This is page numbers 4183 - 4214 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

Power Rate Increases for Seniors
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is Intergenerational Day. The work between our elders and youth is thriving in my riding, Mr. Speaker. Whether it is hunting, trapping, fishing, or language programs, both in the schools and on the land, Mr. Speaker, those teachings that our elders bring to our youth are thriving today.

Mr. Speaker, I see it in the last few years. Our youth are out hunting and sharing what they have harvested with the communities. Also, we have dance groups in our communities who are teaching our youth our traditional ways.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to acknowledge that today. Please keep up the good work in the communities. Mahsi cho.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Power Rate Increases
Members' Statements

June 1st, 2018

Page 4183

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to rise on the occasion of Power Rate Increase Day. Effective today, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will increase electricity rates for its customers an average of 2 per cent. That means residential customers using around 1,000 kilowatt-hours in the winter will pay between $4 and $7.50 extra per month. This, compounded with the 40 per cent increase over seven years of electricity rate in the Northwest Territories, is increasingly making our cost of living untenable.

There is only so much we can do, being Northerners and having to accept the reality that some things will be more expensive here, but power doesn't necessarily have to be one of them. I firmly believe that the NWT has such tremendous hydroelectric potential that we could be a net exporter of hydroelectricity at some point in the near future.

To get there, we need a transformative plan and a real vision to expand our hydroelectric system and make connections with the south. This is the only real way, I believe, that we can effectively reduce our power rates. The current system is unsustainable. We are always going to see more and more increases year on year and more and more people struggling to pay.

That increases the cost to government. It increases the cost to our social programs. It increases the cost to the average household, the average Northerner. I do see the government is taking the Taltson hydro expansion seriously, but I have to question how seriously when they are committing their energy strategy and their climate-change strategy to this Taltson project and that 44 per cent of their greenhouse gas reductions depend on the completion of this project, yet we have received no federal funding.

If we are going to meet our commitments to climate change, if we are going to once and for all reduce the cost of living, we need to back this project. We need to make it a top priority with the time we have left in this Assembly and make sure we have the strongest case possible to finally put an end to the endless increases of the electricity rates in the Northwest Territories and make a real difference for our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Power Rate Increases
Members' Statements

Page 4183

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in all my years in the public service, I have worked hard to increase the number of Priority 1 Indigenous candidates that are hired by the GNWT.

Mr. Speaker, I have worked as president of the NWT Housing Corporation and later became associate Deputy Minister for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In both instances, I worked to increase the number of Priority 1 and long-term NWT residents who are Priority 2 public servants. I am very thankful that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has maintained high Priority 1 numbers, around 45 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, when I was the Minister of Human Resources, it was like pulling teeth to have the departments develop a five- to 10-year human resource plan. Indigenous people born and raised in the NWT feel that they do not receive the same consideration as others for government jobs.

Mr. Speaker, apprenticeship jobs would be ideal for Indigenous people that plan to remain in the NWT and pay their taxes, instead of relying on income support and short-term jobs to make ends meet. They, too, need an opportunity to become productive members of society.

Mr. Speaker, I have many friends in the NWT, and we have seen the GNWT slide non-priority people into public service employment with ease, while Priority 1 candidates are busy jumping through hoops and running into obstacles.

Mr. Speaker, when most people retire from the GNWT, they know that they have spent their last day on the job, but when some senior managers retire, they are put on contract, and they will be making just as much, if not more, money before retirement. Meanwhile, they tie up salary dollars that could be used to hire some Northerners. Mr. Speaker, I have been fighting for Priority 1 candidates in this government, but, without support from the highest level and without a human resource plan to actively work on increasing Priority 1 candidates, we will remain the same and half of our citizens will continue to live in a territory where the public service is not representative of the population they serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about a month ago, I was informed about upcoming reductions to the school support staff for the next year in the Nahendeh riding.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeing an increase in the number of students who have complex needs. According to the information provided to me, we are above average compared to other regions. Unfortunately, the resources that the DDEC receives from the department do not recognize this fact. This is a huge concern for parents, DEA members, students, and myself.

In the Deh Cho region proper, we have nine schools spread out over eight communities. Some of our schools have small student populations. This provides the DDEC with challenges to provide the support that the other regions enjoy. When you look at the requirements, you need a teacher, a language specialist, and/or a classroom assistant.

To the department's credit, we have seen a program support teacher in each community. Unfortunately, this becomes unrealistic for our smaller communities. The DDEC has come up with a plan to combine a number of half-time positions into a travelling position for some of the smaller communities. This is a good step; however, this means each of the smaller communities only gets service one week per month.

This year, we are seeing a reduction to the DDEC. This means that the support staff in schools are being cut or reduced to part-time. I personally disagree with these cuts. These cuts will have a huge impact on wellness of the staff and students.

In some of the smaller communities, we are putting the teachers in an unsafe environment. Part of the day will see teachers being the only adult in the school with the students. Safety becomes a concern. What happens when a student gets hurt? What about the other students? Without proper support staff in place, the teachers end up supervising the students during the breaks all of the time. We could see teachers spending more time managing their class instead of teaching.

Mr. Speaker, the formula looks at the number of students in the region instead of the school's population individually. This ends up affecting the larger schools. I am happy that the department is recognizing the importance of paying the teachers at the level that they are on the pay grid. Unfortunately, it is not the same for superintendent, finance, and administration staff, who are UNW personnel. They are paid at the mid-point, but that doesn't take into account the staff that are long-term. Because of this, the DDEC has to come up with the difference. This means cuts to other staff and programs.

Due to this fact and students' enrolment, the divisional office has seen a reduction of staff from 14 to 8 staff since 2007. These are our support system for teachers and students.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Member for Nahendeh, your time for Member's statement has expired.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department needs to look at the Dehcho Divisional Education Council funding allotment, and how we are looking after the NWT's most important resource: our youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister later on today.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Mental Health Supports
Members' Statements

Page 4183

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker the upcoming legalization of cannabis has sparked a lot of discussion about addictions and addictions treatment. That is not surprising, given our staggering rates of substance abuse in the NWT and the fact that many of us either see or feel the effects of addictions on a regular basis.

However, we must recognize that, while addiction is a problem, it is also a symptom of an underlying issue. If an individual feels a need to escape reality through drugs or alcohol on such a regular basis that he or she develops an addiction, there is a reason behind that need. There is something else driving that need.

Unfortunately, those driving forces, the mental health issues that lead to addiction, are often hidden. However, the impacts of mental health issues can be very real. Addiction is just one potential outcome. Suicide is another, as many Northerners know all too well. Even when the impacts are not this extreme, they can still be debilitating, life-altering, and affect people's emotional, physical, and economic well-being. Mental health issues can prevent people from holding a job, from maintaining adequate housing, and from having healthy relationships.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to think that this isn't news to people. I would like to think that everyone here is well-aware of these facts. However, the mental health supports available to the people of the NWT, and Hay River in particular, make me think otherwise. The government often pays lip service to mental health issues and produces many frameworks, strategies, and action plans with the best of intentions, but since I have been in office, I have seen little come from these efforts in terms of what is happening on the ground in Hay River. The wait list for community counselling in Hay River is still months long. They simply don't have the resources to keep up with the demand, meaning that many of the people who need treatment never end up receiving it. What happens to those people? Many trudge on and make it through each day, suffering quietly. Others may see their symptoms worsen and develop into a substance abuse problem, at which point the GNWT will step in to help.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I would like to see this government become more proactive and less reactive, so they are not forced to react to situations that could have been avoided in the first place. I would like to see this government pay the same heed to the state of our human infrastructure as it does to our capital infrastructure. I will have questions for the Minister of Health at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mental Health Supports
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

2018 Nunakput High School Graduates
Members' Statements

Page 4183

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the high school graduating class from my riding in Nunakput.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have the 2018 graduating class from my hometown of Paulatuk and the communities of Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, and Ulukhaktok. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the following 2018 graduates: Jasmin Keogak from Sachs Harbour, who is attending East Three Secondary School in Inuvik; Matt Chloe, Jacob Klengenberg, and Nadine Kuneluk from Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok; Jerry Ruben Bennett, Heather Thrasher, Keara Ruben, and Curtis Kregnaktak from Angik School in Paulatuk; and Allysa Felix, Elishia Lugt, Breanna Wolki, Marcus Kimiksana, Brayden Teddy, and Lucas Emaghok-Felix from Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, our youth have the potential to transform their lives and their communities for the better. It is my wish that they succeed in all of the things that they set out to do. Mr. Speaker, the North has many youths who are very gifted and intelligent. It is my hope that they discover and hone their unique talents and to always believe in themselves and their abilities, whatever path they decide to take. Mr. Speaker, I wish for them to never give up on their dreams, no matter how hard things seem. Pick yourselves up and finish well.

Mr. Speaker, we must give our youth the tools they need to succeed, as they will be the next generation of leadership in the Northwest Territories and around the globe. Colleagues, please join me in celebrating the 2018 graduating class of Nunakput region and across the Northwest Territories Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

2018 Nunakput High School Graduates
Members' Statements

Page 4183

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

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

Mr. Speaker, for example, the minimum annual lease rate increased to $840 in both territorial and Commissioner's lands, up from $150 and $600, or 560 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.

Mr. Speaker, during our February/March session, discussions in this House also centred on issues of land tenure, with the Department of Lands creating several positions to address equity leases. My colleagues and I raised a number of concerns regarding both the sticker shock of significant lease rate increases, as well as the location of positions to address land tenure issues.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that, as an Assembly, we acknowledge our young people and their achievements across the Northwest Territories. We've heard a couple of Members talk about graduations that are going on across the NWT.

Today I would like to speak to a young lady who was at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in May, and she won a bronze medal. Her name is Tyra Cockney-Goose. She actually served as a Page in this Assembly a couple of years ago. Her project was sleep deprivation, and she actually experimented on herself. She found in the project she put forward that, because she was a high school student, she stayed up late and was studying, and she likes to procrastinate, so that caused her to lose some sleep. I thought that was a very good study that she did.

I would also like to acknowledge Kaylin Harder, who is a grade 9 student in Inuvik. She was also at the science fair in --- I'm not sure where it was held, but she was also at the science fair, and she won a scholarship for a month-long science camp this summer.

Speaking of the achievements of young people, tomorrow, in Inuvik, East Three Secondary School will be having their graduation. Members have spoken to it in this Assembly. I mean, we all want to acknowledge the accomplishments of our young people, so I would ask the Assembly to join me in congratulating Tyra and Kaylin and all the other young students across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4183

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome Mr. John Soderberg to the House today. Mr. Soderberg is on the board of directors representing the NWT Seniors' Society and a resident of the Great Slave riding. I would like to thank John for his service, and I appreciate the hard work that the society does on behalf of seniors and elders throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4183

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4183

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I saw my friend Arlene Hache in the gallery, so I would like to welcome her. As well, my wife, Yvonne, who was sitting in here yesterday listening to the debate on Bill 6. It's good to see the interaction, and especially hearing about it later on at home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome, Yvonne.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a Range Lake constituent, David Wasylciw. I'll keep trying. Also Ms. Arlene Hache, who is the Yellowknife representative for the NWT Status of Women Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.