This is page numbers 5553 - 5574 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 climate. View the webstream of the day's session.

Climate Crisis
Members' Statements

Page 5556

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

World Climate Change Day
Members' Statements

Page 5556

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Today is World Climate Change Day. It is important to note that this is a very significant day. We all need to do our part in preventing impacts to the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the rest of the world. There is evidence over the past years that our land is drastically changing. This, of course, is due to climate change.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has taken a strategic approach to developing renewable energy sources. Mr. Speaker, more planning and promoting on our part should be taken seriously. These energy-efficient solutions ensure the strength of greenhouse gas mitigation efforts. Homeowners, businesses, and industry really should take a closer look at wind and solar sources to heat and power our homes and businesses.

The effects of climate change that we are witnessing in the Delta include, but are not limited to permafrost thaw slumps forming along the rivers; thawing permafrost resulting in damage to highways; drier forests in the NWT resulting in extreme forest fires; changes to biological events, such as timing of wildlife migration; hunters and trappers having shorter seasons to gather food for their families; shorter winter roads due to freeze-up occurring later; and ice roads closing earlier in the spring.

Mr. Speaker, energy efficiency means direct savings and less of an impact to our environment, and we should really keep that up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

World Climate Change Day
Members' Statements

Page 5556

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Climate Change Crisis
Members' Statements

May 24th, 2019

Page 5556

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. It won't surprise Members of this House, but I have already made 10 statements on climate change and carbon pricing during the 18th Assembly. At some point today, most of us will walk by the students on the climate change strike outside of this building. We owe it to them, and the others who will follow us, to make our positions very clear and on the record regarding the climate change crisis.

I would like to start with an apology to our youth. We have failed them so far, although there is a narrow window where we can still save this planet, according to the International Panel on Climate Change. Unfortunately, Cabinet's plan is not going to get the NWT where we need to be. It was one year ago today that I called out Cabinet's climate change plan and urged the federal government to reject it. I will repeat that call again here today and hope that all NWT residents will also reject Cabinet's plan.

Forty-four percent of the greenhouse gas reductions to meet the pan-Canadian framework target are to come from huge expansions of the Taltson Hydro facilities. There is no money to build the dams or power lines, which will cost billions, and no confirmed buyers either north of the lake or into the provinces. Cabinet's Energy Strategy is masquerading as an infrastructure proposal to the federal government. Taltson expansion will divert time and effort away from building energy self-sufficiency, especially in our smaller communities.

Cabinet's carbon tax proposal is unfair, as the largest emitters, the diamond mines, will get all their payments back. Individuals, families, and small businesses will subsidize the required GNWT contributions to Taltson expansion and the limited investments into renewables.

Lastly, the Auditor General's finding on our failed climate change leadership has not been addressed. Cabinet has made no changes to provide the required leadership and authority to take real action on the climate change crisis. I have called for a climate change act, mandatory consideration of climate change implications in all of our spending, and infrastructure submissions that prioritize projects that show the greatest greenhouse gas reductions in our communities over mega-projects, especially investments in approved energy efficiency in our housing.

The residents of the NWT deserve much better on the issue of the climate change crisis, reductions to our cost of living through energy self-reliance, while building a greener economy. We need new leadership, vision, and action, and our youth today are showing us the way. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Climate Change Crisis
Members' Statements

Page 5557

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Climate Action
Members' Statements

Page 5557

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I spoke about the need to support and pay attention to our youth. Today they are just outside and right here in our gallery, telling us themselves. We need to listen.

Mr. Speaker, this is the climate strike organized by Yellowknife students in the past few weeks. They are joining thousands of young people across the country and around the world who are rising up to challenge the status quo. They are challenging the world's leadership to take serious steps and make fundamental changes.

Here are some of the messages that they need us to hear and understand, Mr. Speaker:

  • our actions on climate change will define the lives of the younger generation;
  • confronting climate change requires new thinking, vision, and leadership;
  • we should create a centre of climate change and innovation to bring everyone under one roof that include:
    • youth,
    • elders,
    • scientists,
    • engineers,
    • traditional harvesters,
    • industry, and
    • governments;
  • we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions urgently;
  • government and industry must incorporate environmental cost accounting to assess true costs and find efficiencies; and
  • climate change, adaptations, and innovations must be taught in schools.

Mr. Speaker, the reality of climate change might be an inconvenience for many of us, but for our youth, it is nothing less than a dire threat to their future.

I am glad to say that important steps are being taken. We have signed on to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. We have adopted the 2030 Energy Strategy and Action Plan. We have developed a Climate Change Strategic Framework, and there is a forthcoming action plan. That framework commits us to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent over 2005 levels by 2030. We have initiated solar projects in Colville Lake and Fort Simpson. We have wind turbines being set up in Inuvik, and Diavik Mine has relied on wind energy for many years now. I'm glad to see that other initiatives, like small community micro-grids and proposals for testing renewable diesel, being talked about.

These are steps in the right direction, but the young people outside and in our Chamber today remind us that we must continue moving in this direction. Thank you to the youth for taking your stance, for raising your voices, and for challenging us to be the leaders on climate change that you deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Climate Action
Members' Statements

Page 5557

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Agriculture and industry has been around for many decades, since the early days of the Norman Wells Oil Field discovery. Tommy the Ox assisted the first explorers in this discovery.

Agriculture still remains a presence in the community today. My committee colleagues witnessed this during the committee consultation meetings by visiting the Sahtu Gardens on May 8th, a private enterprise with some farm animals and crops of choice. A similar example is that a resident can harvest 25,000 to 30,000 pounds of potatoes annually.

Mr. Speaker, the Agricultural Strategy provides unique opportunities for home, food, nutrition, and security. Our community residents are resilient, and what better way to take advantage of the strategy and of our 24-hour daylight?

The NWT Agricultural Strategy provides an outline of guidance to assist our residents on supports and resources. It should be noted, Mr. Speaker, that the window to our summer grow season is limited. In order for this strategic approach to bear fruit, in addition, the Department of ITI must ensure that our regional staff are sharing the same priorities as our residents.

Mr. Speaker, history is continuing to repeat itself from the early days to the very same soil that attracted the earlier explorers. Through its advanced techniques, the Agricultural Strategy can assist with home-grown opportunities while creating experiences for our youth in the process. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Coerced and Forced Sterilization
Members' Statements

Page 5558

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about an issue that has garnered increased national attention over the past few years, that being sterilization without proper prior consent. Unfortunately, the concept of either forced or coerced sterilization of women is not a new phenomenon for Canada, nor is it solely a part of our history. In fact, there is mounting evidence across our country that proves just how far this practice has reached and, in some cases, continues to reach.

Mr. Speaker, let's consider the history of coerced sterilization in Canada. In two provinces, this practice was lawful, as it was enshrined in law for Alberta and British Columbia between the 1930s and 1970s. A Parliamentary inquiry from the mid-70s public documents reveal that the federal government was also facilitating a soft program of sterilization across the NWT and Nunavut through the 1960s and 1970s. In that time, the number of women who were sterilized without full knowledge or consent was in the thousands, and that is not even counting the number of women who may have been sterilized without even knowing it, let alone the number of undocumented sterilizations that occurred off the record books.

Mr. Speaker, while it may sound like the practice of coerced sterilization is firmly behind us, it still persists today, as evidenced by two class-action lawsuits currently being litigated in Alberta and Saskatchewan for hundreds of millions of dollars. Between the two cases, there are hundreds of Indigenous women who have alleged coerced sterilization over the years, with some alleging as recently as December 2018, to have occurred. Additionally, prosecutors involved in these cases have noted numerous other records of coerced sterilization in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. In fact, the same issue was brought up in this House in 1998 by a former Member, who talked about an NWT woman who had undergone sterilization unbeknownst to her after delivering a child at the Charles Camsell Hospital in Alberta. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Coerced and Forced Sterilization
Members' Statements

Page 5558

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mr. Speaker, I have some anecdotal evidence to share on this matter. Last month I spoke to a woman who discovered that her daughter, a young, university-educated Indigenous woman, was asked by her doctor if she was interested in sterilization. For her situation, such an inquiry was unprompted and highly unnecessary. I urge all citizens to be vigilant. If you suspect that you or someone you know has been pressured for sterilization, make it be known. No person should have the procedure performed on them without free, prior, informed consent. Anything else would be a violation of the victim's human rights. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Coerced and Forced Sterilization
Members' Statements

Page 5558

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

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

Hay River High-Rise Fire
Members' Statements

Page 5558

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 15, 2019, a fire broke out on the 11th floor of the Mackenzie Place high-rise. Luckily, everybody made it out safely, and the Hay River fire department quickly extinguished the fire. Unfortunately, the resulting water damage and loss of power meant that the building was deemed not safe for habitation and, just like that, 123 residents were left without a home and, in most cases, with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

Before I go any further, I have to commend the efforts of everyone in Hay River and KFN who sprang into action and helped the evacuees by providing accommodations, meals, toiletries, and so much more. Our community always steps up in times of need, and this was no exception.

However, despite everyone's best efforts, the effects of the fire are still being felt. Many evacuees were able to find rental accommodations in the private market, and the Housing Corporation managed to provide housing to many more. Unfortunately, according to the most recent statistics I have seen, a number of evacuees are still facing serious housing issues. Eighteen people are considered to have unstable housing, meaning they are couch-surfing, camping, sleeping in cars, and so on. Essentially, these people are homeless. Another 28 have temporary housing, which means they could become homeless.

The fact that we are more than two months on from the fire and are still facing these issues exposes deficiencies in both the availability of rental units in Hay River and in how the GNWT deals with those in need of social housing. Some of the evacuees facing issues might only be in that situation because rental units are sparse and the cost of rent is high. In a better market, they could find a place on their own. However, a third of the high-rise tenants had their rent paid by income assistance, making the high-rise the largest concentration of social housing in Hay River. Many of these individuals are considered hard to house. Some of them are banned from renting from the Housing Corporation because of arrears, and they have difficulty finding private accommodations because they have burned bridges with other landlords.

Mr. Speaker, to address the situation, we need a plan. We need a plan from the Housing Corporation. We need a plan from the Minister of Education regarding income assistance, and I have not seen anything yet. I have brought this issue up time and time again in this House. The last time I brought this up was 10 days before this event occurred. For years, the MLAs from Hay River have been trying to get the government to create a plan to deal with this situation, and now it's happened, and I still do not see a plan. I will have questions for the Minister of Housing, and, if I have time, I will have questions for the Minister of ECE, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice, and for the Minister of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hay River High-Rise Fire
Members' Statements

Page 5559

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Climate Change Activism and Youth
Members' Statements

Page 5559

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, all around the world, students have gone on strike. What would be so important to our next generation that they would feel it important to leave their classes for a day to exercise their freedoms of speech and assembly? The answer is climate change, Mr. Speaker. Many Members have spoken about that today, and I think it's important that this is an issue that is not falling on deaf ears. When our citizens speak out, be they students, be they regular-aged adults, be they seniors, we will always listen and bring their message to the floor of this Assembly if it is important enough to future generations and to the future of our territory.

Why are our youth striking when they are expected to attend school? Sadly, to so many young people, the consequences of climate change appear to be left unaddressed or, at best, getting lip service from governments across the country and around the world. The advice of experts is being ignored and oftentimes challenged by ideological opinions and personal views or the contingencies of everyday life and the cost of living, rather than the real issue, which is the future of our planet. This has left many students feeling that there will be no future for them, either. This is the second student strike this year. The last one occurred on March 15th and saw roughly 1.6 million students striking across the globe.

Outside this House, one northern student has organized a strike. Her name is Ella Kokilj, and she says she is protesting because "we believe that climate change should be taken more seriously and that the North needs to show leadership in tackling climate change by ensuring we create an innovative and resilient society for our future."

Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members of this House will join me in passing along our encouragement to these students for their climate-change activism and take a few moments today to walk outside of the Legislature to speak to them and hear out these motivated and driven young activists.

Intergenerational equity and ensuring our lands and resources benefit future generations is a key concern for not only those students, but for all Northerners and must be at the heart of government decision making. Numerous statements have been made, numerous recommendations by standing committees, all around this topic, and yet we still find the government's plans and proposals lacking. We need to do more. It's not that nothing has been done. It's that not enough has been done because this is not an issue that can be ignored. This is a crisis that potentially will jeopardize the future of life on this planet, and we must take action today for all days to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Climate Change Activism and Youth
Members' Statements

Page 5559

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Food Security in Nunakput
Members' Statements

Page 5559

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple of weeks ago, we had Youth Parliament here at the Legislative Assembly, and my daughter, Marie Carpenter, was the member for Nunakput. Out of all the topics, the discussion talked about the costs of living in the North. Mr. Speaker, I will read her statement today:

"Mr. Speaker, the cost of living in Nunakput is the highest in the Northwest Territories. Increased fuel prices have affected the cost for food, whether from a grocery store or traditional food harvested on the land.

"Mr. Speaker, the rising cost has been hard on hunters living in Nunakput. Harvesting food from the land, lakes, and ocean is essential to our Inuvialuit way of life and the well-being of our communities. When families cannot hunt, they have to purchase all food from the store. Families simply cannot afford the price increases of fuel, food, supplies, and equipment.

"According to the bureau of statistics, the average personal income in Nunakput communities is not much more than $35,000 a year, compared to the $60,000 average for the Northwest Territories. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for many of my constituents to afford basic food from the grocery stores with such high costs.

"Mr. Speaker, data published by PROOF on food insecurity policy research showed that 17.6 percent households in the Northwest Territories are food insecure, and over the 30 percent of the territory's children live in food insecure homes. Recent studies and news articles across the North have shown that we cannot rely on the federal government's program, Nutrition North, to fix food security issues. We can see the proof of this data each time we go to homes, schools, and health centres in Nunakput.

"Mr. Speaker, focusing on improving these statistics will benefit the mental and physical well-being of families, especially children, in Nunakput. It will overall reduce our government spending in areas such as health, education, and social services. The mandate of this government has called for action to reduce the cost of living and poverty, not to increase it. The mandate also called upon the government to promote the consumption of traditional foods, such as fish and wildlife, to improve nutrition, and to improve wellness and the way of life of Indigenous peoples in the territory.

"Mr. Speaker, food security needs to be the focus of our government, now and into the future. As leaders, we must align our policies with other levels of governments to ensure that our families, elders, children, and youth can be strong and sustain an Inuvialuit way of life by having healthy food options harvested from our land and in Nunakput communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

Food Security in Nunakput
Members' Statements

Page 5560

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Tim Brown Eulogy
Members' Statements

Page 5560

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tim Brown came into this world, August 5, 1966, and left on May 5, 2019.

Tim possessed wisdom far beyond most people, a rare way with words, and an ability to explain things that never came across as condescending, but, rather, as enlightening. During or after a conversation with Tim, you may not always have felt smarter or necessarily agreed. You would, however, more often than not, feel better about whatever it was that you were talking about. If you were brave enough to debate with him, rest assured you would know where he stood on a subject in no uncertain terms by the end of the conversation.

Over the years of people knowing Tim, through their most difficult times and struggles through life, Tim was there for them, offering an ear to listen, advice or encouragement when needed, or a kick in the butt or a hard truth, if that was what was required.

To borrow a phrase Tim would often use, "the reality is," Tim was by no means perfect. He would say so himself. Some people might say that he was, at times, not nice, and they would be correct. Others might say he was an amazing and kind person. They, too, would be correct. The reason for this is quite simple. Tim did not treat people poorly; he treated them accordingly, meaning he treated people how they treated him. If you were nice, he was nice in return.

Tim was a great storyteller, and as such, people enjoyed Tim's time, especially if it was about fishing or his family.

To Tim's family, especially Melinda, Finn, Coleman, and Rebecca, I will tell you this: Tim would be the first to admit he was not perfect. What you may not know is that, in conversations with Tim, he would say that he may not have been perfect, but when he looked at his wife and children, he knew that he had gotten something in his life perfectly right. To borrow another phrase Tim would often say, "make no mistake about it," Tim loved his family, his wife and children.

Tim is survived by his wife Melinda, his children Rebecca, Finn, and Coleman, grandchildren Davin Swallow and Sebia Nessel, and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.

Mr. Speaker, it was fitting to see the local airline and helicopter companies do one last flyby at the airport as Tim's body was being flown to Yellowknife to be cremated after his service. This was a very classy action and greatly appreciated by his family and friends.

The Brown family would like to thank everybody for their support and prayers during their time of sorrow. Mr. Speaker, Tim is sadly missed and will never be forgotten.

Tim Brown Eulogy
Members' Statements

Page 5560

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Our condolences to the family, and also to the community, as well. Members' statements. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ENR, responsible for the climate file. In my statement earlier today, I outlined some of the important points being raised by students bringing their climate action to the legislature today, so I would like to ask the Minister: does the government accept the need for some sort of environmental cost planning and accounting process so that the full cost of any program or project takes into account its environmental impacts and the need for any mitigation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and we appreciate the fact that the students are here voicing their concerns about climate change. It is something that we in the North have faced for a long time before the rest of the country. Before it became flavour of the day, we were feeling the effects of climate change, particularly in the Mackenzie Delta, where I am from. We see banks falling into the river. I would hate to come to a point someday where we walk across the river because there is so much sediment in the water.

I appreciate the work that they are doing. They are obviously very passionate about it, and that is something that I would like to see them continue. Being the grandfather of six, I have a personal interest in this, because I do want to see the day where my grandchildren don't have to worry about the effects of climate change, and this is something that, as a government, we are making attempts to deal with. Like I said, the North felt the effects of climate change long before it was flavour of the day. Now, to the rest of the country and the rest of the world, welcome to the file.

Mr. Speaker, as we feel the effects of climate change, in our planning to do infrastructure, we have seen what it could do to some of the infrastructure that is already there, with the ground sliding into the river and some of the other effects that it is having on some of the local infrastructure. We have seen that. As we go forward, we will take into consideration all of that as we plan projects, and I think that it is already happening. As I said, we felt the effects of climate change long before the rest of the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Minister for that reply and his acknowledgement of the effects that climate change is having on the north and that it is more dire than most other regions and that, for sure, in planning our infrastructure that we currently own and going forward, we have to take into account the fiscal and financial accounting aspects in order to overcome those.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask the Minister: what steps is the government taking to make sure that our young people are equipped to make contributions on climate action, by introducing climate change impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and innovation to the NWT education system? Is the Minister working with the Minister of Education to develop curriculum on climate change?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Again, recognizing the importance of the voices of the youth in the Northwest Territories, I believe it was in the Assembly before that we actually had a youth forum that the Premier of the day had implemented, and we got feedback from a lot of youth across the Northwest Territories. I think that there is some merit in the Member's suggestion. It is something that we could talk with the young people of the Northwest Territories about as potentially having, working with Education, some type of a climate change symposium, where we could get their opinion on what they would like to see taught in schools.

It is a serious issue, Mr. Speaker, and it is one that, the more we educate our youth as they are coming through the educational system, I think, the greater effect that it will have on the future of the Northwest Territories and our ability to deal with climate change.