programs are available for students to upgrade, and how is this information shared with the students?

There are other avenues of potential funding for students who want to get into upgrading or adult basic learning. Obviously, there are income assistance and labour market programs. There are university and college entrance programs, known as UCEPP, administered by the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. There is also ASETS, which is Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy, administered by Aboriginal governments.

Students who apply for SFA for an upgrading program are issued a denial letter which advises them of alternative sources of funding, and as I mentioned, any students who want to look at upgrading and have that denial letter, that will help them get other programs such as UCEPP, income assistance, labour markets, as well as ASETS.

I thank the Minister for that answer. That is great to hear, that there are other opportunities for students out there besides Student Financial Assistance. Throughout the years, I have heard that students can attend Aurora College and take upgrading courses and be eligible for SFA. Can the Minister explain how this is possible? Is it an access program, or is it upgrading just specifically through the Aurora College?

As I mentioned yesterday, when some of these questions were coming by, the Student Financial Assistance Program must abide by the act and regulations when determining a student's eligibility. Here, with Aurora College, there is an upgrading component to the access programs at Aurora College. That program still provides courses that are at a post-secondary level, which allows students to qualify for SFA and further their education.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that clarification. That is very helpful. I have witnessed some of the challenges for the students first-hand and have been very fortunate that my constituent assistant has been well-versed in this area and has been able to move mountains to help the youth in some of these other funding programs out there, but it has been challenging. Will the Minister have his department look into feasibility to have Student Financial Assistance available to students who need to upgrade and wish to do it at a southern institution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The purpose of the SFA program is to assist with the costs of obtaining a post-secondary education. Students who wish to get funding might want to look into pursuing some of our access programs or look at the ways of getting other avenues of potential funding that I had mentioned earlier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan included a commitment to monitoring and reporting. It recognized that there are many partners involved in the collaborative framework and that each partner would be responsible for monitoring and reporting on their own actions. However, the GNWT did commit to a number of things. One of those was compiling a set of broad social indicators that identify those factors associated with poverty, its causes and effects, and developing a schedule for reporting on them.

Mr. Speaker, during the last Anti-Poverty Roundtable held in Inuvik, a large number of indicators were discussed at length by the attendees, and the advisory committee took all that information they compiled and provided some advice and direction to the government on the establishment of some performance measures of poverty in the Northwest Territories. These measures are now being reported by the NWT Bureau of Statistics and collected by them, as well.

Thank you to the Minister. It is good to hear that there is some work going on in this area. Will the Minister further compile this information into a sort of annual report and release it at the Anti-Poverty Roundtable in November in Norman Wells?

This is obviously an ongoing discussion. The Anti-Poverty Roundtable is an important opportunity for the GNWT and stakeholders to get together to talk about progress, and it is my understanding that that information is intended to be shared with the individuals at the roundtable. We are also working with our stakeholders. We have a $1-million anti-poverty fund that we provide to different stakeholders. Many of them are providing reports on the work they are doing. We are still working with others to make sure that they are providing some evaluation work on the reports. We are hoping to have that information, as much as possible, available for further discussion and insight from the roundtable.

The Minister has anticipated my next question, but I am going to ask it anyway because it is a little more detailed. In the last budget, as the Minister said, the Anti-Poverty Fund went up to $1 million, but, up to this point, there has been no effort to evaluate the effectiveness of that spending, so I am wondering if the Minister could produce an annual report that once again would come out to coincide with the roundtable. I need to emphasize this very strongly, to evaluate without creating a large burden on the reporting agencies to carry out, so some kind of reporting but that is not onerous.

Compiling an annual report on the specific achievements in the plan is something that we are currently working on. This includes projects funded through the Anti-Poverty Fund through the annual roundtable. We have reported back to the roundtable every year on which projects are funded.

We have not yet reached the point where every funded project, as I have indicated, produces a report, although I would like to confirm that many, many of them in fact do. Staff continue to work with funded projects on this component, and that is getting an evaluation of the individual projects, recognizing that some of them are small and that, as the Member said, we do not want to create an overly burdensome process that actually makes it more difficult for them to do the valuable work that they are doing.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister is aware that a $1 million Anti-Poverty Fund is a start, but will not provide a systemic fix to poverty, so I am wondering, fuelled with the information he is collecting on the outcome of the different kinds of measurements, whether he is in fact willing to look at building on the work of some of the most successful programs through other programs or adjustments to other funding streams outside of the anti-poverty fund. Thank you.

The Anti-Poverty Fund is just, I think, one opportunity presented to us to help combat poverty in the Northwest Territories. The Housing Corporation is doing a significant amount of work to support safe and affordable housing. Education is doing work to renew the education system in the Northwest Territories to ensure that our children have the best opportunities moving forward. Health and Social Services is working on a continuing-care action plan. Education is working on an income assistance to make improvements there, to help increase affordability and sustainability throughout the Northwest Territories.

These are all important initiatives, which is one of the reasons I think, as the Member has indicated, it is incredibly important that we continue to renew the living document which is the GNWT Action Plan on Poverty. The anti-poverty working group actually met this week and talked about next steps and how we move forward to renew and re-create and grow the current GNWT action plan.

The intention now is to move forward with a renewal of that GNWT action plan, highlighting all the important work that has been done but also targeting future work. The advisory group is going to meet after the Anti-Poverty Roundtable up in Norman Wells to begin planning for that process of renewing the GNWT action plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue with the municipalities providing access to information to their residents has been a long-standing recommendation of the ATIP commissioner here in the Northwest Territories. I know that new legislation is being considered, but what I would like to ask today of the honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs is: does the department have a plan to assist communities in meeting new ATIP requirements should they be implemented? Have they explored this, or will they need time to catch up should those changes be made? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct that we have received recommendations from the Information and Privacy Commissioner to implement the ATIP policy into municipalities and, in all honesty, I agree with it. It is important that consumers, that residents, actually, of the Northwest Territories have protection of their information and that they can access that information and that officials are held accountable. These are all good things.

I think that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is working very closely with the Department of Justice to look at all of the issues, the needs, and the concerns, to ensure that municipalities have the training, have the capacity to be able to implement the Privacy Act into their practices. We are still working on that.

We are looking at options, though, and because training and capacity is going to be an issue, we are looking at options like: can we do a shared service agreement that we can actually help them with so that there will be capacity? We are still in the stages of assessing the needs and the issues and potential solutions, after which time we will be meeting back with municipalities and getting their feedback on it.

I would like to thank the Minister for that response. It is good that we are aware of the issue. Have there been any timelines attached to this capacity-building exercise, or do those have to come after the ATIP legislation is rolled out?

As stated earlier, we are still looking at some of the issues and possible solutions. We are pushing forward. The ATIP Act will be amended because it is the right thing to do. We are looking at the training needs, and so, like I said earlier, perhaps a shared agreement might be an interim solution until we can provide the training and support to build the capacity of municipalities to take it on on their own.

You know I like timelines, but that is fine. We will let the department do its work. There is a significant public education piece here that the Information and Privacy Commissioner does take on their own initiative. However, given that this is a significant shift, and not just in legislation, but in culture as well, is the department going to work with municipalities on a public information campaign so everyone can access their requirements? If yes, well, we will leave it at that. I have another question, though.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is all about community development. It would be inappropriate for us to impose this upon municipalities without giving them the tools and the training to be able to enact this regulation. Yes, we will be supporting them and providing the supports that they need to be able to implement this act.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to be clear, I am well aware of the mandate of the department, and I think the capacity-building piece is there, but this information piece is very important, and it might not be contemplated by the current work.

My final question is: if we do a communication project like that, will the department be working with EC to ensure we have all 11 official languages covered and the information is accessible to communities through their local governments in local languages? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At this point, I cannot state if we would be looking at implementing it all into all of the 11 languages. We are still looking at the phase to look at: what are the issues? What are the solutions? We have not talked with the municipalities after that to see what their needs are. At this time, no, I will not commit to making sure that the information is successful in all of the 11 languages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke in support of subsistence harvesters in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of ITI. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: has ITI investigated the viability of a tannery in the Beaufort Delta recently, and when was the last time this idea was explored? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have the exact year when the department looked into this initiative, but I know that they have looked into it, and with this initiative moving forward, they figured that the reasons that they could not proceed with it was the high capital cost of equipment, the facilities, high utility costs in the region, and waste management concerns, as there is a lot of processing that needs to take place. I think the other issue at the time was also the existing procurement of hides that would be available to make this a viable operation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my second question for the Minister is: will ITI look at the idea of home tanning kits for Nunakput and remote communities in the Northwest Territories?

Yes, we can have a look at it. I know that the department does community-based tannery workshops, and we will continue to do that across the Northwest Territories, but if the Member has any ideas around some home tanning kits ideas, I would gladly sit down and discuss it with them.

I look forward to that. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister is: what is the department doing to assist harvesters who want access to tanning options?

With the development of the Mackenzie Valley Genuine Valley Fur Program, the fur procurement programs by ITI, fewer harvesters are looking at owning tanning operations, or doing their own tanning operations.

I can speak to the department of the region in the South Slave actually looking at the exact same thing, I believe, that was proposed in the Beaufort Delta, a viable option of doing a tannery in the South Slave. When we get these results back, I would gladly share them with the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. I understand the issue of physical limitations; however, planning is fundamental. My question is: what, if any, work plan progress has been done under the Voices on Housing Survey? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Voices on Housing Survey was a phenomenal success, with 1,500 responses throughout the territories. Every community actually provided responses to it, which shows the need for housing. I take this issue very seriously. Housing is a basic need.

It is one of the critical things that we need before people can move forward and do other things for self-development and wellness. I focused the whole summer, actually, on meeting with the Housing Corporation every two weeks, and we hashed out policies constantly. We have quite a few policies that are coming forward based on this survey.

I will be doing a Minister's statement on that, specifically on the housing survey and the policies that we have made, but I can say that some of the policies that we will be rolling out and we will be announced in my Minister's statement. As soon as the Minister's statement is done, it will begin implementation of things such as a senior's retrofit program that can be bundled onto other services so that they can actually get more renovations to their homes. We are going to be having a fuel tank initiative to help homeowners, which will help with some of the insurance issues that communities are facing and environmental concerns. We are going to be having a new rent supplement program that is more accessible to people.

We are going to be working with some of the NGOs to support them with the rent supplement program so that they can actually provide services within a Housing First model. Policies are coming in to change so that students and people on medical travel, or medical needs, will have more access, better services to public housing.

We have a lot of policies that have been worked on. We have more to come. It is a passion of mine, and I have been working diligently, and it is really exciting to be able to provide the Minister's statement towards the end of this session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks for that response on what we can expect as we move forward. My next question: as mentioned within the survey, can we expect consultation at the regional level after the development of action plans?

I do believe in being inclusive, and so within that, when we were doing the developmental policies, it did not just come from headquarters. Within the policy developments, we have the regional departments that are actually part of that policy development team. In fact, we have LHOs, local housing organizations that were part of that policy development team, so we have tried to be as inclusive as possible.

We heard the comments from residents who were working with the service providers that are on the ground, the local housing organizations. Yes, we have been trying to be as inclusive as possible to develop these policies. We got amazing feedback from staff, from the regional departments, and from the local housing organizations on how excited they are that we are moving towards this new initiative.

Thanks for the response, Minister. As we all know, there are federal engagements, federal announcements made on the infrastructure dollars on the National Housing Strategy. Is the department working towards securing resources from that national strategy initiative?

To address the needs of housing is not only a Government of the Northwest Territories issue. It is not only a homeowner or a residents issue. It is a bigger issue. It belongs that all governments, including municipalities, including the federal government need to have help within this to be able to deal with that, so, yes, we have been actively engaging with the federal government to access housing supports. In fact, we have secured a deal with the federal government that we would have a Northern Territory strategy that would provide assistance only to the Territories. That has already been released.

There was a $300 million subsidy to two of the three territories, specifically to address our needs. We have been advocating more when the National Housing Strategy will be released, we are hoping in November, and once it is released you will see that there have been more supports provided to the northern territories. So, yes, we have been actively lobbying the federal government for supports for housing in the Territories.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On the issue of the access to that capital as mentioned, will the Minister seriously look at entertaining a proposal submitted by the community of Tulita to construct a seniors' complex? There is no seniors' complex within that community, and I've received numerous phone calls. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Until the details of the National Housing Program are released by the federal government, I can't actually say exactly what funding is coming within that strategy. However, what I can say is that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation does see a huge need for seniors' accommodations, and so we will be focusing within the next fiscal year on doing a total research project on how many seniors are out there in need of public housing, what specifically are their needs, and within that we will be developing a seniors programs that specifically are tailored towards meeting the needs of seniors and elders within the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Since the middle of June the Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre has been closed. The numbers tell the client service story: 725 visitors served in July of this year versus 3,018 the previous year. The City of Yellowknife is stepping in on a temporary basis until March 2018, but what's the plan for a vigorous interim arrangement that will carry us through until a new permanent visitors' centre can be opened? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; the City of Yellowknife has stepped up and is going to have a look at doing this until the end of the aurora season this year. We are in discussions with them on moving this plan forward. Talks are going well. We want to be able to develop something and establish an appropriate model that's sustainable for the long-term delivery of visitor services in Yellowknife, and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.