This is page numbers 659 - 708 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 community.

Topics

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. My questions are to do with emergency management. I'm aware that the department created an NWT emergency plan in 2018. Has that emergency plan been fully implemented at this point? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it has, and it is available. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to the Minister for that response. What would it take to activate this emergency plan now, if we required it in connection with the public health emergency? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Looking at the emergency plan, because I do know that we have quite a concern happening right now and there's a lot of discussion happening in the Northwest Territories. I'm going to have Ms. Young elaborate on the emergency plan and what it would take to initiate it. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Young.

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't remember the specifics in the act, but it does refer to widespread things that impact public health and safety, and things of that nature. That is part of the live conversation happening every day right now between the Department of Health and Municipal and Community Affairs about which legislation is dealing with which aspects of the situation with the developing virus and which one offers the best tools to take steps, if steps are required, for further action than what is currently in place. That is part of the ongoing conversation. Sorry. I don't remember the specific wording in the act about when we actually activate a state of emergency, which is really what triggers our emergency measures organization to be fully up and operating. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Young. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for that response. The state of emergency is the activation tool. Once the state of emergency is declared, what kind of scope and reach does this plan have? Does it reach every NWT community? What kind of reach does it have, and scope? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to be specific on the response because looking at a community level and the stakeholders that would be involved in the process, if there were to be any concerns in regard to initiating the emergency plan. I'm going to have Eleanor elaborate on the response. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Young.

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the act provides powers to declare a state of emergency in part or all of the territory, depending on the nature of what activities need to be undertaken. If it was for example related to travel or provision of goods and services across the territory, it could be the entire territory, but if it's dealing with a specific region, a wildfire, it could be within the region. The plan provides the flexibility to respond to the type of emergency that is in place. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Ms. Young. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for that response. What kind of resources would you need to activate the plan on a territory-wide basis?

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. The plan would involve, I would say, all levels. All levels would be involved, and there is consultation and involvement to make sure that the emergency and the safety of the people of the Northwest Territories, that it's a collaborative plan that involves stakeholders and people within the Northwest Territories, not only Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife Centre

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for that response. I was thinking more about financial resources. How does the department access financial resources for activating this plan? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to let Ms. Young elaborate on the financial resources that are available to initiate the emergency plan. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Young.

Young

Thank you, Madam Chair, under the Emergency Measures Act, of course, the act provides authorities, and we have a territorial planning committee that would be overseeing this with all of the departments. If it got to a situation where we needed additional financial resources, there are provisions under our Financial Administration Act to seek emergency funding if it was necessary. We also have a disaster financial arrangement with Canada. Again, depending on the size and scope of the emergency, it's actually a sliding scale of reimbursement to get money back from Canada.

For example, with the wildfires from 2014, we've just recently finished our audit of that claim and are receiving partial reimbursement for our expenditures from the 2014 wildfires. Those were funded on an emergency basis for the GNWT, but we've been able to recover part of that funding from Canada. It's multi-layer. The same thing happens with the communities. If their resources are exceeded, they can come to the territorial government. When our resources are exceeded, we can go to Canada. That's the way the structure is set up. Thank you, Madam Chair.