This is page numbers 2907 - 2950 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 assembly.

Topics

COP 26 and Climate Change
Members' Statements

Page 2916

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of this month I was very fortunate to attend COP26, the United Nations Conference of the Parties on climate change with the Minister of ENR and his delegation. In attendance in Glasgow, were leaders and politicians from around the globe with delegates hailing from all walks of life, including industry, NGOs, and activists.

The message from the conference was clear: The world is not on track to limit global warming to the extent agreed upon at COP21 in Paris in 2015. If we carry on as we are, temperatures will continue to rise and we will experience even more catastrophic events such as flooding, forest fires, extreme precipitation, and a loss of unprecedented number of species.

The world needs to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade and reach net zero carbon emissions in order to limit global temperature rise by one and a half degrees by the middle of this century. So far, the outlook is not very promising.

The four main goals of COP26 were this global net zero by 2050 commitment, to adapt to protect communities and natural habitats, to mobilize finance with a minimum of $1 billion committed for climate financing, and a commitment to work together to deliver on these goals.

Commitments were also made to cut methane emissions, address deforestation, and to develop clean technologies. The five sectors focused on at COP26 were power, road transport, hydrogen, steel, and agriculture as these sectors represent more than half of global emissions.

One only has to look in our own backyard to see the impacts of the changing climate firsthand: coastal erosion in Tuktoyaktuk, the extreme fire season of 2014 or last spring's devastating flooding in Simpson and Jean Marie River.

When we look around at the rest of Canada, we see this repeated elsewhere, such as the current flooding in BC that has led to highway washouts and closures, that has cut the city of Vancouver off from the rest of the country.

We cannot wait for the rest of the world to live up to their promises to curb global emissions, and must begin to look for our own solutions here in the North. It is imperative that our government utilizes all avenues of disaster mitigation and adaptation funding and work towards building our communities' resiliency. This would include assessing our communities and infrastructure for risk and incorporating nature-based solutions such as bank stabilization projects or the reestablishment of wetlands.

This government must take a proactive approach to dealing with climate change as it is no longer an issue for the future but is happening here right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

COP 26 and Climate Change
Members' Statements

Page 2916

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries
Members' Statements

Page 2916

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of my favorite summer activities is fishing. Fishing to me is the quiet lapping of the lake, midnight sun, and family time. We live in a remarkable part of the world where each of our constituencies have access to pristine freshwater fish.

The GNWT is moving forward with the revitalization of the Great Slave Lake commercial fishery so we can share northern fish with the south, and many moving parts are underway. The design and construction of a $13 million fish plant in Hay River, the development of remote community collector stations, training and support for winter fishery, and the development of a marketing strategy.

Central to the plans for commercial fishery growth is the construction of the fish plant. But, Mr. Speaker, I suggest it's equally as important to remove the regulatory requirement for any commercial fisher in the NWT to sell to the freshwater fish marketing corporation.

The NWT is the only remaining participating Canadian jurisdiction still under the authority of the Freshwater Fisheries Marketing Corporation Act. Freshwater holds the exclusive right to export fish from the NWT and all NWT fishers wanting to sell outside the territory must sell their fish to the corporation. For many fishers who only want to sell to the fish plant and leave the marketing to Tu Cho Fishers Cooperative, the current system under Freshwater Works. But for fishers who have made the investment and taken the risk to establish their own certified processing plants, they are limited by this regulation.

The GNWT has created barriers for existing fishers who are business savvy enough to find their own higher value markets down south and have invested in growing this industry alongside the corporation.

To grow the NWT fishing sector, fishers require access to southern markets but right now this is only legally possible if local fishers can obtain an exemption from Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. This process, Mr. Speaker, is arduous, burdensome, and time consuming.

The GNWT needs to ensure that the $13 million investment into a fish processing plant translates into higher compensation for local fishers. Without creating access to new markets and retail channels that empowers certified fishers to sell outside the NWT without being penalized by existing legislation and regulations, fishers will struggle to revitalize this industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Great Slave Lake Commercial Fisheries
Members' Statements

Page 2917

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been two years, and we have passed the halfway mark as our term of MLAs. During the last two years, we've faced many challenges, many issues from our constituents have been raised in this House. Many of the challenges and issues remain with us today, as I read through my Member's statements from the start of this Assembly, from housing to many of our social programs, from jobs to sustainable economy, from the health of our residents, our territory, Mr. Speaker, we continue to face outstanding challenges as well as new ones.

We've been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic six months into our term, and then this past summer, major floods.

Mr. Speaker, I, like my colleagues here today, am up for the challenge and I look forward to continuing to try to find solutions for those challenges.

On that note, Mr. Speaker, housing has continued to be a challenge and is an issue for not only my community but other communities across the north, and we have talked in many of our meetings of this being one of our top priorities as it affects everyone throughout the Northwest Territories. Without housing, we can't even begin to tackle many of the issues our territory is facing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'll have questions for the Minister of Housing, how the department is dealing with this critical issue.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to wish everybody back home in Nunakput all the best today. Since our last sitting, we had deceased members of my communities. The loss of Samantha Lucas, our thoughts and prayers are with John and the family. Samantha was a real pillar for the family in Sachs Harbour, and she'll be missed. I give my regards to the Lucas family in Sachs Harbour and to the Pokiak family in Tuk for the loss of their sister.

Mr. Speaker, this -- we had four deaths in Tuk since our last sitting. The first one was my stepfather, Barney Masazumi, and he's really being missed by his other -- his stepson Seth and the rest of the family. And -- not very often.

Mr. Speaker, next was one of my good friends and Elders, Stanley Keevik. Stanley was a respected Elder in our community and a herder back in the day. And he had so many stories and so many good things to say. He'll phone you almost on a daily basis to encourage you to keep moving forward and giving little key advice and stuff. But he'll be really missed. So to the Keevik family of Tuk and the surrounding areas, I'm sorry for the loss of Stanley. He'll be missed.

Also, we had Eva Ratti, a well-respected Elder in our community, a seamstress. To Gary and Bernice and the family, thoughts and prayers are with you.

And to Roland Kikoak, Oats, he's gonna be really missed because I grew up with him and, yeah, did a lot of hunting with him. And just one of the guys that you could always call upon for help and he'll be there for you. And he did that to everybody.

Mr. Speaker, I just wish all the families and whoever's hurting across our territory of loss of loved ones, our thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Our thoughts and prayers are with your communities and your family as well. Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Eulogy for Mary (Bernice) Bonnetrouge
Members' Statements

Page 2917

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mary Bonnetrouge known as Bernice was born on September 17, 1957 to Xavier and the late Marie Bonnetrouge. She was the eldest daughter of the family. She passed away on June 2nd, 2021, after a long battle with her sickness.

She grew up in Fort Providence where she attended school and was a very happy child and a favorite among many in the community. She lived in Yellowknife and in Fort Simpson, which became her home for over 20 plus years with her partner Barney Ryan.

Shortly upon her arrival in Fort Simpson, she earned a Slavey nickname which translates to "popcorn." She loved to hear that nickname and felt that it made her at home. She had the honour of representing the community at the 1996 EXPO to showcase her traditional craft in Moose hair tufting. She's always been recognized for her beautiful work in this forum.

Bernice was a valuable medical interpreter and escort for the Elders in Fort Simpson. When she was not doing that work, she loved to work at the camps as cook or cook's helper.

She was known for her contagious and uplifting and unique laugh. Just listening to her would start a chain of laughter from those around her. As well, she was a caring, compassionate, loving, and an understanding person.

Bernice leaves behind two daughters - Veronica and Jessica - grandchildren, siblings, and many other family members and friends.

Bernice will be greatly missed and will be remembered by her family, friends, and many who known her.

The family would like to express gratitude for all the community kindness and generosity at their time of grief. As well, thank you to Fort Simpson and Stanton's medical staff for all their help during this difficult time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Mary (Bernice) Bonnetrouge
Members' Statements

Page 2917

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the community at this time. Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I know it's been a very long day. Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise an issue of my First Nations members are having with the Department of Lands regarding riverbank lands. One of those communities, and it is a very small community, is off the main highway and very seldom do people, including tourists, venture into the community.

Mr. Speaker, this probably goes for many other small communities not accessible by highway. In most instances, the river is the only mode of transportation.

Mr. Speaker, the waterways, which includes rivers, are sacred to First Nations peoples, and this provides a means to sustain their livelihood through transportation, hunting, fishing, homesteading, and a host of other activities.

Mr. Speaker, one of the known activities that First Nations people have come to enjoy, as this activity was passed down from one generation to the next and will continue into the next millennia, Mr. Speaker, those activities is having gatherings, meetings, and drum dancing. There are many known places along the riverbanks where people have built homes or cabins near a place where First Nations people have gathered, have camped, shared food, shared stories, and end the day with all night drum dancing.

Currently, First Nations have built arbors which are circular in nature and important spiritually to the people that gather within these structures, and they are built as close as possible to a riverbank to be near a river. Many First Nations people and others have grown accustomed to standing atop a riverbank and watch the river flow, which is soothing, curing, and sacred to all who live along the rivers.

There are many arbors around, including the Papal grounds in Fort Simpson, the meeting arbor at Fort Resolution, and the busiest one at the K'atl'odeeche First Nations. And they are all near a riverbank and a waterway.

Mr. Speaker, First Nations have always asserted their right to hunt, fish, and build homesteads on waterways within their homeland. Mr. Speaker, this homeland is Denendeh, land of the people.

Our First Nations people up and down the valley are struggling with a department that is newly formed, the Department of Lands, in that the Lands people, who are government employees, and are asserting their right to ownership of the lands within Denendeh.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and mahsi, colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on, but I think we get the picture of First Nations' ties to the land and the waterways to sustain their way of life and to practice their cultural activities.

I will have questions for the Minister of Lands at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the questions are for the Minister of Finance. I'd like to know how is information being disseminated to GNWT management, GNWT employees and contractors, on whether or not they need to be vaccinated or have the option of PPE when on the work site. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, those communications have gone out in a variety of forms. At this point, our website is currently up to date explaining the policy and has a fairly detailed Q and A on it.

One of the next steps though, Mr. Speaker, and I expect it will be out this week, if not early this week, is that each department was asked to look at their specific work site and provide a determination of what appropriate PPE might be. Everyone's individual work site certainly will have individual requirements that allow them to operate safely if the worker is choosing not to submit their proof of vaccine. So that again, I will say I'm expecting it this week, and indeed, may well be out even early this week that will go through each department, to each worker, and every workplace should be able to access that through their supervisors and as it becomes available, it continues to get posted on our website as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm how many GNWT employees are currently vaccinated? Better yet, can she provide those numbers by department and how many may require accommodation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we don't monitor who is in fact vaccinated or not. What we are monitoring, Mr. Speaker, is individuals who have had their proof of vaccination documentation verified. So what employees in the GNWT will do, they go to the HR website and upload their proof of vaccine and it takes, you know, 24 or so hours for someone to simply review that and verify it, and then they're marked as having had that submitted and been verified. It's fairly quick. And I do have the numbers in terms, I think of a few days ago, of how many in total and by department have done that process.

We're sitting right now at just over 60 percent last time I had the numbers given to me in terms of, again, which ones have been verified. There is no doubt some further ones who are in the process of being verified. And I fully anticipate that we're going to have a number coming in over the next few days. I certainly can provide it by department, Mr. Speaker, but I'd suggest I do that in writing. Thank you.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, has the department considered the cost associated with accommodation, including the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and the NWT Housing Corporation, and can the Minister provide those costs. Thank you.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, firstly, just the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has its own policies so I'm not in a position to speak to what efforts they may or may not have done on their end.

With respect to the GNWT's policy, we certainly did consider the cost mainly in the form, obviously, of the PPE but particularly of testing. I anticipate the costs of PPE, we're not expecting that to be significant. But certainly the cost of tests can grow to be more significant over time. We do have some estimates. There's ranges of low to high. It depends obviously on what number of public servants we are dealing with. It depends on whether or not that changes over time. So I'll certainly be in a position to provide some of those ranges. And it's something we're going to be very closely continuing to monitor as the numbers come in and we know exactly what numbers we're dealing with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to GNWT employees or contractors entering small communities, will the community have a veto power over or on whether or not persons have to be vaccinated even though some community residents remain unvaccinated? I ask that because in this past week, we had a couple contractors from Hay River go in to a small community one day and they did some work. Next day, they went in and they were told to leave because they were unvaccinated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so at this point we know what we can control are the -- is the policies as they apply to GNWT employees, and that is the policy that we came out with I'd say fairly early as other governments in other jurisdictions were looking at what they could do to ensure that they are protecting their staff, ensure that they're protecting the people they serve. Any GNWT employees are certainly going to have to follow not only our policy but policies that might be applicable to them if they, for example, attend a municipal building or in any community; if they are required, for example, to do air travel, which, of course, comes with federal requirements. So in that sense, there may well be a number of overlapping guidelines that workers are going to have to follow owing to the fact that a variety of levels of government and private organizations are taking those steps to keep -- to taking all the steps that we know are best placed to keep people safe. 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. As I spoke about earlier today, we've ended up in a situation where we're giving $20 million a year to one company in Yellowknife. And, really, looking at the fact that the GNWT averagely occupies a building for 20 years, some of them we've been in for 40 years continuously, we're talking about hundreds of millions, if not a billion dollars of contractual obligations here. And, really, when looking at how this happened, there is one policy. It is the leasing of improved real property policy that was written in 1986, Mr. Speaker. And it speaks to trying to create northern ownership but clearly that has not happened.

So my question for the Minister of Infrastructure is will she commit to changing the leasing of improved real property to get our leasing portfolio into northern hands? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we recognize that the last substantial update to this policy was more than 20 years ago, as the Member probably already knows, and also note that there were concerns that were raised with the policy that is related to the procurement of the leases. So the GNWT, as we all are aware, is going through a procurement review, and we have recommended that the procurement of these leases be included as part of the overall review.

The results of the procurement review should also inform any proposed changes to the policy in order to align the principles of northern business development. And I also want to note that in recent discussions with the NWT Indigenous Economic Coalition, Infrastructure did commit to reviewing its existing leases with the Indigenous development corporations and also to bring forward a proposal to Executive Council because that is the process that we -- you know, we have to go to Executive Council in support of stability and economic growth across the territory to have a look at some of these leases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.