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.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ITI SEED program was announced on May 11, 2020, five and a half weeks into the new fiscal year. The SEED program began taking applications for the 2020-2021 year with an increased budget of $4 million. A new guideline was announced at this time, and all the SEED programs are available for funding. However, priority was given to supporting business development opportunities that are forward looking, supporting local employment, and have a plan that reflects our new economic realities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

I don't want to get into a debate with the Minister, but it certainly was eight weeks since this House actually approved a full contribution funding for the department. There seems to be little clarity around the amount of funding for each of the eight SEED streams, and whether that money is divided regionally or some other way? Some of my constituents have said that that uncertainty is not very helpful. Can the Minister tell us whether there is any allocation of SEED funding by stream, region, or any other means, and how this will be communicated to the public?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

As mentioned, SEED has a funding, or sorry, a pot of $4 million this year. It is my understanding there are not allocations to the different programs, but rather, we evaluate each application on a case by case merit. They are regionally evaluated. However, it is my understanding, there aren't certain amounts allocated to the regions. However, I will confirm that with my department.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that. Maybe that information might be posted to the ITI website so that members of the public would actually know, as well. The one-page, seven-principles guideline for 2020-2021 SEED funding is for a range between $30,000 and $75,000. The new guideline is not reflected in the application form or the ministerial policy that was approved in 2019. It seems to me to be a little bit behind the times. Can the Minister explain why the SEED application form and the ministerial policy has not been updated to reflect the new guideline?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

It has been a very busy time over the last while. I did want to confirm that I have received confirmation from my department that there are regional funding allocations for the SEED program, and we can provide that for you. I do believe there is information available on the website. I can't really tell you exactly why that particular piece of information hasn't been updated, other than the fact that updating a ministerial directive, which is an overarching theme for my department, was not my priority at the time. My priority was to get the funding out to people. I will commit to the Member that we will update that immediately.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I pointed this out weeks ago to her, so the delays in developing the new guideline and opening the SEED program application are difficult to understand. I think we have to be able to do a lot better. I listened to my colleague from Kam Lake ask questions last Thursday on the Minister's responses on the SEED applications to date. Can the Minister tell us whether there are any plans to seek additional funds for SEED or modify it further in light of the pandemic and need for economic recovery? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Yes, my department constantly advocates and lobbies with the federal government for more funding for our programming, including SEED. We have numerous ongoing conversations with CanNor and with federal ministers in my FPT tables. Every time, I raise the issue of needing more business supports for Northwest Territories businesses, that we do fall through the cracks, and that the majority of our businesses are small businesses, which are already having economic uncertainty prior to COVID. Yes, we always look for more funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. As I said in my statement, there was a lot of freelance trailer camping going on, on the Ingraham Trail on the weekend. I do appreciate that we wait all winter for a chance to be outside, but gathering in places other than campgrounds presents some risks to people and the environment. What is the risk to people of opening the campgrounds immediately? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Chief Public Health Officer recently released Emerging Wisely and has identified certain permitted activities under the various phases. The opening of campgrounds is a permitted activity under phase 2. We are working toward opening campgrounds when the Chief Public Health Officer does move the Emerging Wisely plan to phase 2 to allow for overnight camping. I would like to emphasize that not all services will be open due to ongoing risk assessments, such as with the shower buildings. All parks are different and require different risk assessments. These will help identify what is the capacity or the use of that park. I will take this moment to reiterate: there is no compromising safety, and that is our number one priority for our staff, contractors, and the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thanks for that little sermon. What kind of oversight is your department providing over freelance camping? Is anyone talking to campers about bears and fire risks, for example?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

A working group of ADMs from Lands, ITI, and Infrastructure have been considering approaches to deal with pressure on the land and outside campgrounds. I will ask that ENR also be looped into this process. Departments will be working on a joint communication approach on the subject, in the event that there is freelance camping beyond the campgrounds. Departments' inspectors are cross-appointed between health and departmental programs for compliance and enforcement under land and resource management legislation.

The GNWT recognizes that people will be enjoying social distancing out on the land this summer, but we will be encouraging residents to enjoy the land in a way that is safe, respectful, and does not interfere with others' enjoyment. We understand staycations will be popular alternatives in the NWT for the foreseeable future, to be safe and be responsible, know where you can temporarily use the land. You are permitted to camp on untenured territorial Commissioner's land short-term; two or three nights is acceptable. If you meet up with others, observe the two-metre rule. Leave no trace. Pack your garbage out with you and limit your stay at a popular spot so others can enjoy it, too.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

The Minister makes this sound like a hypothetical question. This is not a hypothetical question. People are camped all over the Ingraham Trail. The bears are active. The lakes are sometimes still frozen. We have some very significant risks to having people have fires, garbage, sewage outside of the campgrounds. I haven't heard yet what the risk assessment is of that dynamic versus all of the words you've given us about safety first.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

I would not want to overstep my authority. I only have authority to administer within the parks. If there are issues with things happening on lands, those go under other departments. I believe the Department of Lands would also be involved, or you can call the RCMP, if you're finding that people are not treating things properly.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

No, thanks.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am slightly concerned that we might be putting too much emphasis on digital supports when it comes to helping people with mental health. My first question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is: we've heard of extreme benefits, even in this House from different Members, of connecting with knowledge keepers in times of need. I'm wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services has looked into on-the-land mental health clinics for Northerners during COVID. Thank you.

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. Yes, our department provides $1.8 million to Indigenous groups for on-the-land programs. Thank you.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

I appreciate that the Minister spoke to we're not quite sure what the fall will bring. We aren't sure what the fall will bring. We aren't sure what will happen with kids this fall with the second or third wave, and if kids will end up back at school, but we have heard wonderful things about the child and youth care counsellors who will be going into schools this fall. What I'm wondering is: even if our kids don't return to school, will these child and youth care counsellors still be accessible supports to the kids of the Northwest Territories?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The answer is yes. The child and youth care counsellors are already working with schools and continuing to provide supports to children and youth, in their schools and in their communities. The child and youth care counsellors are providing services to children and youth using the telephone and virtual approaches. Also, they will continue to work through the summer and into the fall, regardless of whether schools are open or not.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

I appreciate that answer from the Minister. I would like to move on to our front-line workers, if possible. Compassion fatigue is a real thing, and I think that it is something that our front-line workers are experiencing throughout the Northwest Territories right now. Many of our front-line workers were recalled from March Break, annual leave was cancelled, and they've been working non-stop at a very high-stress time. With a limited number of mental health counsellors, nurses, and physicians that we have in the Northwest Territories, how does the GNWT intend to support the needs of Northerners while protecting the psychological health and safety of our front-line staff?