Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee further believes that the GNWT needs to do more to communicate with its most vulnerable populations, many of whom do not have access to computers or who found their access limited as a result of the closure of schools and libraries. Such communications should focus on pamphlets, mail-outs, radio, and cable messaging designed specifically to reach residents who do not have access to computers.

Recommendation 2

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the GNWT develop an emergency response communications protocol that ensures regularly scheduled updates to the public by the Premier and the appropriate emergency authorities whenever an emergency is declared under either or both the Public Health Act and the Emergency Measures Act. This protocol should also ensure that the GNWT's public response via electronic means is supplemented by non-electronic communications mechanisms.

Enforcement

The standing committee acknowledges the importance of ensuring that the public complies with the orders of the Chief Public Health Officer and supports the GNWT's efforts to mobilize and deploy an enforcement task force. Again, however, committee notes that the government's response was not as prompt as it could have been, pointing out that the announcement of the task force on April 8 did not come until a full three weeks after the declaration of a public emergency. It is committee's hope that gaps in existing enforcement efforts can be corrected now and that planning for future enforcement will include the identification of individuals and positions that can be seconded to work on enforcement, thereby allowing earlier deployment of an enforcement task force.

A number of issues arose with respect to enforcement that will need to be better addressed in future emergencies, including a possible second wave of COVID-19. The GNWT will need to work in collaboration with Indigenous and municipal governments to clarify the authority for establishing highway check stops outside of border crossings and to ensure that, where they are established, there are guidelines for their operation and consistency in how they are managed. The committee encourages the GNWT to obtain input from community representatives about how their issues and concerns were addressed in the COVID-19 response and to determine how to improve collaboration and make changes to any future response. This should include obtaining feedback about the efficiency and effectiveness of the isolation centres established in Inuvik, Yellowknife, Hay River, and Fort Smith.

Members have heard complaints from constituents who arrived at the border to discover that the GNWT did not have handouts containing information, or copies of forms that travellers were expected to complete. In some cases, the information that was disseminated did not include contact information for authorities.

There also appeared to be little consistency in follow-up with respect to ensuring that those in isolation are complying with orders. Committee believes that better enforcement would be supported by the development of a policy framework that, among other things, distinguishes between discretionary self-isolation, mandatory self-isolation, and mandatory isolation ordered by authorities; specifies how these differ with respect to enforcement; and which provides enforcement officers with guidance when verbal or written warnings are advisable, compared with fines or other punitive measures.

Recommendation 3

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the GNWT undertake steps now to address the public concerns about gaps in enforcement so that remedies are put in place before the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 this autumn. Committee further recommends the planning necessary to ensure that an enforcement task force can be mobilized within 48 hours of a future declaration of emergency. The committee also recommends that the GNWT undertakes a dialogue with municipal and Indigenous governments to obtain their input on enforcement measures and to use this information to guide the development of a policy framework for the future enforcement of orders issued during a public health or territorial emergency.

Mr. Speaker, I will ask MLA Semmler to read the rest of the report. Thank you.