This is page numbers 1593 - 1652 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 money.

Topics

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Of course, the pandemic makes it more difficult. I have to say that I have attended three meetings of seniors' organizations via Zoom, and the seniors are up on Zoom. It's not a problem. They will connect and give their input. The department is hiring a person full-time for two years to lead the process of developing a seniors' strategy. It will be the job of this person to figure out how the consultation is going to work and to include the voices of everyone who needs to be heard. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Yukon government has been very creative and proactive in their support for the business community, with the creation of programs with CanNor that were rolled out six to eight weeks before our Northern Business Relief Fund. The Pivot Program at the Yukon University and the Tourism Accommodation Supplement are such examples. I'd like to ask the Minister of ITI: why has the GNWT been so slow in its response to the business community and resistant to meet with them, specifically in the hospitality industry? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to suggest that maybe, rather than slow, the response here has been different in terms of its approach. We certainly were, I would suggest, faster than the Yukon in terms of delivering some of the relief and expenses for the industry, but then, rather than rolling out money quickly, the Department of ITI here opted to wait and see how the federal government was going to be putting forward their programs and their money, which have been significant. The goal was to find a way to fill gaps rather than duplicate efforts. The Department of ITI has partnered with CanNor and provided relief funding in the form of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, as well as the GRIT Fund, which is directed specifically at the tourism industry.

Madam Speaker, I am also quite happy to say that one of the first things I had done as Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment was to actually cohost a tourism conference for all federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers of tourism to discuss the shared challenges we're all facing in this industry. I have also had the opportunity to meet with our local tourism association, and we are collaborating with them in terms of developing the GRIT funding, in terms of developing marketing programs that are obviously going to have to change for the short term. Again, we'll actually be attending tomorrow at the AGM put on by the Northwest Territories Tourism Association. The Department of ITI is very much involved with the tourism industry and is looking for ways to fill those gaps. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

For the most part, both the GNWT and the federal government have failed to provide the hospitality industry with relief funding that works. In order to apply for the Northern Benefit Relief Fund, businesses can only break even on a monthly basis, which is not sustainable given that they have gone months with little to no revenue. We have heard that taking on additional borrowing from the various loan programs is not suitable. Many of our hospitality businesses operate on such fine profit margins that they would go further into debt trying to pay off the loans. How will the GNWT support this vital sector to make sure we do not lose any further businesses?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I am glad that the dire situation that is facing hospitality is being spoken of here. I think that, as the Minister of Finance at one point, under that hat, I had spoken of the fact that we're seeing a recovery in so much of our employment sectors, but that is not true in the hospitality sector and the tourism industry. That is an area that is going to continue to be struggling for some time. Really, the response has to be to be able to fill those gaps, so the Business Advisory Council that was brought about by ITI to assist us in figuring out what the best ways are to support relief and recovery, they are coming out just now, or have come out just now, with identifying some of the gaps by looking at that. By speaking to them and, as I described in my last response, by engaging with the tourism sector, we will be able to make sure that we are best helping them fill those gaps, while acknowledging the vast number of needs that are being created by the COVID pandemic.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

The GNWT is the largest client for the accommodation sector. Without any of the duty travel and no tourists coming in, their future is very bleak. We are currently slated to spend more than half of the COVID secretariat budget on isolation centres, but that contract was sole-sourced. Will the GNWT look at creating a program similar to the Yukon's Tourism Accommodation Supplement?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes. I am actively looking at that. That material came across earlier on, and right now the department is looking at what we can do and whether or not there are some elements of what's happening in the Yukon that we can adapt here. Similarly, with respect to the isolation centres, we are using, to some degree, some of that hospitality industry here with the isolation centres and are continuing to look at whether or not there are ways to better support the hospitality industry while having the isolation centres up and running. That is a very active question, and I am glad to have that question here on the floor.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am going to read something that was issued by the government yesterday. This is a quote from the Business Advisory Council: "With the hard work that the GNWT, the business community, and the residents of the Northwest Territories have put in over the last six months, we are optimistic that the territory will not have to go back to the restrictions required during phase 1 of Emerging Wisely. The Business Advisory Council will continue to work with the COVID secretariat and will be vigilant in monitoring its efforts to achieve the objectives of greater transparency, efficiency, and cost reductions." Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the COVID secretariat. Can the Minister tell us what she has been hearing from the business community with respect to spending these funds on the COVID Secretariat? Thank you.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

That has been an evolving conversation, and one that has happened largely in the public sphere. It's not necessarily for me to speak for the private sector here on the floor, but the Business Advisory Council, I have had the opportunity to meet with them more than once already, as well as with the chambers, as well as with a number of individuals who are bringing attention to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment at all times, around how to navigate their needs during COVID as well as how the government is navigating the need to support people, which is a large part of the COVID secretariat.

Again, once there is an understanding of what the secretariat is designed to do, why it is designed to that, and a recognition of the supports that it is providing to the residents of the Northwest Territories. I believe not only the Business Advisory Council but other business entities have actually come around and said that they indeed support the work of the secretariat, want it to continue, and recognize that it's because of the secretariat and, because all of the efforts in COVID, that we are not returning to a full lockdown, we're not returning to the doors closed, and that we're not shuttering the businesses as is so sadly happening across much of Canada, right now. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. For years, a governance review of the Power Corporation since its board was removed and replaced with deputy ministers has been requested. It's been promised by previous Ministers, but it has not been delivered. We now find ourselves with a new Minister asking the board to review themselves. My question for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation is: what has happened in the last four years since the board was removed in regard to a governance review, and how much longer is this going to take? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I recognize that this is a long-standing issue and the Member will be happy to know that I'm committed to looking into and completing the governance review of the Power Corporation. The last four years have been critical in gaining hands-on understanding of NTPC's governance structure and also options for some improvement. Work has been underway to identify and assess the governance options to further advance this work ultimately towards the goal of approving the accountability and framework for this important organization. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I'm very happy to see that this Minister is committed to a governance review. One of the fundamental problems with this governance review is we as government are asking our deputy ministers to review themselves and see if there is the proper accountability. Much of the Power Corporation's bookwork is done behind closed doors. Much of this review and these decisions come to Cabinet, which is also behind closed doors. My question for the Minister is: given the just inherent conflicts and trouble navigating accountability of a non arm's-length corporation that's supposed to be, will the GNWT do any public engagement on this review?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Again, I mentioned the governance model. Again, I committed to working with the Members of this House on the review and the offer to briefing to Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment. I also look forward to discussing and to advancing some of this work together.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I recognize that the Minister is willing to work standing committee, but I don't believe that was public engagement. I'm going to try this one more time. Does the GNWT recognize and acknowledge that deputy ministers -- I know they work hard and probably that's one of the problems is that they are so busy working that they don't have time to completely review a corporation. They have expertise in public service. They don't have expertise in managing a Crown corporation and energy interests. Does the GNWT recognize that is an inherent problem, that we have the wrong people on the board?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

NTPC is a large organization providing public service and deputy ministers have brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board. Since deputy ministers were appointed to the board, we have seen improved ties and implementation of GNWT energy policy and have been able to integrate the corporation's decision-making with the policy decisions and even the programs and services that are provided by GNWT departments, so a review of the board composition will also include the government's review work and assessment of some of the options.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Madam Speaker, perhaps the deputy ministers have been doing a good job. We've asked them to serve on a board at the expense of their other work, and we all know that no such senior management is overworked. There is some serious work that needs to be done here. There is a level of expertise that is not necessarily found in the public service. I believe a third-party review needs to be done. I believe there needs to be scholarly research. We really need someone who is not the GNWT or its senior management to look at the Power Corporation. Is the Minister willing to conduct a third-party review of the Power Corporation? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The GNWT has completed many studies of this corporation over the past 10 years. Many aspects of the corporation have been studied in great depth, from rating settings to governance and accountability aspects to the economic viability of the corporation. These studies have formed the basis of the review that is currently underway. I look forward to discussions with the committee on this matter and advancing this important work. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Question 456-19(2): Dental Practice in Small Communities
Oral Questions

November 3rd, 2020

Page 1611

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Madam Speaker. I hope I can get on the roll that my colleague with Frame Lake was on here with the Minister of Health. Going back to my Member's statement on dental services in our small communities, I also, with my research on this, found out that the eye teams are still going out into the communities and still providing that service, so that's something to think about. I'm hoping that we have some common-sense approaches and this crucial service, dental services, done in the North in our small communities. With my first question: can the Minister explain what the restrictions are for dental practice in small communities? Marsi cho.