Debates of March 10th, 2020

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

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Speaker's Ruling
Value of Tourism
Addiction Treatment Services
Agricultural Strategy
Delivered in Tlicho - Interpretation Not Available
International Women's Day
Fort Providence Health Centre Concerns
North Slave Correctional Centre Assault
Rental Adjustment for Aging Public Housing Units in Nunakput
Daylight Savings Time
Food Security in the Northwest Territories
Housing and Income Security
Virtual Care
Addictions Treatment Options
Agricultural Strategy
Rent Scale for Public Housing Units
Food Security in the Northwest Territories
Fort Providence Health Centre
Income Assistance
Daylight Savings Time
North Slave Correctional Complex Assault
Medical Travel
Municipal Land Transfer
Home and Community Care Review
North Slave Correctional Complex Assault
Written Question 7-19(2): Virtual Healthcare
Return to Written Question 4-19(2): Action Plan on Core Housing Needs
Tabled Document 53-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 88-19(2): Alcohol Strategy Tabled Document 54-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 105-19(2): Medical Travel Claim Forms
Tabled Document 55-19(2): Virtual Care: Recommendations for Scaling Up Virtual Medical Services - Report of the Virtual Care Task Force, February 2020
Tabled Document 56-19(2): Department of Justice Corrections Service Investigation Report
Bill 3: An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021 - Environment and Natural Resources - Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. With your permission, I would turn the mic over to the deputy minister. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Kelly.

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Kelly

Thank you, Madam Chair. At this time, it is on a list of things that we still need to complete, but we recognize the importance of looking into this. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Is there a timeline for that work to be completed? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Presently, we don't have a timeline, and we are just evaluating our priorities moving forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Okay. I will be watching for that. I want to turn, though, to page 70 of the main estimates. There is an item here, Community Harvesters Assistance Program. It looks like it actually went down from 2018-2019. Can I have an explanation as to what happened in 2018-2019? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of ENR.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, I'll ask the deputy minister to answer this part. Thank you.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Kelly.

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Kelly

Thank you, Madam Chair. If you look at the Community Harvesters Assistance Program line, as well as the local wildlife committee line, you can see that there were some adjustments that were made, although the total is very similar because we combined contribution agreements to reduce administrative burden. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks to the Minister and his staff for that explanation. Can someone tell me just very briefly what the Community Harvesters Assistance Program is all about, and if and when it was last increased? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of ENR.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. At this point in time, I'll ask the deputy minister to give that sort of detail. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Kelly.

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Kelly

Thank you, Madam Chair. These are contributions to local wildlife committees that provide assistance and resources to harvesters, and the last time that that amount was looked at was 10 years ago. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Wow, 10 years. That's a lot of inflation. There have also been changes in wildlife populations, particularly around caribou, where there are harvesting prohibitions on the Bathurst herd, a number of restrictions on a number of other herds, so people have to go further to access different wildlife, different herds, to get food. Does the department have any plans to increase the harvesters assistance program?

Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Right now, the department has been asked by our Indigenous governments to look at this program, to evaluate it, and see if we are actually meeting our needs moving forward. For further detail, I'll ask the deputy minister to add to the answer. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Kelly.