Thank you, Mr. Norn. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One year ago, Members of this House made the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university a priority of the 19^th Legislative Assembly. Today, I would like to provide an update on some of the progress that has been made toward this goal.

Earlier this month, Aurora College released a three-year strategic plan, which sets out the vision, mission, values, and strategic direction that will guide the college's operations for the next three years and helps set the stage for key transformational changes. Two of the four strategic pillars of the new plan are Academic and Research Excellence and Learning-Centred. In support of these pillars, Aurora College is introducing a Centre for Teaching and Learning pilot project that will promote academic excellence through the professional development of faculty and staff in the practices of adult education, instructional design, educational technology, and will promote proven ways to engage students in learning. The centre will foster a learning-centred environment to help ensure student growth and success. It is a key step in strengthening the foundation of the college, and transforming it into a world-class institution.

Mr. Speaker, polytechnic universities provide hands-on, technology-based programs that are often developed in collaboration with partners. We have already heard from a number of potential co-investment partners, from industry to community-based organizations, who have told us that they need a northern workforce with the academic background and technical skills to meet the challenges of today's economic realities. We will continue to foster these relationships and build the partnerships so that we can meet the needs of the labour market and our residents.

To support transparency and meaningful engagement, we have engaged with Indigenous governments, campus communities, post-secondary and industry stakeholders, students, college employees, and the public on key aspects of the proposed approach. Engagement with Indigenous governments is being guided by our Indigenous Engagement Approach, which is grounded in the principles of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. I have made a commitment to ongoing and meaningful engagement with Indigenous governments throughout the transformation.

Mr. Speaker, the polytechnic university will expand the scope of quality programming offered in each of our small communities and provide a clear path for Northerners to achieve their education and career goals. Understanding the benefits and limitations of online learning during the pandemic has strengthened the resolve of the college to transform into an institution that will meet the needs of residents in all communities.

Increased access means leveraging our network of community learning centres to ensure residents can get a foothold in the education system and receive more training closer to home. This will also allow the institution to better meet students where they are in their educational journey. This means, among other things, introducing laddered programming that allows students to begin their education at a level that is right for them, so they are able to build their skills and advance onto degree programs if they choose. Increasing access will also increase professional development opportunities across the territory that will empower our residents to advance in their careers and help fill northern jobs with Northerners.

As the polytechnic university emerges from transformation, it will be stronger, more accessible, and have more programs which will attract more students from the Northwest Territories and beyond. This investment in the education of our residents is an investment in our territory and its future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, the 19^th Legislative Assembly has identified making strategic investments that connect communities, expand the economy or reduce the cost of living as one of its priorities. This includes a focus on the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Slave Geological Province Corridor, and the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. It is important that these development projects are advanced in a balanced and sustainable way that supports our government's goal to manage and conserve wildlife, and protect and provide for the health and well-being of the people of the Northwest Territories.

The establishment of strong relationships with Indigenous governments and organizations is imperative to the successful advancement of these important projects. We are achieving this by working closely with affected groups from project initiation through to the construction and operations phases. The Government of the Northwest Territories has four major initiatives currently progressing along the Mackenzie Valley Highway alignment from Wrigley to Norman Wells. These are the Prohibition Creek access road, the Mount Gaudet access road, the Great Bear River bridge, and the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment. The Department of Infrastructure has been working closely with Indigenous governments and communities, with multiple visits to the Sahtu Settlement Area and the Dehcho Region. We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sahtu Secretariat, and we are working closely with the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, including the establishment of a training committee.

Mr. Speaker, regulatory applications have been filed for the construction of both the Prohibition Creek access road and the Mount Gaudet access road, with the plan to start construction in 2021. The next major step in the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment is filing the developer's assessment report. The department is gathering data and completing studies, with the target of submitting the report to the Mackenzie Valley Review Board before the end of the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

The construction of the Great Bear River bridge will increase our infrastructure's resilience to climate change by providing an all-season alternative to the ice road crossing at the Mackenzie River and the Great Bear River. In 2018, engagement and consultation for this project began with public engagement sessions in all five Sahtu communities on the route selection and design of the bridge. The Tulita Renewable Resource Council has completed a Traditional knowledge study on that area, and we will continue to work closely with the hamlet mayor and council moving forward. The project team is considering all options for the tendering process so that we maximize local and northern content.

Mr. Speaker, our next large strategic infrastructure project is the Slave Geological Province corridor, which will enable future mineral exploration and development in a region with significant resource potential, and assisting with reclamation of mines in the region upon closure. The long-term vision includes a corridor that supports road, communications, and hydroelectric transmission line infrastructure. In the near term, the GNWT will be focusing on advancing the Lockhart all-season road, an all-season road from Tibbitt Lake at the end of Highway No. 4, which is the Ingraham Trail, all the way to Lockhart Lake.

Building partnerships with Indigenous governments is crucial to the success of this important project. Establishing a memorandum of understanding with Indigenous governments and organizations would set the stage to begin the collective development of a project plan that will not only chart a path forward, but will also help Indigenous partners to identify and prepare in advance for opportunities the project will present for contracts, jobs, and training.

Mr. Speaker, finally, the Taltson hydro expansion is the most promising option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide renewable energy to the territory. The new generation and transmission infrastructure will provide a stable, drought-resistant, and accessible combined system for 10 Northwest Territories communities. It will also position existing and future resource development projects to use clean energy to support more sustainable economic growth, while reducing fossil fuel use and meeting the Northwest Territories' environmental commitments under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.

Transmission from the 60-megawatt hydro expansion could head north and connect Yellowknife's Snare and Bluefish hydro systems and set the stage for new and existing industrial customers to access clean hydro power north and south of Great Slave Lake. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working with NWT-based Indigenous governments and stakeholders to create a collaborative partnership approach to project development. To assist with that work, the federal government allocated $18 million over three years from Crown-Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to advance the Taltson Expansion project. Part of that funding was provided in grants to each of the Indigenous government partners, including the Northwest Territory Metis Nation, the Salt River First Nation, and the Akaitcho Dene First Nations, to support their participation in project development, which includes defining the structure and business case, guiding upcoming field work, and development of a memorandum of understanding to define our working relationship. We continue to work with other affected parties to address their concerns and find a way forward on the project.

In summary, the Department of Infrastructure has and will continue to work closely with Indigenous governments and organizations as we advance our many projects to connect our communities. While we do sometimes have tough issues to discuss and resolve, we are working with our partners to ensure that as much of the benefits on industrial development stay right here at home and benefit Northerners. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every year during spring, the town of Hay River prepares for flooding, although the town has not experienced flooding as it did in 1963, which forced the relocation of many to higher ground. The flooding that year caused such devastation to the West Channel and Old Town that homes were damaged and residents were forced to relocate to what is now the New Town. This year, as in other years, the town was once again prepared. Luckily, flooding never occurred, and the residents and their homes were spared. However, this fall this has been different. The Hay River and Great Slave Lake experienced high water levels throughout the summer and into the fall. The town found itself on a water advisory alert for much of it.

Mr. Speaker, within the town boundaries of Hay River and extending along the shores of Great Slave Lake, we find private-run tourist facilities, water-treatment plants, the airport runway, residential homes, and public beaches. We anticipate flooding in the spring. This year, it came in the fall. This was due to the higher-than-normal water levels in the lake combined with severe north winds. The shores were battered by the waves, and some of the private infrastructure experienced damage.

Mr. Speaker, those impacted are asking where the support was during this emergency. In the Emergency Management Act, it states that, under the direction of the Minister, the Emergency Management Organization shall:

1. lead the Government of the Northwest Territories in the coordination of emergency management activities;
2. support the emergency management activities of local authorities.

Mr. Speaker, an emergency, as defined in the act, "means a current or imminent event that requires prompt coordination of action or special regulation of persons or property in order to protect the safety, health or welfare of people or to limit or prevent damage to property or the environment."

Mr. Speaker, the high water levels combined with high winds caused damage to infrastructure and the shoreline along the lake. This, in my mind, fits the description of an emergency. The coordination and response appeared to be disjointed, with no one organization wanting to take responsibility. Those impacted were mostly left without answers and limited or no support until it was too late. We have to take these situations seriously. It impacts the lives of our residents and the livelihood of our local businesses. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of MACA later. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, Parks Canada issued a warning related to bison collisions with cars, and returning to the NWT recently after a trip to BC, I was fortunate enough to encounter several of the majestic creatures, myself. This made me think about what would happen if I struck one with my truck, resulting in a crash. Who would come to rescue me? How long would it take? Over a prolonged period of time, would I die from my injuries?

Mr. Speaker, I get it. If you are an hour down the highway, it will take emergency services at least an hour to get to you. The "golden hour" rule when extrapolated to our territory will always be the "golden couple of hours," simply because of the distances between communities on our roadways. How many people over the years could have been saved or had better health outcomes if there had been the political will to resolve the lack of highway rescue?

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has had interdepartmental reports and plans since 2012. That is eight years, eight years with no on-the-ground, tangible improvement to service, at all. The Premier, while Minister of MACA in the 18^th Assembly, further cut the already meager highway-rescue budget from half a million annually to under $200,000 annually. Even then, the money was only being spent on reports, strategies, and web-based toolkits that didn't impact the saving of lives anyway. As we recently saw with the City of Yellowknife, community governments are unwilling to do the territorial government's job anymore and have withdrawn fire and rescue services outside of community boundaries.

Mr. Speaker, when I look into the silos of the GNWT, I see immediate solutions for funding emergency-response capabilities on our roadways. The Yellowknife Airport has GNWT firefighters who are trained as medical responders. Highway patrol trucks on our roadways could carry some fire and rescue gear to support victims until fire crews arrive. The School of Community Government had a firefighter cadet volunteer program it piloted with the city, whose graduates are now employed by the city. 911 is already dispatching ambulance services.

Mr. Speaker, our rural jurisdictions in Canada ensure their medic trucks have light rescue equipment on them, including the jaws of life, so they can rescue citizens. These tangible solutions are already available and require limited new funding. There must be political will to get it done. Mr. Speaker, I propose using some of the huge pot of capital funding to purchase a combination fire/rescue truck to be placed at the Yellowknife Airport for fire and rescue services along the Ingraham Trail; over the next few years, use the highway rescue budget of $200,000 to purchase combination medic/light rescue units for the communities. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

The first should be placed at Yellowknife Airport for doing out-of-community services, and GNWT air ambulance, and billing for this service. The next ones could support the Hay River Fire Department and Inuvik Health Authority, and so forth. Mr. Speaker, my point is that solutions are available right now that can and would make our roadways safer today. I will have questions for the Minister of MACA related to protecting citizens along our roadways. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, this year, Health and Social Services tabled the Home and Community Care report, which gave an earnest view of how ready we are to care for our aging population. As we live through a global pandemic with an aging population, an economy of care is most definitely a viable and valuable investment sector. Currently, there are over 6,000 seniors and elders over the age of 60 in the NWT, of which over 1,000 are over 75. Within 15 years, seniors and elders over 60 are projected to increase to over 9,700 and the demand for Home and Community Care services in the NWT is projected to increase by 80 percent.

Staffing is one of the greatest challenges as all NWT communities reported difficulty recruiting and retaining staff to care for their community's knowledge-keepers. Who better to provide love, care, and support than someone who was raised in the community and has a personal connection and vested interest in the success of the patient? Healthcare professionals are wanted worldwide, and like everywhere else, we too have an aging population. However, we also have communities full of people who love home, their families, and want quality employment opportunities in their home communities. Aging in place with dignity isn't only a goal for our elders. It is also one for our youth, who consciously choose the North as their home, so why not combine these goals?

Mr. Speaker, there are many reasons why students leave school, but more often than not, I hear that it is because they do not find value or purpose in staying. ECE's career and education advisors are helping northern students find that value and to establish a path, but we need to make sure that these paths are available. High school graduation isn't just about a piece of paper. It is about being prepared for your next step, whatever that step may be. Over the next decade, 33 percent of upcoming NWT job vacancies will require a college diploma, skilled trade, or occupational certification level of education. ECE's SNAP program supports high school students to earn credit and pursue a career in trades, so why can't we also start preparing students for our economy of care within these same high schools, placing equal emphasis on the care economy as we do, for example, on the plumbing economy? I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am going to talk about the future of the polytechnic university in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, as I have said numerous times, having the main campus of Aurora College along with the future polytechnic university headquarters remain in the town of Fort Smith is essential, and not just for the town itself but for the entire Northwest Territories.

For too long, Mr. Speaker, the capital has prospered at the expense of all other communities in the NWT. It's true there are divides in this House on many issues, but by far the issue that causes the most division is deciding what Yellowknife gets in exchange for something else in the budget. In this particular case, though, I am referring to the Mayor in Council of Yellowknife, who in their arrogance is already operating under the assumption that the headquarters of the future polytechnic university will reside in the capital. Mr. Speaker, as MLA for Thebacha, home of the current main campus of Aurora College and home of the education capital of the territory, I take issue with the city's current approach on this matter. In the absence of any formal announcement by the Government of the Northwest Territories. I find it inappropriate and premature for the city of Yellowknife to operate under that assumption.

Mr. Speaker, given the extent of the external movements outside of ECE on this subject, I think it would be prudent of the Government of the Northwest Territories to make the announcement soon so that the future headquarters of the polytech university remains in Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, the three recently published documents by the Department of ECE regarding governance, research, specialization, and the department's three-year Aurora College strategic plan are all good first steps of the polytech university transition. However, Mr. Speaker, as we move forward on this topic, I would like to once again remind this House of the great historical legacy that the educational facilities of Fort Smith have brought to the Northwest Territories. For example, most well-known northern politicians, professionals, and a highly educated workforce have attended school in Fort Smith, including former Premiers Bob McLeod, Stephen Kakfwi, our current MLA Michael McLeod, our former MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, and many current Members of this House among many others. Mr. Speaker, we cannot forget the historic legacy, education legacy, that Fort Smith has imprinted in the fabric of the NWT. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Round two of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the North, Mr. Speaker, and the pandemic is hitting our small communities hard. While there have been no cases, the fears coming in from the TV, radio, and the news, it's really starting to affect leadership back home. While there have been no cases in the communities, the Chief Public Health Officer has done good work. I would really like to say that. Thank you for your work, Ms. Kandola and Minister. They have done good work in our small communities. Most of all, my mayors and councils have been doing really good work, as well, consistent. However, the distress that comes with that is steady. Every day, you are hearing it on the news coming out the South. That keeps everybody on edge.

Communities are hurting, Mr. Speaker, and the people need help. As we head into winter, our normal activities, some people are trying to keep busy, but it's not able to happen because of the COVID-19 restrictions. We cannot have our community feast. They do drive-throughs now for stuff like that back home. The kids are not playing organized sports. School extracurricular activities are very limited or not happening at all. The small communities do not have resources to help their residents. The increased demand on food hampers, people need assistance to get out on the land. Families need help paying for their Internet bills, which have skyrocketed over this last few months, seven months.

Mr. Speaker, I represent the most isolated communities in the territory. There are no winter roads to Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, or Ulukhaktok to get cheaper groceries and what is needed to survive back home, like larger centres and towns. The community governments have to provide opportunities for help to socialize and get mental health breaks. When people don't have these chances, they turn to alcohol and drugs, Mr. Speaker. I am asking this government: I would like to know what are we doing to support small communities to run extracurricular activities, for community hunts, to keep people busy, healthy? I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have heard about the replacement of the Inuvik airport and the runway extensions for a few years now. This past year, I observed the demolition of the old hangar where the new airport is supposed to be built. Mr. Speaker, in December, I reached out to the infrastructure department for a briefing on all the projects that are planned for Inuvik. As a new MLA, I wanted to be informed of what was going on, and I specifically requested what would be happening at the Inuvik airport. With no answers or information, I ended up just attending a public presentation on the airport and the design. To this date, I still have no response on exactly what is happening and when we will begin to see progress with this new airport project.

Mr. Speaker, we have all heard loud and clear that we need to ensure that we invest in our local economy, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, this is more important than ever to keep our businesses going. With this project, if all the work stays local, which can be done with the will of this Minister, it will keep the residents of my community working and the money staying in the North. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I made a statement about Thaidene Nene in February, and I need to follow up as progress seems to have come to a halt. Thaidene Nene was formally established as a national park and protected area under GNWT legislation in August 2019. GNWT had to be dragged into the arrangement and resisted it at almost every step. Hopefully, this new Cabinet will take a much different approach to protected areas and the long-term sustainability they can bring, especially for smaller communities.

There is still no regulation to formalize the establishment for the GNWT portion under the Protected Areas Act and no regulation under the Wildlife Act that would establish the wildlife conversation area as part of this network. There are no management boards, no long-term funding, no management plans. These are not insignificant items, and there seems to have been little progress, though, since February and very little public communications.

The so-called public registry for the Protected Areas Act on the environment and natural resources web page does not meet the basic legal requirements of the legislation. I have no doubt that the great staff at ENR are busy with conservation planning, but there is little evidence of any progress on the public registry, such that it is. There is nothing in the public registry that indicates there have been any notices provided on the establishment of any protected areas, no notices to land use planning boards or renewable resources boards or anything on the recruitment of management board members. This public registry was meant to be a single-window access point for information, to ensure transparency and accountability around protected areas. A framework needs to be developed quickly, especially once management boards are established, as virtually all of their documentation is meant to be public.

There is nothing in the ENR budget I could see for 2020-2021 for the establishment of a real public registry, the type that was contemplated during the development of the legislation. Meanwhile, ITI has secured additional resources for a mineral administration and registry system. This government has devoted minimal resources to the management of protected areas, and there is a huge gap between public commitments and political will. We need a new approach, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources about this government's commitments to building a conservation economy in fulfillment of its obligations with regard to Thaidene Nene and the Protected Areas Act as a whole. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past Monday, the Minister of Infrastructure gave this House an update on our 2030 Energy Strategy, and I would like to thank the department for all the work they are doing, and I would like to thank the Arctic Energy Alliance for all the great work they are doing. Specifically, I am a huge fan of the wood-stove program. For some reason or another, we started building houses in communities and did not put wood stoves in them. This was a mistake. Now, we have this program where Canadian-manufactured wood stoves make their way up the Mackenzie, and they make their way back into people's houses. It creates community wood lots. It creates jobs. It is a very simple way of heating.

Mr. Speaker, we must build on that. We must build into more pellet boilers. We must expand into wood chips. There is so much work to be done in this area. Section 4 of our 2030 Energy Strategy says we will increase the share of renewable energy for communities by 40 percent by 2030. Mr. Speaker, the short-term goals in that section, unless something rolls out in the next six months, are far behind. I believe we need a system-wide rethink on how we heat people's houses to get the North off of diesel. We have proven that district heating is economically efficient. There is just a problem of who is going to deliver that service. Right now, we have asked many of our community governments to essentially step in to being a utility and provide district heating systems. However, they don't have the resources to begin with, let alone to expand into being a utility to provide district heating. We already underfund our municipalities. It's unfair not to provide the money they need to put the pipes in the ground and get biomass district heating into all of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, we need a strategy to find the most cost-effective way to heat all of our communities on biomass, to make sure that biomass is harvested as close as possible to the community, and truly build an economy in those communities that gets us off of diesel. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure on our 2030 Energy Strategy and how we are going to get section 4 done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about the Worldwide Web today. In these socially distanced times, with travel and human contact limited by COVID, the Worldwide Web takes on an even greater importance. The Honourable Caroline Wawzonek touched on this on June 3, 2020, when she mentioned the heightened importance of digital technology in a COVID-dominated world. Mr. Speaker, just imagine how people in isolated communities such as the Tlicho communities of Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti, in this time of COVID, imagine how they feel in their nursing stations, in their schools, homes, even government offices, compared to Internet with high-speed fibre optic services such as in Yellowknife and other major centres, not only Yellowknife, but also Inuvik and Fort Simpson, and even Tulita for that matter.

Imagine especially how Whati feels when it looks 60 kilometres down the road to the Tlicho all-season road project, the campsite. That is 30 kilometres from the highway. Even that construction camp has a fibre optic link. That construction camp can live stream TV, Mr. Speaker. Internet connectivity isn't a luxury. It is a requirement of modern life. In fact, the Minister's department has made it a formal priority, so how is it, Mr. Speaker, in this day and age, that Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti are left in the dark ages? I will have questions regarding this puzzling state of affairs. At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister responsible for an explanation. Masi.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lena Moses Peters passed away in her home in Wrigley with her family by her side on July 9, at the age of 66, after losing her battle with terminal cancer. Lena was a very traditional woman who was able to look after herself and family in the wilderness. She was very proud of this fact. Lena embraced her culture and traditional teaching she received from her mother and grandmother. She passed this knowledge on to her own children, which they are very grateful for.

Lena was survived by her brother, Joseph Peters; sisters, Leanne Doctor, Evelyn Peters, and Martina; as well as her children Jamie, Wendy, Esther, and Dolores, and a number of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Disease came upon her quickly, but the family would like to thank the Stanton Hospital staff for looking after their mother and showing all the kindness to her and her daughter. As well, the Fort Simpson Health Centre, for helping in those last days of her life.

Lena is now with her husband James Moses, in a better place, watching down on the Moses Peters family. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Peters and Moses family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, as well. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to welcome those joining us today. It's always good to have people with us in the House. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I'd like to acknowledge the interpreters that we have here. For myself, for Tlicho, the interpreters are Maro Sundberg and Harriet Paul. I'd like to thank them. I have to say we do speak the language, and we do pass on the message. I'd like to also acknowledge the rest of the interpreters. Thank you. [Translation ends]

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Thank you to the interpreters for the last week and a half, here. It's very important work that you do, and we thank you for that. Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this time to acknowledge Ms. Teresa Etchinelle, who is the translator for the Sahtu. She is translating in the North Slavey language, and she is originally from Tulita. I'd just like to thank her for her services. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Just in line with my Member's statement yesterday on procurement, I heard my colleague from Yellowknife North speak about wood stoves, and Mr. David Giroux does wood stoves in Detah. That's a pretty cool gig. My ultimate goal here is to see a company from one of our small communities that competes with the Amazons of the world, so I would like to see that. Anyway, my first question here is for the Minister of ITI, and my question for her is: how does the GNWT support Aboriginal and northern business development? Furthermore, what extra support is available to help build capacity in this sector? Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the interests of having only 59 minutes, I'll try to be a bit brief. It's a huge question. A few highlights, really, and I want to acknowledge at the outset that there is always more that can be done. This is a territory that is 50 percent Indigenous, and many of the communities are 100 percent Indigenous. I first want to acknowledge that there is always more that can be done.

A couple of things: there are regional economic development plans that fall under the responsibility of ITI, and if we can be successful in delivering those in partnership with the Indigenous governments, that is going to be an opportunity to work within each of those regions to make sure that the businesses there are being supported in the way that they need. That's an important part of ensuring that that happens.

Similarly, Mr. Speaker, regional mineral development strategies, funding is provided to the governments in those regions, to the Indigenous governments themselves, but with the support and the background from ITI so that they are developing their own regional plans and then have the capacity-building support to do that.

Then, I want to also mention, in terms of tourism, it's one particular sector, but it's an area that I've had the opportunity to know across Canada. The Indigenous tourism sector and association, the Indigenous Canadian Tourism Association, is growing. It is becoming a very strong area. Obviously, COVID is interrupting that a bit, but it will come back. We want to make sure that Indigenous tourism operators here in the Northwest Territories are ready. In Tourism 2025, it is contemplated that that is a sector that will get specific supports and specific training, so there is a lot of work already happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for that response from the Minister. I really think there is a gap there to help our businesses along because, ultimately, we don't want to see any of our businesses fail. We want to see them thrive, start and thrive, and get them out of the garages, for an idea that starts from birth to see them succeed later on. That's what the ultimate goal is. Anyway, my next question is: has the GNWT looked at programs such as the 8(a) Program or similar programs as a model that could be followed here in the Northwest Territories?

I had the opportunity to review the materials around the 8(a) Program that comes out of the United States, and I can't say that that program has been looked at as a model for the Northwest Territories. I do want to assure the Member that ITI does look at best practices that come from across Canada in terms of how we are supporting local business and will continue to do so.

Again, thank you for that response. Okay. Switching gears a little bit, will the GNWT set a goal or a target to increase government contracts for Indigenous business?

I think that is a very good idea, but I am not at the point yet where I can say for sure whether or not that will be the outcome of the procurement review that is under way, or about to be under way, I suppose. Again, I think I have already committed in the House that the idea of developing and Indigenous procurement strategy is something that I will commit to. Whether that includes a specific target or not, again, that is but one of many good ideas that I think are coming from the dialogues that we're having in this session on this topic.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Again, thank you for that response. At least we'll get that dialogue going. Like I said, we want to make sure we get as much juice for our squeeze for our businesses and business community. My last question: in my riding, in order for a new business in Ndilo, Detah, Deninu Kue, or Lutselk'e, to compete on government contracts, what supports are there for the businesses in my riding? Marsi cho.

There are business supports that ITI does have in terms of providing business mentorship. The Business Mentoring Program run through ITI has been, in fact, oversubscribed for the last two years, so I think that speaks to its success. I certainly would plug that program. There are certainly funding supports through ITI, for example, with the SEED Program that can help businesses as they are getting started. Then, of course, in terms of accessing contracting, there are the existing programs under BIP, for instance, that can help businesses gain access to government procurement, and there are certainly supports through procurement shared services in terms of helping businesses navigate the procurement process.

There are a lot of ways the government is trying to support and help businesses, but I'm going to put in one more plug: there is also the fact that we are going to continue to review those processes. It's been a long time since there has been a full review, so we're going to review them and make sure that they're doing the best that they can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide us with a timeline for when we can expect his department to announce where the headquarters of the future polytechnic university will reside? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since February, I've been talking about an implementation plan that I'm going to be releasing that will lay out the path forward to a final transformation to a polytechnic university, and I will be releasing that in the coming weeks. That is going to have some key dates in there, and it talks about things like the facilities plan. The college is going to go out and do an assessment of all the different facilities and see what's in place, and that can inform things like programming and things like the Member is talking about. I can say, and I've said before, I've never heard any discussion from within the department about moving the headquarters. If there is already a headquarters in Fort Smith, I don't know why we would build a headquarters somewhere else.

I don't have an exact timeline for the Member, but we will be appointing a board at some point in the future. That board is going to operate at arm's length, and it's going to have much more discretion over human resources matters. That's what everyone wants, is an arm's length board. I can't tell that board what to do, but I have no plans to move any headquarters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Does the Minister consider it problematic that the City of Yellowknife is already operating under the assumption that a future polytechnic university will be headquartered here, in spite of no formal announcement?

I'm not sure under what premise the City of Yellowknife is operating. I'm sure they have a desire to have infrastructure built in the community. I mean, any community leader does. I expect that, but I think there is a lot of maybe confusion about what a university has to be, these days. A lot of people, in their minds, still see a big, single building made of brick with ivy growing up the walls and a big quad where students are sitting out in the sun reading, but that's not the way things are these days. With technology, you can have campuses that are spread out. When I went to university, I was in one faculty, and there was a faculty next door to me. I never went in that building. It could have been a thousand miles away, as far as I was concerned. I want to dispel the notion that a polytechnic university is going to be one single campus in one single community. The plan is to strengthen all of the campuses in the territory, and the community learning centres, and the presence of the college in all communities.

Given that Fort Smith already has much of the infrastructure, an existing knowledge-based economy, and a highly qualified workforce employed presently in a campus atmosphere, it would only make sense to keep the future headquarters in Fort Smith. Does the Minister agree?

I think it would be an odd choice, given everything, if I made the recommendation to uproot 40-some people and move them to Yellowknife and move the administrative offices of Aurora College to a different community. To the Member's question, does it make sense to keep the people employed where they live in the building that they are currently working in? Of course, it does.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, it's extremely important that we get strong leadership as the president of the future polytechnic university, with a strong governance structure that reflects all of the NWT and ex officio members from across Canada. However, no matter how many documents and papers the department publishes, if there isn't strong leadership at the top, with strong innovative visions for the future, I worry that we won't create a truly northern-based polytechnic university. Does the Minister agree? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There are only two ways organizations become successful: strong leadership and dumb luck. I'm not going to bank on dumb luck, so I agree that we do need strong leadership. The current president of Aurora College, I believe he is doing an excellent job. Right now, we need to strengthen the foundation. There needs to be real organizational fortification, and that is moving along very well. I've been very happy with what I've seen. Once there is a board of directors, a board of governors appointed, then they will use their knowledge and their vision, frankly, to find a president who they believe is suitable, and the board of governors will also play a very important role.

For those of you who have read the government's paper, you will know that we are proposing to have a board based on competencies, things like financial expertise, legal expertise, marketing expertise, experts on reconciliation, people with experience in post-secondary, so I think that leadership at the board level is going to help ensure success, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of Infrastructure provide me with a list of all the projects that are planned for the Inuvik airport and runway extension? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are three capital projects that are planned for the Inuvik Mike Zubko Airport. The first one is a new air terminal building, which will replace the current air terminal building. The second project we have is the airport civil improvements, and this is to bolster the airport's resilience towards climate change. Finally, we have the runway extension that is meant to increase the runway length by about 3,000 feet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister tell me what work has already been awarded out of those?

The design of the new air terminal building has been awarded, and it has been awarded to Stantec. That was done through an RFP, the request for proposal. Also, the demolition of the RCMP hangar was awarded to Delta Northern Alliance of Inuvik, and that was done through negotiated contract. Delta Northern Alliance is an Inuvialuit and Gwich'in business entity. Finally, the design of the airport civil improvements and the runway extension was awarded to Associated Engineering, and that also was done through a request for proposal.

Can the Minister tell me what work has yet to be put out, then, to be awarded and how we are ensuring that northern businesses are getting all this work?

Mr. Speaker, the department has been authorized to pursue a negotiated contract, and that is with the Delta Northern Alliance, the DNA, for the construction of the new airport terminal. The department will be providing the completed design documents to DNA in early 2021, so that is just after the new year, to begin the negotiated contract process. The runway extension is a 100-percent federally funded project. Having said that, the GNWT must abide by the requirements to ensure that contracts are awarded and managed in accordance with the federal policies and their procedures.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question to the Minister is: does the Minister have a timeline of when the work that is yet to be done to start, and how long does the department figure that it's going to take until it's completed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If it were up to me, it would be started yesterday, as the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes will know. However, in the worst-case scenario, we anticipate the air terminal building construction to begin in the fall of 2021 and to be completed by 2023-2024. We also anticipate the pre-construction work, which it's called the granular production, for the civil improvements to begin as early as February 2021 and the construction expected to be completed by 2022. Currently, there is no funding agreement in place for the construction of the runway extension. However, the Department of Infrastructure is anticipating discussions with the department of defence by November 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my questions are for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, what is the GNWT doing to help communities in the extraordinary funding for additional services required through this COVID-19 pandemic? With extra services, community governments are already underfunded, so the extraordinary funding of additional services community are having to take on by themselves, like food hampers, funding for the community hunts, for increased recreation, for department funding. Is there any help from the government through the COVID funding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of departments that actually provide support. I will start with a couple. ENR offers a Take a Family on the Land program that is new, to help people because of the COVID-19. There is also the COVID Regional Training, Mentorship and Support Program. That, again, is on-the-land for people to access. MACA has quite a few things. MACA received, I believe, $1,583,000 to distribute to sports organizations so that they could continue with services and make sure they were sustainable throughout the pandemic. They also provided community governments through the Sports Canada Fund, is my understanding, to the community governments, to support things like outdoor events, staffing, repairs. It's pretty flexible in that programming.

I know that, Mr. Speaker, some of the organizations and governments are a little bit unclear on what they can do and what they can't do, and so my recommendation is: if you are not sure and you want to do a thing, reach out to ProtectNWT or 811, and we will link you in and make sure that all organizations understand what limitations they have because of the CPHO orders and what they can do to support their community members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier, for that. What is our GNWT doing to help the people with new expenses? There are tablets for students. I know we talked about it a month and a half ago. We had a meeting, nightly meeting, and they bought 1650 Chrome Books. Those Chrome Books, are they going into the communities that really have people who cannot afford stuff like that? Are you able to sign them out or give it to them, to income-support people who are in need because they don't have a house LAN line or cellphone? Pretty much everybody has a cellphone these days, but at the end of the day, the children at home, the kids at home who need for keeping themselves busy because half the time, cold, dark days are here now, and they need help. Is there any opportunity for that to happen to our small communities all across the territory, making sure there is something available like that?

If I could defer that question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment because it's about schools? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Chrome Books the Member is referencing were purchased with the allocation of funds that was announced a few weeks ago. It was a joint effort between the Department of Finance and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Those Chrome Books were intended for students who could not access full-time, in-person learning. In small communities, the students have been lucky enough to have access to full-time, in-person learning.

There is also a contingent of those Chrome Books that are for a worst-case scenario. If a school was to shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak in a community and everyone having to go home, we would be able to deploy those Chrome Books to that community. In that case, if it was a small community, we would be able to distribute them, but those Chrome Books are intended for students who cannot access full-time, in-person education. The work to distribute those is happening with the education bodies. The numbers were determined as a joint effort between education bodies, finance, and ECE, and now work is undergoing to determine exactly where we need to get those. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess we are going to be buying more Chrome Books, please and thank you. Under a different, through our $87-million project there we got with COVID-19, we could really do good things. Mr. Speaker, our communities are seeing an increase in addictions for alcohol and drugs, and as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we are the ones who provide it. Is there any way that we could get, as MLAs, to bring in people to come and help people with addictions? Like I said, you know it as well as I do, dark days ahead. It's cold, 55 below some days, 50 below. What are you going to do? You are going to stay inside, and that is basically six, three, four months.

We need to help the people who are struggling with addictions. We need to provide AA. We need to provide any kind of 1-800-number call-ins. What I used to do was bring people into the community, but you'd be there for like two days. It's not long enough to come in and, like suicide prevention workshops to help our youth, to help everybody that really needs it right now. COVID-19, it's a new lifestyle that we have to try to work together for the people. If we could get something like that done, extra funding for the communities that they could access to bring people in from Poundmaker's or something like that that could help.

Again, that is a better question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, if I could defer the question to that Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Minister Responsible for Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Health and Social Services has a range of programs and services that will assist people in small communities with their mental health. The child and youth community counsellors program is available through the schools to people from the community. It's just a matter of calling and making an appointment, so that's right onsite. For people who don't want to meet in person, there are virtual care appointments that are available. Of course, that goes back to needing some technology and broadband availability to access that.

There are also apps for phones. I'd looked at a couple of them, one is called Seven Cups, another one is called Breathing Room. They may be more oriented to younger people than someone my age, but they look very interesting, very solution-focused. There is the NWT Help Line, which is available 24/7, that will assist people with any kind of an issue that they want to raise. Of course, Tuktoyaktuk also has a family violence shelter, which is available to anyone who feels they need to leave their home and seek emergency shelter for a period of time. There are a range of things, and if the Member would like Tuktoyaktuk-specific phone numbers and contact people, I can produce that for him. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know every one of those people she's talking about. I don't need their number. I need help in regard to providing that service with the Minister. Tuktoyaktuk's one, but I have Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, most northerly communities across our territory. We need help. That's what I'm asking for. During the first few months of this pandemic, we had phone calls once a week with our mayors. You probably took part in them with your communities. I took part of them with my mayors of Tuktoyaktuk and Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk. Are we still able to start having those meetings? We had the RCMP, the DEAs, people who were ready to respond to something if somebody ended up with COVID-19. Are these meetings still happening, and if not, when are they going to start back up because we are in round 2 of COVID-19 and people are scared. People are asking. Thank you.

That is a question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, if you can defer it there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Minister of Community and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just hearing the Member's comments and the questions that are coming out of them. I do understand that COVID-19 has really brought us to a different level and brought us to a different way of administering and to caring for our people, as well. Right now, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we do meet with the mayors and chiefs on a monthly basis. We decreased those meetings because of the numbers of COVID coming into the Northwest Territories have not increased. Right now, we are going to be meeting with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and we will start increasing those meetings. We will be communicating and bringing the hamlets and charter communities up to date as to what to expect as we go forward. We do work very closely with the Department of Health and also with the new secretariat, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, just a reminder to be wary of the time. We're only on the fifth one here and over half the time, so keep your preambles short and your answers to the point. Okay. Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of MACA as to the usefulness of years and years of reports and plans related to highway and out-of-community rescue services. Will the Minister commit to reviewing all of those reports and plans and having a tangible plan with the framework, with equipment, to do the job ordered before April 1^st? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Member, for your comment and your questions. As you know, we know that, when we're developing in the Northwest Territories, we see a lot of the highways that are being constructed. There is a need for safety, too, so we can work in conjunction with the communities and the hamlets, as well, not only that but the jurisdictions outside of the municipal areas. I am committed to reviewing the reports and also looking at the April 1^st date that the Member had put. I'll work towards that. Sorry. I can't commit to that, but I will review the reports.

Thank you to the Minister. I'm more than happy to help her with getting to that April 1^st deadline. Will the Minister agree to having MACA be the lead agency and work with Cabinet to ensure these siloed government departments doing bits and pieces of public safety will work together to get public safety done in a cohesive and immediate way?

MACA is a priority. I mean, safety is a priority of MACA. Sorry. I will be working with my Cabinet colleagues and I will be in communication with the Member, as well.

Will the Minister agree to work with Cabinet to ensure the purchase of a fire rescue truck this year, a medic light rescue and tanker-heavy rescue combination units each subsequent year to finally have lifesaving services along the Northwest Territories roadways?

Thank you, Member. The decision right now is very premature. I need to look at the reports that have been created prior to this Assembly, and I need to look at those numbers. I will have the conversation with my Cabinet colleagues.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Caroline Wawzonek told this House on June 3^rd that COVID made digital connectivity even more important and also urgent. She said, and I quote, "I certainly do expect I will be making faster progress on this and maybe would have before the COVID happened." Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask Minister Wawzonek about the faster progress that she mentions. What are the implications of the faster progress for Internet and Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me speak to the matter in Whati first. I'm very happy to be able to say that, with the recent signing of the infrastructure cooperation agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Tlicho Government, part of that agreement was, in fact, that the GNWT is now supporting the option for a fibre optic line to Whati. This is going to be a project that would be led by the Tlicho government, but the GNWT is going to partner and provide support as well as some financial supports in terms of preparing their project. That is a very exciting opportunity to work together on completing that.

In addition to that, Northwestel had an application that was recently approved by CRTC that will allow all satellite communities, which includes Wekweeti and Gameti, but all of the satellite communities, to take advantage of the low earth orbit satellite network as soon as that technology is available. The expected date for that is in 2022 and 2023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's great news about Whati. It's still in the works, and if we wait for Northwestel, we may not see the Internet. There is a CRTC federal counterpart, and as you know, the federal drags its heels, as well. This is an area that we need to push forward. As the GNWT, the Minister has made it a priority, a commitment in this House, so I would like to ask the Minister: the government has given fibre optic services to Tulita, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson, and Wrigley. Some of them are small communities. In the interest of fairness, when will the Minister of Finance extend those same services to the Tlicho communities of Gameti, Wekweeti, and also, well, Whati is still in the works, but those communities?

Right now, there are no plans in place to be extending the fibre line to Gameti and Wekweeti. The first step is to get it as far as Whati. Again, working in combination with the Tlicho Government, it may well be that, if we are successful in our applications to the federal government for their support and their funding in regard to that project, that, from there, we may well be moving on to Gameti and Wekweeti, but we have to lay the first line first.

If we can find $82 million for a 12-kilometre fibre optic line down the Mackenzie Valley, I'm sure we can find it, too, for my region. Why can't we find an extra little bit that would help households, schools, and nursing stations and businesses to now enjoy the benefits of this line that their very own tax dollars built, for my riding in Monfwi?

Again, I am very pleased to say that we're going to be working together with the Tlicho Government to bring a fibre line into the community of Whati, and pleased that, again, at this point, with the CRTC approvals that are in place, Gameti and Wekweeti will be seeing a dramatic improvement to their access, as well. We are constantly working with federal counterparts to have access and opportunity to get involved with the tremendous amount of funding that is coming forward in the next few years for broadband, but even that funding from the federal government, at this point, although we're having those conversations, it has been announced but there are no calls out yet. The actual applications, the kinds of applications, that's not even known. Nevertheless, we want to be first in line and we've already had those outreach opportunities, and I have taken them where I can and will continue to do so.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, we have to think short-term and long-term. Short-term, in my view, is connecting to Whati. I'm just wondering if the Minister and her department, at the federal and Northwestel level, has there ever been consideration of, once Whati is connected, Gameti and Wekweeti are also in line for the discussion to move forward as a long-term objective of this government? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

That is the first time I've had it raised to me that that is an option or a solution that we should be pursuing, and I agree with the Member's statement that there is short-term and there is long-term. Yes. Absolutely, short-term, I'd like to see this project to Whati in partnership with the Tlicho Government advance, and then, beyond that, to get the satellite communities to the state where they have gained access to low Earth orbit satellite system. Then, beyond that, I will give you the words that I was told by the federal counterpart, which is: dream big. If we're being told to dream big, then we want to dream big. I am happy to hear that there are other options and ideas, and I am happy to continue to take them forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm planning to return to Hay River this weekend, and my constituents told me in no uncertain terms, "If you don't get answers on this matter, don't come back." I will ask for support from the Minister of MACA because I adore the community of Hay River and want to return home tonight. What happened to our shoreline this fall is a very serious matter, and my constituents want answers with solutions and commitments from this government. Can the Minister of MACA tell me what it would take for her department to consider an event as an emergency under the Emergency Management Act? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we do administer the Emergency Management Act. We would be working with climate change or natural disasters, fires, erosion, and shore erosion, as well erosion on the river banks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister confirm what triggers an event to be deemed as an emergency and to commence action to deal with it? Using the Hay River flooding caused by the high water and wind as an example, what is the process and what action was taken in this instance?

While the Emergency Measures Organization monitors risk situations as they develop and advises communities to increase the risk of period factors, triggers for active responses include the risk factors of community capacity to deal with situations and other associated response issues. The decision of when it is activated would be the response of GNWT assistance. In normal, a discussion would be the with Emergency Management and ENR for wildfires.

Can the Minister confirm what supports those impacted under an event declared as an emergency can expect from this government? Is there financial support for rebuilding and flood-proofing?

Just specifically for Hay River, I am familiar with the Member's questions and with his comments, as well, in that we did deal with a situation where we had high water levels in Hay River. The department did reach out to and did work with the Town of Hay River. As well, we did reach out to Infrastructure to get material to work with the shoreline that was affected and the houses that were affected. Right now, the South Slave District MACA office is working with the Town of Hay River to complete a federal Climate Change and Preparedness North funding program for flooding mitigation.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister confirm that her department will commit to working with the Department of Lands, West Point First Nation, Hay River Metis Government Council, and the Town of Hay River to develop a plan to secure the perimeter of the lake in the town of Hay River, to address this issue in order to avoid future flooding and damage? We need this work done before next spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Those conversations are actually happening internally right now. We will be working with the Town of Hay River, and we are in communication with them in regard to the high water levels in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.