This is page numbers 483 - 520 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 work.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question for the Minister of health is: has recruitment begun for the chief oral health officer position that was identified as part of the oral health strategy? Thank you.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

We have not begun the hiring process. I'm sorry; I can't go three yeses in a row. The department, however, is determining the scope of the work for what this role should be, and this should be done by the end of April. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of ENR. I guess, I would like to firstly say that we are always friends, you know; just sometimes our jobs put us on different sides. Well, we're on different sides of the floor, anyways. We know that, for sure. This is regarding the hiring practice in my community. I know I've pleaded with the Minister; I've sent emails, you know, short of signing over my GST cheque, but it's about inexperience versus experience.

It's just come to my attention since I got back earlier today that there is a very inexperienced Renewable Resource Officer III, which is the lead in the community, or officers. From what I am hearing, this person didn't know how to use a firearm. He discharged a 12-gauge in Fort Simpson, and it injured a person. He was sent out for further training on firearms, use of firearms and firearm safety, plus I am getting reports that former renewable resource officers even had to teach him how to operate a snow machine and teach him how to just live in the bush.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Just wait one second. It's pretty easy to identify the person you are speaking about, so just oral questions. Thank you.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

My apologies, Mr. Speaker. I guess it's experience versus inexperience that I am getting at. I'm really hoping, because we have been pleading to have our local people in the community hired into the positions. My question to the Minister is: will he revisit the hiring of the positions in Fort Providence? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member for Deh Cho has been talking to me about this in December, January, and February. We have had good conversations. We have had communication. I have shared as much information as I can share without getting into privacy and about process. At no point in time as a Minister should you be directing staff who to hire. It is about following fair process. Sorry. I won't be jumping on the bandwagon yet, but no, I won't re-look at the process. We followed the process, and the best candidate was given the RRO III position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi for that answer. I don't have any further questions in that regard since he is already taken a solid stance, but just to let him know that we will probably be seeking other actions to hopefully address this issue. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. I will take that as a comment. The Minister would like to respond.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is the appeal process, and it is all there. It is about trying to get the best person, the best candidate for the position. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho is an advocate for his community about people. I want people to understand he is doing his job. He is working hard to get his residents work and employment. Presently, right now, the RRO3 position went through an open competition, and the best candidate was given that position based on that. There is an appeal process through the mechanism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, reports of standing and special committees. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document. It is a follow-up letter for Oral Question 71-192: Oral Health Action Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation 2018-2019 annual report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document "FASD and housing in Yellowknife: a Mosaic of Options, Yellowknife," dated March 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, motions. Item 18, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021, with Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs and Legislative Assembly; Tabled Document 43-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, with the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Norn.

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Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), 2020-2021 Main Estimates, Executive and Indigenous Affairs and Legislative Assembly. Mahsi cho.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Norn. Is committee in agreement?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

We will take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I will now call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021. We will begin with the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Does the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs have any opening remarks?

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you. I am here to present the 2020-2021 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs.

Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $783,000 or 3.5 percent over the 2019-2020 main estimates. These estimates support our fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending while matching the modest expected revenue growth over the coming year.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

  • $905,000 in forced growth related to salary increases resulting from the 2016-2017 to 2020-2021 collective agreement with the Union of Northern Workers;
  • $705,000 for the establishment of the Office of Devolution Initiatives responsible for leading the Government of the Northwest Territories through negotiations related to the management of offshore oil and gas resources. This office has also been assigned the lead of a review of the NWT Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement transitional provisions as they relate to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act;
  • a sunset of $82,000 for a project to deliver a communications campaign and strategic communications plan for campaign schools that would increase the engagement of women in politics in the Northwest Territories. This is offset by an investment received from the federal Department of Women and Gender Equality for $525,000.

This money was made available to the Government of the Northwest Territories for two years, beginning August 2019, to expand pilot testing of the campaign school in five communities and to develop an online portal to support this initiative:

  • a sunset of $495,000 that was part of a project designed to access third-party negotiation and facilitation services to assist in the finalization of self-government agreements;
  • a sunset of $80,000 that is being provided as a grant to the Northwest Territories/Nunavut Council of Friendship Centres to assist with building capacity and strengthening partnerships of the centres;
  • a sunset of $170,000 in grant funding made available to individual Northwest Territories friendship centres to match contributions received from other entities; and
  • the department will see an increase in three positions in 2020/2021. These three positions are located in Yellowknife and are the result of the creation of the Office of Devolution Initiatives.

These estimates continue to provide funding for various priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by:

  • funding the operation of single window service centres that provide residents in 22 small NWT communities with access to basic Government of the Northwest Territories and Government of Canada services;
  • the delivery of campaign schools twice yearly in order to increase the engagement of women in all levels of politics within the territory. This will also include, as I mentioned earlier, piloting of the campaign school in an additional five communities, which has been made possible through a partnership with the federal government; and
  • the negotiation and implementation of self-government and land claims agreements throughout the territory.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you.