Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has committed to working in partnership with other governments to address affordable housing requirements in support of their service delivery to Northwest Territories residents. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has made progress in meeting this mandate commitment in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement that reflects our shared goals of affordable, adequate, and suitable housing for Inuvialuit and residents of the region as a whole, as well as improving the economic and social well-being of the region's people.

The agreement, officially signed September 4, 2018, will see the Inuvialuit construct 34 public housing replacement units in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region this year and next, with support from the federal government under their Indigenous Housing Strategy.

Once constructed, these units are turned over to the Housing Corporation for a nominal price. They will replace aging public housing units that have reached the end of their useful lives, that are not energy-efficient, and that have become too expensive to maintain.

To date, 12 units have been constructed in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. This includes a four-plex project in Tuktoyaktuk, a six-plex in Inuvik, and, most recently, a duplex in Aklavik.

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Inuvik six-plex. I am proud of the quality of work by our partners that went into the units and the benefits the project brought to the community in terms of housing, skills development, and economic opportunities.

Work has started on the other projects, with most expected to be completed by February 2019. Land has been identified and provided to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to incorporate into their plans.

These projects will stimulate economic development in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region by adding important social infrastructure, supporting local and regional businesses, and creating a wide range of training opportunities.

I am glad that the Government of the Northwest Territories has been able to work together with the Inuvialuit to forge this important partnership. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation is truly a valued partner. Moving forward, Northerners will reap the benefits of affordable housing through this partnership for many years to come. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Family Violence Awareness Week. This week is recognized across the country and takes place from October 21 to 27, 2018.

Statistics Canada reports that, in 2016, family violence accounted for one-quarter of all violent crimes. These are criminal acts perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of society: youth, seniors, women, and girls. In 2016, two-thirds of all victims of family violence were women and girls.

Mr. Speaker, this is not okay. The national violence rates are concerning enough, but the fact that the Northwest Territories has maintained the second highest rate of violence in our country demonstrates the importance of the work being done to end this crisis.

We all need to take this issue seriously and recognize that working to end family violence is a shared responsibility. The Government of the Northwest Territories is being proactive in supporting initiatives that not only provide support to those experiencing family violence but also to those who perpetrate it. We recognize the need for strong services that address the root causes of family violence and give our families, communities, and survivors an opportunity to heal.

Mr. Speaker, our government is working as a team to provide services to victims, perpetrators, and the general public. In addition to our own programs, we are providing funding to partner organizations that offer community-level support to people affected by family violence. These services include prevention and awareness activities, shelter for those fleeing violence, healing programs, and the development of protocols for first responders, such as the RCMP. Throughout this week, activities to create awareness will be taking place across Canada and here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories and our partners are working hard to address family violence, but this is a social issue. We need everyone to support our efforts to raise awareness and keep the conversations going. We must speak openly about family violence and pledge that we will not tolerate it in our homes or in our communities. Sharing experiences, cultural practices, and positive alternatives helps those experiencing family violence. Sharing also reminds us that we need to be role models in our own actions and take a stand against family violence. We must stand together, so that our families and our communities are empowered and supported in wellness.

Mr. Speaker, this week was set aside to create awareness about family violence and to promote change in attitudes and behaviour. This year's theme is "Let's Stand Together to End Family Violence." This is a fitting theme, as it will take all of us working together to end family violence. I encourage everyone to participate in Family Violence Awareness Week activities to show support and solidarity to those struggling with family violence. I also urge you to carry on the conversations in your homes and communities, not just this week, but right up to the day a Minister can stand in this House and announce that family violence is no longer an issue in our territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report tabled in this House on October 11^th of this year outlined grave consequences for the future of our planet if immediate action is not taken to mitigate the increasing global temperatures. This 1.5 degree Celsius increase in temperature is predicted within the next 12 years, and if nothing is done, there will be catastrophic consequences. The cost of inaction is estimated in the same report at $54 trillion by 2040, costs to the global economy.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners know all too well the cost of climate change. Our homes are subject to the greatest impacts of warming temperatures, and the Arctic sees more climatic shifts than any other region. Our children and grandchildren deserve safe and secure communities that adapt to climate change and whose residence can continue to practice the traditional way of life that has been handed down throughout generations.

Mr. Speaker, when the Premier signed on to the Pan-Canadian Clean Growth and Climate Change Framework, he agreed to look at ways to reduce carbon emissions in the NWT. Carbon pricing was only one option, and apparently, the only option considered by the GNWT. Little effort and attention was given to establishing a northern carbon market through cap and trade policies that could have joined with existing markets in Quebec, California, and, until only recently, Ontario. Instead, this government went for new taxes, and this developed a proposal that burdens our middle class with paying the costs which are the responsibility of large, industrial emitters.

Mr. Speaker, northern families are responsible for a mere 10 per cent of total carbon emissions, whereas industry and transportation accounts for nearly 82 per cent of emissions. The concerns I have heard from my constituents, hardworking northerners already struggling to pay with ever-increasing costs of living, is that they cannot afford another tax, even one that supports climate security and a sustainable future for the NWT. I cannot support the GNWT's carbon pricing plan as it is currently formed. The shortcomings are too flawed, and it treats 10-per-cent emitters equivalently to 82-per-cent emitters. It does not do enough to reduce the burden to everyday families, and it fails to show clear leadership for the GNWT on building a sustainable clean-growth economy with new investments in energy that make a difference in the lives of northern residents.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has given us a Made in the North plan for carbon pricing, and now it is the time of the honourable Members of this House to make it better to protect the economic and environmental interests of our citizens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements, member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I'm talking about the ever-important and longstanding matter of the establishment of Thaidene Nene Park.

The deep, clear waters of the east arm of Great Slave Lake and rolling boreal forest and tundra surrounding form Thaidene Nene. Known as the "Land of the Ancestors," the park has an expanse of over 33,000 square kilometres. Our government, the Government of Canada, and the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation along with other key stakeholders are advancing this initiative to foster ecological integrity, cultural continuity, and economic sustainability through permanent protection of this critical, ecological, and cultural landscape.

The Thaidene Nene Park is an innovative approach to creating a new form of protected area. It is one that will enable Indigenous people to fulfill their responsibility as stewards and hosts of their traditional territory, one that fulfills our government's commitment to build upon our conservation network and protected area strategy. It will contribute to Parks Canada's goal of representing each of the 39 distinct natural regions within their national park system.

Mr. Speaker, the establishment of Thaidene Nene is one of the 18^th Assembly's mandate commitments. In addition, we said, in order to advance our vision of land management, that we will evolve our legislation, regulatory and policy systems, by developing a new Territorial Protected Areas Act.

This is necessary, in fact critical, legislation because, without it, we can't establish the GNWT's portion of the park. Without this territorial legislation, the establishment of the park will be delayed, and that, in turn, could compromise significant philanthropic and federal funding. Both are necessary for the park to be established.

In other words, Mr. Speaker, it's up to us to make Thaidene Nene happen. We must get this legislation done, or we will fail to achieve this unique Made-in-the-North deal.

I urge the government to honour its commitment to producing the Protected Areas Act in the very near future. We must ensure the 18^th Assembly can fulfill its mandate commitment to make Thaidene Nene a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, people who are not familiar with this government's program might think "income support" just means one program. Not so, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories, our income security programs include regular income assistance, as well as NWT Child Benefit, a seniors' supplementary benefit and home heating subsidiary, and student financial assistance.

For clients, the administrative burden of these programs can be very intimidating. Take income assistance as an example.

After their initial applications, clients must regularly stay on top of their reporting forms, sometimes monthly, as well as their rent report forms, their productive choice time log forms, their child care provider invoice forms, their disability assessment forms, and more.

That's assuming clients don't run into any problems or have any questions.

As you can guess, it's not easy. In communities with local income security staff, clients have someone to turn to when they need help. Someone who can answer their questions, handle their documents, and make sure everything runs smoothly.

Communities like Tsiigehtchic don't have that. Right now in Tsiigehtchic, clients of income security programs have to rely on a worker who comes in once a month from Fort McPherson when that worker isn't delayed by freeze-up, breakup or other issues.

I've been talking with the leadership in Tsiigehtchic, and this is a serious concern for the community. That's why I raise it in the House today. In the past, Mr. Speaker, Tsiigehtchic has had a resident income support worker. The community would like to see that position reintroduced, and I will have questions for the Minister on this matter later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an incident that calls into question the trust that should exist between women and the Yellowknife detachment of the RCMP. That trust has been eroded here by the police response to a recent assault. The national leadership of the RCMP is talking about a new relationship with women, but I am concerned the news hasn't reached "G" Division here, in the NWT.

In May of 2017, a man sexually assaulted an intoxicated woman in the alley behind the movie theatre in Yellowknife. Theatre staff called the RCMP, who arrested the assailant. What is more surprising is that the RCMP took the woman, who had just been sexually assaulted, to their cells, not to the hospital, not to a family violence shelter, not to the women's shelter, to their cells.

Mr. Speaker, Judge Garth Malakoe brought this unacceptable treatment to light when he convicted the accused in August. In his ruling, he said, and I quote: "I am unable to imagine circumstances which would justify this type of treatment of a victim of sexual assault. It appears the victim was not treated with dignity or compassion that she or any victim of sexual assault deserves."

After the assailant was sentenced, the officer in charge of the Yellowknife detachment responded to the questions the judge and others have raised about this incident. He claims this incident has provided a teachable moment for members, but he hasn't given a reason for not taking the victim to the hospital, to Alison McAteer House, or anywhere else that was safe. He has said, "Members offered the woman victim services, but she didn't want them." The inspector acknowledged the victim shouldn't be in police cells because it appears insensitive. These statements, Mr. Speaker, miss the mark in terms of treating the victim with compassion and dignity.

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP at the national level responded to the scandal of their handling of the unfounded sexual assault complaints by promising a new relationship with women. An action plan was released in December of last year. It says, and I quote: "Sexual assault is a devastating crime that has traumatic and long-lasting effect on victims. A negative experience with police investigators can bring more trauma to victims and discourage others from reporting these crimes."

Mr. Speaker, I would argue that the Yellowknife detachment has further damaged an already frail relationship with women because of their treatment of this victim, and I will have questions for the Minister of Justice. Mahsi.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Back in March, the Minister of Infrastructure announced the signing of an Integrated Bilateral Agreement for federal infrastructure funds. The 10-year Investing in Canada Plan would see $761 million spent in the Northwest Territories. There are apparently more federal infrastructure program announcements to come. My concern is how projects are selected and how submissions are made by Cabinet. Regular MLAs have little, if any, input in how the priorities or submissions are determined.

Data on the Infrastructure Canada website shows that each of the three territories has received between $845 and $981 million since 2002. The territories' spending priorities are obviously different, but 79 per cent of our allocation has been used for highways and roads, which compares to 58 per cent in the Yukon and less than 4 per cent for Nunavut. Nunavut has used 4 per cent of its funding for affordable and temporary housing. None of the NWT federal infrastructure funds appear to have been used to house our people.

Nunavut also recently announced that it would receive $12 million under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund for energy retrofits to 1,000 homes in Nunavut. My understanding is that GNWT asked for $4 million for our housing needs.

While the federal government sets parameters to determine the form of infrastructure funds and programs, what is clear is the lack of transparency, specific criteria, and analysis undertaken by our government in determining what projects they submit. I characterize this approach as "big toys for big boys," where the focus is on roads to resources and large infrastructure replacement rather than job creation, greenhouse gas reductions, and investment in social infrastructure such as housing, culture, and tourism. We can't even get spare change for a sorely needed Yellowknife visitors' centre.

On the same day that Nunavut announced its significant investment of $12 million for housing energy retrofits, our Minister of Infrastructure appeared before a Senate committee to ask about GNWT's priorities, Taltson hydro expansion, Tlicho all-season road, Mackenzie Valley Highway, and Slave Geological Province Access Corridor. Noticeably absent was any mention of social infrastructure.

I look forward to asking the Minister later today on how we can make infrastructure decisions and submissions more balanced, transparent, and collaborative. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I wish to speak about alcohol and the effects on the NWT, especially on the Indigenous population. Alcoholism, however, is a disease that affects all people who have alcoholics in their families or social circles, whether it's a co-worker, friend, or somebody else in the community.

Mr. Speaker, let's begin with some facts. According to a recent study of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, in 2016, there were a total of 77,000 hospitalizations entirely due to alcohol, which is more than the number of hospitalizations due to heart attacks for the same year. Moreover, this study also determined that, of these hospitalizations, the NWT has the highest rate in the country, 1,300 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. It also found that the Northwest Territories has the highest proportion of people who reported heavy drinking.

Mr. Speaker, if it weren't for alcohol, there would be many families who would have their loved ones with them today. If this substance was not so destructive, there would be a good chance many people's lives would be different. Alcohol has either killed or shortened the lives of far too many people in our communities, not to mention the fact that social spending by our government would be greatly reduced if things were different.

Mr. Speaker, in the NWT, our correction facilities are filled with people who have committed crimes while they were drunk. Most of the inmates in the correction facilities wouldn't know what the inside of a jail looked like if they didn't drink alcohol.

Mr. Speaker, aside from all of the pain and suffering alcohol brings to the people of the Northwest Territories, it also has deep social impacts on our children that are in care. The cost of an inmate to sit in jail is one thing, but there is also the cost of the social purse, such as social housing, income support, social assistance, and foster care for their families.

Mr. Speaker, many people in my riding have experienced the effects of extreme violence due to alcohol. We must do what we can to not subject people to this violence. It is my belief and the belief of community leaders that bootlegging is a major contributing factor in accessing alcohol in the small communities.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, I will be proposing the idea of putting restrictions on the amount of alcohol that a person can purchase, along with huge fines for liquor stores that sell to known or suspected bootleggers. I think that most people with common sense can determine who is bootlegging in our communities. I mean, who drinks 10 to 20 mickeys of alcohol every day and continues to function.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Finance on liquor sales. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

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

Mr. Speaker, despite this vastness, we are all too familiar with the fact that our residents do not have access to land. I'm talking about the lack of land available for community development, residential, recreational, commercial, and agricultural purposes.

Mr. Speaker, throughout the life of this Assembly, my colleagues and I have raised numerous issues related to land availability, such as unauthorized or untendered occupancy, lack of agricultural land, and high securities burden. From a community development perspective, despite communities having community plans, you still have to apply it through the Department of Lands to obtain parcels of land for critical infrastructure or residential purposes. This piecemeal approach prevents communities from obtaining the land they need.

Mr. Speaker, the Yellowknife colleagues are familiar with the concerns of taking this piecemeal approach as it prevents the city from pursuing development that takes into consideration more than a small parcel of land. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, this is an issue for all small communities, as well. For example, the Minister of MACA just signed off on Enterprise's Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw. As well, the Department of Lands issues leases on Commissioner's Land within community boundaries without have to advise the community. Enterprise needs to ask for Land's permission to develop land within its own boundaries.

Mr. Speaker, once a community has an approved community plan with zoning bylaws, they should be able to follow their plan and bylaws without needing further permission. This added process layer delays the simplest development. Mr. Speaker, municipal boundaries are generally well-defined, and communities often face barriers preventing their continuous development. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later. Mahsi.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has been working on a new Arctic Policy Framework since December 2016. The NWT will have a chapter in the policy, and, to ensure this chapter reflects the views of our residents, the GNWT has engaged with stakeholders across the territory and released "what we heard" reports for sessions with Indigenous governments, industry and business, GNOs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in one of my Member's statements earlier this year, I have outlined some of the recommendations from the Inuit Circumpolar Council, focusing on Inuit self-determination. Mr. Speaker, I trust that these were brought to the federal government through their various engagements with the GNWT Ministers and the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, regional roundtables for the development of the new policy ended in March this year. Since then, we have not heard any of the updates or seen a draft policy. Mr. Speaker, I'm concerned that the development of this policy is taking longer than expected and remains unsure to the flexibility it contains with respect to sovereignty, peace, inclusion of local and Indigenous knowledge, and inclusion of Inuit and Indigenous people who live in the Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is in the best interest of the GNWT, to include Indigenous people when building such an important framework for residents of the Northwest Territories. Later I will have questions for the Premier. Quyanainni.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately today, I rise in this House to inform you about the passing of a respected elder from Fort Liard.

Mr. William Marie Bertrand was born to Marie Angel Timbre and Baptiste Bertrand in Maxhamish Lake on February 19, 1938. He passed away on July 9, 2018. The service was held in Fort Providence a week later.

William went to residential school in Yellowknife. Later, he went on to Fort Smith for his heavy equipment operator training.

William met the love of his life, Mary Jane Williams, in Fort Smith where she was working at a hospital on January 3, 1967. William and Mary Jane got married, and they had three children: Billy, Norma, and Floyd. William started working with the forestry as a tower person for a few years until Norma started kindergarten. He left his seasonal job and started working for the Hudson Bay. Later, he started working for Beaver Enterprises.

William loved to hunt and trap. He especially enjoyed being outdoors and loved spending his time with Mary Jane and his children at their cabin up the river or on the highway. He enjoyed entertaining his family and friends by playing his guitar. William was preceded by his parents, brothers and sisters, and his granddaughter.

The family would like to express gratitude for all the kindness and generosity bestowed at their time of grief. Your kind thoughts, deeds, and their attendance at the funeral services and cemetery were deeply heartfelt. The family would like to thank Father Sean for his spiritual leadership and guidance.

William is loved and will be greatly missed by his wife, children, his grandchildren, brothers, sister, and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The residents and I pass on our condolences to the family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Our condolences to the family, as well. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, I had the opportunity to drive the new Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway to Tuktoyaktuk to take part in a celebration of a hundred years for Mrs. Persis Gruben. It was actually a great celebration put on by the family for a great lady that got a great story. I enjoyed listening to all the stories there.

I want us to thank the people of Tuktoyaktuk for their great hospitality. I also want to say Hi to Sandy and Mary, who informed me that they watch us a lot on TV, so I'm sure they are watching today. It was a fantastic celebration. I think they had family from all over the place, as far away as from Indiana, from what I can gather. Many of them told a lot of stories about Persis that they remembered when they were younger.

It was a great celebration. I was glad that I was able to be a part of it. I thank the people again of Tuktoyaktuk for their great hospitality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Members, [English translation not provided]. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a school here. We have St. Joseph's School, grade 4 and 5 immersion class, 51 students up there. I am impressed. Plus, we have teachers, Guylaine and Tamara. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Glad to see you all here.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of constituents here: Lyla Pierre from Sambaa Ke, Nathan McPherson from Fort Simpson. Also in the crowd is the Mackenzie Recreation Association, a number of members of them, who just celebrated their 25^th anniversary, and I am very proud to recognize them here, in the House. I had an opportunity to work with a number of them previously: Janie Hobart, Erin Porter, Jessica VanOverbeek -- I said her name wrong; sorry, Jessica -- and Dale Loutit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome students and staff from St. Joseph's School who are joining us today. I got to speak with them earlier. It is great to see young persons and their teachers taking an interest in our proceedings. Thank you for being here. I would also like to recognize my friend, Mr. Nathan McPherson. Thanks for being here, as well. Thank you.

Masi. Since our recognition of some of the students who are here with us, we have our very own Michael Ball's son who is here with us in the gallery, Kagan Ball. Thank you for being here with us. Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a couple of pages from Angik School and their chaperone, Stephanie Illasiak. The pages are Kassius Green and Hope Gordon-Thrasher. Also, I have another cousin who is a page here, as well, Tori Haogak. It is good to see the youth up-and-coming and working at the Legislative Assembly and seeing the proceedings. I just want to wish everybody here in the gallery a good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would also like to recognize Jessica VanOverbeek as the executive director of the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Congratulations again on your 25-years' anniversary. She is also a resident of Yellowknife North. Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize two pages who have helped us during session, Matthew Brinson and Artie Ekenale from the riding of Yellowknife North, and thank all the pages for the great contribution they make to our Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Ms. Dale Loutitt, who is here, vice-president of the Mackenzie Recreation Association as well as the recreation programmer at the town of Hay River. I would also like to recognize, I believe, a former constituent, Ms. Erin Porter, who is the South Slave director of the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Finally, I would like to recognize my mother for once again joining us in the gallery, Ms. Betty Lyons. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night, I had the opportunity of attending the 25-year anniversary with the Mackenzie Recreation Association. They have done a lot of work over the years, not only for the Mackenzie recreation area but throughout the Northwest Territories. They have been trailblazers as well as role models for our residents of the Northwest Territories. I know we have some executive up there. We have some recreation coordinators up there. I just want to say thank you for doing all the work that you do for our youth as well as residents of the Northwest Territories. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Very honoured to be here to recognize you. Mahsi. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize Erin Porter from Enterprise, who is also a director from the South Slave for the Mackenzie Recreation Association. As well, I would like to recognize Lyla Pierre of Sambaa Ke and also just to congratulate the Mackenzie Recreation Association for their 25^th year anniversary. Welcome and mahsi. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Thebacha resident and former mayor of Fort Smith, Janie Hobart, who remains very active in sport and recreation in the Northwest Territories, in particular her work with the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being with us. It is always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, looking at social media recently around the new Cannabis Commission and cannabis sales in the Northwest Territories, I saw an image yesterday posted on the commission's website saying, "Unfortunately, we are sold out. Product will not be available until further notice." I have received some complaints that online orders haven't shipped, and no notices have been provided to residents.

After six days, it seems like we are having issues with the operation of our Cannabis Commission. Can the Minister of Finance provide some clarity on whether or not there is product left in the Northwest Territories, and what the hold-up is on sales? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because this is new, I mean, there were going to be some hiccups, and, unfortunately, we have run into a few of them. As far as the product goes, this is an issue that is facing the whole country, actually. They are having supply issues across the country.

We had three major suppliers who we were dealing with. We are actually looking to identify any more federally approved suppliers who might be able to supply the Northwest Territories with some product.

Can the Minister advise the House on what the total cannabis sales or cannabis product sales-to-date are? Can he provide an update?

In the first four days of operation of legal cannabis, there was about $129,600 worth of sales. $10,900 of this was online sales, and sales took part in all regions of the Northwest Territories.

It seems like a popular product, and it seems to be flying off the shelves. Can the Minister confirm if the supply notice that was provided, at the Yellowknife store at least, if that is in fact true, that they have no more supply to offer folks in Yellowknife?

My understanding is that they have run out of product. As I said earlier, they are looking at trying to bring more product in from the three suppliers that we have.

I have been reading the news, as well. I read the news every morning to see what is going to be raised in the Chamber today, and I know that this is an issue that is facing the country. They are having supply issues all across the country. Once the initial rush is off, we think things will probably stabilize a bit. I am not sure that we anticipated the level that was going to be needed, as far as cannabis goes, across the country.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's 30 kilos of cannabis in four days or six days. Again, it seems that the demand is quite strong in the Northwest Territories, and we don't know, at this point, if it is an initial rush or if this is a market thing.

Does this new market data give confidence to the Minister that there is a viable market for cannabis in the Northwest Territories, and how does that reflect on our current regulations for private sales? Thank you.

It is an indication of the use of cannabis across the Northwest Territories. I did expect that there was going to be a bit of a rush, and I thought that, once the rush was over, it would stabilize a bit, but early indicators are that it seems to be a product that is in high demand.

As far as the vendors go, it seems to be that there is a market for vendors. They may run into the same issues that we have. However, having said that, the regulations are out, so anybody who wants to be a vendor can put their application in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the Arctic Policy Framework and the NWT chapter. I have questions for the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, my first question is: how has the GNWT engaged with the federal government in the development of the Arctic Policy Framework to date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework will be a federal document with the federal government making the financial decision on what is in it. With that said, Government of Northwest Territories officials have been actively engaged in the development of the framework document, working to ensure that territorial priorities are included.

We have also been sharing drafts with our partners on the intergovernmental council to seek their views. Their feedback has been very helpful, and, as agreed to by the IGC, GNWT officials have provided these views to Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response from the Premier. Mr. Speaker, have the GNWT's concerns been addressed in the NWT chapter of the Arctic Policy Framework? If not, what are some of the outstanding issues?

I guess the biggest outstanding issue is the fact that the original timelines proposed by Canada would have had the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework completed by now. However, there have been a number of delays in the process.

The current schedule presented by Canada has the overarching part of the framework being released first, and then provincial, territorial, and Indigenous chapters will be developed following the initial release. Canada is also proposing that a governance framework and investment strategy will be released at the same time as these chapters.

I appreciate the response from the Premier. Mr. Speaker, does the Premier know when a draft policy will be released?

The federal government has used a co-development approach to develop the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. It has not been without challenges, but the Government of the Northwest Territories appreciates the opportunity to work collaboratively with the federal government and the Members of the intergovernmental secretariat to develop the federal document.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased with the progress that has been achieved by the new federal Minister of Northern Affairs on our priority files to date. We will continue to work with the federal government to advance these. As this is a federal framework, final decisions on timing will be Canada's. Based on current discussions, it is our hope that the substantial work that has gone into the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework will result in meaningful investments in the Northwest Territories starting with the federal 2019 budget.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response and, as well, the timelines. Mr. Speaker, next year is an election year, and I hope, during the development and the final stages of this policy framework, that the Government of the Northwest Territories makes a big push to ensure that our sovereignty and our needs for infrastructure in the Northwest Territories are looked after.

Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if the Premier would give us an update on any movements any time soon, in the near future, and down within the next 365 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As we have committed previously, we are committed to providing a Northwest Territories chapter once it is in a suitable format that can be shared. At this time, we are still yet to achieve that because the chapter keeps changing almost on a weekly basis. We are still committed to sharing that information as soon as we reach that point.

Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. Has the Minister met with the RCMP to discuss the police response to the woman who was taken to the cells after being sexually assaulted? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that, several weeks ago, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women and I had met with the commanding officer and shared our concerns about these matters with him. I believe he shared our concerns.

I'm glad to hear that meeting happened. Can you tell me whether there was any commitment to change on the part of the RCMP and how they handled women in this situation?

Yes. The Member opposite referenced the RCMP report which came out in December 2017, which advocated change on both a national level. I understand that the RCMP has increased training specific to sexual assault investigations, both locally and nationally.

Mr. Speaker, in order to encourage women to report sexual assault, the Family Violence Shelter in Whitehorse provides for third-party reporting. Kaushee's Place has staff trained to take statements from women about what happened to them and to collect medical evidence. Is the Minister familiar with third-party reporting of sexual assault in Whitehorse, and is he interested in having it here?

[Microphone turned off] ...aware of the specific program in Whitehorse, but I do know that the RCMP will continue to explore alternate options for victims to report sexual assault, such as third party reporting.

I would like to remind Members to wait before you speak. The light usually goes on, and then you can speak after. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to Article 6 of the Territorial Police Agreement, the Minister will set priorities, objectives, and goals for the police. Will the Minister commit to developing a more robust relationship with women, with tools such as third-party reporting with the police rather than just leaving it up to them? Mahsi.

I know that regular members are completing a consent law on common sexual assault myths course that was specifically set up to address issues identified in the RCMP Sexual Assault Review and Victim Support Action Plan. Regular members will be required to have completed this course by the end of the fiscal year.

The police are moving ahead as a result of the report that was prepared, that came out in December 2017, but I will continue to explore with the RCMP the possibilities of third-party reporting. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, I talked about ferry operation and the problems that were happening in Fort Simpson. I have to commend the Department of Infrastructure again and their staff from Fort Simpson. They have been able to get the ferry operating from 9:00 to 6:00, and I greatly appreciate that. However, with water levels, that is a big concern. Has the department done any analysis of possible solutions to alleviate this type of problem in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member. Yes, we have worked with industry to extend the hours there, in Simpson, for an extra couple of hours during the summer. I think that has worked out great.

The department is always looking at ways to improve partnership and innovation or efficiencies on our ferries. These are challenging times these days, with the climate change and water levels that are happening.

The department has this coming capital plan on his specific ferry for his region. In the capital acquisition plan that was tabled earlier in this session, we are going to have new engines there that are going to increase the horsepower and lower fuel consumption on that ferry.

We are continuing to monitor the water levels on a regular basis. We continue to communicate with the communities, all communities, residents in the Northwest Territories, and the travelling public as early as possible to get the message out there of these conditions changing on a daily basis.

The Liard ferry normally closes on November 3^rd, and I think, with the adjustments that we have made and operate on a daylight hours, we are going to continue to operate as long as possible. It's looking very positive that we might meet that same date.

I greatly appreciate that answer from the Minister. Yes, they are doing some really good work, trying to get the ferry operational and extending as possible.

In my previous conversations with the Minister, I spoke about the idea of moving the ferry landing to the Enbridge road and having the other landing relocated to the town dock. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and have they done a cost analysis?

Yes, we have done some preliminary investigation regarding the potential alternate landing site that the Member is talking about. It could extend the ferry service up to a month, depending on the weather and the water levels. There are some challenges still with this option. I think we have talked about this in the House before.

The ferry crossing would be 11 kilometres along the Mackenzie Valley River and take an hour-and-a-half compared to the seven-minute crossing at the present site, where it's located right now, on the Liard River.

Of course, with that, if we are going to do 11-kilometre and a one-and-a-half-hour ferry ride, there are additional costs of operating these things. The initial number that I have, looking at doing this, the preliminary cost would be a $16-million ask to do that, not counting ongoing operational costs. That would be more for the longer ferry service and the additional maintenance of the highway.

I thank the Minister for that answer. I appreciate the department looking at that.

In our other conversations, we also talked about moving the landing upstream, which is, you know, a kilometre up, which would access deeper water and ensure better service to the residents from Fort Simpson. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and done a cost analysis, as well?

Yes, we have looked at this option, as well. The ferry most often shuts down during this season, like at the end of the year, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. It's due to heavy ice flow or low water. It's usually heavy ice flow. Moving it up river I don't think is going to be able to extend the season. It's not likely.

We also did a preliminary cost structure on this, too, and that is going to cost an extra $3.2 million if we were to look at that option. The other thing that we would have look at if we actually did that option would be land acquisition, land use permits, potential water licensing, and landing construction. Moving it upstream, I think, for something that would benefit the mid-season is not really a benefit. I don't think that would be a viable option, as well.

I thank the Minister for that answer. It actually comes down to the million-dollar question: has the department looked at actually building a bridge across the Liard River? We are talking about Mackenzie Valley Highway. We are doing a bridge up at the Great Bear River. Has the department looked at building a bridge or a floating bridge, similar to what there is in BC, using the two islands in the river? Have they done a cost analysis of that?

A bridge could possibly be a priority across the Liard River, but not at this point. As all Members know, we are pushing the envelope here on infrastructure funding to try to complete the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I believe that is our priority right now. Based on our mandate, that is what we are working on.

There would be some challenges, though, with having a floating bridge, I think, because of the fluctuation of the water that we see, particularly on the Liard because it is tied to the BC mountains. We can certainly have a look at that sometime, but, right now, that is not a priority of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think everybody has a dream of owning their own home and building a home, but a house needs a critical aspect of making a long-term home, and that is land. My question is to the Minister of Lands. What steps has the Minister of Lands taken to identify and make land available for residents of the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department does encourage community governments to apply for and obtain land within the communities where there is a demonstrated need to support future expansion and development of their communities.

Now, much of this land is unsurveyed, so, once we recognize a need for the land, we would have to in many cases have it surveyed. There is a way in which community governments in particular can apply to the government and obtain land within the community.

Once again, having a home of course is the biggest investment that a person will undertake in their lives. At the same time, it is also an investment in the community, but, in some communities, there is no land.

Can the Minister commit to working closely with communities to open up larger areas of land for development, in an effort to step away from piecemeal development and towards a more holistic approach?

As I mentioned, we do encourage community governments to apply for and gain title to lands, and often the proven needs or the needs of the community are identified through community plans. Communities need to develop community plans, and then applications can be made, of course, to Lands. That would be the process to obtain more land within the communities that would be available to the general population.

I know that, under section 9 of the Commissioner's Land Regulations, "No interest in Commissioner's land shall be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of unless the deputy Minister is satisfied that the applicant for the land has discharged the obligations and performed the covenants and agreements that are required of him or her before the sale, lease, or other disposal; the land is no larger in area than is reasonable for the purpose for which the land is required; and the sale or lease is fair and equitable in accordance with the public interest."

There is no general policy to turn over all Commissioner's land within the communities to the communities, but certainly we would be interested in working with the communities and in receiving applications.

The Minister stated two interesting streams of a process that communities would undertake: one, for the purposes of residential interest, people could apply for land; and, also, the other process is a commercial interest in communities. What is the difference between the two processes, and are they basically the same?

As mentioned earlier, the proven need for land must be established, first of all. As to whether the process is different for commercial, industrial, or residential land, I will have to look into that and get back to the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to working with MACA to review community plans and zoning bylaws together to ensure smoother land transfer to communities by eliminating additional process layers? Mahsi.

Yes, of course, we would be very pleased to work with MACA to make this process move more smoothly, and, certainly, we do recognize that there is a need for land in the communities. I have heard that, not only from the Member who has asked the question but from another Member opposite. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. I fully understand that the federal government sets guidelines for its infrastructure programs. My concern is with the lack of transparency on what our government submits. Is there a general call put out to departments? It is just not clear to me.

Can the Minister explain how his department and Cabinet as a whole determines how and what projects are developed, reviewed, and approved for submission by this government for federal infrastructure funding? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When Infrastructure was putting forward our requests for federal dollars for the bilaterals we signed, along with all of the other sources of funding that we are trying to secure, the first thing we did is we checked the mandate. That is the first thing we have done. We checked the mandate and identified the priorities that were within the mandate. We have looked at the 20-year capital-needs assessment and the annual capital-planning process.

That is the process, we have done that, and then, when we do that, we also have to look at the alignment of objectives and outcomes that the federal government has laid out, the eligibility criteria that they establish for this federal funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the Minister for that. It sounds like the mandate, the 20-year capital plan, is driving what we submit, but I had hoped to hear that there were some other kinds of rigorous analyses around the number of jobs that would be created, greenhouse gas reductions, regional distribution, and a balance between physical and social infrastructure. If the Minister has these criteria that he and his Cabinet colleagues use internally, can he share those with this side of the House?

I can certainly check with the department for exactly what we used and share that with the Member.

I would like to thank the Minister for that commitment. As I said, I hoped that the criteria would include things like the number of jobs likely to be created, greenhouse gas reductions, regional distribution, and balance between physical and social infrastructure.

The Minister has committed to share whatever criteria he has developed with our side of the House. How does he intend to share those criteria with the public?

I will have to check with the department to see exactly how we could do that, and I can certainly get back to the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. A few commitments out of the Minister here today. I appreciate that.

I talked earlier today about how, on the Infrastructure Canada website, it shows that 79 per cent of our federal infrastructure dollars since 2002 have been spent on roads and highways. This has led to a big imbalance. I have referred to this as the "big toys for big boys" approach.

Can the Minister explain this imbalance and how he will work to ensure that more social infrastructure projects make it through Cabinet's processes and into GNWT submissions for federal infrastructure funding? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

You know, we have had a lot of discussions in this House about where infrastructure money should go, and a lot of people believe that it should go to education, health, and housing infrastructure.

When we go down to these meetings with our federal colleagues and provincial and territorial colleagues, the criteria is clearly laid out. The federal government has said that our bilaterals are for green infrastructure; public transit; social infrastructure, which is community, culture, and recreational bilateral; rural northern communities; and Arctic Energy Fund. That is the criteria that I have to work with.

When my fellow colleagues go down, they have to lobby for their own pots of money, be it health, the ones I just laid out, and there are federal engagements on those, and they have their own pots of money.

A lot of people, and particularly this Member, thinks that there is a lot of money in this program for social infrastructure, and there isn't. The criteria is clearly laid out by the federal government. We had to line up, as I said, our mandate, our 20-year capital needs, the priorities of this Legislative Assembly, and work with the criteria the federal government gives us to try to access these dollars.

Now, I'm not saying that we don't go down there and argue for some stuff. We are continually down there trying to fight for every dollar we can get, and, thankfully to Minister Sohi when we signed our bilateral, between myself and the finance minister, he clearly listened to us that we don't want it on a per capita basis. We want it base-funding plus, and he did that. We got more money than the Yukon, Nunavut, and PEI. We did very well on our bilaterals, but there seems to be this notion that we can just take these pots of money, there's $570 million, and spread it around the Northwest Territories where we want, and we can't. That's not how this program works. We have to work within what they have laid out, and we will continue to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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