Debates of March 4th, 2021
This is page numbers 2341 - 2382 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
- Minister's Statement 129-19(2): International Women's Day
- Minister's Statement 130-19(2): 2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients
- Minister's Statement 131-19(2): Women in Leadership
- Women in Business
- Vaccine Rollout
- Recycling Depots
- Anti-Poverty Report Card
- National Engineering Month
- Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
- Medevac Support
- International Women's Day
- Acknowledgement 3-19(2): Anna Seagrave - Youth Category Recipient, 2020 Outstanding Volunteer Awards
- Acknowledgement 4-19(2): Marino Casebeer - Elder Category Recipient, 2020 Outstanding Volunteer Awards
- Question 637-19(2): Recycling Depots
- Question 638-19(2): Medevac Services
- Question 639-19(2): Anti-Poverty Report Card
- Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
- Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
- Written Question 23-19(2): Practice of Using Power-Limiting Devices in the Northwest Territories
- Bill 20: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act
- Tabled Document 341-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 572-19(2): Elder Abuse
- Tabled Document 342-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 517-19(2): Incidents Involving Transport Trucks on Highway No. 3
- Tabled Document 343-19(2): Updated Policy Documents, April 2021, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
- Tabled Document 344-19(2): Northwest Territories Poverty Report Card, 2020
- Motion 30-19(2): Actions for Improved Housing Outcomes
- Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Committee Motion 84-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Industry, Tourism and Investment - Deferral of Department (page 203), Carried
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Orders Of The Day
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have a number on that with respect to women. It comes from national statistics naming that 24 percent of businesses are majority-owned by women. There are 3,378 small businesses here in the Northwest Territories, so I'm sure that will give her the ability to do the math that she wants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
I am wondering what percent of total BDIC loan funding goes to women entrepreneurs in the Northwest Territories?
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
BDIC's statistics do show that approximately nine percent of total loans go to businesses where women are the sole proprietor. Approximately, 55 percent of total loans go to those where there's a woman who is, at least, a part-owner of the business.
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
I don't think I have to say too much to that. I think it's pretty obvious that there is some room for improvement. Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering what supports are available to NWT women to foster successful entrepreneurship, and are any new initiatives in the works for this year?
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
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Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
ITI's very proud to partner with individual communities, particularly through the Community Futures programming. I can highlight that this year, the Thebacha Business Development Services ran an Indigenous women and entrepreneurship seminar, which we were proud to be a part of. Similarly, here in Yellowknife, the Chamber of Commerce hosted women's Trailblazers Symposium. I think that's, in fact, coming up just next week. We're proud to be a sponsor of that. Similarly, BDIC, although not specific to women, does host a quite large number of support services for businesses. It is of note given the theme that's being presented, that since April 1st of 2020, 65 percent of the attendees at the learning centre sessions hosted by BDIC, in fact, were women.
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
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Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It's interesting to me that, as someone who grew up in the North, a number of people who decided to become entrepreneurs, whether or not they're men or women, who I went to high school with. When I talk to people from different communities, people have different parts of their life that they're passionate about, and they want to be able to turn that into a business. I'm wondering if the Minister of ITI would commit to working with the Minister of ECE in order to develop high-school-based business curriculum for NWT students? Thank you.
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
This actually allows me to answer the last part of the previous question that I realize I didn't get to. With respect to curriculum, that certainly falls very much within ECE's purview. With respect to the kind of programming and opportunities that are available for students in high school in a young age bracket, I absolutely will commit to speaking with ECE, with my colleague, to see what we can do so that we can find some complementary programs and ideas. One thing, Mr. Speaker, that ITI is right now at the idea stage of, and it's an exciting stage, is looking at bringing junior achievement back to the Northwest Territories. This is an exciting opportunity. It's kind of a program across Canada that really allows young people to understand business, understand entrepreneurship, and to develop some skills that hopefully will help them become the future entrepreneurs for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 640-19(2): Women in Business
Oral Questions
Page 2346
Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
Oral Questions
March 4th, 2021
Page 2346

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ENR. Recognizing the unprecedented water levels witnessed across the territory and in preparation for the upcoming spring melt, will the Minister commit to reviewing the guidelines of the Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation Fund? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
Oral Questions
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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently, ENR is reviewing the community harvest support program and the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program. Members should be happy. Once those two things are completed, ENR will make a commitment to review the hunters and trappers' disaster compensation guideline, and we will have it completed by the end of this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
The end of the year, a little bit late for spring, but I will ask for exceptions throughout the year if I need to. Will the Minister commit to reviewing the parameters of this funding when they are doing their review, to decrease the percentage of income required through harvesting, to broaden the support for as many harvesters as possible?
Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
We have two reviews going on. We would have to bump one if we had to do that, and both those other reviews are very important. In saying that, the program evaluation will include a review of eligibility requirements, including the current criteria related to the income percentage. For the Member, she has reached out to me previously to talk about this. We have brought those concerns forward to the department, and we are making sure this is part of our evaluation process.
Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation
Oral Questions
Page 2346

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Will the Minister maintain the $40,000 that he had mentioned in this House that would be eligible for compensation, put in place to support the trappers whose cabins flooded in the South Slave, for trappers elsewhere in the territories if that should happen?
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