This is page numbers 1903 - 1944 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.

Women Driving the Economy
Members' Statements

Page 1906

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Economic Recovery
Members' Statements

Page 1906

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are at an important time in our history, and I believe COVID-19 brought food security to its limits on a global scale. California, where the majority of our food comes from, is experiencing increased droughts and pressures. Desertification is increasing around equatorial regions in the world, and the growing season is pushing further and further north. Many countries and areas around the world have capitalized on this.

In Russia, for example, half of their food comes from backyard gardens, and every citizen is entitled to two to five acres for free farmland in which they can build a house on it. Just next door in the Yukon, there has been a longstanding program that gives out farmland for those who will farm it. The 2016 census reported 142 farms operating in the Yukon. The NWT, on the other hand, has 16.

Mr. Speaker, whether it be the Inuvik greenhouse, McNeely's Nursery, Arctic Farmer, Riverside Growers, Nifty, Polar Eggs, Green Enterprises, or Deh Cho Gardens, there are models that are working in the North, but we have a long way to go. One of the biggest barriers and obstacles in this area is access to land, Mr. Speaker.

We still do not have an agricultural lease. We still do not have commercial leases that allow you to live on it, despite almost everyone who has farmed for all of history, lived on those farms.

Mr. Speaker, I believe people often shun the idea that we can expand the agricultural industry in the North. They go, "It's too cold," and kind of shrug it off as not an economic driver. I would rather take one business that can employ five people and replicate it to every single community than I would take a business that employs 150 people. I believe we have models, and we need to expand this into the North.

Mr. Speaker, whether it be the reindeer herd in Inuvik or what we see in Alberta, northern bison farming, there are plenty of options to expand into this to ensure we have food security. It creates a low barrier entry for work. The South Slave is filled with rich, arable land. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands of what we are doing to actually make sure we end up with more farming and more agricultural. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Economic Recovery
Members' Statements

Page 1906

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Whati All-Season Road
Members' Statements

Page 1906

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

[Translation] Masi, Mr. Speaker. Today, about the all-season road to Whati, there will be an opening of that all-season road, so when we take a look at it, that would be Highway No. 9, there will be a celebration. Today, is the government on both sides will be working together? What I'm trying to say is: having businesses along that new highway, because we know that would benefit the people on both sides, as would be having camps or a park. [End of translation]

This is an important milestone for the people of Whati. This month, we celebrate the completion of the long-awaited Whati all-season road. This is a great accomplishment for the Tlicho people; the Tlicho, the territorial governments, and the community of Whati. The road will certainly lower the cost of food in Whati. It will unite families. It will make doctors' visits easier and improve access on the land. It also raises the possibility of new industry for Whati, one that can create jobs, one that will better people's lives. I am referring to community-based tourism, an industry that plays perfectly to the talents and skills of our Indigenous people, the Tlicho people.

Mr. Speaker, the natural beauty and wildlife of the riches of the Whati region guarantees that visitors will certainly be visiting the community of Whati. Whether tourism contributes to the greater good of the people of Whati depends on the territorial government. At the appropriate time, I will ask questions to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Masi.

Whati All-Season Road
Members' Statements

Page 1906

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Eulogy for Jim Weaver
Members' Statements

Page 1906

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I stand in the House to inform you that Jim Weaver, a former teacher of Fort Simpson, passed away on November 24, 2020. Jim was born on October 15, 1941. As a young teacher, Jim travelled North in 1966 with his wife, also a teacher, to Iqaluit and Pangnirtung, where they spent 10-plus years teaching. It was here he developed his love for the North while spending his time on the land hunting caribou, ptarmigan, and fishing char with the local residents. It wasn't long before he had his own snow machine and qamutit.

In 1978, he had the opportunity to bring his young family to Fort Simpson, where he would continue teaching for the remainder of his career. He enjoyed being part of the community and, most of all, the school, bringing elements of the land into his classroom, where his students would learn the biology of local fish and wildlife, including how to trap, skin, and clean them for subsistence. He was also known for his assortment of animals in his classroom and engaging teaching lessons, no matter the subject. He also had a passion about bringing his students onto the land, where they could learn through their own hands-on experience. His Dr. Kelly camps are remembered by many. Most importantly, his former students now span across the North, taking some of those powerful experiences with them.

After retiring, he stayed one more year so that he could enjoy a few more trips hunting and fishing on the beautiful Mackenzie River and not have to return home on a Sunday night for school the next day. Bringing home a moose was his greatest highlight. Finally, after 21 years in Fort Simpson, almost 30 in the Northwest Territories, in declining health, it was with much sadness he returned to his home town of Doaktown, New Brunswick.

His time in the North created experiences and memories he cherished deeply and will never be forgotten by his family, whom he shared them with. He leaves behind his wife, Joan; son, Kevin; and daughter, Sharon; and four grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by his friends and family, and he had a huge impact on our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Jim Weaver
Members' Statements

Page 1906

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, replies to the budget address, day 5 of 7. Member for Thebacha.

Ms. Martselos' Reply
Replies To Budget Address

February 10th, 2021

Page 1906

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to provide my response to the 2021 budget address, which was tabled by the Minister of Finance on February 4, 2021. In preparation for my budget reply today, I reviewed my remarks from last year's budget reply, along with my remarks from my response to the Commissioner's address delivered last May. Oddly enough, much of what I said last year in those two speeches is largely still how I feel right now about the budget before us today.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of this Assembly with over 50 years of business experience in the private sector, my strengths and main concerns rest with the economy. First of all, this budget does not provide any long-term solutions to address the growing deficit we have. Perhaps the government will address this issue in future years under their proposed government renewal strategy, but this is something that has to be addressed and done so in a balanced way.

Unfortunately, at the moment, our government does not have a concrete plan for the territory's economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19. I understand the Premier will be sharing a draft framework for a recovery plan with MLAs during this session, which I welcome and am looking forward to reviewing. However, I urge the Premier and Cabinet to accelerate the work being done in this area and to make the recovery plan available to the public as soon as possible. Doing so would help reassure both the public and the business community.

Mr. Speaker, stronger emphasis must be placed on the economy in order to help the private sector remain as insulated as possible over the course of this pandemic, and beyond. We need to have a strong economy to ensure that our residents continue to have a livelihood, as well as hope and faith in their government. We need to continue investing in and pursuing some of the large infrastructure projects that were outlined in this Assembly's list of priorities. We need to continue advancing the Taltson hydro expansion, the Slave Geological Corridor, and the Mackenzie Valley Highway project. We also need to invest in the expansion of Internet and cellular services for all NWT communities and highways. These projects will surely provide significant economic activity for the NWT and would provide long-lasting infrastructure that will serve our territory for many years to come.

We also need to increase the level of diversification within our economy. We must expand the knowledge economy; expand tourism across all regions of the NWT; increase the number of journeypersons and apprentices in the small communities and regional centres; and help the sectors hurting the most right now, which includes mining, oil and gas, accommodations, and the food service industry.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, we need to support small- and medium-sized businesses wherever possible. Lowering the small business tax was a step in the right direction in this regard. Another helpful step we could take is to extend all deferred payments for BDIC loans by at least six months or more, as well as rolling back the compound interest on the principal. More than ever before, we need to be more creative and open-minded to new business ideas to ensure our economy will recover and be profitable once again.

Mr. Speaker, another way we could help small and medium-sized businesses is in the reduction of red tape and the elimination of excessive regulation within the economy. This includes refining procurement policies like the Business Incentive Policy, the Northern Manufactured Products Policy, and the government's approach to public-private partnerships. Strengthening these areas of our economy will help spur economic growth and help to retain more of the wealth that is generated here in the NWT. We must also support and promote local competition by increasing the level of awareness of NWT contracting opportunities and actively encouraging NWT businesses to apply for BIP status.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, our government must continue to collaborate with Indigenous governments in the development and implementation of regional mineral strategies and in turn work to increase resource exploration and development as well as increase funding for mining incentive programs. I fully support increased resource exploration and development as these areas are our biggest economic drivers.

Our government also needs to focus on settling and implementing land, resource, and self-government agreements with Indigenous governments. We must settle all major outstanding and ongoing land claim negotiations. Some negotiations have been going on for decades, so let's quit dragging our feet and finding excuses not to settle these outstanding claims. After some of these outstanding claims are settled, the NWT is sure to become a much more attractive and stable location to do business and gain investments.

As a result of the damages inflicted by COVID-19, we as a government must initiate our economic recovery. We must keep moving forward and work to rebuild our stagnant economy. We must be innovative and compassionate. We must be willing to think outside the box from how things have normally been done. We cannot only operate on policies driven by bureaucracy, and we cannot lose site of the people we are here to serve. As I said before, we must also have open minds, open hearts, and be open for change.

I want to make something clear. For the most part, I am very largely happy with how the government has handled the health response of this crisis. Our Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Kandola, took strong measures, closing our borders and restricting all travel in and out of the territory. We acted fast, and it has paid off well. Now, we just need to begin focusing on the post-pandemic economic path that we want to pave for ourselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Martselos' Reply
Replies To Budget Address

Page 1907

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Replies to budget address. Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On my Member's statement today is Sachs Harbour airport and the community wanting to work with our government. They handled the past work over the years since the airport has been in operation. Now, to work on the drainage problem that they do have and upcoming work this coming year, is the Minister willing to work with the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour to have a contract worked out with them? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, yes. The department has had preliminary discussions with the community. They have expressed interest in the work under a negotiated contract, provided we get a support approval from their council to consider some of the work. Mr. Speaker, what we are waiting for is a support letter from the MLA from Nunakput to be able to provide to the hamlet so we can get this work going. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Wow, I am almost in tears. I am so happy for Sachs Harbour. I want to thank the Minister in regard to that. I do have a letter coming forward for the hamlet, and it was sent in the mail. I am going to get a hold of Vince right after, when I am done here, right now. You answered everything right there. I am so happy. What is the total value of that contract, the contract for the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The work is expected to cost about $400,000, and it would be done on a time-and-material basis. Once we get things going, that is what we are estimating. Hopefully, we can get into the community to start some of this work because it is much needed in the community.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

This is my final question now. I just want to thank the Minister and the department for that. It's going to help the community of Sachs Harbour, with those extra funds to operate, O and M for the community. Thank you so much, and I look forward to working with her department.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. I will take that as a comment. Sure. I will let the Minister have an opportunity.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond back to the comment. Just to give the Member an idea of where we are at, we have prepared a decision paper that is ready to go to Cabinet early March, subject to the receipt of the MLA's support, of course. With that support, we will recommend a negotiated contract. Pending approval to go into a negotiated contract, we expect a contract to be in place prior to the end of March. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Good Minister. Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions I have are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Has the Minister's department assessed where the NWT is heading in terms of training and retaining trades people? I ask this as we are in dire need of trades people in the NWT. Over the past week, I really noticed it. A lot of the trades people are aging out, and we have got to replace them at some point, so I am just wondering what the department is doing to address it in the long term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is obviously correct. He knows what he is talking about. There is a lack of trades persons in the Northwest Territories. Across Canada, in fact, that is the situation, and the situation is not getting any better. The department, recognizing this, did create the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Strategy and implemented that in 2017. We are now looking at how things have gone so far, looking at the subsidies that we are providing, going back and talking to industry and saying, "How else can we change this program? It ran for a few years; where are the successes? What can we improve on?" We are beginning that work. From there, hopefully, we can make changes and get more people involved. That is one of the things that we are doing, so we are re-evaluating all of that.

As I spoke about in this House previously, we are also looking at ways to get more women into trades, and recently the ATOC board, the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Strategy board, got together and discussed how can they do that. There are representatives on there from industry and other organizations, so that work is being done.

We are looking at every avenue. There are now discussions with the North Slave Correctional Centre. They are in the process of hiring an instructor, and ECE has reached out to that instructor to explain what we can provide in terms of support for inmates who want to get into trades. We are looking at every avenue because we recognize this is an issue that needs addressing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Has the department evaluated where additional support can be provided? I'm talking about financial support for those going into the trades or looking at the trades and to the employers who employ apprentices. The other thing is: are we looking at possibly training in communities, as well, and sharing of apprentices between companies if there is not enough work for them? Housing, for instance, might have some work for a couple of months, but they may be able to go into a private sector company for a couple of months, as well. We have to be looking at some real options here and finding ways to retain these tradespeople and apprentices before they leave the North.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

We are looking at all of that. There is federal money that comes in through labour market agreements, millions of dollars that flows to these efforts. I know that my colleague from housing has been big on trying to include training and apprenticing in housing contracts. Aurora College, through its expansion to a polytechnic university, plans on expanding its reach in communities and hopefully enticing and supporting more people into the trades in their communities because often that's where the need is. In larger centres, even though it's a challenge in Yellowknife or Hay River to get a tradesperson, it's virtually impossible in some of the smaller communities. Yes, we are looking into all of that.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Has the department considered or is it working with ITI to provide resources to business owners who employ trade workers and apprentices? I think it's important, when we look at businesses out there, the business may not have work all year long. There may be a little bit of a lapse. They may need some financial support or some type of support. I'd ask the Minister: have they looked at that area, as well?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

As I mentioned, there is money available to companies to hire tradespeople and people who they want to train and hopefully get into the trades. In addition to that, ECE is working more closely with ITI now, and they are strengthening that partnership. They are together creating a working group that is looking at the existing employment opportunities in the territory and how we can better work together. We're in the early stages of that work, as well. I think that, in the coming years, we are going to see a lot of changes to the program, and hopefully, that is going to entice more people to get into the trades and support more businesses as they support apprentices.