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.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I am not sure the specific details on the question, so I can get back to the Member.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

My third question, obviously, is at the systemic level. What is the Minister doing to improve entry-level training standards and staff retention at our elders' care facilities? What steps have been taken so far, to date?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I am not aware of what exact measures have taken place. However, I do want to let the Member know that we don't anticipate easing any of our current preventative practices right now in the long-term care centres. We are just going to continue with some of the processes that we have been doing.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I may have to do a written question because I need more information pertaining to this. These are questions that have been asked by the seniors and family members in my community. The next question I have is in follow-up to my last question, Mr. Speaker: what systemic steps is the Minister taking pertaining to another very vulnerable segment of our population? I am referring to those disabled adults residing in group homes and other residential support programs, Mr. Speaker. Masi.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I heard the Member say that he would be willing to share some of his questions and send it over to me. We can respond as a department. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health. Is the health authority actively looking at hiring translators in the hospital in Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now, in Inuvik, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority in the Beaufort-Delta region is actively recruiting for a Regional Indigenous Wellness Coordinator. This position will lead the incorporation of Indigenous languages into programming and service delivery. Thank you.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

That's the first I have heard of that; I am starting to hear some good news. Will the health authority find ways to work with our Indigenous groups to have translators, in the meantime, in our hospitals and long-term care?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The idea of the Regional Indigenous Wellness Coordinator is to be able to work with stakeholders, residents, and staff to determine what are some appropriate means to support languages and also have translators in our centres.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

One last question for the Minister: will she commit to having her department resolving this issue immediately, at least for the residents who are in our long-term care now?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The Inuvik Regional Hospital and the long-term care in the Beaufort-Delta will work with current healthcare practitioners who are able to speak additional languages. Currently in the hospital, in the Beaufort-Delta, we have a list of translators who can be called upon for translation services when required. We also have access to interpreter translator from Ulukhaktok via FaceTime and phone. We do have some of these services that are available, and I hear what the Member is asking to commit to. Right now, our department is committing to this position. Once we get the position, we can start to roll out how we continue to work with Indigenous groups.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my statement was on leadership in regard to the mayors in the communities of my riding. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to know from the Minister of MACA: what are we doing in regard to our weekly meetings with our mayors and chiefs across the territory? Is that still happening? The information is flowing on COVID-19 and the pandemic moving forward on the potential round two of COVID? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We were meeting since March, the beginning of March, when COVID-19 first hit us. We were meeting weekly with both the municipal governments and the Indigenous governments every Friday, in fact. When the session started a week ago, two weeks ago, we asked them if they would take a break for session and meet with the officials because of course I will be in session. They were going to take a break, but, Mr. Speaker, I just saw an email come through my desk that they are actually having a meeting this Friday, as well. My understanding is that the mayors and the Indigenous governments will continue meeting with officials until session is over, at which time they will reinstate meeting with me.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

No, that is good to hear. Things move forward without even us being there, so that is a good thing. It shows true leadership in our territory. What is our Minister looking at our emergency plans now, on the go-forward with this pandemic? I know that this is all new to us. We had everything but pandemic in our emergency plans. I want to know and make sure that the Minister is making sure that we go forward with all of our communities, all 33 communities, with an emergency plan with a pandemic stage on an upcoming pandemic in regard to, I said, COVID-19 second go-around, so making sure of the safety of our communities.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Some work has been done with the municipalities. Some work needs to be done. When COVID-19 first hit us, we focused on the immediate needs, making sure that people understand the orders and how to address the orders. That was our main focus, but as we move forward, we realize that even in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, when we did our emergency management plans for each community, they did not include a pandemic. They talked about forest fires, and they talked about flooding. Absolutely, that work is going to have to be done for 33 communities, and it has to be done for us as a Government of the Northwest Territories. That is work that goes forward. The other thing that is huge for municipalities right now is we are still advocating with the federal government to see what relief they will come through. We have been compiling the costs for the municipal governments. However, the Canadian association of municipalities actually sent a request to the federal government, asking I don't know the amount of money, but it was billions of dollars, for all municipalities. We are advocating, lobbying for that money, and watchful to see what comes out of that.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I thank the Minister for that. In regard to our communities I represent, I have one on the highway and I have three with airline services. It has been a tough 40 days in regard on the go-forward. Working with our first 10 days of working with my mayors, that was non-stop and long days. The essential travel part, now, for our communities, to keep peace of mind for our elders in our communities, where does that fit in regard to essential travel? Are we making sure that the communities of Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, and Paulatuk for essential travel, has that been the criteria yet with COVID-19, or did that loosen up in regard to that?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

If I am on the wrong track, the Member can meet with me after and correct me, but I am thinking he is asking about essential travel as to workers going into the communities. That is the same as it was when COVID-19 first hit. The only people who are into the Northwest Territories are the essential workers, from out of the community. However, we do allow people from the Northwest Territories to still leave the territories, go South, as long as they have a self-isolation plan when they return. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No. Thank you, Minister. That was what I wanted to hear in regard to action plan. Now, that being said, for those three communities that are fly-in, for my home community of Tuktoyaktuk in regard to the check stops that we had in our communities, is this government going to support my community of Tuktoyaktuk in regards to helping them pay, or is the federal government COVID-19 going to pay the funds that was expended in regard to a check stop, when it put people's minds at ease and it calmed everybody down? I am hoping this government will support that in paying that bill for the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

At this point, we have not been paying for any of the check stops that have happened in communities. We do have border patrols. We do have EMO that is on it, the enforcement and task force that are on it already. These are extra precautions that the communities, some communities, have taken upon themselves. At first, we were concerned about the health and safety of not only the people who were patrolling the check stops but also the people going through. We have not condoned the action, but we have not taken it down. I do know that we have given money to Indigenous governments. They can use that money as they wish for COVID-19, and I do know that the municipalities are seeking federal money. We are also getting them to compile their expenses. However, at this time, until we figure out what is happening with the federal government around municipal funding, we have not put any resources into municipalities, only on the Indigenous government side. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.