This is page numbers 917 - 956 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.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mental health experts have cautioned that the fear of COVID, mounting death toll, economic downturn, and uncertainty is fueling a mental health crisis. What I would like to know is: how has the Department of Health and Social Services changed mental healthcare through COVID?

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Community Counselling Program continues to be available in the Northwest Territories, including locations here in Yellowknife, but during this pandemic counselling services have changed. We are now providing these services through telephone or by using virtual options like Zoom and FaceTime. I do want to note that wait times for counselling across our system have been eliminated, and residents can access same-day appointments. In addition, the federal government is also providing virtual options for all Canadians. The Wellness Together Canada is a free online portal with a variety of e-mental health apps focused on things like anxiety, depression, and stress, so the health and social services system is working to promote these options to the residents of the Northwest Territories so that they can have more options that are easily accessible from home through this pandemic.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

While I appreciate the Department of Health and Social Services looking for new ways to provide mental healthcare to Northerners, the reality is that not every single person has access to using apps or video conferencing for mental health appointments. Many residents of the Northwest Territories simply do not have the minutes on cellphones to be able to access telehealth. What I would like to know is: will the Department of Health and Social Services still provide in-person counselling to people who simply cannot access these supports?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The Community Counselling Program has shifted. I understand the Member's concern about not being able to have the one-on-one. However, there are times when individuals may need to be seen by a health professional in person, so these are situations that we assess on a case-by-case basis.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Bringing home a new baby today would bring a whole new level of fear and anxiety with it for new moms, heightened anxiety as parents work to keep their tiny infant safe, increased stress as parents are potentially further isolated from their support networks. How has support for new moms changed since March?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Supports that were in place for new moms before this pandemic are still available. These are things like the Community Counselling Program, the Healthy Family Program, public health Moms, Boobs and Babies. These are some of the initiatives that we have available for moms. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are lucky that COVID-19 hit Canada as the sun was starting to come back in the North. Now that we are in phase 1, people are able to get outside and spend more time together while social distancing. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that our second and potentially third wave will come as we are heading back into winter and that the mental health of Northerners will be further at risk. Self care for people includes exercise, eating properly, establishing a support network. What I would like to know is: what is the plan for the Department of Health and Social Services to help keep Northerners safe as we potentially might end up re-entering the containment phase as winter sets in? Thank you.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

While we anticipate there will be a second wave of this virus, we really have no way of knowing what course this pandemic will take; however, the Health and Social Services system is actively working to ensure residents are aware of services and supports available to them. This is being done through traditional media platforms, website, Facebook pages, and sites. Also, it includes a focus on the wellness and ways to cope and take care of yourself. This type of information is important at all times, especially during this pandemic, and we will continue to provide support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe now more than ever, we have to ensure that our plan to create a polytechnic university is on track, and ideally, I'd like to see it sooner rather than later. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Is the current timeline as set out on the mandate to establish a polytechnic university on track? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All the activities planned to be completed in this Assembly are still on track to be completed in this Assembly. Like everything else, the last two months has been exclusively focused on COVID-19. We are about two months behind in a lot of ways, which has pushed some of the things I was hoping to have done this summer back a few months. Other than that, things are on track. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I think one of the most important conversations we're going to have regarding a polytechnic is whether there is a flagship programming; what new programs will come out of it? I understand this is the work that will be done as part of the strategic plan that I hope to see soon. I recognize two months' delay is understandable during COVID. Can the Minister update us on any decisions that have been made in regards to new programming for the polytechnic university?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

No. This isn't the forum where those would be discovered. There won't be decisions made behind closed doors that someone has to ask me about. It's going to be a much more transparent process than that. What's happening right now is that there is a plan in place, and it's been refined. A lot of the work has been done, and I spoke about this, not in the last sitting necessarily but the first part of this sitting which we had back in February/March. I had a plan, and I was taking it to Cabinet so it could then be shared with the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. I am just bringing it to Cabinet this week, and then hopefully, the standing committee can see that plan Thursday or Friday. It will lay out the steps that we are taking.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I look forward to seeing that plan and the timeline for it. Another big, key question in getting this polytechnic off the ground is getting the capital funding, specifically, the capital funding from Ottawa. I know there was work to be done at the Fort Smith campus, work to be done at the Inuvik campus. Yellowknife is looking at the possibility of a new campus. Can the Minister update us on any progress that has been made towards obtaining the capital to building new infrastructure for the polytechnic?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

That's part of the work that we'll be undertaking in the coming months. We need to come up with a facilities plan. There is clearly work that needs to be done at all the locations, and then, there's work that can be done in the communities as well in terms of the community learning centres and the different types of access we can have there. We are undertaking that work, creating a facilities plan to let us know exactly what we need. I'm anxious to get that money, too, but it's hard to go to the feds and say, "We know we need something, but we don't have a plan for you just yet." They don't want to give you money without a plan. Once we get that plan, then I'm confident the money will start rolling in.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my concerns is that, as Aurora College kind of sits in this limbo, we don't seem to be investing in new programming because we want to wait to get the strategic plan in. I get that, but I'm a little concerned that we're not building the programming we have as we grow into a polytechnic. Can the Minister update us of whether there's any plans to introduce new programming into Aurora College, whether due to COVID-19 and the inability to have classes in the fall, will any programming be cut; how the programming looks due to the situation we're currently in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I don't know if this is necessarily the time to be introducing new programming. The landscape has changed, and we went from in-person to distance learning in the matter of weeks. The focus right now is on preparing for distance learning, at least for the first semester. There is no plan to add new programs. However, the Member is right that we do need to grow our programming, and that's part of the transformation work, part of the strengthening of the foundation, ensuring that the administrative processes we have in place support the growth of programming. Maybe we take some of the administrative burden off of teachers and faculty. That's the type of work that's under way, as well.

We also have a new program review process, one that is nationally recognized. It lives up to national and international standards. Programs will be added or removed based on that. We're not just going to cut a program to save a couple of bucks. We're going to make sure going forward that we are doing this like a university would. This is going to be a world-class institution, and we're going to do things like we're a world-class institution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Earlier today, I raised the issue of the eight-week delay in accepting SEED funding applications for 2020-2021 from the time that we approved the ITI budget until the release of a new guideline to assist with economic recovery. Can the Minister explain why there was an eight-week delay in opening SEED program funding for 2020-2021? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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