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

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Last week, I raised some concerns around the continued funding for the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board. There are some great people on that board and their work seems reasonable, but there are zero disputes that have come forward in the seven years since enabling legislation was passed. In light of this, I question the need for such a body. It also entrenches the antiquated free-entry system for mineral rights acquisition, a regime that seems out of step with even the Mineral Resources Act passed by the last Legislative Assembly.

The Harper government's Bill C-47, the so-called "Northern Jobs and Growth Act," lumped together a number of land rights agreements implementation provisions, including the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board. GNWT's Surface Rights Board Act simply mirrors the federal legislative provisions including:

  • setting mining as highest and best use of the land. Mining trumps any other land use, even Aboriginal rights-based use. Land owners or users are only entitled to compensation in the event of a conflict; and
  • the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board duplicates and overlaps with existing provisions for surface rights and access disputes resolution.

If GNWT needs to explore ways to modernize this legislation, it should do it in consultation with Indigenous governments and it should be along the following lines:

  • The Surface Rights Board should have the power to deny access where and when appropriate;
  • The legislation should not apply within municipal boundaries and municipalities should have the ability to control or prohibit mineral rights acquisition within their boundaries;
  • "Access" should be re-interpreted broadly to include air-only access through the use of aircraft;
  • The board should be given the power to require financial security to ensure compliance with its orders;
  • A co-management model should be adopted in terms of the board composition where Indigenous governments appoint half the members; and
  • The board should have the discretion to hear from those other than the parties to the dispute.

I will have questions later today for the Minister of Lands. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mental Health Care for Children
Members' Statements

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If a child broke their arm, we would immediately take them to the doctor, where they would have an x-ray, a cast applied, and given pain medication; but what happens when a child's injury is mental and not physical?

First, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the work being done by organizations like the Rainbow Coalition of the NWT and FOXY/SMASH. However, recently I learned of the journey a child travels when they disclose mental health challenges. A family was contacted by an adult at their child's school advising them that the child had disclosed intent to self-harm and had a plan to end their life. As you can imagine, Mr. Speaker, this was devastating for the family.

The parent called the Primary Care clinic to request an appointment with a counsellor. As Yellowknife residents know, same-day appointments are highly sought after but rarely found. Next, the parent called a local private therapist. They could see the child in a month, at a rate of $200 an hour. The parent again called the Primary Care clinic and insisted on seeing a family physician. The family physician identified the child as urgent, meaning that the child would be seen by both a counsellor and a child psychiatrist.

Mr. Speaker, this is what the journey to care looked like from the perspective of the child. First, the child told their story to an adult; a brave first step. Second, the child told their story to the family physician. Third, the child was expected to tell their story to the intake counsellor before they would then, if found to be in need of mental health support, share their story with the counsellor. Fifth, Mr. Speaker, this child would speak to the child psychiatrist's intake nurse and then, as a sixth step, would see the child psychiatrist. All while the parent assured the child that they are important, that they matter, that they have a place in this world, and that, yes, the adults are listening.

The wait times children experience while working their way through a six-person triage is not realistic or responsive, and to be honest, Mr. Speaker, the family never made it to territorially funded mental healthcare. Because, just as we would not expect a child to continue through life with a broken arm, how can we expect them to heal without mental health supports? Mr. Speaker, expecting anyone, let alone a child, to share their story six times is not care. We must review our mental health triage processes, and we need to ensure that mental health is accessible and responsive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mental Health Care for Children
Members' Statements

Page 662

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Item 4, return to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I have visitors. Thank you for coming. I would like to welcome Tony Lucas, Sr., Donna Keogak. Thank you for bringing down my Pages from the community of Sachs Harbour, and my pages, Tony Lucas, Jr., and Rylan Esau, for working so hard and helping us here in the Assembly and in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my constituent from Yellowknife North, Irene Hache, here with us today. It's always good to have visitors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize a couple of Pages who are returning, Ms. Charlotte Buth and Ms. Josee Touesnard. I want to thank them for their help this year, and last year, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Page Alexander Ramsay, who is with us today in the House. Thank you.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome to the Chamber. If we've missed anyone, I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience with us. Thank you. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. COVID-19, 145 cases in Canada to date. I need to know if the Emergency Measures Act that was updated by the last Assembly to the GNWT overhauled its emergency plan, besides the planning that is underway right now to give the residents of the Northwest Territories, especially the small communities that we represent, direction on how the government is handling this outbreak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Deputy Premier.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Deputy Premier.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared, as we are aware, a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and requires enhanced public health and emergency preparedness. The Member is asking: what is the government doing to prepare? The GNWT has a territorial planning committee which is leading a broader, all-of-government approach emergency response planning to address potential disruptions and essential community, regional, and territorial services and support.

The Health and Social Services emergency operations centre has been fully activated to permit the Health and Social Services system to coordinate rapid planning in advance of a Northwest Territories outbreak. The chief medical public health officer is leading the public health preparations and surveillance and providing subject matter expertise to the Health and Social Services system and the GNWT on pandemic planning requirements. The NWT COVID-19 pandemic planning guide and checklist is guiding the Health and Social Services system preparations. The Health and Social Services authorities are planning for a surge in cases that may affect regular delivery of health services. Decisions around deferring the delivery of non-essential health services may be made as necessary. Staff have received fresher training on infectious disease protocols. The Northwest Territories receives routine updates from the Canadian public health office officials on suspected and confirmed cases reported in other parts of Canada and the world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

What are the plans to assist small communities for the pandemic?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The Departments of Health and Social Services and Municipal and Community Affairs are providing information, guidance, and support to community and Indigenous governments. The department will continue to share information necessary for their planning efforts. The local and regional authorities, governments, agencies, and businesses should be finalizing emergency readiness plans in light of the potential for a COVID-19 outbreak. An outbreak in the Northwest Territories could impact community services and may increase the need for basic supplies, as well as water delivery, sewage pump-out, and facilities to the homes. Organizers of these events and gatherings should assess their plans, recognizing that this is an evolving situation that may require rapid decisions to protect the health and well-being of our residents here in the Northwest Territories. We know that community members will band together and support each other in the event that COVID-19 reaches their community.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Is MACA doing outreach to the municipal and community governments in our 33 communities across the territory in regard to what is happening with COVID-19, and when are they able to start their emergency action plans?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Yes, the departments are working together, and there was a meeting yesterday, my colleagues here have just informed me. Plans are underway, and our departments and the Northwest Territories, we take this seriously. We are all working together as a department to ensure that messaging and information to our communities is done, and it's immediate.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Deputy Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Deputy Premier: does the GNWT have plans to stop highway travel, or are we checking the drivers? Are we stopping any aircraft in regard to being checked in Edmonton or here in Yellowknife for pre-screening before they head North for the safety of our citizens? If this COVID-19 hits our communities, nursing stations are not going to be able to give aspirin and Tylenol and send them home. This has to be dealt with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I am sincere with the Member's concerns. I am from a small community, as well, and in preparation for our week coming up, we will be going home. This is fairly new, and we have been planning and planning. There are measures being taken within our departments to ensure that we have safeguards in all of our communities, all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Deputy Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier about the Frank Channel Bridge earlier today. I also spoke about the federal government and the impossible road to the mines. We have a lot of Ministers. The Minister that is here, the Minister of Finance, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance. [End of translation]

[Microphone turned off] ...spending on the less critical Slave geological transportation corridor. Mr. Speaker, I guess we have to juggle the departments, but I will ask the Minister of Finance: could the Minister of Finance please explain how the Slave Geological Transportation Corridor took precedence over one simple bridge project on which the corridor usefulness is entirely based on? Mr. Speaker, I am referring, of course, to the replacement of the Frank Channel Bridge. Masi, Mr. Speaker.