This is page numbers 1749 - 1778 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 budget.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. BDIC loan payments to businesses are not being processed right now, but the interest rates are being charged on principal loans, therefore accumulating compound interest charges. Payments are being deferred for all BDIC business loans until April 1st, 2021. Can the Minister tell us if she believes the Government of the Northwest Territories should extend this time frame by six months or more and consider eliminating all interest being charged to BDIC loans during this pandemic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The BDIC is right now in the midst of a strategic planning process. They are halfway through. They've had their first meeting just before Christmas and are having a second one shortly. I know that their board is made up of business owners and business persons from across the Northwest Territories. I am sure they are looking at this. I have had conversations with their CEO who also assures me that this is something that is under consideration, whether or not to defer their loan payments further or how long to do so.

As to the interest rates or forgiveness of debts expressly, Mr. Speaker, they do not have the legislative authority to do that. Only FNB can be forgiving loans, but really at this point, my understanding is that businesses are continuing to communicate with BDIC. They are happy with the work that is being done there to support them and that that work is going to be ongoing. I expect more to come, Mr. Speaker, well in advance of April 1st. Thank you.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Most of the financial aid to date given to the business community has come from the federal government. Can the Minister provide us with an exact amount that the Government of the Northwest Territories has contributed to the business community in relation to the pandemic aid?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

This actually involves more than just one department. The funding to airlines alone has been into the $20 million range on behalf of the GNWT. As well, of course, there are a variety of other programs. There are projections of what we expect to spend, and then, there are also actuals. I want to commit to getting a more specific number back to the Member because, even as I'm sitting here, I imagine it comes as no surprise departments quickly try their best to do the math as I'm sitting and waiting for an answer to come in.

The simple fact is, we are into the millions of dollars in different programs. There's been money that's been spent in the tourism industry on GRIT. There's money that's now going to small businesses in terms of bookkeeping. There's money that is going out under Finance. Again, as I've said, to the airline industry. There is a variety of these different pots going, and some of them have the pots to which they are expecting to spend the full amount. Some haven't spent their full amount yet. I will certainly get a final number, but I do want to say that there are lot of pots of money. There are a lot of things happening, and yes, we are using resources of the federal government. That's the responsible way to do this is to fill the gaps that aren't filled by the federal government and to help support and enhance their programs.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

More clarity on some of that second question would be great. I know that we have been using federal funds and nothing from the Northwest Territories' government funds. The NWT has a very small business community that is reliant on government economic activity to be sustained. Can the Minister tell us if she thinks, as Minister of ITI and Finance, if there should be a balanced public and private sector economy in the Northwest Territories?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

My own opinions on the matter really are not the answer. We conducted the budget dialogues this summer to have that kind of conversation with the residents of the Northwest Territories. As ITI Minister, I have an opportunity to speak with business representatives from across different organizations as groups, as well as directly with members of the business community. We are a small economy, and it's not new that we remain an economy that is not particularly diversified. It is one that does have a large public sector reliance. I don't expect that to necessarily change in the near future, but yes, of course.

The simple answer is to say yes, it needs to be balanced. Supports need to be balanced and our efforts to grow our economy and diversify need to be balanced. There will continue to be anchor industries, just as there will be anchor industries in each community. It certainly is the intention of, I think, this government and the budget that's here today, to continue to support all of those things so that we can have growth in individual industries in smaller regions, as well as in the anchor industries, such as mining and the mineral resources sector, while also providing stability through the public service.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Minister is responsible for both ITI and Finance. Can the Minister tell us if she would consider providing a one-time direct financial aid package to all small- and medium-sized businesses that are majority-owned by residents who reside in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

These are really the kinds of questions that need to be asked, as we are right now engaging, as the Premier described yesterday, in putting together a COVID relief plan. These are exactly the kinds of questions to be asked. I am happy to answer them. That said, some of the materials put out today in conjunction with the budget recognize and reflect that the recovery already has been uneven. Some sectors and industries have recovered, and some sectors and industries simply have not experienced the impacts to the same degree as others. We want to be able to leverage the resources that we have, including those of the federal government, so that all sectors of the economy can continue to recover if they need to, all sectors can grow, and that means really a more nuanced response.

We have had already significant impacts on the airline industry and significant funding to the airline industry. Tourism has seen particular impacts and has also seen some specific funds directed in that regard. There is already the Northern Business Relief Fund, which helps with fixed costs. That is largely a CanNor fund, and it is one that seems to be working. Really, Mr. Speaker, what we need to do now is find where those gaps are so that everyone can continue to benefit from recovery and relief in a more even way and that growth continues to happen in an even way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Question 495-19(2): Language Services
Oral Questions

February 4th, 2021

Page 1758

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I made a Member's statement on interpreters because those positions are very important, and we want more training. I'm going to ask the ECE Minister. [Translation ends]

My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and they relate to the government's commitment to training and certifying professional Dene language interpreters and translators. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's Indigenous Languages Action Plan set goals for the development of Dene interpreters and translators. Those goals include in-house training and also partnering with external organizations for further training and certification. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister describe the progress his department has made in pursuit of those goals? I would like to hear more of a timeline, Mr. Speaker. Masi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member for his continued advocacy on this topic. I agree that people need to be able to access the government, and they should be able to access it in their own language. The Member is correct that we do have an action plan, and it has some items related to this.

In a broad sense, there are a number of initiatives that the government is undertaking. There is a mentor-apprentice program whereby fluent speakers, such as the Member, would apprentice a younger -- it doesn't have to be younger, necessarily, but someone who doesn't speak the language. There is funding provided for this, and this is a way to help a new generation of speakers gain those skills.

We are working on developing a two-year diploma program in conjunction with the University of Victoria, which has a lot of experience in this, and that would be an adult immersion program to get speakers to the point where they could become interpreters. The long-term goal is to have that program be the predecessor of, perhaps, a third-year interpreter-translator program. It is on the horizon.

In terms of some of the other goals or projects happening, this March, actually, the department is putting together a virtual gathering of the 30-plus translators and interpreters that are currently in the territory. This is to identify specific needs for ongoing professional development so that we can better support those who are translating now, even if they don't have the professional certifications, and to get input into ways that we can attract new interpreter-translators and expand the field.

Those are some of the things that are happening. I have to commend the Member that it was his very friendly badgering that I think moved some of these things forward. This is an example of Members of this House working together to move things forward and make progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

[Translation] Regarding the training, it's very important to us. I want to ask another question. [Translation ends] [Microphone turned off]... I am involved in that. I am teaching a non-language speaker, so basically, I am a teacher to this student. It's my daughter that I am teaching, and it is very rewarding to be a part of that. The Minister has indicated that in the committee's statement that I'm walking the talk. This needs to happen. I am encouraging a lot more people to get involved. Maro Sundberg is involved in that, as well, which is great.

Mr. Speaker, the second question I do have is based on partnership. Could the Minister tell us precisely what external partnerships he assigned for the training and certification of interpreters and translators? Could he update us on the partnerships that are currently involved in this process?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I don't have that level of detail with me right now, but, for example, the mentorship-apprenticeship program is in partnership with Indigenous governments, and I said we are partnering with the University of Victoria and, hopefully, with Aurora College, to develop a program that we can deliver throughout the North. I can get that information for the Member.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I am very interested in the in-house training, and I am glad that the Minister is gathering, over the video-teleconferencing, those experts at the community level in March. I would like to know, because this will be in-house training, more specifically, have there been any dedicated extra funds for in-house translator-interpreter training in pursuit of those goals that I mentioned earlier?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Again, I don't have those specific numbers. I am not sure how this is being funded. Perhaps it's out of the current budget that there have been some savings on travel, for example, so maybe that is what is funding this. I am not quite sure, but I can find that out and let the Member know.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, if the Minister can provide that detailed information, that will be very helpful. My last question obviously is: What would be the process? Okay, there is a gathering in March, and obviously, there is a process in place. Can the Minister describe, because I am very interested in in-house training that is going to be happening, but at the same time, there is Aurora College that is involved, as well. It has been involved in the past. Can the Minister describe how Aurora College has been enlisted to ensure that we have a sufficient number of professional interpreters and also translators in the system in the Northwest Territories? Could the Minister provide that if he has it now or provide that later, as well? Mr. Speaker, masi.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I can provide that information to the Member along with the other information I committed to. I just want to note that Aurora College will be becoming arm's length in the next couple of years, and we can no longer say, "This is what we are going to do at the college." In the future, the university I see has a very strong language aspect to it. To me, it would be one of the highlights, one of the selling points of the university, so I foresee very strong partnerships going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, today, my statement was in regard to the COVID pandemic and how it changed communities in Nunakput. I am wondering: I am asking the health Minister if she could possibly look and work with me in regard to putting a team together to go to my communities and across the territory if possible, a grief counsellor, a few counsellors, to go into the communities for four or five days to actually sit with the people and listen to the hardships that they are going through and try to work with them to help them. I am hoping the Minister and maybe even the MACA Minister team up to find the funds so that it is possible to do something like this across our territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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