This is page numbers 61 - 78 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 units.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Minister of Finance has brought up the Indigenous Career Gateway Program, I just have a couple of questions. Can the Minister provide us with the number of people they have hired through this program per year since this program was started? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a fairly new program. I believe that is the first year, and, if I am wrong, I will commit to correcting that. In 2018-2019, in that fiscal year, there were 12 department applications, and in 2019-2020, there were seven. In total at the moment, there are 19 positions that are going through that Indigenous Career Gateway Program. Thank you.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Can the Minister tell me where these positions were located?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

In 2018-2019, there were seven in Yellowknife, one in Fort Smith, one in Behchoko, and three in Inuvik. For 2019-2020, there were an additional two to Yellowknife, three to Inuvik, one to Behchoko, and one to Hay River.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Was the money that was allocated for these positions utilized annually?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

It is part of an annual budgeting process where there are $40,000 in total available through the Department of Finance to departments that they seek to avail themselves of the program, to a maximum of 15 positions per year.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to my calculations, no, it has not been utilized. Will the Minister commit to ensuring that her department does more training with managers and supervisors about this program, focusing especially in the regions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I appreciate that this shows people are listening to a Minister's statement. I acknowledge certainly, and I believe the department acknowledges, that we can and should, must, do a better job of getting word out on the programs that we have. There are good programs in the GNWT to support the development of our staffing and the development of a representative workforce. This is a good program, and it is one that the Member has pointed out rightfully is perhaps being underutilized. There is more space to utilize it. So, as I have said earlier today, we are committing to improving our communications. We are improving getting the word out, and I can certainly ensure that I get back and respond more fulsomely to the House or to the Member with respect to what is being done at a management level to ensure that our managers are aware of these programs, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Private business is very important to the North, and it is very important that we support this sector. The question I have for the Minister of housing is: why would your department not provide the private sector an opportunity to provide the units for use by the RCMP, and would you reconsider reviewing this decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Member, for your question. All new units required by the RCMP are to be constructed in accordance with the GNWT public recruitment policies that will ensure that the northern proponent will have the opportunity to express their interest in understanding the construction of these units. In terms of maintenance and administration of the units, the RCMP have chosen the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to carry that over. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

It is no secret that there exists a long waiting list with individuals and families waiting to access public housing. How, then, do you explain demolishing existing stock and using the land for units that are not for public-housing use? It will be lands that are lost for this use.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Member, for your comment. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation capital planning process includes the disposal of NWT Housing Corporation-owned units that are beyond economic repair or to free up the land for future construction. The disposal of the surplus housing units supports community-based planning to help make the land available for construction of the housing units to support community governments in dealing with properties in the community. The Housing Corporation continues to explore opportunities to support projects that hire local people to gain employment and training while demolishing the public buildings.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

I am not certain of the condition those units are in. I did drive by, and they appear pretty fine to me, probably better than what I am living in. Was there ever any consideration to make these existing units available to housing clients who would be in a financial position to purchase them for a nominal fee?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Member, for your comments. I want to answer this clearly. We do have units that we are demolishing. It frees up the land either for the community or for the members or for our clients, and just going forward, we do look at the surplus that we do have. If we do have some units that we are able to repair, then we do consult with the community members first and if communities have interest, if they would be interested in taking over the units. If the conditions are beyond repair, we end up demolishing the properties, and we do end up rebuilding either under the home-ownership program or else the public-housing units. Thank you, Member.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the construction of these units, as I said before, our northern local contractors need work, our residents need work, and our northern suppliers need work. Will the Minister of Housing assure us that these units will be built in the North by northern contractors with northern employees and not be supplied by southern contractors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Member, for your statement. Ninety-five percent of the northern contracts that are distributed through the Housing Corporation are northern contractors here in the Northwest Territories. I wanted to just express that we have six units that are going up in Fort Smith, RCMP units; three in Norman Wells; 17 in Inuvik; seven in Fort Simpson; and two in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Question 38-19(2): Cantung and Mactung
Oral Questions

February 10th, 2020

Page 66

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today, I reviewed the history of our government's acquisition and management of the Mactung property. We accepted it as financial security against the shaky Cantung Mine and have spent money cleaning up the site and compiling reports in the hope of finally selling it. Can the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment tell us, after five years of owning the Mactung property, whether we have sold it, and if not, why? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.