Debates of Nov. 24th, 2021
This is page numbers 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 know.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 180-19(2): Update on Procurement Review
- Minister's Statement 181-19(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Renewal Strategy
- COVID-related Cost Recovery for Small Communities
- Legal Services in Small Communities
- Services in Small Communities
- Housing in Small Communities
- Increase Decision-Making Authority in Small Communities
- Small Community Employment
- Core Housing Needs
- Jean Marie River Flooding and Responses
- Infrastructure in Small Communities
- Eulogy for William Konisentia
- Oral Question 792-19(2): COVID-related Cost RecoverY for Small Communities
- Oral Question 793-19(2): Legal Aid for Small Communities
- Oral Question 794-19(2): Services for Small Communities
- Oral Question 796-19(2): Decision-making Authority in Small Communities
- Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
- Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
- Oral Question 798-19(2): Land Ownership Issues in Small Communities
- Oral Question 799-19(2): Jean Marie River Flooding and Responses
- Oral Question 798-19(2): Land Ownership Issues in Small Communities
- Oral Question 799-19(2): Jean Marie River Flooding and Response
- Oral Question 800-19(2): Obstetrical Care Costs
- Tabling Of Documents
- Report of the Procurement Review Panel - Review of the Government of Northwest Territories Procurement Policies; The Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission 67th Annual Report 2020-2021; The Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board 67th Annual Report 2020-2021; Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1st to June 30th, 2021); The Northern Employee Benefits Services (NEBS) Pension Plan Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31st, 2020.
- A Strategy for Renewal of the Housing Corporation.
- Child and Family Services Annual Report 2020-2021.
- Speaking Up for Fairness - 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud. 20/21 Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Annual Report. Office of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021. Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2020-2021.
- Committee Report 23-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on review of Bill 23, an Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act;. Community Report 24-19(2) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on review of Bill 24, an Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act;. Community Report 24-19(2) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on review of Bill 24, an Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act Committee Report 29-19(2) Standing Committee on the Economic Development and Environment Report Bill 29 Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for your consideration.
- Motions
- First Reading Of Bills
- Bill 36 An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act
- Bill 37 An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
- Bill 38 Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2021
- Bill 39 An Act to Amend the Post-secondary Education Act
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Orders Of The Day
Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear that, although I do want to caution the Minister BIP is only for a small portion of that overall contract so it may not actually have much weight in this.
And further to that, could the Minister speak to what is the estimated value of the work from the project that could realistically be executed within the community by local contractors. So this includes opportunities such as camp provision, work for laborers, catering services, camp attendants. What do we realistically see that Northwest Territories businesses could actually execute. Thank you.
Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't really give an exact figure at this time. However, it is expected with a project of this complexity that a higher portion of cost will be attributed to bridge construction itself. That's what we've been telling the communities in the Sahtu that, you know, it -- this is a complex bridge. So it -- as a matter of fact, it will be the second biggest bridge here in the Northwest Territories.
We could expect that local and regional and Northwest Territories contractors would be able to carry out quarry operations, roadway work, earth works, bush clearing, just to name a few, Mr. Speaker.
Additionally, businesses are available to supply camp services, heavy equipment operators, skilled and unskilled laborers, camp cooks, attendants, to name a few. There are many components to a project of this size and the work will take more than two years to complete, providing opportunities for local, regional, and territorial participation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
Oral Questions
Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm glad that the Minister supplied even some further examples of areas in which the local community can benefit.
And so I guess my next question is what is the Minister going to do or what requirements will be filled into the project plan in order to ensure that those small and local businesses and contractors are competitive in bidding on work for this project. Does the Minister commit to changing how RFPs are written to ensure greater scoring for those who incorporate training, Indigenous and community engagement. Thank you.
Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, there has been and continues to be significant engagement with the Sahtu and community folks that are interested in this project. In addition, the Northwest Territories BIP program, which provides support to local contractors bidding on projects, small and local businesses have an advantage when bidding on local work as they do not need to build in costs for things like accommodations or mobilization, because they're already there. This gives local businesses and contractors a competitive advantage over someone that perhaps is outside the Northwest Territories.
As the project is still in the early of design regulatory permitting, it's kind of early to discuss the method of procurement. But I can assure Members our department is making every effort to optimize local and regional opportunities for this important project within procurement framework of the GNWT while also respecting the procurement framework and trade rules that are associated with this primary project funder, the federal government.
I would also remind the Member that I am appearing in front of SCEDE tomorrow morning with some of my senior staff to discuss all the projects that are happening in the Sahtu and be able to answer a little more detailed questions to some of the project that's occurring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 796-19(2): Infrastructure in Small Communities
Oral Questions
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions
November 24th, 2021

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member's statement speaking about the Beaufort Delta and the core housing need, can the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation tell us what is the current waitlist for the Beaufort Delta communities right now. Thanks.
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the question. The total number that we have as of f today is 178. We've got Inuvik has 73, Aklavik's got 18. Fort McPherson 21, and Tsiigehtchic 9. Those are the numbers that I was provided that are on the waitlist. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MS. SEMMLER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister what immediate actions are
being taken to reduce this waitlist. Thank you.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of today, ate, the number that I have for the Beaufort Delta, including Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic, is 26 million that has been invested into this region. We have 17 of the market housing units which are the RCMP constructed units. They should be completed by the end of this government.
But we have got two units going into Inuvik. In Aklavik, we had 600,000 that was invested into six public housing units. Also home ownership repair programs for private homeowners and minor unit repair, all of to be expected to be completed in 2022-2023. McPherson, we've got four public housing units coming available. And also Tsiigehtchic two housing units and three major repair home ownership programs as well too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I also wanted to add that we continue the effort working with the Indigenous groups in the Member's riding as well too to continue lobbying the federal government for further additional housing infrastructure money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for those numbers. You know, Housing keeps bringing up these RCMP units. They don't resolve our housing crisis. They do provide our RCMP with new units in that, you know, since the Minister has brought that up, what I want to know is with all these new units that are being for RCMP, what are we doing with the old units? Are we going to absorb them into GNWT and are we going to use those to reduce our public housing waitlist? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that question coming from the Member.
Right now, as these RCMP units are being constructed, I am in conversations with the federal government and I want those units to be transferred over to the Housing Corporation so we would be able to work with the Northwest Territories and add that to our public housing stock. And also that there is possible an opportunity to work with the Indigenous groups as well too, as they would have preference before the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll go back to my other question that I had. So knowing that we've heard in this House many times that there's communities and there's boarded up and there's vacant units, what is the Housing Corporation -- how many housing units are in the Beaufort Delta communities that we are talking about, and what is the plan for those units that are vacant that Housing Corporation owns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm going to provide the Member with some numbers.
We've got 11 in Inuvik. We have two that are under repair and four that were scheduled for repair in 2022-2023, and five require funding.
Aklavik, we've got eight. Two are under repair. One is scheduled for 2022-2023 completion. And also five require funding as well too.
In Fort McPherson, we have four. Three are under repair, and one is required funding.
In Tsiigehtchic, we don't have any numbers.
But then, you know, I look forward to looking at those numbers as well too because we don't have the funding to repair those units and have them available for the clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Question 797-19(2) Housing in Small Communities
Oral Questions
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