This is page numbers 437 - 482 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 going.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions will be for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Small businesses are a cornerstone in the development of apprentices. Small businesses are willing to hire and support apprentices but rely on the subsidy program to offset associated costs. I would ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment: what is the total budget amount of financial resources directed toward wage subsidies for apprenticeships? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My first set of questions from the Member for Hay River South. It's a big day for me. The total amount budgeted in the previous main estimates was $1.072 million, and that's for the Trades and Occupations Wage Subsidy Program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

It's a big day for me, too. Can the Minister confirm whether this budget amount is routinely fully subscribed or under-subscribed?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

We don't have the actuals for this fiscal year yet, as we are still in it, but in 2017-2018, there was $948,000 spent, so nearly the entire budget. In 2018-2019, it was down to $655,000, so there was a carry-over of over $400,000, and that is due to a decrease in the number of apprentices, the new registers, from 92 in 2017-2018 to 70 in 2018-2019.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

The question I have here is: what are the current subsidy rates and the maximum term of those subsidies provided to employers?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

The subsidy rate is $8 per hour, to an annual maximum of 1,600 hours per apprentice, and the maximum wage subsidy support is $25,600, because it's over two years; so it's for two years, $8 an hour, 1,600 hours a year.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South, final supplemental.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. For the final question, well, first of all, it's good to hear that, in a sense, there is extra money in the budget, money that may have not been spent. Is the Minister willing to look at extending the term for third- and fourth-year apprenticeships, as well, to add another year on? I would like to see the money be spread out a bit, and it will really help small business, as well. Will you consider subsidizing third and fourth years, as well? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I appreciate where the Member is coming from. I know it's difficult for small businesses across the territory right now, and apprentices and journeypersons are in high demand. It's difficult to compete with the wages that are being offered by the mines and by government and by big industry, so to have that wage subsidy, it helps. If you're a small business and you're going into your third year with an apprentice, you might be concerned that you might lose that apprentice, and we need to help support them, so I am definitely going to look into this. We're going back to industry and to small businesses to see how these recent changes to the program have rolled out on the ground, and we'll make the decision from there, but I'm definitely going to consider all options, including extending this if those funds are available. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, I spoke about proof of income in Housing Corporation using the T4 policy. Madam Speaker, will the Minister table the policy that tells the LHOs in the communities that they must use a T4 slip to determine the income of the public housing clients? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Looking at the policy that we currently have for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, I see that it was more meant for consistent income. It does not meet the needs of seasonal workers, and I see that. So then, looking at this policy, I want to review it. I want to see where we are at. I think that the decision made at that time was a perfect decision for that government, and it did reflect a lot of good intent. However, now, times have changed, and it does not meet the needs of the seasonal workers, so, yes, I am wanting to go back and take a look at that. I will follow up with the Member with the discussion and outcome.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Could the Minister table the policy, though, in the House in regard to the LHOs using that to determine public housing for the clients?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Sorry, I did not confirm that. Yes, I would like to table the document, and I would like to have the chance to review it and look at the changes going forward.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I am pretty sure there are going to be a lot of happy people in the territory today in regard to that. Thank you, Minister. Will the Minister commit to ensuring the policy and all of the Housing Corporation policies are posted on their website ASAP?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

I did instruct my department to have the policies available online. I am not too sure where we are at with that right now. I am not too sure of the technical process or the administration for that to happen, but I will inform the Member when the policies are available online.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was so excited at question one that I forgot to ask: what is the timeline? Can this Minister give me a timeline on you getting rid of the T4 system and just people being able to go in every month, they show their pay stub, and then get their rent assessed on a timeline?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

I don't want to commit to timeline, because there are going to be a lot of reviews that are going to have to take place in order to look at this policy. However, I also want to be mindful that I feel that the intent for the policy was to accommodate the consistent income earners, but, looking at the T4 slips, it's not working for the seasonal workers. I see that, but also that the rent scale also accommodates -- I don't want to say "accommodates," but also works with the Northwest Territories, that we are the lowest at the rent scale for the rest of Canada. The rest of Canada is at 30 percent. We are at 19 percent. I just want to be very mindful of that, but then I see where the rent scale is very confusing to understand and very confusing to administer, but I am looking at the best results for the residents of the Northwest Territories.

If there need to be changes within that policy, I want to review it and speak with the Member, just to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the Northwest Territories. Looking at the T4 slips, I am not going to commit that this would happen anytime soon. I have to take a look at it first, before we end up making the changes, because our administration has to follow through with that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madame la Presidente. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. One of the recommendations from the standing committee in reviewing the Environmental Rights Act and approved in this House was the passage of anti-SLAPP legislation, or a law to prevent strategic litigation against public participation, and that that should be introduced in the 19th Assembly. Can the Minister tell us whether or when anti-SLAPP legislation will be introduced in this House? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my understanding anti-SLAPP legislation is outside the scope of the work performed for the Environmental Rights Act and most likely would not be the responsibility of Environment and Natural Resources. However, in getting a heads-up with this question and understanding and looking at that one part of the report, I have reached out to my honourable colleague, the Minister of Justice, and we are more than willing to have conversations and with the Member, as well.