Debates of Dec. 7th, 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 work.
Topics
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 195-19(2): 2030 Energy Strategy Update
- Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly
- Member's statement on Government of the Northwest Territories and Chamber of Mines COVID‐19 Recovery Working Group
- member's statement on Abstinence from Alcohol and Drugs
- member's statement on Home Base Yellowknife
- Member's statement on Health Advocate for Medical Travel and Nunakput Residents
- member's statement on Community‐Based Education Programs in Small Communities
- member's statement on Safe Shelters in Regional Centre and Small Communities
- member's statement on Arts Community in the Northwest Territories
- member's statement on Procurement Decisions by Government and Crown Corporations
- member's statement on Needs of Arts Community in the Northwest Territories
- member's statement on Eulogy for Mary Bernadine (Bernie) MacKinnon
- oral question 861-19(2): Health Care Advocate at Inuvik Regional Hospital
- oral question 862-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories and Chamber of Mines COVID‐19 Working group
- oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
- oral question 864-19(2): Northwest Territories Arts Council
- oral question 865-19(2): Highway No. 7 Border Hours of Operation
- oral question 866-19(2): Community-Based Education ProgramS
- oral question 867-19(2): Needs of Art Community in the Northwest Territories
- oral question 868-19(2): Government Procurement
- oral question 869-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories and Chamber of Mines COVID‐19 Workign group
- oral question 870-19(2): Increase in Propane Prices
- oral question 871-19(2): Cold Weather Testing
- oral question 872-19(2): Relocation Costs
- oral question 873-19(2): Board of Directors of Northwest Territories Power Corporation
- oral question 874-19(2): Federal Regulations for Release of Water from Oil Sands MR. O'REILLY: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I do have some questions for the minister of environment and natural resources. Again, I haven't given him a heads up but, look, it's in the media now that the federal government is developing some regulations to allow for the release of water from the oil sands in Alberta. Of course, they would flow down -- that would flow downstream past our communities, including Fort Smith.
- Written Questions
- tabled document 520-19(2): nwt water stewardship strategy action plan 2021-2025 TABLEd DOCUMENT 521-19(2): nwt water stewardship strategy action plan 2021-2025 plain language summary TABLED DOCUMENT 522-19(2): responding to climate change in the nwt plain language overview report 2020/21
- TABLED DOCUMENT 523-19(2): northwest territories carbon tax report 2020/21
- Tabled document 524-19(2): Northwest Territories Energy Initiatives Report - Reporting on Actions under the 2030 Energy Strategy Tabled Document 525-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 782-19(2): NTPC COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
- TABLED document 526-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 41: Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act
- tabled document 527-19(2): Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories dated december 7, 2021 tabled docuMent 528-19(2): 2021 Review of Members' Compensation and Benefits - northwest territories
- Motion 44-19(2): Appointment Of Equal Pay Commissioner
- motion 45-19(2): t Move Committee Report 22-19(2) into Committee of the Whole
- Motion 45-19(2): Move Committee Report 22-19(2) into Committee of the Whole
- Bill 41: Justice Administration Statute Amendment Act
- Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Report Of The Committee Of The Whole
- Orders Of The Day
oral question 862-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories and Chamber of Mines COVID‐19 Working group
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for clarifying that. So I've suggested a couple of times now there are a number of options to bring greater transparency and accountability to these secret meetings.
Can the Minister tell us whether these meetings are consistent with our open government policy and describe how she is going to bring greater transparency and accountability to these secret meetings? Merci, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 862-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories and Chamber of Mines COVID‐19 Working group
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the multiple times we've now spoken about these meetings, I'm not sure I agree with the characterization of them as being particularly secret in any fashion. And indeed even after the last round of exchanges that the Member and I had on this, the Chamber of Mines themselves put a number of the meeting minutes onto their own website to demonstrate that they too are more than happy to make known the fact that they are working to advance the interests of the industry with the GNWT.
As for the ongoing work there, Mr. Speaker, I certainly took note of the concerns that were raised in the last time that this matter came before the House. The deputy minister and I are looking to have a new set of terms of reference issued. When I have them, I will certainly make them available to the Members so that we are able to, in fact, be clear and focused on the purpose here. And the clear purpose, clear focus, is that this is an anchor area, an anchor section of the economy. It's one that we want to see supported, and we want to work with those with their knowledge of that sector to see where we have mutual areas of interest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 862-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories and Chamber of Mines COVID‐19 Working group
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Housing Minister who is also the Minister responsible for Youth.
My first question is will the Minister commitment to touring Home Base and learning about the work and programs that they're providing firsthand? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I have met with Home Base recently through zoom. And I have been able to receive a comprehensive understanding of the supports that they provide to the youth. But looking forward into the new year, I will commit to touring the facility with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister for that commitment to come and take a look at their operations. I think it's always good when you can see things firsthand. Let's keep it on vein of saying yes.
Can the Minister commit to providing Home Base with emergency funding to expand support hours to 24/7 and to keep their shelters open? The reason that this is so crucial right now is the temperatures are dropping, and they do provide a very important service for youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To date, the Housing Corporation has supported Home Base with capital funding under our shelter enhancement fund to do minor retrofits to the building. Their operational funding has been provided by Health and Social Services. I understand the emergency shelter funding within the Northwest Territories has been fully subscribed and allocated to all seven current operating shelters across Northwest Territories.
I can ensure the Member and the House that the Housing Corporation is in further discussion with Home Base. After our recent meeting with them to see how the Housing Corporation can work with them, and the Housing Corporation will invite other social program departments to participate in these discussions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's answers sort of speak to my next question as well.
Can the Minister commit to assisting or working with her colleagues to look for core funding for the Home Base program so that we can keep youth from not experiencing homelessness as well as ease the burden on social services? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that there is a need and importance of the service they provide. We are currently in conversations with other social development departments after our mutual role and responsibilities when it comes to funding and supporting the various shelters and accommodation supports across Northwest Territories. The support provided to youth is one of the specific target groups. We are also in conversation with Canada and to access programs like the federal Reaching Home initiative to support programs and facilities within the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to hear the Minister speak about working with other departments. I think that the way that youth are being dealt with definitely crosses multiple departments so we do need to keep breaking down those silos.
My last question is will the Minister commit to touring other buildings in my district, such as Norseman Manor and Simpson House, to see where we are placing the vulnerable youth and committing to developing an action plan to end youth homelessness? Thank you.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department does have a working group with the various lessees that we hold in Yellowknife. And also I will be making sure and commit that we reflect the youth homelessness needs in our homelessness strategy that will be tabled in early 2022. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 863-19(2): Home Base Yellowknife
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly
oral question 864-19(2): Northwest Territories Arts Council
Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onunity In The Legislative Assembly
December 7th, 2021

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.
My first question is what is the challenge to making the NWT art strategy arm's length and why was this not initially just put into the art strategy as a deliverable? Thank you.
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