Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, today is national Pink Shirt Day. I applaud all Members for wearing pink in the House today to symbolize that we will not tolerate bullying of any kind.

The Internet has opened an invaluable connection to the world by allowing residents of all ages, in even our smallest communities, access to information and opportunities easily. Sadly, it has also allowed bullying to move online.

Cyber-bullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. The intention is to cause harm or distress to the victims. Most often, it is sustained and repeated over a period of time and can damage a person's feelings, self-esteem, reputation, and mental health.

Cyber-bulling includes:

• Sending mean or threatening emails, texts, or instant messages;
• Posting embarrassing photos of someone online;
• Creating a website to make fun of others;
• Pretending to be someone by using their name; and
• Tricking someone into revealing personal or embarrassing information and sending it to others.

Mr. Speaker, cyber-bullying affects victims in different ways than traditional bullying. Unlike face-to-face bullying, cyber-bullying can be relentless and can follow a victim everywhere 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because cyber-bullying can spread quickly to a wide audience, most teens today have been involved in some way or another, either as a target, as a bully, as a silent observer, or as someone who participates on the sidelines and becomes part of the problem without realizing what they are doing.

As well as being traumatic, people need to know that forms of cyber-bullying can be illegal. There are repercussions to these actions. Repeated tormenting online can amount to criminal harassment. Threatening to share someone's personal information with others can be extortion or uttering threats. Fake profiles created to ruin or damage someone's reputation could result in charges of identity theft or fraud, while spreading untrue rumours may be defamatory libel. The sharing of intimate images of people may be illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada. The sharing of intimate images of youth, even solely among youth, may also fall under the Criminal Code's provisions relating to child pornography.

I encourage anyone who is experiencing these types of incidents to report it to your local RCMP or to Cybertip.ca. If you are being bullied online, know that every social media site has the ability to report and block the culprits. Phone service providers will take reports of unwanted text messages. Don't respond to the cyber bullies, but don't delete their messages, either, as these will be useful to the service providers and the police as evidence. Be sure to talk to a trusted person or get any help or support you might need from those able to assist you.

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP plays an integral part in combatting cyber-bullying in our territory. I am proud of the efforts that the RCMP and its members have made in building relationships and trust in the communities they serve. In addition to investigating reports of cyber-bullying to determine if charges should be laid, RCMP members are also available to visit schools to speak to the youth about cyber-bullying.

Mr. Speaker, cyber-bullying is continually changing as new technology and social networking sites emerge. All residents need to stay alert to the presence of cyber-bullying. If you know someone who is a victim of cyber-bullying, talk to them and let them know that they can trust you and that they shouldn't deal with the bullying alone. Help them to report cyber-bullying to their telephone service provider or social media site, school administrators, or to the RCMP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, many factors impact a child's life, both negatively and positively. As a parent, I understand some of the struggles parents face, and as a social worker, I adhere to the principle that all of us, parents, family, friends, community members, and governments, have a role to play in ensuring children have the supports to succeed in life.

Upon assuming the position as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, one of my first priorities was to ensure we were doing our part to meet the developmental needs of children and having measurable outcomes to assess if our programs and services are effective. The 2015-2017 Early Development Instrument results and a national 2017 Early Childhood Education Report confirmed that my concerns had merit, and, although we are working in the right direction, we still have much to do.

The Early Development Instrument, or EDI, is a nationally utilized tool, administered prior to grade one, that provides a snapshot of five-year-old children's developmental vulnerability rates. The most recent data available shows that vulnerability rates of Canadian children are increasing. This is reflected in the results for the Northwest Territories, where vulnerability rates have increased from 38 percent to 42 percent, as compared to the 2012-2014 results. Unfortunately, the EDI results alone do not identify specific causes for vulnerability that we can easily address. They reflect the accumulation of early childhood experiences within the family, community, and wider society.

Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services will continue to work together on initiatives in the Right From the Start Framework and Action Plan to address areas of vulnerability in the Northwest Territories. This action plan will be renewed during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, and the EDI data will be used to inform the new action plan and any initiatives included in that plan as we move forward. As part of this work, we will renew our joint Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability Plan to ensure that we are looking at the impacts of initiatives over the longer term and adjusting as necessary.

As well, we will work in partnership with the federal government through the Early Learning and Childcare Agreement, and we will work closely with education bodies and licensed childcare operators to support healthy early childhood development. Only by all of us working together can we provide a comprehensive set of programs and services to better support families and young children.

Mr. Speaker, the effects of junior kindergarten across the Northwest Territories continues to be monitored and has been one of our early successes. Although junior kindergarten is optional, 552 children are now enrolled in this early childhood programming. Not only is this helping to address the cost of living for families with small children, it is also ensuring more children have access to play-based early childhood programming. Preliminary analysis of the Early Development Instrument shows that children who attended junior kindergarten during the implementation in small communities were showing fewer vulnerabilities than children who did not.

During this 18^th Legislative Assembly, we have developed a curriculum for our junior kindergarten programming and resources to support schools. In the coming year, we will also be introducing an early learning framework and, through federal funding, providing resources, including music, books, and other play-based materials, that reflect Indigenous beliefs and culture for licensed centre-based programs. A strong relationship with a child's own culture boosts a child's self-esteem, mental health, and general wellness.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that access to licensed-based childcare supports healthy child development, as does junior kindergarten, and reaches even younger children. However, we still have 11 communities without any licensed childcare programs. This continues to be a priority. During the coming year, we will be completing the mandate to develop a comprehensive plan to make childcare more accessible, affordable, and inclusive. As well, where communities identify a need and interest in operating licensed early childhood programs, ECE will work with the community to support their establishment. We will also be placing a stronger emphasis on reaching out to communities lacking licensed childcare programs to increase awareness of the start-up and ongoing funding available, as well as other supports we offer.

Mr. Speaker, to assist in the cost of living and encourage more licensed operators, we also have made increases to the licensed childcare operating subsidy rates beginning in October 2016, which were further enhanced in 2017-2018 through federal funding. These increases, as well as the grants for health and safety, start-up funding, provider enhancement funding, and the Early Childhood Staff Grant program, will hopefully assist in making this opportunity more attractive to potential operators and early childhood educators.

Accessing qualified early childhood educators and ongoing training was a concern that we have also been able to address though the Canada-NWT Early Learning and Childcare Bilateral Agreement and its three-year action plan. With this federal funding, Aurora College has expanded its certificate program and is now offering a full-time, two-year diploma in Early Learning and Childcare. As well, we have increased the scholarships available for students in early childhood programs from 10 to 30 scholarships. Over the coming year, we will also be developing an ongoing training plan for flexible and sustainable training for staff of licensed childcare centres and family day home programs.

The Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, released its 2017 Early Childhood Education Report. This report assesses early childhood education programming in Canada by province and territory. From 2014 to 2017, the Northwest Territories' rating increased from 6.5 to 8.0 out of 15, which places the Northwest Territories exactly in the middle of all of the provinces and territories. This ranking shows that, as a government, we have made early childhood development a priority and are investing in our youngest residents, a commitment that must continue.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that it takes a community to raise a child, and we are doing our part to assist in this. We have made some great progress to date, and although we have a lot of work ahead during the rest of the 18^th Legislative Assembly, we know how critical our work is, and we welcome the challenge, knowing that our efforts will assist our most valuable resource, our children. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the visitors in the gallery. We have with us students from the grade nine social studies class from Ecole Sir John Franklin High School. Welcome to our Assembly. Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, this Legislative Assembly has committed to support early childhood development, and today I want to provide Members and the public with an update on our work to provide equitable access to a range of inclusive, culturally-informed programs and services for and children under five years of age and expecting parents.

In June 2017, our government tabled a renewed three-year Early Childhood Development Action Plan designed to help us take action at several sensitive times of a child's development. For the past two years, we have worked with parents, elders, healthcare practitioners, community partners, and research organizations to improve services to young children and their parents and caregivers in order to improve developmental outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, to support the best health and social outcomes for children under five, the Department of Health and Social Services has been doing work in a number of areas, including maternal-child health.

The department has been advancing work to establish a territory-wide program to enhance access to midwifery services, including safe options for birthing as close to home as possible. The NWT Midwifery Practice Framework has been updated, and we are acting on the recommendations of the NWT Midwifery Stakeholder Engagement Report. Prenatal care and education is available to expectant mothers through several programs, including the Midwifery Program and the Northern Women's Program and during one-on-one appointments with community health nurses. As part of the Early Childhood Development Action Plan, the department is taking steps to improve the delivery of prenatal education by developing a standardized prenatal program.

Related to this work, officials met with Indigenous community partners in Fort Smith to pilot the first Indigenous Doula Training course in the Northwest Territories. This training can strengthen the capacity of the community to support pregnant mothers and their partners. An evaluation of the pilot course will inform our next steps.

Since 2016, expectant mothers who travel to one of the NWT birthing centres receive the essential items that new parents need for the wellbeing and safety of their newborn, as well as information about the programs and services that they can access in their communities when they return.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative is our government's approach to maternity and community services that focus on providing quality care and enabling supportive environments in the Northwest Territories.

In order to better understand infant feeding practices in the Northwest Territories, the department commissioned the Aurora Research Institute and an Advisory Circle of Knowledge Keepers. This partnership resulted in a report that includes many stories discussing traditional knowledge practices and has generated new knowledge that will contribute to the advancement of the Baby-Friendly Initiative.

In December 2018, the Inuvik Regional Hospital received official designation as a baby-friendly facility, becoming the first hospital in the Arctic, and the most northern hospital in Canada, to receive this designation. Four other healthcare facilities in the Northwest Territories are currently working towards their Baby-Friendly designation.

We also funded Moms, Boobs and Babies to develop a volunteer peer support breastfeeding program to help build local breastfeeding support and capacity in all regions.

In addition, we are working with Hotii ts'eeda to renew the Healthy Family Program. Hotii ts'eeda is a research support centre for community members, organizations, and researchers involved in Northwest Territories health and health research. To support the renewal, the project team is visiting nine communities in five regions to research and design an innovative model that reflects the unique needs and features of communities. The team is learning about specific needs and cultural practices related to parenting which are unique to Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents, newcomers, families in smaller communities, and parents without family support. They want to hear the views and perspectives of communities where the Healthy Family Program is not offered. Hotii ts'eeda will make recommendations this spring to pilot a new program design.

Mr. Speaker, the department has made significant progress to identify resources available to children and families to enhance healthy growth and development. When developmental delays occur in a child, it is important for these concerns to be identified early, so that interventions can begin as soon as possible, and before school entry.

All parents and caregivers can schedule Well Child Baby visits for children between the ages of zero and five with community health nurses and public health nurses to ensure early detection and referral to appropriate services, such as rehabilitation services.

Mr. Speaker, since the inception of the Early Childhood Action Plan, our government has made strategic investments to better meet the needs of children with specialized needs. We are improving access and follow-up to rehabilitation services for children ages zero to five in small communities and enhancing diagnosis and case management services for children with autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Children and parents who need specialized services will be supported by the Stanton hospital child-development team with a satellite team in the Beaufort-Delta.

We are currently in our second year of the three-year action plan, and we are making significant progress. We will continue to implement the Right from the Start Framework and action plans and use data from the Early Development Instrument to help update the action plan when it is renewed in 2020. We will also renew our monitoring, evaluation, and accountability plan to ensure that we are looking at the impacts of our actions in the longer term.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that it takes a community to raise a child, and we are doing our part to assist in this. We have made some great progress to date, and although we have a lot of work ahead during the rest of this 18^th Legislative Assembly, we know how critical our work is, and we welcome the challenge, knowing that our efforts will assist our most valuable resource, our children.

Mr. Speaker, supporting early childhood development is critical work for our government. We are committed to working with families and communities to ensure that they have the tools and resources to support the best outcomes for their children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Community governments are an important partner for the Government of the Northwest Territories, and we continue to be one of the only jurisdictions in Canada that provides ongoing funding to this level of government. While we recognize that community governments have many financial needs that exceed current funding levels, we remain committed to supporting them and have made considerable gains in closing the community government funding gap during the 18^th Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I do seek unanimous consent to conclude my Minister's statement, even though I just started.

---Unanimous consent granted

Addressing the financial needs of community governments is a long-term project that has to include clearly understanding what exactly those needs are and how effective our policies are in meeting them. That is why, Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories did a comprehensive review of its community government funding policies in 2014. The review was initiated, in part, because existing funding policies were difficult to understand and defend, in terms of the amount of funding any one community received. In addition, there was no direct linkage between the operations and maintenance funding policy and the infrastructure funding policy. The department felt there were significant gaps in understanding this relationship and the cost drivers related to infrastructure.

The 2014 review allowed a broad spectrum of community government officials to voice their concerns and help shape policy decisions. It started us on a path towards more accurate and detailed information for both the department and community governments and a clear and defendable approach to calculating community government funding needs.

The review also identified a large difference between current funding levels and full needs-based funding. This Legislative Assembly has made a commitment to close that funding gap, Mr. Speaker, and we have been making progress on that commitment.

Mr. Speaker, at the start of this Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Finance said the Government of the Northwest Territories would increase community government funding as its own revenues increased. Our government continues to keep that promise. In spite of our challenging fiscal environment that required our government to examine its spending closely, we have managed to not only protect community governments from funding reductions, but have actually increased base funding to them.

Over four years, we have succeeded in obtaining a total of $8.3 million in increased funding, closing the gap by almost 50 percent in both the community governments' operations and maintenance funding and environmental services, also known as water and sewer services funding. Over the same period, the increase in revenues for the whole Government of the Northwest Territories, when you exclude specific project funding from the federal government, was just $49 million. That increase had to pay for all the forced growth demands and initiatives of the government, including addressing the municipal government funding gap.

Mr. Speaker, as well as allocating new funding to community governments as it becomes available to us, in accordance with the results of the Municipal Funding Policy Review, we also continue to update the existing community government funding policies to meet the needs of community governments and ensure the funding is distributed with a fair, clear, and understandable policy base. This work will provide an update to the calculations used in each of the funding models and support specific actions that the department will take in partnership with community governments to make sure that we continue to have current data that can be used over time to defend future funding requests through our forced growth and budgetary cycles.

A key source of the data used in the funding-model calculations is the infrastructure valuation provided through a third-party source, the Northern Communities Insurance Program. As Members of this House may recall, the base for our funding models is the infrastructure information, and that is why the valuation from the insurance data is so important to this analysis. A new annual insurance cycle starts with renewal on April 1, 2019, and will provide us with the most current and critical information on the common infrastructure in each community, its valuation and condition.

Over the four years since the initial research was completed, I would also like to acknowledge that we have continued to work with the insurance program and invested in asset management with communities. These efforts have resulted in better quality data on infrastructure than we have ever had before.

We will ensure that this data is available to provide more regular updates to the formula calculations as well as for supporting requests on future federal funding programs.

Mr. Speaker, I believe in the direction that the department has taken since the completion of the Municipal Funding Policy Review in 2014. We have made solid progress in closing the municipal operations and maintenance funding gap by almost 50 percent over the last four years. We have also worked hard to improve funding policies so that they are clearer and better account for community needs. We intend to continue this work and will prepare a plan that will allow the Government of the Northwest Territories to increase community government funding as our own revenues increase based on good data and improved policies for the next Legislative Assembly's consideration.

We are well-positioned to advocate for community governments to receive their fair share of any new funding that becomes available. I look forward to discussions with stakeholders and Members of this House on community needs as a priority during the remainder of our term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Minister's Statement 158-18(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried.

---Carried

The Minister's statement delivered earlier today, 158-18(3), is now referred to Committee of the Whole for later today. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let's show our support today, wearing pink shirts, taking a stand against bullying. A short history: this day was started in 2007 by two students who organized a high school protest in support of a fellow student who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.

Mr. Speaker, we tend to forget that sometimes it is the smallest acts that make a big difference, even if we speak up, if we listen to, or stepping up. Let's make this day aware in our schools, in our homes, in our communities, and in this country.

Children have the right to be protected from physical and mental harm and the right to live free from any form of discrimination.

Mr. Speaker, Pink Shirt Day has exploded with support. However, we still need to educate against bullying and make it known that it is unacceptable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, the regulatory delay for approval of the water license application for the TerraX Minerals project near Yellowknife has reminded me how important it is to push ahead in the long process of improving our regulatory system. When I say "long process," I do mean long. Regulatory reform has been going on for at least a decade, and the need for improvement has been there a lot longer.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier was fond of saying "devolve and evolve." This has been his mantra for a made-in-the-North regime to manage land and resources in the Northwest Territories. He has laid the foundation for this to happen, but we still have a way to go before we have true Northern control.

It's a big job in itself to keep pressuring the federal government to live up to its promises. With respect to devolution, this means the promises to begin a review of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and negotiate management of oil and gas resources in the Beaufort Sea. The latter negotiations were to have begun in 2014, but all we have seen is Canada's moratorium on offshore oil and gas development.

Right now, I am much more concerned about the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act or MVRMA as most people call it. The Northwest Territories needs more control over its own destiny and more control over our economy and environment.

The window of opportunity to do just that is about to open soon, Mr. Speaker. The exact day is the sulai xaye anniversary of devolution on April 1^st, 2019. "Sulai xaye" translates as five years in South Slavey.

Mr. Speaker, under the devolution agreement, negotiations for the review of the MVRMA "shall commence... as soon as is practicable" after that day.

This is a tremendous opportunity for our territory. Through the Intergovernmental Council, we have already broken new ground. The collaboration of Indigenous governments and the GNWT to shape a joint land and resource management system is a unique achievement, but it is only the beginning. We can develop a better land- and resource-management system that reflects our needs and aspirations.

We can bring what we are all learning together to bear when we review the MVRMA with the federal government. Mr. Speaker, I hope our government is prepared to begin the job come April 1^st. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise to talk about bullying. Mr. Speaker, I realize that bullying is not only in the schools, but that is where I will concentrate my efforts today. Mr. Speaker, we all wear pink as politicians and bring attention to the matter of bullying. Mr. Speaker, I think that we really do our share when we teach our children not to be bullies. Mr. Speaker, we do our share when, as adults, we speak to our children about the harms of bullying. We do our share when we speak to our children, period, about bullying. We do our share when we have empathy for others when they tell us that our children are bullying their children.

Mr. Speaker, we, as parents, must help people that know about the bullying in the schools, and we must help stop the bullying. Mr. Speaker, we have situations where children do not attend school because some child or some children are bullying them and, no matter what they say or do, it does not stop the bullying.

Mr. Speaker, we have many situations where children have ruined lives of other children by denying them on education because they are afraid to go to school. Mr. Speaker, I reach out to the parents of bullies today to say: please help stop your child from being a bully. If someone tells you your child is a bully, talk to your child. Find out what is making them want to hurt other children in school.

Mr. Speaker, the best place to stop bullying is at home. Let's make it so that our children, no matter what size or nature they are, can go to school and feel free and safe to get a good education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. The Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak on an issue which has left me and many Northerners with a bitter taste in our mouths, the sugar-sweetened drink tax. This government has stated that it wishes to address health outcomes in the territory and proposes to achieve this goal by the creation of a new tax. Let me be clear. The creation of a new arbitrary and regressive tax is not the course we should be taking right now.

This tax arbitrarily targets pop only from fountain drinks and pre-packaged cans and bottles. It exempts pop mixed with alcohol, the sugar in your coffee or tea, flavoured milk, flavoured yogurt drinks, and fruit juice.

Now, I hope I do not need to remind the honourable Members of this House of just how difficult it is for Northerners with low incomes to get by in the territory nor how local small businesses have already been feeling the crunch of our declining economy. Adding to the cost of living for residents and adding to the administration costs for business is not the way we should be combatting diabetes, obesity, or trying to improve oral-health outcomes.

Even by the GNWT's own estimates, the new tax will just barely generate more revenue than it will cost to administer, let alone reduce consumption. This is a misguided approach that uses a tax to achieve health outcomes. This ought to be a Department of Health issue, not a Department of Finance issue. Forcing people to pay more for calories they consume in the hope that they will change their consumption habits is patently absurd.

We must continue to combat obesity, diabetes, and poor oral health through education, access to sports, and availability of alternatives, not through further taxation, and yet this government continues its wrong-headed approach in increasing the cost of power, raising fees, upping service rates, and pushing new taxes. Enough is enough, and I urge Members of this House not to support this new sugar tax. Any support for this tax will only serve to add more pressure on those already living on overstretched home budgets. Mr. Speaker, taxpayers can only be squeezed so hard before they break. Thank you.

Masi. Members' statements. The Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to talk about FASD. FASD, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, is what they call an umbrella term. It covers various possible diagnoses, each with potential physical and cognitive issues for someone who was exposed to alcohol in the womb.

In Canada, FASD is the leading known cause of preventable developmental disability. It is a lifelong disability, and it affects an estimated 1 in every 100 Canadians. That is about 330,000 people.

Through prevention activities, we can build a future without FASD, but, because FASD cannot be reversed or cured, prevention activities alone are not enough. Governments and communities must plan for lifelong support for people with FASD.

For example, without a formal diagnosis, which can be very difficult to obtain, adults who may suspect that they have FASD can't access much-needed programming and services.

Mr. Speaker, once I started to look into FASD research, I was shocked by the scope of the challenges we face, not only in the NWT but across the country. For example, CBC reports that up to 25 percent of inmates in federal corrections could have FASD, but only seven assessments were funded by Correctional Services Canada in 2017. Sadly, it seems that a lack of adequate support is a common problem.

When it comes to the criminal justice system, obstacles for people with FASD are built into the courts themselves. Medical experts agree that it is common for those with FASD to struggle to understand court proceedings, to connect actions and consequences, and to change their behaviour. As it is, the system just doesn't work for them.

Manitoba has taken action to restore fairness. At the end of this month, it will open a specialized court, much like our wellness and DVTO courts, for people with FASD. Judges will be trained to understand FASD and support workers will be present to help defendants access community programs, including diagnostic services. The courtroom itself will also be smaller and quieter.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, I admire this work greatly. Here in the NWT, our healthcare and education systems are taking some important steps to improve resources for people with FASD, but, unfortunately, these make the gaps in our justice system stand out even more. I am hopeful that one day soon our people can have access to supports like those offered in Manitoba. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. The Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been approached by many parents and leadership that we need our own speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists in the Deh Cho. It is my understanding that there are over 70 speech and language pathologist cases and over 50 occupational therapy cases that need to be seen from the Nahendeh alone. The frustrating thing is that this has to be done in 13 service days. If there is one day of bad weather, the assessments get cancelled for months. This tells me that the services are lacking for the Nahendeh and Deh Cho and our youth. It explains why some of our EDI scores are so bad.

A majority of the clinics are held in major centres in Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, and Hay River. This means the smaller communities, such as Jean Marie and Nahanni Butte, Sambaa K'e, Wrigley, and Kakisa, would have to travel to these centres to get their children assessed. This means that the children would be assessed in a foreign environment instead of the location they are familiar with.

It is my understanding that families who have children with complex needs find it difficult to travel outside of their home communities due to the challenges that exist for their children. As well, it is my understanding that speech and language pathologists and occupational therapist services do not travel to smaller communities, with the exception of once in Jean Marie.

With the five small communities in Deh Cho proper, we are seeing youth not identified until they start going to school. In my research, I found that early intervention is the key to many speech and language pathology and occupational therapy issues. If speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists could travel to communities and provide workshops for the communities in collaboration with early child staff, many issues would be identified and possibly improved on prior to entering school. Decrease in vulnerability is noted on the EDI scores for the Deh Cho. How is this done? I believe by having speech and language pathology and occupational therapist staff in place.

If we have a speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist hired in Fort Simpson as part of the Dehcho Health and Social Services team, the patients currently being seen by Stanton and Hay River staff could be enveloped into the Deh Cho case load, further reducing the case load and helping these communities.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, it could have met the needs of seniors who want to remain in their communities while they age. I don't think we have done enough to debate the opportunity cost of this and other infrastructure projects in this House. I recognize that it is too late for this debate to take place about the road to Whati, but it is not too late for other large infrastructure projects that the government is shopping around. It is time for the people to have their turn. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is well known that there is a shortage of skilled labour in the Northwest Territories and that it is getting worse. The number of apprentice program registrations and completions are down, and the number of licensed journeymen who are retiring is on the rise.

This shortage has negative effects across the board. Seniors can't get renovations done on their homes to help them age in place, because there aren't enough qualified people to do the work. The growth of small- and medium-sized businesses is being stifled because they don't have the capacity to take on new work. Our government can't deliver on half of the infrastructure projects that it promises to complete. An untold number of available jobs are going to fly in and fly out workers. The list goes on, Mr. Speaker, but I am sure that I don't have to convince anyone that this is a serious problem. As such, it requires the full attention of this Assembly and must be addressed by the whole of government.

It has been said in this House on many occasions that the best social program is a good job. I disagree, Mr. Speaker. The best social program is a good education, because it is the last social program that you will ever need. If you are a journeyman electrician, you are probably not going to be living in social housing or collecting income assistance. Investments in training boost the economy, increase government revenues, and lower future expenditures.

I will give credit where credit is due. In the past few years, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has worked hard to promote the trades, develop strategies, revamp programs, and made investments to help individuals, small businesses, and organizations offset costs of training. However, Mr. Speaker, it appears that we are missing the full support of the three GNWT departments responsible for capital projects: the Department of Infrastructure, the Department of Finance, and the NWT Housing Corporation.

While programs to help private businesses provide training are great, they are not enough. Small businesses often don't have the capacity to provide training, and increasingly, they often don't have enough work to take on trainees or apprentices. That is why the government has to step up its game. Every time the government plans to build a new facility, procure a new manufactured product, or enter into a new P3 partnership, the relevant departments need to figure out how to best utilize the project as an opportunity to provide training.

Mr. Speaker, an honest effort will require a change to the way that business is done, a change to how RFPs are designed and evaluated, and it will require the government to look beyond the bottom line and realize that an investment in training is one that we can't afford not to make. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living in Nunakput is the highest in the Northwest Territories. On February 18^th, the price of diesel fuel in Paulatuk went up almost 17 percent, hitting $1.94 per litre. The cost of regular gasoline is up to $1.98 a litre. Prices went up in Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok, as well.

Mr. Speaker, the rising cost has been hard on hunters living in these communities. People need fuel to hunt, to feed their families, and to continue to pass on their cultural survival skills to future generations. Families simply cannot afford the price increases of fuel, supplies, and equipment.

When families cannot hunt, they have to purchase all food from the store. The prices are simply shocking compared to the prices here in Yellowknife. I will not mention the quality or variety, but just to buy basic essentials is impossible for families. Even with Nutrition North, people are struggling. Inuvialuit prefer to have traditional food, harvested from their own time spent out on the land.

The average personal income in Nunakput communities isn't much more than $35,000 a year, Mr. Speaker, relying on numbers from our Bureau of Statistics. That is not even close to the average in the Northwest Territories, which is over $60,000 a year. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for many of my constituents to afford fuel at these prices. The Minister of Infrastructure will let me know that the prices of fuel in Arctic communities are subsidized. That is all well and good, if the subsidy can reflect and positively affect the cost off of living in that community. Mr. Speaker, on average this year, a tank of gas for a snowmobile is around $50. When we raise the fuel price, all that we are doing is creating hardship for residents in our communities.

The mandate of this government calls for action to reduce the cost of living, not to increase it. The mandate also calls upon the government to promote the consumption of traditional foods, such as fish and wildlife, improve nutrition, and improve the wellness and the way of life of Indigenous peoples in the territory. Investment in traditional harvesting is another priority that we set in our mandate. So is reducing poverty.

Raising the fuel price in Nunakput communities does the exact opposite in all of those areas, Mr. Speaker. The high cost of fuel prevents the majority of people's access to food, cultural values, and wellness.

However, there comes a time in point when any increase is too much. What we need is a commitment to fulfill this mandate item and a continued promise to serve our Arctic communities better by easing the high cost of living. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I have been asking for some time now about the transition plan for the opening of the new Stanton hospital, the old Stanton hospital renovations, and what happens with the services operating during those renovations. I checked the Stanton renewal website, and there is a lot of helpful information there, but no real timelines for the transition of services or renovations.

As I understand it, May 26^th is the day when patients will be transferred from the old Stanton to the new Stanton hospital. I am sure that this must involve a monumental amount of planning and coordination. It is great that, according to the Stanton renewal website, the old Stanton is going to be renovated to allow extended care; transcription services; primary clinics; food and laundry service for extended care and long-term care; outpatient rehab programs, which includes occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology; and long-term care; but where is the schedule?

All I am asking for is clear communications showing when and where services will be located during that transition. It could easily be done by a dated Gantt chart, of course, subject to change. I haven't seen anything like that, even though Stanton is in my riding. I think that's the least we should be doing for our residents, who rely on Stanton, and even for the staff who work there. As we move closer to transition day, we need to ramp up our public information efforts, so answers are there for people and they will know where the services are available, and when.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It's always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Mahsi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist positions in the riding, and the need for them. Can the Minister please tell us: how many service days does the department provide for the communities of Fort Simpson and Fort Liard in respect to speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist caseloads? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are 19 days allocated for speech-language pathology and OTs for the Deh Cho, and that's broken down as 10 for Simpson, and six for Providence and Fort Liard. That's site visits, daytime face-to-face meetings. This does not include weekly telehealth sessions with clients or intensive rehab sessions held at Stanton, where a client has to come in. These are also separate, just so we're all clear, these are separate from the numbers available for adults. These are for paeds. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's good information to hear. Can the Minister please tell us how many rehabilitation speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist caseloads people are on the waiting list for in the 2018-2019 fiscal year?

There is a wait list for the zero- to 18-year-olds for 2018-2019. There are 23 for OT and five for speech-language therapy. Of those, nine OTs are for children under five, and five speech-language therapy are for children under five.

I think I missed how many cases are out there, not the waiting lists, but I'll go on to my next question. It is my understanding that the department is not looking at placing a speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist position in the Deh Cho. Can the Minister explain how we are going to improve services in this area?

My apologies. I forgot to give the number for the caseload for rehabilitation services. For OT, it's 57 in the Deh Cho, and for speech, it's 85 in the Deh Cho. With respect to the follow-up question, we are working hard to support the demand for rehab services across the Northwest Territories. We are focusing on improving services delivered by the existing rehabilitation teams that exist. Additional resources have been allocated to the Beaufort-Delta in 2018-2019, and while we are proposing some additional investment into the Stanton team for 2019-2020, there have been significant new investments put in place. Over the past two years, we have increased the budget for rehab services by $2.02 million, and we've increased it by 13 positions. This is an increase of 33 percent in the budget in this area, taking us from $6.2 million to $8.6 million, and an increase of 21 percent in positions.

Currently, before the rollout in the Beaufort-Delta, the travel teams all worked out of the Yellowknife office, or the Yellowknife Stanton. Those travel days that were previously allocated to the Beaufort-Delta will now be reallocated to the South Slave, which includes Fort Smith, Hay River, and the entire Deh Cho region. With those reallocations and the creation of the positions at Stanton, we are actually anticipating an increase in the number of travel days, but also actual employment time, which can be done by telehealth to the Deh Cho, which will greatly increase the services in the Deh Cho. To that end, we're also looking at having the travel teams travel beyond just the locations they've been travelling to, which are Fort Providence, Fort Liard, and Fort Simpson, and actually including some of the smaller communities where the caseload demands it.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister for answering those three questions with good information, and I appreciate that. My last question: does Stanton have therapists who can provide specialized services for children with complex needs, and how does the region access these resources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We do have speech-language pathologists and we do have OT for paeds. We also have the FASD and the ADS coordinator positions. All these positions can be accessed through referrals through their health providers in the communities. Obviously, we were out there trying to get the referrals done so that we can get these kids the supports and services they need. Regardless of where you are in the Northwest Territories, it still takes a referral to access any of our rehab services, regardless of where you live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the cost of living in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. My question is: how does the Minister justify the recent increase of fuel prices in Nunakput, given the mandate priority of reducing the cost of living, reducing poverty, and investing in traditional harvesting and consumption of traditional foods? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The simple answer is the cost of the product went up, therefore triggering a rate increase. The cost of fuel is driven by factors outside the control of the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories does not make the market, nor set the cost of fuel. Fuel prices reflect the cost of supply and delivery of petroleum products. The fuel prices are adjusted periodically to reflect the recovery of full fuel costs, including the product cost, transportation cost, sale commission, operations, maintenance expense, and operation losses and taxes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response. The cost of delivery is high in our region, with the current structure that we have. I'm sure there are other competitors that can deliver fuel at a lower rate. However, we rely on the system that we have right now. Based on the average annual consumption, how much would it cost the government to leave the prices of fuel in Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour, and Paulatuk where they were before the latest price increase?

The total cost to the government to leave the fuel prices unchanged in all three communities in the Member's riding would have cost us $607,000. To do this, though, to inform this House, would be outside FMB policy. The Financial Management Board sets the direction and policy, and fuel prices are adjusted accordingly. To exempt certain communities from increases would not be consistent or equitable with how all the other communities are treated and would not be affordable to the Petroleum Resources Revolving Fund or the Government of the Northwest Territories.

I understand that sometimes the cost of delivering goods is out of our control and we must comply. Just to come back, the cost of living is high in the northern part of the territory. I appreciate the Minister's response, because I know they're always looking out for the best interests of our residents. My final question is: will the Minister commit to working with his colleagues and myself to revise the process for setting fuel prices in remote communities to ensure that they reduce the cost of living and do not result in hardship for people?

As I said, the Petroleum Products Revolving Fund Act requires the Department of Infrastructure to recover all operating costs from the sale of our fuel. The proposed changes would be contrary to the petroleum resource program, which is self-funded and would have to be debated and voted on in the Legislative Assembly if we were to do something like that, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. Earlier today, in my statement, I talked about the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the need to bring it home to the North. In 2014, we devolved the land, water, and resources to the Northwest Territories, but we didn't devolve the regulatory controls. I would like to ask the Premier: what are the biggest potential benefits of a review of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act from our government's point of view? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Essentially, the elements of the MVRMA within the devolution agreement are being reviewed. The potential benefits are all related to increased local decision-making, for example, items listed in 3.17 of the devolution agreement, including approval of issuance of Type A water licences, which a Member referred to in his Minister's statement, designation of inspectors and board-appointment decisions. For example, Aboriginal governments, such as the Tlicho, can appoint their own members, and our government cannot. This is an oversight that we intend to address, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Premier for that reply. I would also like to ask the Premier what sort of research or let's call it preparation has our government done to get ready for the review of the federal MVRMA?

The Government of the Northwest Territories has been working within this regulatory system since the 1990s with both the federal government and Aboriginal governments. That was when the MVRMA first came into effect. We have continued to work within the system post-devolution. The federal review will ideally lead to further delegation of province-like authorities, and our system is ready to take on those authorities.

I think that is welcome commentary from the Premier. I would also like to ask what communication, in fact, has there been between our government and Canada with regards to the subject of reviewing the MVRMA?

I and the government have regularly communicated to federal leaders the importance of fulfilling these commitments set out in the devolution agreement. As a matter of fact, with the change in government four years ago, we made the suggestion that we should get rid of the five-year requirement and start the review right away, but there was some unfinished business with regards to some of the changes that were being proposed. We have waited until those were addressed satisfactorily.

The devolution agreement commits to the development of the terms of reference of the review after April 1, 2019. I am pleased to advise the Member that the Minister responsible for Northern Affairs has readily agreed to commence this review even earlier than what was provided for in the devolution agreement.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It seems as though there is more good news, and we are slowly making our way to full devolution, including having regulatory control here in the North. Mr. Speaker, what communication has there been between our government and Indigenous governments and industry in the NWT about potential review of the MVRMA? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are in regular communications with Indigenous governments through the Intergovernmental Council. Obviously, they play an integral part in any of these decisions. The concerns that they had addressed when they went to court four years ago, I think that those are being addressed. I think I will be in a good position to move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance. Two years ago, his colleague, the Minister of Infrastructure, told the Member for Yellowknife North that the all-in cost of the road to Whati was estimated at $175 million. The cost of building the road announced this month is 20 percent higher than that figure. Why are construction costs so much higher now than two years ago? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The direct construction cost, I think the Member made it in her statement before, $185 million. The total capital cost of $214 million, that would include the crude interest, predevelopment costs, and also GNWT costs for geotechnical studies, the EA process, project management, and provide funding for the measures resulting from the EA process Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the Minister's response, but I didn't hear an answer. In two years, the two figures have differed by 20 percent. Can he tell us why that is?

The initial $175 million from the cost two years ago, since then obviously, the price to direct construction cost went up to $185 million. That is a $10 million difference. Maybe the prices of material and things have changed. I am not sure exactly what that $10 million is made up of, but I can get that information and provide that information to the Member.

I appreciate that commitment from the Minister. I don't recall any discussion of the potential costs of operations and maintenance prior to the announcement earlier this month. I note that the Minister of Infrastructure didn't repeat the all-in cost of $411 million in his statement last week. My question is: what efforts did the government make to inform the public of the actual all-in costs of this road, given that it was more than double any estimate that had been voiced publicly?

The direct construction costs are $185 million, as was noted previously. The total capital cost was $214 million, as was noted previously as well as some of the reasons the cost was that high. The $400 million through the P3 partnership, that would represent the total value of the 28-year contract with NorthStar Infrastructure, who are the proponents of the Whati road, of which 25 years of operations and maintenance payments are included.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I didn't hear an answer in that, but I am going to push on. The Minister has said that this P3 project will save over 15 percent compared to a traditional model. Can the Minister provide an explanation or why this would be the case? Thank you.

I believe there was an answer to the Member's previous question in the response that I provided. They wanted to know why it was $411 million, and I explained that was through the 28-year contract with NorthStar Infrastructure. I think that was self-explanatory.

The 15 percent, compared to a traditional model, this represents a value for money that results from a P3 contract over if, the GNWT, we were to construct it, operate, and maintain the road as a GNWT project, we would pay in excess of 15 percent more than the cost that I had quoted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in the sitting, the honourable Minister of Finance was asked questions around the consultations related to the proposed sugar tax. Looking now, I see that the engagement is closed. I am wondering if the Minister can update the House as to when the results of the consultation will be made publicly available. Thank you.

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is some concern with the sugar-sweetened drinks tax. We have changed the name. It was going to be the "sugary tax," but we have decided to change it to the "sugar-sweetened" because there are a number of drinks that are sugary that are not sugar-sweetened.

The consultation, as the Member noted, ended in January 2019. We have had public meetings in a number of communities, and we have heard from members of the public. The report of the results of the public consultations is anticipated for March of 2019, so March would start tomorrow, the next day, and then March has 31 days, so we will try to have that document released. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Has the Minister learned anything from this consultation that he feels necessary to share with the House now, such as abandoning this unnecessary tax?

We are doing our due diligence. This was to investigate the introduction of a sugar-sweetened tax. It doesn't say the implementation of a sugar-sweetened tax. This was to investigate. We have heard from people across the Northwest Territories. Obviously, you have seen some of the comments in the news from one person saying that, "I am opposed to any type of tax, and I will continue to drink pop regardless," and somebody else calling it a "goofy tax," but this was just to investigate the introduction of the tax. It doesn't say we are going to implement it. So, being the consensus-type government that we are, and we hear the voices of the people, according to our code of conduct, we have to listen to what they say before a decision is made to proceed any further.

Is the Minister going to implement the tax, then?

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if I need an interpreter. I said this was to investigate the introduction of a tax. It doesn't say that we are going to do the tax. There is still some work that needs to be done. We need to do our due diligence, and once we do that, a decision will be made at that time, based on all the information received, as to whether the tax will be going forward to implementation or not.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents want to know, and that is why I am asking these questions. Certainty is what we are looking for, is what they are looking for, what I am looking for. I appreciate the Minister is proceeding through the consultation, so, if there is a decision to implement a, what are we calling it, the "sugar-sweetened tax," when can this Assembly expect to see it? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents want to know, as well, as to the course of action that we are going, and I said that we will receive the feedback, and we will analyze the feedback, and then we will make a determination at the time whether this tax should proceed, the sugar-sweetened tax should proceed, and, until then, I mean it is hypothetical for me to say that yea or nay. I will wait until the results, and then, as most good governments do, we will make an informed decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement, I talked about the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, so my questions are to the Minister of Justice. Without a question here in the Northwest Territories, we have high rates of alcohol and drug abuse. My question is: the Northwest Territories Wellness Court is meant to support people with addictions or cognitive issues. Can the Minister tell me if our wellness courts currently support people with FASD? Mahsi.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The wellness court is an alternative to conventional criminal court. It focuses on the offender rather than the offence, and it seeks to address underlying issues of drug and alcohol addiction, mental health and cognitive challenges, and, certainly, it is an option for those with FASD. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Even so, although it may be a better option than regular courts, I am not convinced that wellness courts are the most suitable option for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Wellness court could create demand that offenders accept responsibility for the crimes that they have been charged with, and "be ready to put in a lot of hard work." For many people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, this just may not be a fair expectation. How have our courts programs have been adapted to suit the unique needs of people with FASD?

I do appreciate the Member opposite's concern about this very serious problem and his desire to see the best programming possible for people who find themselves in criminal court, particularly those suffering with FASD. I don't agree with the suggestion, however, that all people with FASD are not able to accept responsibility and put in a lot of hard work.

It is important to recognize that the programs are not necessarily for everybody and that the potential participants are assessed for suitability. The reality is that anyone pursuing the type of program offered is that success will require the willingness to accept responsibility and to work to change behaviour. That work may be hard, and I do appreciate that, and I do realize that it will be a challenge for those with FASD, as it is a challenge for those with other cognitive disabilities or addictions. However, this court, which has been in operation for more than five years, I believe, is a path for those who find themselves in these situations.

I think the department is on the right path. There is some innovation in terms of thinking, to try to decolonize the society here in the North, especially attitudes towards incarceration, and so can the Minister commit to considering the implementation of specialized courts programming for individuals with FASD in the NWT?

I can commit to the Member opposite that the wellness court program will be continually reviewed and improved. There is a steering committee for wellness court that includes representatives from the judiciary, Crown, and defence bar. Improvements can always be made, Mr. Speaker, and certainly we do want to make improvements to deal with those offenders who find themselves before the wellness court. I understand that more than a hundred people since 2014 have been referred to wellness court. The court, as I say, was set up in 2014. The first sitting was October 2^nd of that year, so I do regard the wellness court as being a success. I realize that there is a lot of work involved by everyone, including the offenders. We are always looking to improve the system.

Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the outset of responding to my first question, the Minister stated that, you know, there are options to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in terms of working with the department. As another program, aside from the alternative court process, what other options does he mean in terms of addressing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder? Mahsi.

We understand that this problem has many facets and that they are not always dealt with the best in the court system. Of course, I am speaking of the wellness court that can assist, in my view, in these types of situations with those who do have cognitive or mental issues or addiction issues. There are also other options, through Health and Social Services, where people can be assisted.

The wellness court is a specific court dealing with offenders that find themselves before the court system, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other programs that can't assist. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today I spoke about the transition of health and medical services within the old and new Stanton hospitals and possibly offsite during renovations.

Can the Minister share any insights into the planning and coordination that is happening for the day when patients will be transferred from the old Stanton to the new Stanton? I believe that day is May 26, 2019. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May 26^th is fast approaching. It is going to be an incredibly important day for the healthcare system, and it is also going to be a very complex and busy day. In order to ensure that we have little-to-no patient interruption or reduction in services during that time, we have been doing a significant amount of planning.

Health Care Relocations Inc. has been contracted to guide the Stanton team and the Stanton staff through transition planning. Operational readiness activities have been under way since November 2016, with the creation of 17 different transition planning teams.

The final move plan will be developed in such incredible detail and minute detail that the movement of patients will be scheduled down to the minute, with minimal impact on patients. The patient move will occur in one day, on May 26^th. All necessary infrastructure, equipment, furniture, and systems in the new hospital will be in place and tested long before that date to ensure that we have a smooth transition.

Like I said, we want to reduce or have very little to no impact or reduction in services due to the transition. There will be some mock moves tested, some practice moves before the day actually comes. On that day, everybody, every service, will be coming out of the old Stanton building into the new Stanton building and a couple of other different locations around town for those services that will not be permanently located in the new Stanton building. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks to the Minister for that. I am very excited. I will probably be a spectator, watching it all, but I appreciate that a lot of work is going into this. It is a very important event.

When I searched the Stanton renewal website, I could find some information about the final location for various services. There are some nice floor plans and so on, but there doesn't seem to be any information there about the transition period during renovations, when some of these services may be moved offsite. Does the Minister have this kind of information, and can he share it?

There will be some temporary program moves as renovations are completed in the legacy Stanton building, the old building. For instance, outpatient rehab will be temporarily located on level 2 of the centre square tower, while speech and audiology will remain at the Stanton Medical Centre, which is the building beside McDonald's. The extended care unit will temporarily move to level 5 of the new Stanton building. There will be some temporary moves.

Mr. Speaker, we want this information to be clear. We want this information to be transparent. We are intending to keep our website updated on a regular basis. The Member and I had a quick conversation about the website this morning, at which point I went and quickly checked the website to see if I could find the information. I was able to find pretty much everything that I was looking for. I may not have been looking for the same information that the Member was looking for.

I know that the Member wants us to do some updates on the website. I am going to encourage the Member to come down to my office, and we can sit in front of my computer together and try to find the pieces of information that he is looking for and make some suggestions to me on how we might improve our website, because, bottom line, we want to be clear; we want to be transparent; we want the information available to the public.

I would be delighted to join the Minister in his office and work away on his computer with him. I am sure that there is going to be a big public information campaign rolling out about these transitions within the old and new hospitals and so on.

Part of that campaign should include information about how services will transition from the old Stanton hospital to offsite, and the Minister has given some of that, during the renovations. Then, of course, they are going to return to the Stanton legacy building that the Minister referred to. Can the Minister tell us when all of this information is going to be put together and when it is going to be made available to the public?

Some of that information has already been made public. We have been clear on what types of services and what services will be going into the Stanton legacy building. The extended care will be there. Long-term care will be there, and there will be a number of other services, including some of the rehab services, the primary care clinics, and other things. Those are going to be in the old Stanton.

Like I said, I am happy to sit down with the Member. I was able to find that information when I looked. I would be happy to sit down with the Member and figure out what is missing from the average user's point-of-view, to make sure that we get the information out there. I, like the Member and like everybody in this House, want that information out there. We want our public to know where the services that they need are located so that there is no confusion during the two-to-three years that it will take to retrofit the legacy Stanton building and get everybody moved back in.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President, and thanks to the Minister for that. I guess what I am really looking for here is a Gantt chart, a list of the services that are located in the old hospital now, when they may be moved offsite, when they are going to come back, and where they are in the interim. I think a Gantt chart would help.

I am prepared to sit down and work with him on this, but can the Minister commit to putting this information about the transition of these services together using a Gantt chart on the Stanton renewal website? I would be happy to work with them and get that done as quickly as we can, but can he commit to doing that? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I commit to getting the information that the Member is looking for out into the public through our website. I recognize that I am not an expert in communications. I don't believe the Member is an expert in communications, although he may be good.

My recommendation is that we rely on the experts who are involved in getting information to the public on a regular basis and take their input to make sure that the right tool is being used. If it's a Gantt chart, let's do a Gantt chart. If it's not a Gantt chart, let's not do a Gantt chart. Bottom line: let's get the information out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few questions for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, earlier this session I asked the Minister about the heating at the Joe Greenland Centre, and I would like to follow up.

I would like to ask the Minister: what is the status of the work on the heating at the Joe Greenland Centre? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.