Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said, this kind of tracking is important to us so that we have a full understanding of how long it is taking to meet people's needs for services in these areas. There are some limitations, as the Member referenced, to our electronic medical records system at this time. It's going to be retired in the 2023-2024 period, and it's going do be replaced with something that is going to be super-duper, I hope. And it's going to be able to have an online patient portal. It's going to have all kinds of different ways to report things such as those that the Member has inquired about so that we have a full set of dashboards for people to see. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'm going to go to a different super-duper Minister on -- with my questions, and they're for the Minister of Infrastructure who has responsibility for the Arctic Energy Alliance.

Can the Minister tell us whether she's aware of the difficulties caused by the federal energy pre- and post-audit requirements under the Canada Greener Homes Grant program, and what is she doing to fix that problem? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Health and Social -- sorry, Infrastructure.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this super-duper Minister will answer two questions that I just heard. Yes, we are aware of the issue, and the GNWT and the Arctic Energy Alliance were not consulted before the federal program was put in place. We have made the federal government aware of our concerns with this program. While we do not have the ability to change the requirements set under a federal program, we will continue to engage with Natural Resource Canada towards a mutually-acceptable solution to this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I think that was a yes, and good work. I appreciate that, thank you.

So can the Minister tell us, though, whether her department is working with other provincial and territorial jurisdictions to change this unnecessary federal program requirement of pre- and post- energy audits. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the issue was raised with Natural Resource Canada by various jurisdictions throughout the intergovernmental energy efficient working groups, and we have spoken with the other jurisdictions in Canada about this problem, and there is a common concern, as the Member mentioned. We will continue to engage with Natural Resource Canada to be able to look at a solution to this problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. While I'm on a role, I got two, I'm going to keep going. So while the pre- and post-audit requirements are a problem, the other one is a lack of certified auditors to carry out the audits, the energy audits, and the cost of training monitors. What steps is the Minister taking to help increase the number of energy auditors, and is any additional funding being provided to Arctic Energy Alliance to help fix this problem? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is a national shortage of energy auditors. We recognize that. We are currently training more energy auditors internally for the Northwest Territories. We now have two certified auditors and two more in training. This should be adequate to meet our needs, but efforts are continuing to build additional capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Well, I guess all good streaks have to come to an end, but -- no, I appreciate the work that the Minister's doing on this, and Arctic Energy Alliance as well, but they may need some more money to help get this working a little better.

As a result of these energy audits, though, money I think is being left on the table for NWT homeowners and they could be using that to increase energy efficiency, save money, and combat climate change. So what is Arctic Energy Alliance, the refit -- sorry. What Arctic Energy Alliance energy retrofit funds have been lapsed over the last five years as a result of the inability to complete projects under the current energy audit requirements and other limitations? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I heard the Member's asking for what -- what funds have been lapsed through the programs here. And I just want to say that there were no funds lapsed as a result of any energy audit requirements. Only one Arctic Energy program requires an audit, and it's the Deep Home Energy Retrofit program. And we are able to prioritize those clients for audits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Reply to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Lands.