Debates of Nov. 5th, 2020
This is page numbers 1689 - 1724 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 work.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 95-19(2): Work Plan for the Development of the GNWT Action Plan in Response to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report
- Minister's Statement 96-19(2): Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Support to Employers during COVID-19
- Minister's Statement 97-19(2): Sport Canada COVID-19 Funding Support
- Minister's Statement 98-19(2): Family Violence
- Remembrance Day
- Food Security
- Recognition of Interpreters
- Affirmative Action
- Remembrance Day
- Reflections on Effecting Positive Change
- Remembrance Day and Wish List
- Call on All Politicians to End Systemic Racism
- Elders' Housing Issues
- Guaranteed Basic Income
- National Skilled Trades and Technology Week - Recognition of Michael Turner-Davis and Nathan Dunn
- Remembrance Day
- National Skilled Trades and Technology Week - Recognition of Joel Hanthorn and Joseph Lemieux
- National Skilled Trades and Technology Week - Recognition of Slavomir Rohac
- Eulogy for Elaine Blake
- Return to Oral Question 358-19(2): Long-Term Care Facility
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 477-19(2): Direct Appointments in Government of the Northwest Territories
- Question 478-19(2): Food Security
- Question 479-19(2): Income Assistance
- Question 480-19(2): Addressing Systemic Racism
- Question 481-19(2): Elders Housing
- Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
- Question 483-19(2): Alcohol Strategy
- Question 484-19(2): Ingraham Trail Fire Services from Dettah
- Question 485-19(2): Increased Winter Trucking and Covid-19 Considerations
- Written Question 21-19(2): Applications to the National Co-Investment Fund
- Return to Written Question 19-19(2): Homeowners Insurance
- Tabled Document 235-19(2): Taking Action - A Work Plan to Address the Calls for Justice in Reclaiming Power and Place: Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Tabled Document 236-19(2): Interim Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Year Ended March 31, 2020 Tabled Document 237-19(2): Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation 2019-2020 Annual Report Tabled Document 238-19(2): Grants and Contributions Results Report 2019-2020 Tabled Document 239-19(2): Consolidated Budget 2020-2021 Tabled Document 240-19(2): Northwest Territories Oil and Gas Annual Report 2019
- Tabled Document 241-19(2): NWT Health and Social Services System Annual Report 2019-2020 Tabled Document 242-19(2): Tlicho Community Services Agency Health and Social Services Annual Report 2019-2020 Tabled Document 243-19(2): 2019-2020 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Tabled Document 244-19(2): Hay River Health and Social Services Authority Annual Report 2019-2020
- Tabled Document 245-19(2): Annual Report 2019-20 Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation
- Tabled Document 246-19(2): Annual Reports for the Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2019-2020 School Year Ending June 30, 2020 Volumes 1 and 2
- Tabled Document 247-19(2): Operations Report 2019-2020 Western Canada Lottery Program Tabled Document 248-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report 2019-2020
- Tabled Document 249-19(2): Excerpt from Globe And Mail, November 3, 2020 - "In Manitoba, An Omnibus Bill Puts Systemic Racism Against Indigenous People In Plain View"
- Motion 22-19(2): Appointment of Law Clerk, Carried
- Motion 23-19(2): Appointment of Sole Adjudicators, Carried
- Motion 24-19(2): Changes to Committee Membership, Carried
- Motion to Amend Motion 24-19(2), Carried
- Motion 25-19(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 3, 2021, Carried
- Bill 22: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2021-2022
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Committee Motion 59-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Authorizing Speaker to Conduct Remote Session, Carried
- Committee Motion 60-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Display of Mace during Remote Sittings, Carried
- Committee Motion 61-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings Report on Remote Sittings - Authorization by Speaker of Remote Attendance of Members for Session, Carried
- Committee Motion 62-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings Report on Remote Sittings - Application of Rule 12(10) for Remote Attendance, Carried
- Committee Motion 63-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings Report on Remote Sittings - Training and Headsets for Online Sittings, Carried
- Committee Motion 64-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings Report on Remote Sittings - Neutral Background for Video Conferences, Carried
- Committee Motion 65-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings Report on Remote Sittings - Recorded Votes in Remote Sittings, Carried
- Committee Motion 66-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings Report on Remote Sittings - Registration of Votes in Event of Loss of Connection, Carried
- Committee Motion 67-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Roll Call Procedures, Carried
- Committee Motion 68-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Disconnection and Reconnection during Oral Questions, Carried
- Committee Motion 69-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Redirection of Questions during Loss of Ministers' Connections, Carried
- Committee Motion 70-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Announcement of Written Questions, Carried
- Committee Motion 71-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Members' Statements in Event of Loss of Connection, Carried
- Committee Motion 72-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Revised Daily Orders for Remote Sittings, Carried
- Committee Motion 73-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Reference Guide for Remote Sittings, Carried
- Committee Motion 74-19(2): Committee Report 6-19(2): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Remote Sittings - Standing Committee Review of Remote Sittings, Carried
- Report Of The Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 22: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2021-2022
- Recorded Vote
- Assent To Bills
- Orders Of The Day
Question 481-19(2): Elders Housing
Oral Questions
Page 1706
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
November 5th, 2020
Page 1706

Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are many small businesses throughout the NWT that are still struggling to survive these difficult economic times. Some are finding work and for various reasons others are not. The NWT Housing Corporation is in a position to provide that support to those without work. I'm referring to those businesses that are located in our regional and small communities. Madam Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation if she will commit to identifying those projects slated for the regional and smaller communities and work with those businesses without work to ensure they are providing some work, even if it means sole-sourcing or negotiating the work. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1706
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1706

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that question because, for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, hiring local is a priority. Hiring local businesses, Indigenous businesses, and what I had provided, I want to say last week, is that 95 percent of our contractors are local. Looking at what we actually can offer I would like to follow up with the Member, as well, and look at his riding because we do have a rollout now of RCMP units that are being constructed. We do have some public housing units, as well, that are going through repairs and there is opportunity. My priority as a housing Minister is to hire local and keep the local people employed, offer training and opportunity. I'm open to hearing the Member's comments because I would like to become very strategic in how we deliver programs at the local level. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1706

Rocky Simpson Hay River South
We do not provide enough support to our small community contractors. They are the ones that provide the much-needed employment in those communities and deserve our support and sometimes direction in order to build capacity. I would ask the Minister to commit to either doing away with suspension lists for contractors in these small communities or, at a minimum, work and support the contractors to ensure that they are successful and avoid failure.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1706

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
For the contracts and tenders that are put out, and we do end up with some carry-overs because due to contract failures, I don't want to see businesses not being able to access to bid again our public tender. We also have to take into consideration the reason and the process that it has taken for us at that time. If we see contractor failure or else a carry-over of a project, we do take an assessment of that. Looking at the contractor suspension, I would look at this very clearly because I would not want to have a contractor suspended. I've seen it already in my time while I've held the housing portfolio. I've been able to work with a client and been able to bring them back and having them work for us again. Again, it's the quality of work that's being displayed that we've got to be very careful of. It ends up costing the Housing Corporation a significant amount if the buildings are not constructed adequately.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1706

Rocky Simpson Hay River South
As I previously stated, the NWT Housing Corporation projects are essential and the bread and butter to small community contractors and a source of employment for the residents. I ask the Minister: how many projects are slated for those regional small communities this winter, and is the department in the position to add additional projects, if required, if we find contractors without work?
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1707

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
This year, we had a few negotiated contracts that we have entered into with Indigenous groups that have not been finalized, but we have been approached with that interest. Looking at that, I don't have the numbers right on the top of my head, but I'd have to get back to the Member with the number of projects that we do have listed that are slated for the next couple of years. I know the Member is quite concerned about the contractors and also creating employment at the local community level. I want to really just emphasize that that's a priority of the Housing Corporation. We do try and do our best to make sure that our contracts stay local and they stay within the community, and we do emphasize on education and training.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1707

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1707

Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Speaker. One area that the NWT Housing Corporation can support our northern businesses is with the transportation of the material going into the communities on the winter road. We have contractors with tractors and trailers down the valley that will be looking for work this winter. Maybe with COVID-19 in front of us it makes sense to use our northern contractors to provide those services. Can the Minister commit to her department to review on how they can ensure our northern contractors who supply trucking services are provided every opportunity to haul the material going down the winter road for their projects this winter? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1707

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
I think the Member was reading my mind. I just actually just had this conversation with my department. We are in COVID-19 and the Housing Corporation did find it a challenge getting material into our smaller remote communities. I was actually speaking about looking at our supply for this year and slating for the next couple of years for our projects, and how are we going to be getting them into the smaller communities, and the trucking service, as well, and what is available in the territory. I will be looking at that, and I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local
Oral Questions
Page 1707
Question 483-19(2): Alcohol Strategy
Oral Questions
Page 1707

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The Minister of Health and Social Services has spoken about the harm of alcohol to all of our communities multiple times within the House here. We've also heard multiple times about the upcoming alcohol strategy that is expected in the Northwest Territories. I'm wondering if the Minister can just talk to us about what she intends the alcohol strategy to accomplish. Thank you.
Question 483-19(2): Alcohol Strategy
Oral Questions
Page 1707
Question 483-19(2): Alcohol Strategy
Oral Questions
Page 1707

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want the alcohol strategy to produce better health. We have some very troubling indicators for heavy alcohol use in this territory. For example, the rate of heavy drinking, which is defined as having four or five or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting, is 43 percent in the NWT. That compares to 19 percent across Canada. Better health means that people are not falling into the poor health outcomes of excessive alcohol use and also not falling into the personal despair of excessive alcohol use. To that end, the department has hired a federally funded senior advisor on the alcohol strategy who started work in August 2020. She is completing the following tasks: setting up a representative working group to guide the development of an alcohol strategy; reviewing feedback from an alcohol evidenced action workshop held in March on this issue; preparing a full workplan and engagement plan on this issue; and this work will be moving along with public consultation that will begin early next year. Thank you.
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