This is page numbers 557 - 606 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 thanks.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Premier for that. I am just a little bit perturbed that Nutrition North needs to be redesigned but that we don't really have any ideas about how to do that. I hope the Premier can put something together fairly quickly and get that ready and work with this side of the House.

Building food security is going to take a lot of effort from this government, and it's going to cut across many departments. For example, food security can and should include greater support for community harvesters and local food production. Can the Premier tell us what the best programs are to support community harvesting and local food production and whether these will be increased over the next four years?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

I cannot stand here and say what the best program is. What I can say is that we have a variety of programs across the departments. For example, our anti-poverty fund gives $1 million a year in contributions; last year, in 2019-2020, we supported 31 food security projects. Our healthy children's fund provides $400,000 a year; that gave a total of seven security projects through this fund. Thirteen food security projects were supported through the Small Community Homelessness Fund. The Healthy Food for Learning program, and this is one is a big one for me, supports all 49 schools in the Northwest Territories for healthy foods for children. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a federal partnership; it gives a million dollars a year to advance community food development. ITI has the Northern Food Development Program to support producers of fish, meat, and other food products. We are revitalizing the Great Slave Lake fishery; I think that is an important one. The Sustainable Livelihoods Action Plan supports land-based initiatives, including harvesting. We have a Community Harvesters Assistance Program, and we are looking at a mentorship program, as well. As well, the Indigenous governments asked for a hunter education program to support safe hunting.

I can't say which one of them is all important. What I can say, is that not one food source works for all people. Some people are very traditional. Some people are hunters and gatherers. Some people want to go to our grocery store. We need to look right across the gamut to ensure food security. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the health Minister regarding concerns raised by local residents of the health centre. Mr. Speaker, I've raised this issue with the Minister on February 27, 2020, on the same issue: the issues that residents are having with nurse practitioners at the local health centre. This continues to be a serious issue. Residents want action, and they want action now. Can the Minister provide assurances to the residents of Fort Providence that this issue can be looked to as soon as possible? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member and I are having discussions right now with some of his concerns. He's raised concerns, and I'm working with my department and the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority to have a discussion on the Member's concern.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Nurse practitioners are left to their own devices, so to speak. Can the Minister provide assurances and action to develop an evaluation program for health centre nurse practitioners for the small communities?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I am not sure what that means, but I will look into what the Member is referring to. I do want to talk a little bit about the primary healthcare reform. This is something that the department is working on. It's a long-term commitment, and it will take time to achieve system-wide cultural change. The primary healthcare reform is an initiative that we are advancing, with cultural safety and relationship care as key priorities for Health and Social Services.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

I think the evaluation program that I am referencing is in relation to evaluations of nurse practitioners and how they conduct their work within the communities. That's what I was referring to. I understand that complaints are filed with the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. I, myself, have filed a complaint on behalf of several residents back in November 2019. There has been no action on this file, no notices or acknowledgments that they were received from that association. The Minister stated on February 27, 2020, that the department does conduct internal investigations made against health centre staff. Will the Minister conduct an immediate investigation into the allegations against the health centre nurse practitioners?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The Member is talking about an HR issue, and it is something that our department is looking into. We'll respond back to the Member; however, I'm not prepared to discuss any human resource issues on the floor today.

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. My questions are for the Minister of ECE. Can the Minister confirm if there is a maximum of $600 per month for single individuals for rent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can confirm that there is not a $600 cap for rent payable for Income Assistance clients. There was a cap that was changed back in April of 2018. I think, at that time, the cap for single individuals was $900, but that is long since gone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you to the Minister for that. Can the Minister commit to having his department ensure that residents are eligible for rental subsidies that meet the actual cost of the market rent in the community where they applied?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

If a client is eligible for Income Assistance, then they are eligible for the rent and other utilities. It's not a commitment I need to make; it's something that's in the legislation currently.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

With the answers of the previous two, will the Minister commit to making sure that his departments are giving accurate information out to clients, or doing some type of information for us as MLAs, or other agencies that may be helping clients with different instances like income support, because we are the Integrated Case Management workers, so that we can make sure we can provide the right information as well?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

The Member has brought this issue to my attention, and the department is going to look into what's happening in the Beaufort-Delta, follow up there, and find out where this information's coming from. A lot of this information is publicly available. I can have it sent to the Member, but there is a plain language handbook online, and there is actually the policy manual used in the offices available online, as well, that has the legislation in there, and the description of how that legislation is interpreted. I can share all of that for the Members because I know, as a Regular Member, especially, one who is always in their constituency, you get a lot of Income Assistance questions and concerns. My copies in my constituency office are well worn.

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, and thank you to the Minister for providing that, although the majority of the people that are usually helping clients in our communities, sometimes, they don't have access to computers, and sometimes they don't have access to providing this material. I have one last question. Will the Minister commit to have his department work with the rental companies, to be able to meet the rental application for the financial commitment? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

That is something that is supposed to happen, and I will follow up and make sure that that is happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Question 171-19(2): Daylight Savings Time
Oral Questions

March 10th, 2020

Page 563

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to commend all the people of the Yukon who woke up and will never have to change their clocks ever again. It seems what happens here, there's a bit of a gridlock here where Alberta is looking to doing this once again. BC is, California is, and no one seems to want to move. My question for the Minister of Justice is: can we take the lead and get rid of time change?

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Justice.