This is page numbers 2019 - 2082 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 communities.

Topics

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

[Translation] If we take a look at the money that is coming in, it's in the millions every year. The money goes to the government. We need to take a closer look at contributing some money towards addictions. [Translation ends]

Mr. Speaker, my next question to the Minister is: why doesn't this government link its addictions treatment spending directly to the millions it rakes in from the retail sales of these intoxicants? Has the Minister considered allocating a certain percentage, possibly 1 or 2 percent, of the revenues earned on an annual basis towards addiction programming or after-care programming?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I certainly do appreciate the attempt to solve what is obviously a huge problem for the Northwest Territories. As far as earmarking, though, and taking a specific amount that is within the Department of Finance, under the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission and the sale of liquor, the challenge with earmarking what would otherwise be going into the consolidated revenue fund is that it actually reduces the ability to be flexible that we all have about how we spend all of the money to achieve all of the priorities and the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

That said, Mr. Speaker, what is happening right now are two things. There is a review that is about to begin with respect to the liquor act. There is also, happening right now, work to develop an alcohol strategy within the Department of Health and Social Services, and the two departments are working together.

To the extent that the Department of Finance does alcohol prevention and misuse prevention activities, that does fall within our mandate. Mr. Speaker, I will look at the amount that we spend on that. I can commit to doing that, and I can commit to coming back and seeing if there are further activities that we can undertake there and, aside from that, continuing to do work with the Department of Health and Social Services.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I'm glad the Minister is recognizing the huge challenges that we are faced with addictions here in the Northwest Territories. It's a real issue. We need to be dedicating our resources, allocating funds towards that, meaning that we should be taking a certain percentage out of the revenue generated on an annual basis. We need to think outside of the box. We have always said this government is doing things differently. Well, show it. Show the territory that we can do that.

Mr. Speaker, what has the Minister learned from those more enlightened jurisdictions? Other jurisdictions are allocating a certain percentage, a dedicated statutory share of liquor and cannabis profits, to addictions treatment. Why couldn't we follow this practice that is already in place in other jurisdictions?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

We are on track to deliver on a pressing review about the structure of the pricing of alcohol in the Northwest Territories. As I say, it's on track. It's coming back in March. As soon as I have the information put together, that will demonstrate what, in fact, is happening in other jurisdictions, what best practices there are available, and at that point, we can make a decision based on that information as to whether or not there are best practices that we aren't following and go forward from there.

Mr. Speaker, at this point, if we were to earmark a certain percentage, my concern, of course, is: are we giving the right amount to Health and Social Services to do their work in terms of alcohol prevention? Are we giving them enough, and are we giving it to them at the right time when they are ready to utilize it effectively? Should it be going somewhere else, like to Indigenous governments? Should it be going to the communities? Having it part of the budgeting process that we are here for right now is the best way for us to all have that conversation and have that debate about where and how much to spend.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Right now, all of these issues are under the Minister of Finance, how the money and where the money is going. She is the person who makes these major decisions. This is the reason why I'm asking the Minister of Finance. Right now, under Canada, with alcohol, money that we are getting, all that funding we do get, I would like to see the percentage in each department, how far and how much can we get for each department regarding the addiction money that we will get from finance. [Translation ends]

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

If I have understood correctly, there is a request to ensure that we are properly reporting back on how much has come in in terms of any revenue, any actual profits, revenue from sales, and then to determine where that goes. If I understand correctly, that is very difficult. I mean, that goes into the consolidated revenue fund, and it is distributed to every department. As for which percentage goes for addictions treatment, again, we would involve the Department of Health and Social Services, which is certainly the lead on addictions services, with some supports to housing and some supports from Justice.

I will go away and look back at Hansard and see what I can come back with. If there is information I can collect, I certainly will, but to the extent that it is the money of the consolidated revenue fund, then it's the money that is spent by all the departments on addictions, which is in the main estimates which we are reviewing right now. Again, we will do our best to put some information together, Mr. Speaker. Really, that is what this purpose is to me with main estimates review, is to look at where we spend all of the money of the Government of the Northwest Territories and make sure it's meeting the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Question 570-19(2): Crown Corporation Boards of Directors
Oral Questions

February 23rd, 2021

Page 2027

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and the questions are just a formality because I am sure that she is going to agree with me. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the Minister and her department, can the Minister explain how the NWT Power Corporation is expected to be arm's length and provide oversight when we are using senior bureaucrats as a board of directors to oversee management and strategic direction? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Governance and accountability for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has been a long-standing issue for the GNWT, and several reviews have been done, completed over the last 10 to 12 years. The use of senior bureaucrats as a board was an interim measure while looking at a comprehensive review and also building on all the past reviews that have been undertaken. I admit this work is not proceeding as fast as we would like it to. I currently have a request in with Standing Committee on Government Operations to discuss some potential NTPC governance structures. Mr. Speaker, we need to get this right. We need to figure out how to make any NTPC board structure accountable to me as Minister and to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Can the Minister confirm, during the number of reviews, as to the effectiveness of the board that is made up of bureaucrats versus independent directors, and if so, what were the criteria used?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I think that was two questions, but I will try to get it in one answer. There has been no formal assessment done as to the effectiveness of the current board structure versus the previous board structure. That was his first question. There are advantages and disadvantages of either structure. The important thing, Mr. Speaker, is to come up with a structure that is accountable to ratepayers, the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and the Legislative Assembly without costing an arm and a leg and not having power rates go up to pay for all this.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Since I tried to sneak in that extra question, I will just ask one more. The NWT Power Corporation has a series of aging infrastructure along with potential major projects on the books. I would ask for a commitment from the Minister to initiate the process for replacing the current board of directors with persons who have the interests, experience, and time to ensure we properly position NTPC to take advantage of new technology and cost-saving measures as we move forward.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I have stated that there is a review underway, and I am hoping to meet with Standing Committee on Government Operations this session to be able to discuss some options. I do agree with the Member that, whatever board structure we land on, there is a need for independent engineering advice for decision-makers to be able to understand the consequences of any decisions that they have to make. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. First, let's establish the position of this government. Does this Cabinet support a national pharmacare program? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, yes.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

While I am on a roll, does this government support the creation of a national program as envisaged on the federal Bill C-213, the Canada Pharmacare Act, and has that position been communicated to our Member of Parliament?

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

This legislation, if it does, in fact, pass through the House of Commons this week, represents a real game-changer toward prescription medications for people in the NWT. Only about 50 percent of our population has pharmacy and medication coverage, so this would take in a lot of people who are currently left out. However, there is a lot of fine print that needs to be negotiated between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments. Obviously, pharmacare would be a national initiative but implemented by provinces and territories, so there is a lot of detail that needs to be worked out. Of course, we would not want a boiler-plate system; we would want a system that suits our particular needs here in the Northwest Territories. We would also, of course, want funding that was secure and long-term, that would ensure that, once we start to offer a pharmacare program, we would be able to continue offering it. We are interested in seeing this happen, but we are not at the stage yet of negotiating these details.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

I want to thank the Minister for that. I am not asking the Minister for negotiating the details right now. Does this Cabinet support Bill C-213, and have they communicated their position to our Member of Parliament? He has to vote on this bill tomorrow. Does this Cabinet support Bill C-213, yes or no, and can you communicate that with our MP?

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

As I mentioned before, the Cabinet does support a national pharmacare program represented in this case by Bill C-213. I am not aware about what conversations have happened with the MP about this bill. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. If I could respectfully suggest, then, that the Premier pick up the phone and call our MP and say, "Get on this. We support it. Please vote in favour"? However, I want to ask what else our government is actually doing to try to promote a national pharmacare program, so can the Minister answer that question for me? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.