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

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there is anything the last year has taught me, it is the importance of communication. The ability to express ourselves so that others can understand us or being easily able to connect with someone in a time of stress goes a long way in allowing us to be happy, productive, functioning members of our society. In many ways, communication is a key component to our positive mental health. Being easily able to connect with someone in a time of stress goes a long way in allowing us to be happy, productive, functioning members of our society.

In many ways, communication is a key component to our positive mental health. Being able to easily communicate is something that many of us take for granted. Without the ability to communicate, a person can become socially and mentally isolated. For example, if they have trouble hearing, it can be difficult to communicate their needs to others. If their motor skills are impaired, they may not be able to use the technology required to contact the help they need.

In the North, many seniors lack the ability to communicate for a variety of reasons, and as a result, they cannot access the help that they may need. Some of these barriers are financial. For example, for many seniors, purchasing hearing aids is financially prohibitive. Currently, in order for an individual to acquire a hearing aid, they must pay thousands of dollars up front and then be reimbursed from the insurance provider. Many seniors simply do not have the financial means to pay out-of-pocket for items upfront or wait on reimbursement. As well, access to and the cost of batteries are further hardships that our seniors should not have to deal with.

Other barriers are both financial and technological, such as access to and navigating the Internet. As was recently seen, without access to the Internet or an ability to use it well, our vulnerable senior population encountered many issues when trying to book their COVID vaccines. Unable to navigate the online booking, we heard from many seniors that, when they did try to call the number provided, their calls went to voicemail, which was usually full, and they couldn't leave a message; or when they did finally get through to an operator, they were just told to go book online.

Vaccination clinics for seniors need to have dedicated phone lines to assist our most vulnerable population to ensure that they are booked for their vaccines. We have heard from several seniors about the stress and anxiety that navigating the booking system has caused them. Many of our seniors have been living restricted lives for almost a year and desperately want this vaccination in order to resume a better quality of life. To them, not to make it easy for them to access is almost cruel and shows how our seniors often fall through the cracks. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Advertising in the newspaper and spots on the radio are both places that seniors may hear about vaccine clinics or any news relevant to them. Posting notices on community bulletin boards or in places that seniors may frequent, such as the supermarket or seniors' centre, would also be useful. However, it is not good enough to just get information out there. There needs to be the proper resources in place to deal with these inquiries, dedicated staff to respond to these calls.

Additionally, beyond just the COVID era, we need to ensure that services are provided to seniors that enhance their lives and support aging in place. Seniors need and deserve affordable access to the Internet, training and programming to aid in technology literacy so that they can use it, as well as specialized mental health and wellness supports specific to their needs.

We need to make these changes now to ensure that we have healthy seniors and elders. We cannot allow one of our most vulnerable populations and, I would argue, one of our most valuable, to continue to fall through the cracks. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Government Renewal Initiative
Members' Statements

Page 1755

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. On October 30th, the Minister of Finance announced something called the Government Renewal Initiative, and she discussed it again today in the context of the budget. The Minister said, "We are going to use the current climate of recovery and renewal as an opportunity to reimagine how we obtain, manage, and control those financial resources."

The Minister painted a rather grim picture of our finances due to the significant capital spending, which has driven up our short-term debt. The Government Renewal Initiative is supposed to lead to what she calls "value-driven budgeting" through a review of all GNWT programs and services, department by department, with a framework early this year.

It is not clear when Regular MLAs will be engaged or involved in the Government Renewal Initiative and whether that will be before decisions are made. It will also be important to secure buy-in from our workforce and the general public through clear communications. While I believe in program evaluation, I want to make sure that both short- and long-term effects of changes are carefully weighed and considered, as well as differential impacts of any changes on communities, regions, and disadvantaged populations.

I am also concerned that the amount of time and effort that is likely required may not be enough or fast enough to head off the looming fiscal crisis where our debt limits are exceeded. We need to make tough political decisions now on what the priorities are and where the NWT should be. You can't set out trying to realign your spending unless you know what your spending priorities are going to be. I've outlined my priorities, Mr. Speaker. I push for housing, education, childcare, energy self-sufficiency, and a more diversified economy, rather than the massive spending on large infrastructure projects of dubious value that have driven us into increasing debt.

I will have questions later today for the Minister of Finance on the Government Renewal Initiative about whether it can deliver the desired results and how it will be implemented and communicated. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Government Renewal Initiative
Members' Statements

Page 1755

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last two decades, the safety of staff at the North Slave Correctional Centre has been repeatedly raised as a concern by Members of this House, and here we find ourselves again.

In November 2004, Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee stated that morale, sick leave, abuse, forced overtime, problematic hiring practices, lack of support, inmate-staff confrontation and assaults, and micromanaging plagued North Slave Correctional Centre. Then, in February 2006, Justice Minister Brendan Bell proposed new funding of $1.4 million to support correctional officer training and staffing in the 2006-2007 Main Estimates.

In March 2013, Justice Minister Glen Abernethy stated that both frontline and management staff need to have appropriate training so that they have the tools, resources, and supports to fulfill their duties while maintaining the safety and well-being of their clients, colleagues, themselves, and the public. The Minister went on to say that corrections staff participated in one-on-one independent surveys to answer questions about their training and working environment.

In June 2015, Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny read in a committee report responding to the OAG's report on corrections saying, "The committee is encouraged that the Minister accepted the Auditor General's recommendations and has developed an action plan to implement them." This report included recommendations to improve management policies and procedures.

In October 2017, Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart also raised alarms, identifying officer training, equipment, and staff budgets had been cut; that officers were being forced to work exhausting shifts without relief; and that staff morale was low.

Mr. Speaker, in December 2020, CBC reported about an NWT corrections facility workplace assessment, which we heard about from the Minister today, that was commissioned by the Department of Justice. The CBC article quotes a frontline corrections staff as saying, "There is a good chance someone is going to get hurt," and attributes this to poor staffing, employee turnover, training, and morale.

For decades, these themes have been repeated. Staffing concerns have been raised, much-needed funding provided, audits completed, employee engagement offered, and action plans written, but with high staff turnover, continued funding and long-term change is needed. The lip service to the public and staff has remained on point, giving corrections staff hope, but hope without real change just erodes trust even deeper, leaving morale even lower than when you started.

Mr. Speaker, I don't want my comments to be a footnote in a future Member's statement. Today, I want assurances that the Minister of Justice is taking action now to resolve the persistent staffing and morale issues that continue to plague the North Slave Correctional Centre. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Language Services
Members' Statements

Page 1755

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today I would like to speak on behalf of the interpreters, but before that, when we speak here, some days, they speak too fast for the interpreters, because when I have my earphone on, some speakers are really fast speakers. Today, the interpreters are very important for the Northwest Territories. Without them, everyone would be speaking only English. At the hospital, at the court services, in any government offices, they all speak only English. When we look at the interpreters, they are very important to us. We want those services available. This is what I want to speak on in my Member's statement. [Translation ends]

Interpreters and translators allow us, as Dene people, the speakers, the knowledge keepers, to code this in an English-speaking world. Without them, Mr. Speaker, English would be the only option in the hospitals, health centres, in the courts, and also in the government offices and the Legislative Assembly. Without our professional interpreters, we would be marginalized and isolated. Today, I want to express my deep appreciation for all of the hard work of our interpreters here in this building and outside this building; for the commitment of our interpreters, wherever they are, including right here in the Legislative Assembly.

As important as our Dene interpreters are, their professions are being taken for granted by this government. At one time, interpreting was a thriving profession, with a former language bureau and training and certification program through Aurora College. Now today, Mr. Speaker, interpreters and translators, there are no more than 10 certified interpreters in the entire territory. That is the whole Northwest Territories. Most of these 10 are near retirement, and little has been done to train more.

Mr. Speaker, this is nothing less than an emergency. I intend to ask the government how they are responding to this emergency in the Northwest Territories. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Language Services
Members' Statements

Page 1756

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Eulogy for Michael Burchill
Members' Statements

Page 1756

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, Michael Burchill, former constituency assistant for Kam Lake, Frame Lake, Yellowknife Centre, and my friend, passed away over the holiday season. He was not yet 30 years old, but in his short time on this earth and in our North, he worked tirelessly to help others.

From a young age, Mike felt a calling to serve. Whether volunteering every available hour to a territorial campaign or something small like helping a friend carry groceries, Mike was there. Mike was always there. I don't think I've met anyone who simply cared about others the way Mike did. His altruism was unironic, his love uncomplicated, and his laugh almost too authentic.

Mr. Speaker, Mike didn't spend long in our North, but in that time, he fostered countless friends and helped numerous constituents. Connection was a fundamental principle to him. He felt every person he met deserved what was, in retrospect, the most precious thing he could give: his time. If you met him, you wouldn't have forgotten him. He made sure of that.

As MLAs, I know many of us would be lost without our constituency assistants. They are front-line workers who must master the inner workings of government. They help people get income assistance, housing, healthcare, and so much more. When I was first elected, Mike helped me set up my office. Many people who have held office in this legislature benefited from his talents. More than a colleague, he was a friend to many. He was my friend, and he will be deeply missed.

Though he is gone, he is not lost to any of us. The time he spent with others will always remain in the memories of those who loved him. His influence can be found in many of the words of Hansard. He believed in the power of words, and never more so when they were spoken within a form of democracy like our Legislative Assembly. I am confident he would be given great solace knowing he enters a form of immortality by becoming words in Hansard: Michael Burchill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Michael Burchill
Members' Statements

Page 1756

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Fort Liard and Government Response to COVID-19
Members' Statements

February 4th, 2021

Page 1756

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to say the situation in Fort Liard continues to improve thanks to the support of the GNWT. Yesterday, I talked about the amazing work that the community of Fort Liard has done, and today it's about the GNWT.

Following confirmation of the case of COVID in the community, the rapid response team was deployed into the community and did an amazing job of testing and informing the community of what had happened. I am happy to say that they have been demobilized. It is my understanding that one of the nurses from the team has remained in the community to follow up on test results and provide support for the local nurses. The health centre continues to provide support for emergencies and patients who require medical attention. As for the first vaccine clinic, it went very well. I am happy to say a good percentage of the residents received their vaccine and are looking forward to the second one within the second month.

In speaking with the mayor, she wanted me to thank the Premier, who reached out to her from the very beginning and continued communicating through the difficult times. As well, she is happy with the support she received from the deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the associate deputy minister of the COVID secretariat, and the MACA regional staff. They have been helpful during this difficult time. The local and regional COVID secretariat staff have been doing an amazing job, working long hours to ensure the residents' safety and helping out at the border. The government developed a communication plan called the Dear Fort Liard campaign with CKLB, and it was a hit. Many messages of support were offered to the community members. It is my understanding that APTN National News will be doing a story on the campaign.

Mr. Speaker, school staff were well-prepared and innovative in their approach to teaching and learning in response to the school shutdown. They were quickly able to prepare and make remote learning packages available for the students. Chromebooks and Turbo Sticks were delivered to the high school students to enable them to complete and submit their final project online.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment implemented new service delivery options for income assistance to ensure continued support for residents. These alternative measures provided safe, efficient access to income support programs and services and allowed for income exemptions of other government funding intended to assist residents in lockdown.

On behalf of the community, I'd like to thank the government from the bottom of my heart for all the help they have and are providing for the community during this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Eulogy for Paul Delorey
Members' Statements

Page 1756

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to commemorate one of my predecessors, the Honourable Paul Delorey, who passed away on New Year's Day earlier this year. Paul served Hay River as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, he served the Northwest Territories as the Speaker of the House, and he served the community as a prolific volunteer and outstanding citizen.

Paul was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1999, defeating six other candidates and earning the privilege of representing the newly created constituency of Hay River North. He was elected again in 2003, that time by acclamation, and for a final time in 2007. In 2011, he announced that he would not seek office again, retiring with a perfect 3-0 record. To this day, constituents tell me stories about the effort that Paul put into assisting them, sometimes hinting, I think, that I had better live up to the standard that he set.

In addition to serving his constituents, Paul served the entire territory as Speaker of this House in the 15th and 16th Legislative Assemblies. My colleagues who had the pleasure of working with Speaker Delorey have always spoken highly of his performance in that position, citing his character, his professionalism, and the seriousness with which he approached the role.

Mr. Speaker, the level of civility displayed in this House differentiates our Legislative Assembly from virtually all legislatures in Canada and, frankly, around the world. We pride ourselves on our Members' ability to have frank discussions and hold the government to account while maintaining respect for each other and upholding the dignity of this institution. It is no accident that we have been able to maintain this delicate balance. Speaker Delorey was keenly aware that his job was to maintain this balance for the sake of our territory, and he did so masterfully. This afforded him the respect of his fellow legislators, as well as Speakers across Canada, among whom he was universally admired. During his tenure, Speaker Delorey modelled to his eventual successors the qualities that a Speaker should possess and, in that way, our Assembly has continued to benefit from his work all these years later.

Speaker Delorey was also responsible for bringing the Legislative Assembly closer to the people of the NWT in a number of ways. Thanks to his efforts, the Legislative Assembly's television channel is one of only 14 channels that the CRTC requires cable and satellite providers to carry and include in all basic packages. This has allowed us to broadcast our proceedings across Canada and rebroadcast in a number of Indigenous languages, which is something no other jurisdiction can lay claim to.

Speaker Delorey introduced the Mace Tour, which brings the Mace, the Speaker, the Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and more to schools across the territory, to teach youth and communities about consensus government and the work of the Assembly. He also reinforced and greatly expanded the Page program and is responsible for ensuring that youth from all regions of the territory have the opportunity to come and work and learn in the Legislative Assembly. All these efforts fundamentally changed how the public understands and interacts with the Legislative Assembly.

Paul's contributions were by no means confined to his work as MLA or Speaker; far from it. When he was named Hay River's Citizen of the Year in 2019, it was really a recognition of his five decades of tireless volunteerism. His knack for fundraising, his 40 years of coaching, and the sheer, incalculable number of hours he spent volunteering are the kinds of contributions that communities are built on. There is no doubt that he was a pillar of the community.

Mr. Speaker, there is so much more that could be said. I haven't even mentioned curling. Paul touched many people's lives, whether as a colleague, a friend, a teammate, a coach, a mentor. He will be missed by many, none more than his family. My condolences go out to his wife, Davida, his children, and his grandchildren. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Paul Delorey
Members' Statements

Page 1757

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River North. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community. Members' statements. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, replies to budget address, day 1 of 7. Item 8, acknowledgments. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Joyce Williams, a constituent of the community of Great Slave and a long-time Yellowknifer, who celebrated her 80th birthday on January 13th. We wish her many more happy and healthy birthdays to come. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Acknowledgements. Item 9, oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I alluded to the washboard situation on the stretch of highway from Junction No. 1 and 3 in my Member's statement. My question to the Infrastructure Minister related to that stretch is: Are there any immediate plans to repair that stretch of highway anytime soon? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister of Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member will be happy because the Department of Infrastructure is resurfacing Highway No. 3 from kilometre 0 to 23 this year, and double layer of chip seal next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi for that good news. I note the low employment in the community of Fort Providence, not to mention the number of Aurora College heavy equipment operators that have completed the program but are not given any opportunities for work in the field. My question to the Minister and a possible solution, their shortfalls in employment, unemployment: Is it possible to look into the benefits to providing training, employment program, and at the same time, providing the much-needed repairs?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

We're always looking at innovative ways to get local Northerners to work because it forms an important part of our bid process, and this is something we have done in the past with the Tlicho All-Season Road. We were able to work with the contractors to be able to provide training and opportunities for some of the local citizens to give them some of the skills that they can move forward with their training.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

That's very promising. I like that idea that we use as many northern contractors and northern labour as possible, especially if we can move forward on training programs. Many of these people that come out of heavy equipment operator programs, they are not hired by contractors because they lack experience. This type of work, and there's lots of work in the Northwest Territories highways, enables them to gain more experience on the highway systems operating equipment, flag persons, and whatnot. It's much needed. I realize that some contractors, northern contractors will need southern or other contractors that are experienced in road repair or chip sealing, but as long as a majority of the workers are northern content and for the contractors' sake, also. Mr. Speaker, it is more of a comment, and I don't have any more questions. That's good news that we're going to be moving on this project.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member. Taken as a comment. Minister's reply.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I enjoy the comment and some of the good news. However, I do want to speak a little bit more, and I should have answered this in his first question. I do want to elaborate a little bit more on some of the work that infrastructure has already invited a public tender, so we're doing a quarry at kilometre 188, which is Highway No. 1. The tender is closing February 25th to be able to produce some necessary work for the Highway No. 3 resurfacing.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, and I'm sure the Member will be happy, the survey contract will be awarded to Sub-Arctic Surveys this week to be able to survey Highway No. 3, which is at kilometre 0 to 23. Once the survey is complete, department staff will design the section. We are looking at a multi-year public tender for Highway No. 3 resurfacing, to be able to start this work this June-July 2021. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.