This is page numbers 845 - 886 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 services.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we revamp our guidelines for our SEED funding, it's now sort of open to all, so that distinction of COVID-related or not is not really relevant. There have been 40 applications for SEED to date, requesting approximately $410,000. Thirty applications have been approved, equalling approximately $220,000 in funding. Two applications have been denied as they did not meet SEED policy criteria. Two applications were withdrawn. Six applications are awaiting review by the regional panels. Applications for the 2020-2021 SEED started being reviewed by the regions on May 13, 2020. It has only been two weeks that we have been receiving applications, and yet we have already gotten a lot out the door.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

According to the backgrounder that accompanied the announcement of top-up funding, I quote, "a flexible approach shall be taken to the provision of SEED strategic initiative funding, with an allowable funding range between $30,000 and $70,000." However, the ITI SEED program webpage and the policy itself indicate that the maximum funding available under any specific entrepreneur support category is $25,000 per year. Can the Minister please clarify first what is meant by the term "entrepreneur support category" in the SEED policy, and are there separate pots of funding under the SEED umbrella? Thank you.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

There are a number of sub-programs described in the SEED policy that fall under that entrepreneur support category, and there is no specific pot of funding associated with each. Generally, we have $4 million fund that supports economic development in our communities.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Can the Minister speak to what is the maximum amount available to an eligible business under SEED, and can an applicant seek funding under more than one of these entrepreneur support categories?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

The maximum available for any individual business under regular SEED programming in a given year is $25,000 and up to $30,000 with a Ministerial waiver. Applicants can apply for any type of support. The limit is on the total quantum. The one exception is for strategic initiatives, with up to $75,000 allowed. This was introduced as a pilot program two years ago, and the intention was to support larger projects that could have a real impact in terms of investments in local employment and communities. We had previously targeted two strategic investments per region at $75,000 apiece. This year, we are currently targeting one strategic investment per region in order to make as much funding available as possible to as many NWT businesses. However, as reflected in the guidelines released on May 11th, our approach is one of flexibility. I would encourage anyone who has been rejected under the SEED funding to follow up with my office and we will look at their application on a case-by-case basis.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

As I alluded to in my Member's statement today, one of the most difficult parts about this policy is the market-disruption clause. Is the Minister willing to suspend or remove the market-disruption provision in the SEED policy so that existing NWT businesses can be assured of access to this funding? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

The SEED Program contains a market disruption provision in order to refrain from providing businesses with funding for investments when their competitors have funded similar improvements on their own. As with any government program, the objective is fairness. However, in light of COVID, we may want to review this approach in order to support businesses that need to pivot. The challenge will be funding business improvements or COVID pivots when their competitor across the street funded such improvements on their own. That said, again, I'll note our flexible approach, given the current circumstances.

I do want to thank the Member for bringing this to my attention. I will ask my department to consider how we can support Northwest Territories businesses as they prepare to operate in this new COVID reality and do so in a way that is fair. I will keep the Member apprised on what this department is able to recommend within the policy before the end of next week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Our time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. We have been fortunate to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the territory during the first wave of this pandemic. We were told a second wave is inevitable and likely to emerge at the end of the summer. In order to be ready for the second wave, we need to ensure that we have the capacity to conduct rapid testing and contact tracing on a large scale in the event that we have community spread of the virus.

1. Please provide an overview of how many tests, both rapid and standard, are on hand as of the end of May, and how many additional tests are available on short notice to meet our additional needs, and how quickly they can be delivered to Yellowknife?

2. How quickly are rapid test results available, and how long does it take to have the test results verified by the lab in Alberta?

3. How many staff are trained to perform contact tracing, and how quickly can this capacity be scaled up if the need arises?

4. Are the contact tracing staff able to provide services in all of the official languages of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. 10, replies to the Commissioner's address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, 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 three documents: the accreditation report for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority; the accreditation report for the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority; and the accreditation report for the Tlicho Community Services Authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following nine documents: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 40-19(2), Provision of RCMP Housing;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 44-19(2), Provision of RCMP Housing;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 46-19(2), Housing Program Delivery in Communities;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Questions 50-19(2), 136-19(2), 162-19(2) and 167-19(2), Proof of Income for Public Housing Clients and Rent Scale Policy Review;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 80-19(2), Arnica Inn Transitional Housing Project;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 89-19(2), Housing and Homelessness in Inuvik;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 129-19(2), Housing for Seniors Aging in Place;" "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 189-19(2), Contractor Suspension List;" and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 192-19(2), Housing Wait List." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Pursuant to section 266(2) of the Elections and Plebiscites Act, I wish to table the "Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election." Thank you.

Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, motions. Item 17, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 18, first reading of bills. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

One brief moment, Mr. Speaker. Apologies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. A motion is in order and is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 6 has had first reading. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021, for the Department of Health, with the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

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

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021, with Health and Social Services. Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with the first item.

---SHORT RECESS

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

We are going to call committee back to order. All right. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021. We are doing Health and Social Services. Does the Minister of Health and Social Services have any opening remarks?