Good afternoon, Members. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as most NWT residents are probably aware, as of today, the consumption of cannabis is legal across Canada.

---Applause

Interesting spot for a clap. Our government committed in our mandate to create the policy, program, and legislative regimes necessary to support legalization, and with that comes a firm commitment to public education and awareness.

Public education and awareness efforts are well under way across the Northwest Territories. The Department of Health and Social Services has been working in partnership with other GNWT departments and agencies and the federal government to make sure that NWT residents have the important evidence-based information that they need about the health, social, and legal aspects of cannabis use they need to make informed decisions. Mr. Speaker, we have taken a harm reduction approach that builds off Canada's Lower Risk Guidelines for Cannabis Use, developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Using this harm reduction approach, our government has made it a priority to make sure that residents are aware of the significant risks of cannabis use on brain development and other health issues, and its potential effects on children, youth, pregnant and nursing women, and people with mental health issues.

As a government, we have been working diligently since August 2016 to ensure public education materials were developed to meet the needs of our residents and help them prepare for legalization of cannabis. This included new web content, direct mail to all households and businesses in the Northwest Territories, parent talk kits, traditional and social media advertising, radio and web content in all NWT Indigenous languages, as well as school based education events. The campaign has included informational videos, materials for teachers and students in schools, community surveys, and the identification of community champions to help provide messaging to residents. Cannabis education and resources are also being provided at the community health fairs which are held throughout the Northwest Territories.

Recently, our campaign included hosting Dr. Matthew Hill, a neurologist from the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Through a series of in-person and online streaming events, Dr. Hill was able to field questions from youth, teachers, parents and caregivers, and health professionals about health considerations related to cannabis use, especially where it relates to brain health. We had over 125 NWT residents tune in to a live Facebook chat with the neurologist. Approximately 200 high school students here in Yellowknife as well as 30 classrooms across the territory benefited from a live question and answer sessions with Dr. Hill.

Making sure that our health professionals have access to the information that they need to do their jobs now that cannabis is legal has also been a focus area for the Department of Health and Social Services. Approximately 60 health professionals from around the territories participated in a special session focused on the latest research pertaining to the effects of cannabis use on mental health, and specifically, post-traumatic stress disorder. This was the second cannabis health expert we have brought to the territory to present on public health evidence related to cannabis use and to directly answer Northerners' questions about cannabis and their health.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that many NWT residents have concerns related to the legalization of cannabis and its potential impacts on individuals and communities. These concerns are not baseless, and it is our responsibility to provide messaging and materials that are culturally relevant, are tailored to our NWT population, and are understood by residents so that they can make informed decisions about cannabis use. For youth under 25, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those experiencing mental health issues, there are very real health concerns. The legalization of cannabis opens up new opportunities for honest, straightforward conversations with NWT residents about the known health considerations for those who use cannabis. These conversations weren't always happening prior to legalization, when cannabis was still readily available on the black market and widely used throughout our territories. We welcome this opportunity for frank dialogue.

Mr. Speaker, now that cannabis is legal, the effort of our government to provide information and education sessions to our residents doesn't stop; more sessions are in the works. Our presentations on cannabis health information at community living fairs will continue. These fairs offer a very personal and direct way to communicate with NWT residents living in our smallest communities about health issues that are important to them. We will also have the presence at festivals and sporting events and other places where people gather and cannabis is likely to be consumed.

New and engaging cannabis health education materials are also under development and will be rolled out over the coming weeks. We have invested significant time and energy developing and pilot-testing these materials and engaging uniquely northern voices in the communication of key health messages.

As our public education campaign continues, we will be partnering with the federal government to expand cannabis public education efforts in Northwest Territories communities. This will include community and school activities, visual and social media content in all NWT official languages, as well as community resources.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the health information our government is sharing about cannabis, the federal government is active on this issue, as well. Their cannabis public education efforts include social media, paid advertising, and promotional materials, all of which are helping to provide important information to residents in our territories and throughout Canada. We are working alongside our federal counterparts to ensure consistency in our messaging and to ensure we complement rather than overlap in our efforts.

Mr. Speaker, we have made a long-term commitment to ensuring that our residents have the most up-to-date information on cannabis so that they can make informed decisions about its use. We know from our extensive consultations with youth from across the territory that they want health information delivered in a manner that is interactive, builds on the knowledge and experience they already have, and is creative. These expressed needs shaped our cannabis public education plan and will continue to inform our public awareness and education efforts as a government going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our government has committed in its mandate to pursue innovative ways to prevent and reduce crime. Our experience has shown that it is not possible to administer a system of justice exactly the same way throughout our territory. Each community is different, with their own unique set of priorities and their own way of addressing local justice needs. Our government provides training and funding for all communities to hire justice coordinators, support community justice committees, and develop culturally relevant crime prevention programs.

Community justice committees, comprised of volunteers from the community, help to develop alternatives to the criminal justice system in their home community. Community justice coordinators are key liaisons between community members, the RCMP, local supports and services, and offenders.

What our community justice supports and programs help our justice system take into account is that people who commit crimes have homes and families. Almost all of them eventually come back to their communities. With the right training and support from our government, local community justice committees can be part of the planning for an offender's safe return. This work is not always easy. Offenders need to know what supports are available to help them with their release plan, and community members need to know about how offenders have committed to addressing the problems that led to the crime, when they get home. Community justice coordinators and committees can help an offender develop a plan and follow it.

Offences that get referred to a community justice committee are addressed through a restorative model of justice. As more matters are diverted to the restorative process, fewer people are charged with crimes and therefore are not ending up in the corrections system. The RCMP is an important partner in the successful use of the community justice approach in our communities. When police and victims gain trust in their community's restorative approach, the number of referrals to the community justice committee increases. Restorative approaches respect the dignity of victims and hold people accountable for their actions. It does not replace the courts, but can include such things as family group conferencing, as well as victim and offender conferencing. It is a different way of dealing with minor offences, and a different way to help an offender plan to return to the community after serving a sentence.

Mr. Speaker, there is innovative work happening throughout the Northwest Territories in support of community justice. Some community justice committees are working with their local probation officers to deliver the Substance Abuse Management and Violence Prevention programs. Others are hosting large events, like the Odd Squad in Deline and Fort McPherson, and the Reel Youth video project in Fort Simpson. Justice committees are also supporting ongoing programs, like the Fort Liard Men's Support Circle, and youth empowerment projects in Ndilo and Detah, who meet regularly to offer peer support and focus on healthy choices.

Mr. Speaker, our residents know what community safety and wellness supports their communities need, and our government is proud to help them make those things happen. Throughout our territory, every week our government is supporting youth programming, on-the-land activities, and addiction awareness workshops developed locally by justice coordinators and committees.

I applaud the work that the community justice committees and the coordinators are doing to enhance the quality of life in our communities, and thank them for being partners to helping us meet our mandate commitments to reduce and prevent crime. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the honourable Wally Schumann will be late arriving in the House today to attend a videoconference before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Recently the province of Quebec elected a new government. The new government said the legal age for purchasing and consuming cannabis will be 21. The Prime Minister responded by saying that the age proposed by the premier-elect will only feed the illegal cannabis market. The Prime Minister's reason was that people in Quebec between the ages of 18 and 21 will continue to use street dealers to purchase cannabis.

Mr. Speaker, if we don't open the doors for small businesses to get into the legal distribution and selling of cannabis within our small communities, I fear we may create a similar situation. Cannabis users in small communities will not have easy access to cannabis products unless they walk down the street to buy it illegally. I realize that small communities can buy online; however, you would likely need a credit card.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, this government must work toward creating equal access for cannabis users in small communities, as exists in larger centres with liquor stores. We also must look internally for suppliers of cannabis within the NWT. In other words, Mr. Speaker, we should be open to the idea of cultivating cannabis grow-ops within the NWT. Already there are many businesses across Canada that are growing cannabis on a mass scale to supply this country's new marketplace. We in the North, Mr. Speaker, are once again in the position where industries from outside the Northwest Territories are reaping benefits of sales made within the territory. Going forward, the NWT should seriously consider the great potential our own home-grown products can provide.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT's cannabis stock will be supplied by three southern companies. Just imagine if the majority of the territory's cannabis needs was filled by northern distributors. I truly believe that the NWT must seize the opportunity to tap into this emerging industry before we fall too far behind.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, our government officials across the country are fearful that Canada's current stock of cannabis is too small, creating a cannabis shortage in the legal market. This also would force cannabis users to once again turn to the illegal market. Legal cannabis presents great business opportunities for people in the NWT. We cannot afford to continue to hamper the full potential of our territory. We must quickly facilitate the growth and distribution of cannabis within the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to provide a quick report on Cabinet's cannabis legalization preparedness. First of all, the sales site of the new NWT Liquor and Cannabis Commission popped up today to sell cannabis online, although it's extremely hard to find and there are no links from GNWT sites. On the information side, a number of departmental websites deal with cannabis. If one department could win a prize on this, it would be Health and Social Services. It has a good assortment of information, documents, and links on health effects of cannabis. The department sponsored an online talk by a health expert and sent out a mailer, as the Minister mentioned earlier today.

The Department of Justice website has some information for tenants and landlords on cannabis use and plants, but nothing on policing or penalties for cannabis law violations. The Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs has some general information about topics including possession restrictions, growing cannabis, buying it, and impaired driving. Infrastructure has a bid on impaired driving. The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission has a general information sheet that deals with cannabis as a fitness to work and impairment matter. There is nothing on the Department of Finance, other than a link to the Executive web page. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment and MACA websites have nothing. There is nothing yet in place for private cannabis retail to fulfil Cabinet's commitment to allow private retail within six months after passage of the bill.

I'm not aware of any government-wide communications, plans, or efforts, and given the uneven coverage of cannabis on departmental web pages, some improvements are clearly in order. There are also issues about the transparency and accountability for the revenues.

Our government will receive revenues and spend funds on implementation activities. Revenues will show up in the Liquor Revolving Fund, and there will be separate reporting on cannabis versus liquor. It is not clear what Cabinet intends to spend in terms of implementation.

The picture I'm painting here is one of a lack of coordination, and there is still no overall plan for cannabis from our government. We need a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that includes public reporting. This is exactly what the standing committee requested. Cabinet promised, and has yet to deliver. Mr. Speaker, where is the plan?

I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, today marks an important day in the history of Canada and how we as a nation address the social and physiological issue of addiction.

Ninety-five years of cannabis prohibition has failed to achieve the ends it sets out to achieve. It has not curbed illegal markets, nor has it righted social wrongs. Prohibition does not ensure that communities are safe; rather, it opens them up to gangsters and bootleggers who are accountable to no one, who cut their products with toxins, and all too often it is accompanied by violence. Bootlegging is a problem that affects us all in the NWT. The consequences of illegally imported controlled substances circumventing local laws is an ever-challenging issue which requires vigilance on the part of all governments and law-abiding citizens.

I want to start off by commending the GNWT for their efforts to make available to the public a great deal of evidence-based resources. Household mailers, talking kits, fact sheets, newspaper ads, and webcasts hosted by health experts are just some of the measures which have been made available to the public. I am proud to see that this and other governments all over Canada are making joint efforts toward shaping conversations as opposed to pushing for convictions of minor offences.

Most impressively, I wish to note the audio recordings made on the topic of "Health Effects of Cannabis" have been published in nine official Indigenous languages, and English and French. It is of utmost importance that all peoples in the NWT are made aware, in their language of choice, of the effects, good and bad and otherwise, that come with the legalization of cannabis.

The aforementioned resources made available to teachers, caregivers, students, and clinicians are key to ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for all those who live in our territory. We as parents, caregivers, and elders have a duty to let these tough conversations play out with those we love and care for.

We all have a responsibility to ensure that Northerners know how to remain compliant with this new legal framework. To purchase, an individual must be 19 years of age, and no one can possess in public more than 30 grams of cannabis. Most importantly, the dangers to oneself and one's community when operating a vehicle while impaired by cannabis or alcohol must not be forgotten or understated.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners have come a long way since the 1920s, and today marks the beginning of the end of prohibition and the start of a bold new era where we can actually make a meaningful difference in the high rates of substance abuse in the Northwest Territories and across Canada. I am looking hopefully forward to a future where these rates will come down, where our communities will be safer, and our children will be protected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, here we are, October 17^th, and recreational cannabis is now available to everyone who is 19 years or older. For Regular MLAs, it's been a rushed and at times overwhelming sprint to this point. Even now, the government doesn't have all the pieces in place, such as a fully costed implementation plan. Let's pause and take stock of how we got here.

First of all, legalization wasn't our idea. It was the feds who decided that regular citizens should no longer be made criminals because they smoke pot. Our response to this downloaded priority has consumed huge amounts of this Assembly's time and treasury and energy. Other priorities have been pushed aside.

It's worth remembering that the effect of cannabis is to alter consciousness, or in other words, to become intoxicated. This is recreational, not medicinal cannabis. During our public hearings in the spring, elders spoke of their concerns about legalizing another intoxicant. We in the NWT have a sadly large experience with the results of people becoming too intoxicated, too often, and with the social toil of dependency and costs of recovery. During those same hearings, parents voiced concern about the effects of cannabis on the brain development of young people. There is a significant downside here for youth and important questions about impaired driving for people of all ages. So you won't hear me cheering today.

Another benefit the federal government has been touting is an end to the black market, taking cannabis sales into the public taxation system and drying up revenue for organized crime. In our jurisdiction, I have my doubts about these so-called benefits. First, you'll need a lawyer to get through the paperwork to set up a private store here. If you live at the end of a Canada Post box, your online order may be delivered by the end of the month. Even if people have credit cards, which many don't, the black market in small communities will be easy and quick, as it's always been.

What we have today is the beginning of a new vigilance. We need to assess whether the approach we have been hurried to institute is appropriate, to evaluate it soon and often, and adjust as necessary. We need to monitor the use and effects of pot on our youth and citizens, on the need for dependency treatment, and the possible health care consequences of smoking behaviours. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, there is a buzz in the room today. Bad joke number one. Seriously, Mr. Speaker, for all our lives, marijuana has been an illegal drug. Some see it as an evil influence that must be banned. To others, it's a harmless, fun pastime. Certainly, it's always galvanized energetic public debate.

Today, Mr. Speaker, that all changes. Cannabis becomes legal, not just for medical use, but for recreational use as well. As we are seeing, the impacts are going to be enormous.

The public discourse about cannabis has shown what a wide range of impacts are anticipated; impacts on health, on youth, on policing and enforcement. Where will cannabis be legal? How will it be sold? Who will get the profits?

I would like to commend my colleagues who were involved in the public consultation process. I think they did a good job of talking and listening to Northerners to find out what they wanted from a legal cannabis management regime.

Mr. Speaker, it's a core mandate commitment of the 18^th Assembly, and a basic need of our territory, to grow and diversify the economy. Over the last three years, we have spoken a lot about various ways of doing this. We have encouraged agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, local manufacturing, and more.

I hope that maintaining tight government control over cannabis, even for only six months, won't jeopardize a great economic prospect. I urge the government to encourage communities and business to engage with the process, actively prepare, and be ready in six months to capitalize on this new opportunity for commercial growth and job creation.

We're at the dawn of a new era, Mr. Speaker. No one knows exactly how this will play out, but legal cannabis will revolutionize Canadian society and the economy. I support the government in making sure cannabis is managed carefully. We must be fully mindful of health issues, the safety of youth, road safety, policing, and a host of other questions.

I also want to encourage the government to be bold in recognizing the opportunity presented by this new sector to create jobs and wealth for Northerners.

Oh, and also of note, Mr. Speaker, as of today, the ever-popular tie clip can second as a new multi-use paraphernalia tool. Bad joke number two. Enjoy responsibly, everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Preparatory measures. Mr. Speaker, project planning is an essential element for project success.

Mr. Speaker, the Fort Good Hope K'asho Got'ine Council, with funding, sponsorship, and support from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, are initiating a driver training course in Red Deer, Alberta. Starting tomorrow, there will be nine Sahtu students receiving training.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the partnership companies, Divergent Employment Solutions, Career Assistance Network, the Fort Good Hope K'asho Got'ine Dene Community Council, and funding sources, ECE, and ASETS.

Mr. Speaker, these initiatives are the foundations of statements as mentioned previously by the Minister: "The best social program is a job." During my time here, I respectfully concur.

Mr. Speaker, a rewarding segment of this training plan is employment positions are under way upon completion. This can lead to material supply chain transportation for the Great Bear River Bridge assembly opportunities to come. Mahsi.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it can sometimes feel like we've been seeing wall-to-wall cannabis coverage for months now. Following the federal government's decision to legalize cannabis, and then the GNWT's creation of its own legislation, Regular Members had a whirlwind seven months to review the proposed laws, research best practices, talk to residents, hold public hearings, and work on making the legislation the best it could be.

Mr. Speaker, I'm grateful that so many Northerners shared their views, values, and recommendations with us. Today, on the legalization day, we are breaking new ground.

I know my colleagues will also have much to say on this subject. I would just like to highlight a few outstanding questions on the minds of people in the Mackenzie Delta, and I'm sure in other small communities.

It's my understanding that the RCMP will generally not be enforcing laws around smoking cannabis. That is, smoking in places where it's not allowed, nuisance issues, and similar violations.

Here in the Northwest Territories, that job has been handed to bylaw officers, in the communities with their own bylaws, and to environmental health officers with the Department of Health and Social Services.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there are only six environmental health officers for the whole Northwest Territories, and only three of those are outside Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, not all Mackenzie Delta residents have the privilege of resident RCMP, and our communities don't have the resources for new bylaw officers, or to pile new duties on current officers. This is just one of the examples of where we still have a long way to go.

This government's responsibility for cannabis preparedness doesn't end today. In fact, I think we are just getting started. Thank you, and I will have questions later today.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.] Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for consensus government to work, each Minister must have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and be a strong enough leader to turn that vision into reality. In a party system, Ministers have party members and political staff to help them develop a vision and associated policy. However, in our system, the Ministers' only support staff is the bureaucracy, which is not designed nor mandated to make the bold political decisions that are sometimes necessary. I am concerned that, in the absence of a bold vision, we will squander the opportunity to capitalize on what has potential to be the defining issue of this Assembly, the renewal of our post-secondary education system.

Now, it's easy for Regular Members to stand up here and say what we would do if we were Ministers, so that is what I am going to do. If I were the Minister of Education, this is some of what I would have said on the first day of this sitting.

Mr. Speaker, the report on the Aurora College foundational review has exposed this government's failure to provide adequate post-secondary education in the NWT. I take full responsibility and apologize to all of the college's students, teachers, and administrators for not providing them with a system in which they could all flourish. That being said, this is an exciting time because the review has given us a golden opportunity to start anew and begin to develop a world-class post-secondary education system. We will need help, so we are currently recruiting an associate deputy minister to assist us.

However, Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, this person will be there to turn our vision into reality, not to tell us what our vision is. We are already aware of all the many educational needs that we must work to address and the many strengths we can build on. We know that we have many high school graduates who must be better prepared for post-secondary, so we will redouble our efforts in the JK-12 system. At the same time, we will mobilize our network of community learning centres to ensure that upgrading and expanded training opportunities are accessible to everyone. We will make use of our territory's natural advantages. We will strive to turn Inuvik into a world-renowned centre for Arctic research and capitalize on its satellite and fibre optic infrastructure. We will work with industry to ensure Northerners have the right training to benefit from resource extraction. We will restore the lustre of the college's renewable resources program so it once again becomes one of the top in Canada. We will turn our trades program into one that attracts students from across Canada, and we will ensure that we support our residents who want to help the territory by becoming teachers, social workers, nurses, and other essential professionals.

Mr. Speaker, we will do all of this more, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the residents of the territory to fully develop our vision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. A little bit of excitement. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories' liquor operations in Inuvik is contracted to Stanton Distributing, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation. Mr. Speaker, that means that every Inuvialuit within the Inuvialuit settlement region, inside and outside, are registered shareholders.

The Inuvialuit Development Corporation, in collaboration with Stanton's management, decided not to add the sale of licensed marijuana products to its contract between Stanton and the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, due to borders and customs laws within the United States, entry and exit of anyone associated with distribution of licensed marijuana could possibly be denied entry into the United States. Mr. Speaker, Inuvialuit travel back and forth to our relatives in Alaska and the lower 48. We co-manage in every aspect of conservation to enrich the culture and lifestyles of our harvesters and utilize our Indigenous knowledge, building a knowledge system that improves the quality of livelihoods and culture. I understand that there may be a change in US laws, but the IDC Board still has to evaluate all aspects before any sort of reconsideration to the sale of a licensed product as it affects the IDC Board, the IRC Board, and all staff associated with the licensed facility.

Mr. Speaker, this may provide opportunities within the Beaufort Delta region for the possible sales of cannabis, and, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the engagement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Beaufort Delta region and the possibilities that may provide as well as education into legal cannabis. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, please allow me to draw your attention to the presence today at the Clerk's table of Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. As many of you know, Mr. Whitford is a man of many roles; former Commissioner, former Speaker, former Minister, former Member, former Sergeant-at-Arms. He joins us today in his capacity as honorary Clerk. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Whitford to this House this afternoon. It's always a pleasure to have you at the table. Masi.

Colleagues, we have a special guest here with us today this afternoon. I would like to draw your attention to the people in the gallery, please, to recognize the group from Manitoba. The Manitoba legislative interns are here with us this week to learn more about our consensus-style government. With us today are Alexandria Bonney, Emma Cash, Jonathan Daman, Ashley Haller, Claire Johnston, and Kristen McCaig. Thank you for joining us here today. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today we had the grade 7 class from William McDonald School in the gallery. I want to thank them and the teacher, Ms. Laura Bromley, for attending. I also have a constituent in the gallery, Ms. Kim McNearney. I want to recognize her and all of the work she has done with regard to responsible use of cannabis. Thank you very much. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to recognize Mr. Tony Whitford. Amongst his many roles, he is also a resident of Yellowknife North. Someone who is always in the building but does not make it down here often enough, I would like to recognize my constituent assistant, Mr. Keith MacNeill. Thank you, everyone, and welcome to the House.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a Page from the Kam Lake riding, Juliet Stephen. Thank you for all your work here today supporting the Members. I would also like to recognize Mr. Keith MacNeill, a fine member of the Kam Lake constituency. Finally, my constituency assistant, Mr. Michael Burchill, who recently moved to the Northwest Territories, and it's great to have him help in my office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a constituent of Yellowknife South, Leslie Goit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize one of the Pages, Ms. Tori Haogak, who is my cousin from Inuvik living here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know I'm supposed to stick to my constituency, but I need to recognize two people in the House, Kim McNearney, who worked with me professionally and is a personal friend, and also Leslie Goit, who was instrumental in my campaign team. So I apologize if I'm breaking the rules, but welcome to the Assembly.

Masi. Recognition of visitors to the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being part of our proceedings. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I talked about all of the good things the government has done as it relates to legalization. Now, I'm afraid I have to ask questions around what we're still lacking in our framework.

Currently the prices that we've all seen today on the online stores, and the long line-ups at cannabis and liquor stores, the price is around two to four times what the estimated street market is. This does not appear to be making a dent in the black market. Other Members have raised these concerns, so I would like to ask the Minister of Finance how he is monitoring the sale of black market cannabis and how they are ensuring our legal system is actually making a difference to curb the illicit trade of cannabis in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 12 hours that cannabis has been legal, there was some concern about the price. The difficult question to answer is: how will it affect the illegal market? Maybe we'll send out a questionnaire and ask if it has affected the illegal market's bottom line, with the legalization of cannabis.

We will monitor it. We're 12 hours into the legalization. We will monitor it, and even the early indications with folks lining up at the stores and the online sales that we've had, that obviously has put a dent into the illegal market, but we will continue to monitor it. As I committed to committee, I will be giving them regular updates on the legalization and the effects it has. To answer the question as to how do we know we're making a dent, we don't. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I didn't ask have we made a dent in one hour. I asked how we are monitoring to ensure this process works. There was a commitment to bring forward a costed plan. There is still no costed plan. The Minister thinks this is a laughing matter; I think Northerners think this is a serious matter. So where is the plan, when is he going to bring it forward, and when is this side of the House going to be able to see it and evaluate it to make sure it protects our communities?

Masi. There are three or four different questions, but I'll allow the Minister of Finance to answer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister does not think it's a laughing matter, but having said that, it was said before that this was something that was sprung upon us by the federal government, and we worked hard to ensure that we were ready for it. The pricing market, we've given committee an update on the costing and how that was going to work, and we have the producer cost, we have the excise duty, we have the markup and the freight commissions administration costs. My understanding is the total retail price, and it depends on the strand, I believe, is around $10.

The Minister is giving us elements of a plan, components of a plan, components of the regime, but not a fully costed, articulated plan that was voted on in this House as a recommendation of the committee's report and committed to in writing by the Minister. The Minister knew in 2015 this was coming. We didn't do any substantial work until 2017. There was plenty of time to get things together. When is that plan going to come forward? I don't want to hear elements of the plan; I want to see a costed plan.

The Member is correct. I did make a commitment to provide an implementation plan. My understanding is that we should have that in committee's hands Monday at the latest.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will that plan include the private sector regulations or the private store, private sale regulations that this government committed to during the debates on the legislation? Thank you.

We provided the regulations for private vendors to committee. I believe it's also on our website, so if there are those out there who are considering becoming a private vendor, there are opportunities there. It's on the website with all the conditions that they have to meet, and I will follow up, but I would assume that would be part of the plan, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Finance, who was in charge for preparing for the legalization and regulation of cannabis. It's clear from the public briefing on cannabis implementation we had on October 10^th in response to the committee report on Bill 6 that there is no overall government-wide plan for implementation. We heard that the Minister says this plan is going to be available on Monday; when I look at the response from Cabinet to the committee report, it says: "The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Interdepartmental Working Group is developing a cannabis implementation plan. We will provide copies of that plan to committee prior to making it available to the public, before October 17^th." That's today. Why didn't this working group, or why didn't Cabinet, deliver the plan in advance of today? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was not Cabinet, it was the Minister of Finance, and I wanted to ensure we had a plan that was going to be right. I do apologize to committee. I did make the commitment that we would have that before implementation day; obviously, I missed that. So it's on me, but I will provide the plan to committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the Minister for being forthright there. I look forward to the report on the overall plan. So, according to the response to the standing committee report, there is going to be a breakdown of sales by online and by individual stores and by product type in annual reports from the Liquor and Cannabis Commission, but the expenditures for cannabis-related programs, including things like public education, public health research, community support, and so on, it's not clear where those are going to be reported. So can the Minister tell the public and this House whether any of the revenues from cannabis sales will actually be targeted for public education, and how the costs of cannabis implementation will be reported?

Much like the revenue from liquor sales, that goes into a general revenue fund, which we in turn use to deliver a lot of the programs that we offer across the Northwest Territories, and 65 per cent of our budget goes toward social programs, but as far as specifically earmarked, the answer is no. It will be put into general revenue, and we will in turn use that money to deliver many of the programs that we offer today.

I want to thank the Minister for that. I didn't really get a response about how we're going to report the cost of cannabis implementation. One of the key changes that Regular MLAs put into the Cannabis Legalization Regulation Implementation Act was the requirement for a review of the implementation, administration, and effectiveness of the legislation. So what measures, monitoring, reporting, or other means is the Minister putting in place now to ensure that the review of the legislation is meaningful and evidence-based?

Mr. Speaker, I apologized to the Member on his question on the report. I will continue to give committee an update as we move forward, making it part of the overall report. I mean, as we unroll this, we can see how we can provide all the information to committee that's required.

As far as the monitoring, I believe I made a commitment to committee that I would keep them up to date as we go into the legalization of cannabis. We can have regular updates, if it's committee's wish. We do plan on preparing a report. It will be in the life of this Assembly, obviously. Whether it's after a year after legalization, or six months after legalization, I would welcome feedback from committee. If they think six months is fine or a year would be better, then I will take their advice.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to sincerely thank the Minister for that commitment to work with Regular MLAs in designing that report, and I think that's a good commitment.

We now have draft regulations that could enable private retail of cannabis, but in my view they are clearly flawed. The Minister has total and complete discretion over any applications. There is no timeline for approval, or even a requirement for decisions to be made. No appeal process and authority for the Minister to determine the financial feasibility of a proposed operation. It's not even clear whether committee or public input is being sought at this point.

I know that we are all under deadlines, but is the Minister actually interested and willing to make changes to these flawed regulations?

First of all, I don't believe the regulations are flawed. Maybe they do need some work. Again, we are 12 hours into the legalization, and it is a moving target, so the regulations are not flawed.

As for the Minister having the absolute discretion, Ministers or those decision-makers rely on a business plan, a business case, being presented to become vendors, and we have the technical folks have a look at them. They come forward with a recommendation. I don't think Ministers would have the time to sit and review every application, but we rely on the technical folks. They come up with recommendations. As far as the public input goes, I believe part of that is garnering some support from their local governments to see if there is a desire to have a private vendor in the community.

Again, it is a moving target. We will continue to work with Members, because this is a serious issue for folks across the Northwest Territories, and I want to ensure as a Legislative Assembly, and I speak of all 19 of us, I want to make sure that we have this right before we leave office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Recreational use of cannabis is not addictive in the sense that heroin is addictive, but it can create dependency behaviours that can be every bit as disruptive and unhealthy as alcohol, tobacco, or other substances. Is it the intention of our professional health services to adjust the way we scan the general population health, offer diagnostic services, promote and offer addiction treatment services, or make other adjustments concurrent upon the legalization of recreational cannabis use? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been reaching out, as you heard in my statement earlier today, to professionals and people who have the knowledge that we need to incorporate into our system here in the Northwest Territories. We are open and willing to learn when it comes to medical marijuana and the impacts it has on residents, but I think one of the important things is now we actually have the opportunity to have that frank dialogue and discussion with our residents in the Northwest Territories that not everybody had been prepared to have when it was illegal. Our staff are getting up to speed. They are getting to understand the implications of consuming cannabis on the body, on the mind, and we are prepared to evolve our system to meet those new realities.

With legalization, the message for youth is surely that pot has moved into the realm of being a little more okay than it was yesterday. A watching file on the proliferation of cannabis use among youth will be critical. How does the Minister plan to ensure these new professionals have their pot antennae up and are listening?

Once again, I will go back to the opportunity for frank dialogue. Up until now, the conversation has been, "Marijuana is illegal. You shouldn't be using it." Now, the conversation is, "Cannabis is legal, but we know it has profound impact on the development of young people's minds and brains, as well as pregnant mothers, youth, and all of those different at-risk categories." We can now have informed discussions with those residents to help them understand those implications and those ramifications of utilizing the product.

The health practitioners. As a system, we have been reaching out to experts who can help us get informed, help us speak the right language when it comes to encouraging people not to use, especially at-risk populations. I think we have the opportunity now to have those important discussions that we haven't necessarily had because traditionally the conversations have been around, "It's illegal. You shouldn't consume."

Thanks to the Minister for that answer. I realize that there isn't a lot of information because this substance was not legal, but now that it is, how does the Minister intend to track and report on the possibility of increased demand for dependency treatment services in the event of an increase in demand for pot itself?

Now that we have moved to a single system, and you are getting really tired of hearing that, I'm sure, we have the ability to actually do things in a different way. Whereas all authorities would have been tracking information in their own unique ways, we have an opportunity to ensure that we are collecting data in a simple and consistent way across the authorities. We are doing that work now. We know that cannabis is now legal. It is an opportunity for us to start incorporating that in. We haven't got the specifics in place, obviously, but it is certainly a conversation that has occurred and we are looking for a way to make that happen.

In the meantime, we will be reaching out to clients who are expressing concerns. We have electronic medical records that we can use to help collect data, so that we can have better information for evidence-based decision-making in the future.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's reassuring to hear that the Minister and his officials are prepared to collect information in this area. As my colleague from Mackenzie Delta said, preparedness doesn't end today. So can the Minister tell us how his health promotion and marketing efforts will be tailored to promote public health over the coming months and years? Thank you.

Contrary to what some Members have indicated, this is something we have been working on for quite some time. We have been working on this since 2016, trying to develop messaging and making sure that we are ready to get the information out there on the impacts of cannabis on the developing brain as well as other health risks.

Our community healthy living fairs are an important tool that we utilize to get into every community to get that information out to our residents. Those community living fairs are going to continue, as will this information continue to be included in those fairs.

We also know that there are lots of professionals out there, like professionals we have already brought up, who could help share information in a meaningful way with residents. We want to keep doing those types of things. On top of that, the Members have heard me say it before that we have reached out to the federal government seeking some funding to help us tailor some community-specific messaging. I am optimistic that we are going to be able to make a positive announcement on that funding in the next month or two. We have been working closely with the federal government and making progress in that area. Once we make that progress, once that is finalized, we will be able to move forward and do more concrete, community-focused communications around the use of cannabis throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is kind of a difficult question. I do not know even know who to pose the question to, so I am going to pose the question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It's about elder abuse. Mr. Speaker, there is a real fear that there will be increased elder abuse, financial elder abuse, as a result of the legalization of cannabis. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Department of Health and Social Services has had discussions on that issue that may be looming. Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for raising the issue. It's not one that has actually been raised to us before. Having said that, the NWT Seniors' Society is an amazing organization. They have done a significant amount of work in these territories to put out literature and programs to educate people on elder abuse as well as help individuals combat elder abuse and provide resources to them so that they know where to go to and where they can get supports when those types of things are occurring.

They have not reached out to me indicating that they are concerned about the potential growth in this area as a result of cannabis. Having said that, I take the Member's point. I will work with the department to draft up some communication with them to see if there is an opportunity for dialogue. We do not know if this is going to be a problem, but we should be ready.

I have noticed in my work in my business as MLA how helpful the social workers are to the communities in all aspects, right from children to youth. I would like to ask the Minister if there will be any special training given to the social workers in this area, where it pertains to maybe as a result of the legalization of marijuana where it pertains to elder abuse.

Once again, I acknowledge that it is a valid conversation. I haven't had the conversation. I hear the Member. I am going to talk to the department, and I would like to reach out to the seniors' society. They are an important partner. I also point out that we are an important partner in combatting elder abuse. I have not done any analysis on this. I would like to know a little bit more about what's happening out there with respect to this particular topic before I make a commitment.

As many people in here know, I bring the issue of unemployment and the employment numbers of the small communities up many times in the House. That's even increased when we start talking about between the ages of 15 and 24. Then the employment rates are really low, when you get to that age category. That is the age category that I am concerned about that may be approaching the elders. You know, most times, Mr. Speaker, elders do not even mind doing it. They would give their last $20 to the youth in their own families, but I would just like to ask the Minister if there is some thought about any very specific treatment that could be targeted at that group, the youth, some sort of youth treatment very specific to cannabis to prevent future elder abuse in the small communities.

Once again, I take the Member's point. This is not a problem that we know exists or will exists. It's potentially there, and I am prepared to reach out to the NWT Seniors' Society to get their thoughts on whether they are concerned about this and whether or not they have had any discussion on plans. As far as education and training for our youth, we have been reaching out to youth. We have been working with Education, Culture and Employment to make sure that the message is out there on the harmful impacts of cannabis on the developing brain for youth up to 24 years old. That's going to continue. We need to continue to get that information out because every day there are new kids, and every day there are new 23-year-olds, and every day there are new 22-year-olds, and so we are working to get that information out there on a continual basis, making it part of our messaging going forward.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Finance, of course about the topic of the day. Mr. Speaker, the government has decided to keep control of cannabis sales in-house for now, and only in communities with liquor stores for the next six months, it seems like. Of course, online orders will be shipped by regular mail, and we all know how long mail can take at times, and so I would like to ask the Minister: does the Minister have any concerns that this management regime will boost cannabis bootlegging in the small communities, in particular resulting in less effective control of the product and increasing demand on law enforcement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, cannabis is not new in the NWT. Legalized cannabis, though, is a controlled substance that is currently being distributed through liquor stores, as the Member pointed out, and federal requirements mean that it will be tracked from the seed-to-sale manner, and that has to be considered in our approach. I do not believe that legalization will add to illegal activities. We can use the liquor as a model. Even though liquor sales are legal, there is an illegal market that continues to exist. I think early indications are, and I can share some numbers, as of noon today we had 122 registered customers, we have had 37 orders placed, so we have had well over $5,000 worth of product that has been sold already. That is an early indicator, a 12-hour indicator, that we have put a dent into the illegal market. It is a controlled substance, so people who buy from a legal vendor will know that they have a federally controlled substance, and they can have the assurance that it is a safe product. I wish we could eliminate bootlegging completely, not only with cannabis but with liquor, but unfortunately, realistically, that is always going to exist.

Thank you to the Minister for his reply. Certainly, we appreciate getting the early indicators. It's at this point that I would almost feel like I would like to inject a Jeff Spicoli quote, but, in fact, I do not have one off the top of my head, so I will leave it at that. Bad joke number three. However, Mr. Speaker, if I can, now that pot is legal, the government has committed to opening private retailing in six months. We are seeing the excitement today in the media as retailers open across the country. Is the government committed to fully supporting retail cannabis as part of the growing and diversifying economy in the Northwest Territories?

Our commitment was to have regulation and processes in place to assess anybody considering opening a cannabis store. We have released our regulations and information guide for anyone who might be considering opening a cannabis store well before the sixth month, and we will work with anyone considering opening a cannabis store. Opening a store within the retail framework has been released.

Thank you to the Minister for his reply. That leads me to my next question, and that is: is the government currently accepting and processing applications so retailers can be ready next April, when the six months is up, or is April when we will start processing applications?

We have not been contacted by any potential retailers at this point. Should interested parties come forward, we will assess those as described in the information guide that was released. So we would work with those who are considering becoming a vendor because we have released the guide, so the answer, I guess, is yes, we would look at starting to process applications.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for informing us of that. We can now look forward to the applications rolling in, hopefully. "Rolling" in, bad joke number four. Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government's retail cannabis framework document lays out a pretty detailed guide for retailers, and I want to commend the government for their effort on putting that together.

What steps is the department taking to prepare for its own inspection and enforcement when it comes to their role when private retailing is permitted? How is the government preparing as it relates to inspection and enforcement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That was almost number five, there. The agreement that a vendor enters into with the NWT Liquor and Cannabis Commission has online requirements and inspection activities. They would enter into an agreement that would allow for the inspections, and the online guide outlines the requirements that would be needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This cannabis issue is multi-facetted, so I have some questions for the Minister of Justice. He is not going to get off the hook today. There has been a lot of talk of the roadside testing for cannabis for impaired driving, so I would like an update from the Minister. I believe the NWT has procured these roadside drug-testing kits. Have they been distributed across the territory, and are they available to all officers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the roadside drug screening device was approved at the end of August, but I am not certain whether it has actually been deployed across the Northwest Territories as of yet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hopefully the Minister can provide that information sooner than later. This has been discussed in this House before. Officers are being trained to use the equipment, as well as, I believe, to detect impairment without the equipment. I know that there was a training program that officers were going through, and they had a timeline. How many officers in the territory have been trained to date in cannabis impairment testing?

There are different types of programs that are taking place. There is the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and the Drug Recognition Expert Training. I can advise that 31 police officers are trained in the SFST, and four members have been trained in the DRE.

I figured it would have been more than four members by now, but I know that there are a lot of challenges facing the RCMP in the territory, and you can't just send them all off for training. Hopefully we can get an updated timeline from the Minister about when all that training will be completed.

One concern that we saw in the media was that these roadside testing kits might fail in cold weather, and I want to know from the Minister: what has the department put in place to monitor the occurrence of false positives so that we are not wrongly charging our residents?

Yes. I understand that there have been some concerns about the reliability of these tests in cold weather. I am assured that the tests are quite reliable, and if they aren't, they will be tested in the courts.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want some clarification on that last answer. The Minister is aware that there have been concerns about the reliability, but he is not concerned about the reliability, so there is nothing in place to test the reliability. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, I do understand that there are concerns about the reliability of the results of the tests. However, if there are concerns about the reliability, I am sure the defence counsel will attempt to make applications in court so that the reliability of those tests can be reviewed. I do understand, however, that the machines are quite reliable and have been tested in various locations and climates in Canada. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of constituents have approached me with concerns around international travel now that cannabis is legalized, particularly into the United States. I am wondering if the Premier, in his role as Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, which includes intergovernmental relations, has had any conversations with the federal government as to how this is going to work? Thank you.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven't had any specific conversations about international travel, but I do know that international borders are a federal responsibility and that the legalization of cannabis in Canada did not change Canada's border rules. Taking cannabis or any product containing cannabis across Canada's international borders is illegal and can result in serious criminal penalties both at home and abroad. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Earlier today the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction at the federal level gave a press conference and said that Canadians should be vigilant but otherwise should have no issues crossing the border. As relatively new information, and I don't think it is well-understood at this point, can the Premier reach out to his federal counterparts and get more information on the subject and clarify it so that Northern residents know it is safe to travel, where they can travel, and what they are allowed to do?

Certainly, but we do know that it is illegal to travel with marijuana if you are going abroad. I believe the issue with the United States was that, if you worked in a facility involving marijuana and you went to the United States, it would be illegal. They later clarified that, as long as you were going on a holiday, it would be okay.

It is important for us to get more clarification from the United States rather than just getting it through the TV or through the media.

I am glad the Premier shares my interest in this matter and agrees that it is important. When he does get this information from the United States or through the federal government, will he bring that report back to the House or at least make it available on government websites or through some sort of public statement? Can he commit to that?

I can commit to that, but in the meantime, Northwest Territories residents travelling abroad should consult with the Government of Canada's website around cannabis and international travel. Most countries, including the United States, have a zero-tolerance policy with respect to illegal drugs, including possession and use.