Debates of May 26th, 2020

This is page numbers 767 - 824 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.

Topics

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
May-June 2020 Sessional Statement
COVID-19 Public Health Response
Recognition of 90th Birthday of Alex Morin
Pandemic Lessons Learned
Reflections on COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 Pandemic Overview
Reflections on COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Reflections on COVID-19 Pandemic
Condolences on Passing of Community Members
Recognition of Passing of Community Members
Eulogy for Robin Mercer-Sproule
Helping Businesses Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic
Lessons Learned to Date
Frank Channel Bridge
COVID-19 Testing
Mandate Letters for Ministers
Public Availability of Mandate Letters
Data Used by Epidemiologists
Distance Learning for Post-Secondary Students
Number of Visitors in Hospital
Status of Personal Protection Equipment on Hand
Staffing at South Mackenzie Correctional Centre
Written Question 12-19(2): Virtual care
Return to Written Question 4-19(2): Action Plan on Core Housing Need
Return to Written Question 5-19(2): Tlicho All-Season Road Project Contracts
Return to Written Question 6-19(2): Educational Facilities
Return to Written Question 7-19(2): Virtual Health Care
Return to Written Question 8-19(2): Repatriation of Northwest Territories Residents with Disabilities
Return to Written Question 9-19(2): Contracts for Work Related to the Slave Geological Province Road
Return to Written Question 10-19(2): Pointed Mountain Gas Field Compliance and Reclamation
Return to Written Question 11-19(2): Commissioner's Land Act Security Deposit
Ms. Martselos' Reply
Tabled Document 64-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 104-19(2): Closing the Municipal Funding Gap Tabled Document 65-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 113-19(2): Sexual Abuse in Sports Tabled Document 66-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 161-19(2): Building Standards Act
Tabled Document 67-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 110-19(2): Addressing Drug Use in Northwest Territories Communities Tabled Document 68-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 128-19(2): Mental Health and Wellness of Seniors in Long-Term Care Tabled Document 69-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 141-19(2): Oral Health Report Tabled Document 70-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 144-19(2): Full-Time Psychologist for Children and Youth for Treatment Centre Tabled Document 71-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 145-19(2): Traditional Counselling Models Tabled Document 72-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 150-19(2): Oral Health Care Tabled Document 73-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 169-19(2): Fort Providence Health Centre Tabled Document 74-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 175-19(2): Home and Community Care Review Tabled Document 75-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 203-19(2): COVID-19 and the Timeliness of Updates
Tabled Document 76-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-19(2): Fort Smith Airport Infrastructure Tabled Document 77-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 23-19(2): Economy of the Northwest Territories Tabled Document 78-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 116-19(2): Tlicho All-Season Road Contract Tabled Document 79-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 159-19(2): Yellowknife Motor Vehicle Office Hours Tabled Document 80-19(2): Businesses Participating in the TASR Project Tabled Document 81-19(2): Slave Geological Province Corridor Contracts List September 1, 2015-March 31,2020
Tabled Document 82-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 117-19(2): Response to Affirmative Action Policy Tabled Document 83-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 171-19(2): Daylight Savings Time Tabled Document 84-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 190-19(2): Lack of Enforcement in Illegal Drug Trade
Tabled Document 85-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 56-19(2): Cantung Mine Surface Lease Tabled Document 86-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 70-19(2): Thaidene Nene Status Tabled Document 87-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 90-19(2): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Use of Limiters and Oral Question 211-19(2): Line Repairs and Power Limiters in Nunakput during COVID-19 Pandemic Tabled Document 88-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 96-19(2): Cameron Hills Oil and Gas Field Environmental Liabilities
Tabled Document 89-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Summary of Program Initiatives 2015-2019 Tabled Document 90-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Action Plan 2019-2022
Tabled Document 91-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 34-19(2): Income Security Client Banking Issues Tabled Document 92-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 62-19(2): Improving Income Assistance Administration Tabled Document 93-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 97-19(2): Income Assistance Tabled Document 94-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 111-19(2): Mental Health and Suicide Resources for Students Tabled Document 95-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 147-19(2): Day Care at Ecole J. H. Sissons Tabled Document 96-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 156-19(2): Women in Trades Tabled Document 97-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 170-19(2): Income Assistance Tabled Document 98-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 177-19(2): Support for Trades Employment Tabled Document 99-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 207-19(2): Succession Planning for Interpreters Training
Bill 6: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Report Of The Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Dr. Dragon.

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Dr. Dragon

Thank you, Madam Chair. The active carbon sequestration in forestry is done with the Department of ENR. This looks at efforts intended to maximize forest growth and, over the next five years, we'll have 120 hectares that will be selected for forest regeneration and 60 hectares for thinning. In terms of the season, I know that they got a late start last year. They're looking for more of a robust season this year. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I guess we're fortunate the deputy minister knows the deputy minister who served before in ENR. Is this like a scientific study, and who is actually carrying out the work? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Dr. Dragon.

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Dr. Dragon

Thank you, Madam Chair. This program is actually being utilized, I think they're using one of the universities, as well, to be a part of this project, but it's a contractor that they are having going in. Again, the site assessments occurred last year, and then the one for thinning and the other one for planting, the majority of the field work, if we look at one of the considerations of COVID, this might be it. Whether or not we could still do the field season or not, I think that's getting an update from the Department of ENR. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I guess I would like to be kept in the loop. If the Minister could commit to providing an update as to whether that work goes ahead or not, I would appreciate that. Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. We commit to doing so. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I also have some questions about the large-scale commercial and industrial something-or-other related to the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. As I recall, there was some kind of proposal submitted to basically give money to industry that did not meet initially with Environment and Climate Change Canada's approval the first time around, so they had to go back and renegotiate something. What is this program all about? If they have to provide details offline, I guess I would appreciate it, but I don't, sort of, ever recall seeing a request for submissions or applications or proposals or whatever. What is this program all about? Who is administering it, and has it actually started to roll out publicly? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will pass this one over to Dr. Dragon, as well. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Dr. Dragon.

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Dr. Dragon

Thank you, Madam Chair. The LCELF, Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund agreement, is providing $31.2 million over four years to fund projects and initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. All six of these initiatives were proposed by the Government of the Northwest Territories and will directly support the implementation of the 2030 Energy Strategy. The combined proposed initiatives have the possibility to leverage up to $74.2 million, all of new programs, if fully subscribed.

In terms of the six initiatives, the first one is energy efficiency upgrades for public housing; the second one is energy efficiency upgrades to GNWT marine vessels; third, government greenhouse gas fund; fourth, buildings and industry grant program; fifth, enhance Arctic Energy Alliance programs and services; and finally, the last one is the active carbon sequestration in forestry. We could provide those details if the Member would like. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Thanks for the explanation. I was aware of that. Just, there's this line item here, "large-scale commercial and industrial." There seems to be maybe a word missing, but I had understood that there was going to be some kind of grant or program to big emitters. I'm just wondering: is this it? Last year, we spent $2.5 million on this, and I guess I am trying to understand what we got for it and some description of what the money is actually for and how it's rolled out, how do people access it, and so on. If they have to provide that later, that's fine. I just want some details of that particular initiative. Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

We will commit to taking this away and getting more details for the Member. Thank you.

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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. I'm just trying to find in the budget here, how does Arctic Energy Alliance get its funding from Infrastructure? Is it somewhere else in the budget, or is this the portion to ask questions about it? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it is. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.