Debates of Feb. 9th, 2021

This is page numbers 1843 - 1902 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in the NWT

NWT Climate Change Council

Midwifery Program

Minimum Wage and Top-Up Program

Northwest Territories Power Corporation Board

Diabetes Programs in Small Communities

Social Problems within Nunakput

Replacement of Chief Jimmy Bruneau School

Integrated Case Management

Access to Lands

Medical Detoxification

Eulogy for Susan Deneyoua

Eulogy for Maurice Edward Mendo

Committee Report 8-19(2): Report on Motion 5-19(2): Referral of Point of Privilege Raised By Member For Monfwi on March 10, 2020

Motion to Receive Committee Report 8-19(2) and Move into Committee of the Whole

Midwifery

Stimulus Funding for Small Remote Communities

Replacement of Chief Bruneau School

Northwest Territories Power Corporation Board

Diabetes Programs in Small Communities

Medical Detoxification Services

Point of Order

Minimum Wage and Top-Up Program

Integrated Case Management

Access to Lands

Point of Order

Tabled Document 299-19(2): Northwest Territories Energy Initiatives Report: Reporting on Actions under the 2030 Energy Strategy 2019/20

Tabled Document 300-19(2): NWT Climate Change Action Plan: Annual Report 2019/20 Tabled Document 301-19(2): Responding to Climate Change in the NWT: Plain Language Overview Report 2019/20

Tabled Document 302-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 481-19(2): Elders Housing Tabled Document 303-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 482-19(2): Hiring Local

Extended Adjournment of the House to February 23, 2021

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Finance - Deferral of Department (page 137)

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 75-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Finance - Deferral of Department (page 137), Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1861

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I can't give the Member a timeline at this point, but just because there is no line item, it doesn't mean that there aren't people who do the work. The Member is correct that ISSS acquired 74 or 76 positions a few years ago, and one of those was the person who was working at the Prince of Wales heritage centre. That being said, there is that relationship whereby we are supported by ISSS, and there are people there to do the work. It's not like, without the line item, it doesn't get done. There are people who do it, and we will ensure that it gets done. Thank you.

Page 1861

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 1861

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate the Minister's response, and I will probably periodically ask for updates on the floor of the House. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 1861

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Moving on, then, to Member for Thebacha.

Page 1862

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

As an Indigenous person born and raised here and a former chief, it would be not okay if I didn't make comments on culture, heritage, and languages. My first question is about the NWT Arts Council. There is $700,000 that is put in there. I would like to know how this money is disbursed. Is it disbursed by the NWT Arts Council that is a board here in Yellowknife and then goes out and decides who is going to get what? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 1862

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. The NWT Arts Council is made up of representatives from different regions across the territory. There is regional representation; it's not a board here in Yellowknife. They do make determinations about which projects that apply do get funding. Thank you.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

Page 1862

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Madam Chair, could I get the Minister to give me the list of the grants that are given to the recipients that are worth $700,000, please? Thank you.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 1862

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I'm seeing if I have a list right here. I don't have the exact list, but it is something that ECE does publish annually. Perhaps I can ask the deputy minister to expand. Thank you.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Deputy minister.

Page 1862

Mueller

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Minister. For this money that is available, it is by application. There are two calls a year for artists to apply. It is the Arts Council, as the Minister described, that go through using the criteria to determine the amounts allocated. Once that has been recommended, the Arts Council makes those recommendations to the Minister, and once approved, the artists are contacted and notified of their application and the amounts that they will be receiving. Yes, we can provide previous lists of the most recent calls. Thank you.

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The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Deputy Minister Mueller. We will get a commitment that we get the list. Member for Thebacha.

February 9th, 2021

Page 1862

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to also look at the support to northern performers. I would like to ask the Minister to provide a list of recipients who are northern performers. I'm asking this because, when I was in Salt River, we had asked the Government of the Northwest Territories for funding for our Treaty Land Entitlement days and got nothing. I would like to know where those grants for performing arts and festivals and organizations go to. I would like to sort of have an idea, so I would like a list for that, too, please. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 1862

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Sure. We could provide a list.

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The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

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Frieda Martselos Thebacha

I like the idea of one of my colleagues, one we call "sharing the art." It doesn't necessarily have to go to another museum, Madam Chair, to display art that is stored away here. I think that the Salt River First Nations building is a wonderful place to be sharing the art. It has a lot of potential. I would like to make sure that it would be added to the list if we are going to start sharing the art. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 1862

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I can ask the deputy minister for some information on how art currently travels around and what programs there are in place. The program I was talking about earlier was specifically about heritage centres to see what infrastructure they might need, but the deputy minister might be able to add more detail. Thank you.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister Mueller.

Page 1862

Mueller

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Minister. For the most part, when we have artifacts, items, art travelling, it's usually through partnership with Indigenous governments. It's often around a theme or a particular celebration, and there is work that is done between the Indigenous governments and our experts at the Prince of Wales to determine the type of structure that is needed for transportation as well as the temperature control and heating for certain items. I just wanted to share that.

We also have, as the Minister alluded to earlier, beautiful travelling kits and exhibits that are meant to travel. They are used a lot by our junior kindergarten to grade 12 schools. There are a number of themes related. They are meant as objects that are touched and used by children and youth from JK all the way to grade 12, but communities can also sign them out. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1862

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, deputy minister. Member for Thebacha.

Page 1862

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Madam Chair, I would also like to know about the arts organizations operating fund. It says, "contributions to provide ongoing operational support to established arts organizations and large cultural events in the Northwest Territories." I would like a list of exactly where the $460,000 goes to so that I have an idea of where the distribution is. I just want to make sure, Madam Chair, that small communities and regional centres also benefit from this culture, heritage and languages because that is where most of the Aboriginal people live, the majority in all communities, except for probably Hay River, maybe, but everywhere else it's all majority Aboriginal population. I am very concerned about this, Madam Chair, and I would like a clear answer. Thank you.

Debates of Feb. 9th, 2021

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