Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the release of Living Well Together, the online Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity training program for employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Developed by the Department of Finance in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services, Living Well Together replaces the GNWT's previous Aboriginal cultural and sensitivity training for its employees. It is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call for action with respect to professional development and training for public servants. Mr. Speaker, the commission has called upon all levels of government "to provide education to public servants on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous Law, and Aboriginal-Crown Relations." According to the commission, "this will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism."

Living Well Together is built on the northern studies curriculum provided to our students within the Northwest Territories and includes diverse and authentic perspectives of Indigenous people from across the Northwest Territories. Many courageous Northerners shared their personal stories on a wide variety of topics, including the impacts of residential schools. Mr. Speaker, these are important stories that all Northerners, especially our public servants, should listen to and learn from. On behalf of Cabinet, I want to thank each and every Northerner who told their story so that we could develop this training. This includes many elders, Indigenous governments, community members, Indigenous artists, and GNWT employees who contributed to this training in so many valuable ways.

Living Well Together was created in the spirit of reconciliation and provides opportunities for our employees to reflect on ways to support reconciliation and decolonization as public servants and private citizens in the workplace and within the community. Through careful reflection and deliberate acts of reconciliation, we can make positive changes throughout the Northwest Territories and serve as an example for the rest of Canada. With this in mind, this training will be mandatory for all employees, and the Department of Finance will endeavor to support all current GNWT employees to complete this training within 12 months. My special advisor and I had the benefit of a sneak peek, and we have decided to act as one another's learning partners. We plan to schedule occasions over the coming months to work through the modules together.

Mr. Speaker, we expect this training will have an immeasurable impact on not only our public service but also on the communities we serve. We believe this training has the potential to benefit all residents of the Northwest Territories and will set an example, as I said, for the rest of Canada. As such, this training will be made available to the public. Living Well Together was developed in the spirit of reconciliation. I encourage all employees to begin this training with an open mind and to support one another during this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, one of the many exciting developments to expect as we get closer to the launching of the polytechnic university is increased capacity for northern research. We know that the work underway to increase the number of researchers and build effective research supports for college partners and stakeholders across the Northwest Territories will serve as catalysts for northern social and economic development.

In the areas of research, Aurora College is starting from a place of strength and great promise for the future. In December, it was again recognized as one of Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges for 2020. Aurora College improved its overall ranking among the nation's top research colleges from 48^th in 2019 to 29^th in 2020, where it ranked in the top 10 in two categories: research growth and in research intensity. Mr. Speaker, Aurora College recognizes the importance of ongoing collaborations and partnerships with other institutions, Indigenous and community governments, and non-governmental organizations. Leading efforts to ensure the success of research partners is an important part of the work already underway at Aurora College. During a year of significant public health restrictions that threatened long-term research initiatives, Aurora College found innovative ways to leverage its strong presence across the Northwest Territories and helped support the territorial, national, and international research community during these challenging times.

Aurora College continues to take steps to increase research capacity in advance of becoming a polytechnic university. In addition to adding seven new Aurora College research associates who will bring new perspectives and ideas, Aurora College also formalized research partnerships with Hotii Ts'eeda and the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research. These partnerships strengthen northern research capacity and increase the ability to access federal funding.

Mr. Speaker, over the coming year, Aurora College will continue building research capacity with the hiring of three new research chair positions. Aurora campus in Inuvik will see the establishment of a climate change adaptation research chair; Thebacha campus in Fort Smith will house the research chair for Indigenous approaches to environmental management; and the Yellowknife North Slave campus will see the addition of a health and community research chair. These positions are supported through the college's partnership with ArcticNet, a network of centres of excellence of Canada, and will help to strengthen the initial areas of teaching and research specialization for the polytechnic university.

Mr. Speaker, we see the future polytechnic university sitting at the centre of our knowledge economy and building a stronger future for our businesses and residents, including by empowering our youth to be research leaders of the future. The college accessed external funding this year to create youth and student positions in research, administrative, and logistic roles. This project encourages youth to pursue their interest in education and employment in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. The journey to build research capacity will not end with the establishment of a polytechnic university in 2025; it will continue to empower students to understand and respond to the challenges they face for generations to come. All of this work will support the college's successful transformation to a polytechnic university, an institution where research will be a part of every aspect. Building on current research experience on topics such as climate change, permafrost, heavy metals in soil, renewable energy feasibility studies, intimate partner violence, and many others, the polytechnic university will work to forge stronger ties with Indigenous governments, communities, industry, and the business community to ensure we always look ahead to a stronger, more prosperous, and resilient future.

I want to commend Aurora College for the success it has achieved as they work to create the northern research leaders of tomorrow at an institution that will be built in the North, for the North, and by the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March of each year, we celebrate social workers across Canada and in the NWT. This year's theme for Social Work Month is Social Workers are Essential.

Mr. Speaker, social workers play a vital role in supporting and maintaining individual, family and community wellbeing across the Northwest Territories. Social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers that negatively impact them from realizing their full potential. Social workers perform a variety of functions and roles in our communities. Some work in schools, helping children get the services they need to get the best possible education. Others provide mental health services, helping people overcome mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety as well as substance use disorders. When families are in crisis, social workers are there to help them rebuild healthy relationships. Social workers can be found in hospitals, helping patients get optimal care not only while in treatment but when they return to their families and communities. Social workers also help us to cope with the loss of loved ones.

Social workers also play an integral part in community organizations and in government, helping to create programs and policies to make our society a better and more equitable place for all. This type of work requires a passion for helping others and a commitment to making a difference in people's lives. These professionals have an ethical obligation to advocate for broad social change to address social inequalities that will benefit the marginalized members of our communities and, ultimately, all of us.

Mr. Speaker, Members of this House know the 19^th Legislative Assembly made it a mandate priority to improve early childhood development for all children. There are a number of activities being implemented across government to support this priority, including efforts to improve the delivery of children and family services and health and wellness in the NWT. The Government of the Northwest Territories has invested a significant amount of funding to improve services for children, youth, and families in their communities. Social workers advance and provide these services across the NWT. In the last two years, we have funded 15 new social work positions and a number of supporting positions.

On February 1, 2021, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority restructured the Child, Family and Community Wellness Division to better focus the work and bring staff under the umbrella of one team. This change in organizational structure will streamline processes for staff and allow for better collaboration and more consistent delivery of programs across the territory. These investments and new structures will better support social workers in the delivery of these important services.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Cabinet, I want to express how much our government appreciates the hard work and dedication of social workers. I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the commitment and positive contributions these individuals make in the lives of children, youth, and families in our communities and thank them for their continued efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the K'atlodeeche First Nation and the volunteers of this year's K'amba Carnival event, which took place this past weekend on the reserve. We have to appreciate the fact that this event has taken place during a period of uncertainty when it comes to celebrations, requiring social distancing and the many rules set out by our Chief Public Health Officer. I am certain that, to pull this event off, it required ingenuity, dedication, and countless hours by the committee, community, and group of volunteers. It required adapting a long-standing and proven event program to a new format during this unprecedented time.

Mr. Speaker, the impact K'amba Carnival has on the K'atlodeeche First Nation spills over into the town of Hay River, where it generates much excitement. I know the people in Hay River look forward to this event as great entertainment and recognition that spring and warmer weather is just around the corner. Therefore, as the MLA for Hay River South and on behalf of the MLA for Hay River North, I would like to send a big thank you from the people of Hay River to the K'atlodeeche First Nation, the K'amba Carnival committee, and the many volunteers who made this event a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, in today's market, the art we hear about the most are often the one-off pieces that garner million-dollar price tags, but everyday art can also generate significant economic value. Art is cultural expression and a powerful conduit for healing, wellness, and economic development. Art is essential for individual and community success.

When we look at the global art scene, we marvel at infrastructure like New Zealand's Te Papa, artist-in-residence programs like Fogo Island, and events like Burning Man, but grassroots initiatives just like these exist in the NWT. Our Northern Arts Centre is lush with renowned and passionate artists from the salt plains to the pingos. We just need to be ready to support them.

In 2019, many northern artists, myself included, participated in the NWT Arts Strategy public engagements. Today, we eagerly await for the Arts Strategy that we hope will not only renew this government's commitment to arts and culture but also actively pursue a robust arts industry through education, funding, marketing, infrastructure, and policy work that supports the success of NWT arts.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to a plan, this government needs to reconcile where the arts belong. Today, the responsible for culture and heritage, along with the NWT Arts Council, sits within Education, Culture and Employment, but Industry, Tourism and Investment drives the NWT arts brand, economic diversification, festival funding, business grants and loans, and tourism. You cannot separate art from culture, and you cannot deny the economic potential of either. Supporting the arts is not just about culture or employment or history or community health or self-discovery; it is all of those things. This government needs to own the responsibility of properly housing and fostering its arts and culture to generate employment, expand economic opportunity, and foster community wellness.

Arts in the NWT is at a crossroads. It is time to reset its importance to value the role of all artisans and recommit to art as a foundation to community well-being and our economic future. In its fall 2020 economic statement, the federal government announced $181.5 million in additional funding for Canadian heritage and Canadian Council for the Arts. We need to ensure that we are well-positioned for this funding as a territory through clear, strategic support of NWT arts that elevate our world-class artists to its rightful place on a global stage. Money is ready to flow to propel the arts, Mr. Speaker, but are we ready to receive it? Thank you.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. The former Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment issued 10 significant discovery licences for oil and gas during the last Assembly. This was a huge post-devolution resource giveaway. The area covered by these licences is almost 2,200 square kilometres, an area about 40 percent the size of Prince Edward Island. Our government will get no revenues, no taxes, no employment, and no benefits from these areas that are now tied up virtually forever.

Significant discovery licences arose in the federal legislation that we inherited for petroleum resources. They allow companies to have exclusive ownership of oil and gas rights without having to do any work or pay any fees forever. Companies used to be able to get these licences without doing anything except being near another significant discovery licence. A Minister could require drilling to take place, but that has never been done.

Our current Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment has an opportunity to get it right. We heard last week about the buried $45 million windfall in the main estimates that is a work deposit forfeiture from Husky Energy. We also heard that Husky Energy is asking to convert its Exploration Licence 494 to a significant discovery licence.

Changes to the Petroleum Resources Act made in the last Assembly finally came into force on July 29, 2020. Significant discovery licences are now limited to 15 years but can be renewed forever. Most importantly, the licences "may contain any other terms and conditions... as may be agreed on by the Minister and the interest owner of the significant discovery licence." It's not clear whether that means the Minister can impose work requirements or annual fees that could even rise over time, all to implement the principle of "use it or lose it" and generate some benefits for us. What about the future? Will the Minister consult with Sahtu communities or even regular MLAs before issuing this significant discovery licence to Husky Energy? Will the Minister impose exploration requirements that would create jobs and economic activity for the NWT or will Husky Energy have a veto? I will have questions for the Minister of ITI on what she is doing to protect the public interest in issuing the first significant discovery licence under our amended Petroleum Resources Act. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 16, it will be one year that this Legislative Assembly sat in this House and ended our budget winter session early due to the unknown risks of COVID-19. Shortly after, the borders were closed and a public health emergency was declared in the Northwest Territories. We were told to flatten the curve by staying home, Mr. Speaker. No visitors were ordered. People began to panic out of fear of the unknown. Myself, as many other MLAs, began to become the COVID navigators for our constituents and, for some of us MLAs, even for some other constituents.

I shared as much information I received from the GNWT and answered as many questions I could and sent in concerns and constituent complaints as they were afraid that the people who were in our community were not following the orders in self-isolation. I did not know where to report them, so I sent them to the Minister of Health.

When the ProtectNWT email was set up and the 811, I referred the reports to them, but I also had to continue to send in the email to the ProtectNWT for those who did not have access. Sometimes, we heard back, and sometimes, we didn't. I never knew if they were followed up, and neither did my constituents. Mr. Speaker, I know, at that time, GNWT was establishing on-the-go ways to protect the residents, and as time went on, more and more processes and staff were able to answer and follow-up on concerns of residents, which is great.

Mr. Speaker, I will raise this issue again. My community of Inuvik and the surrounding communities in the Beaufort-Delta have been cut off to services that are not available to my region, and with no road to Yellowknife, our closest road is Whitehorse. We have a shortage of dentist's appointments, and only recently had the dentist's office open in Inuvik with a backlog of clients. No vehicle warranty as vehicles get shipped. It's been 50 below, Mr. Speaker, this winter. They get shipped to Whitehorse for many services that are not available. During normal times, people go to Whitehorse as it is cheaper than flying to Yellowknife for one person. Now, there is even more of a need with many services limited or not even open. Social, public venues are limited or are still not open, and people are suffering from isolation. Mental health issues are of high concern.

Mr. Speaker, I've received and continue to receive letters from my community to continue to raise the issue of having a way for the residents of the Beaufort-Delta to travel to and from the Yukon? We would appreciate if our Premier brings our voices and works with the Yukon government to open the border. Please, give us a window of hope. I will have questions for the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I bring up housing units in the riding of Nunakput. Mr. Speaker, we have the longest and coldest winters in my riding. We're the furthest north. Again, I've brought up in this House, again and again, how the housing units are in need of repair. The Nunakput community, Sach's Harbour, Paulatuk, and Ulukhaktok, we have housing units that were built in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and then we have one or two units that are fairly new.

Mr. Speaker, some units have been repaired, retrofitted, even been renovated, but in fact, the majority of them still require maintenance and upkeep on a yearly basis. I have constituents who put blankets on the floors just to keep their feet warm from freezing when they're walking around when it's minus 50. When the wind is blowing, right, the windows and the doors, you'll have piles of snow on the corners, and that's not right, Mr. Speaker. These issues have to be dealt with. The problem that we're having, it takes 18- to 24-months' planning prior to even getting materials in, and then having to build takes probably about a year. In some cases, like right now, there's a unit in the community that's taken over two years to build, and it's not right, Mr. Speaker. We have young families who need units and housing.

I think to myself, there's got to be a way for CMHC to help us and to help our Minister to get these units done quicker and increase our housing allotment per community or get rid of some of the old 1970s units, and build new units that are required for the communities and the young families who need housing. Mr. Speaker, there's been a lot of talk about funding available through CMHC. My communities want to be able to see this funding for improving housing in my riding. We need to do more. We need to have more housing units for the younger generation that's coming up instead of couch surfing and sharing five or 10 people in the unit. It's not right in this day and age. Mr. Speaker, my riding, the units, we need to start planning now to provide housing units for this upcoming year, and I'll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living in the Northwest Territories keeps rising year in and year out. Every time the cost of diesel goes up, so does the power bill, skyrocketing costs of groceries, cost to repair appliances, cars, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, our message for staycations will come at a cost. There's a document from the 17^th Legislative Assembly entitled "A Vision For Energy In The Northwest Territories which states, "There's a great deal of consensus across the Northwest Territories on the need to reduce our high costs of energy and the impacts of our energy use on the environment." This was in 2012.

The document further states, "It is time to build on earlier work and establish a vision of a future energy supply and use in the NWT that reflects the goals and aspirations of residents, communities, and Aboriginal governments. The Government of the Northwest Territories believes that this vision needs to be founded upon the goal of reducing imported oil and greater utilization of local and renewable forms of energy."

Mr. Speaker, I realize the GNWT has made some gains towards this goal but somehow loses interest in pursuing the ultimate goal of reducing our high cost of living. The new and updated energy plan by the GNWT developed in the 18^th Legislative Assembly, the 2030 Energy Strategy, states its goal to guide the long-term development of secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for transportation, heat, and electricity.

It goes on to state, "The GNWT, including the NWT Housing Corporation, will focus on leading by example by reducing energy use and emissions in its operations." It's also interesting to note the GNWT will also partner with communities and other stakeholders to ensure that the objectives of this strategy are met. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has long said it wants to lower our cost of living, but are we realizing that goal through actions? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday marked International Women's Day, and this year's campaign was Choose to Challenge, something I've personally been trying to do in my life more recently. International Women's Day was established over a century ago, with the first gathering in 1911 supported by over one million people. International Women's Day is not specific to a country, group, or organization. For over 100 years, the fight for gender equality has been formally recognized on this day. However, it remains a battle fought daily.

As I have spoken to in this House before, women have done remarkable things in the scientific realm. They took us to the moon, photographed DNA, and discovered new elements. As I said, Marie Curie is the only person who has won two Nobel Prizes in two separate sciences, and she did so over 100 years ago, at a time when most women didn't even have access to basic education. Currently, only 13 percent of engineers in Canada identify as women, and locally, the Minister of ECE has said that this number is only 5 to 7 percent when it comes to tradespeople.

While my passion has always been to further the inclusion of women in STEM, there is a lot of work to be done in establishing gender balance in all areas of society, especially now, as the economic downturn of COVID-19, has hit women particularly hard and stalled progress on many gender-equity projects. While International Women's Day 2021 has passed, I wanted to speak today to honour all of the women in my life who have fought for equality and who serve as inspiration.

It is no secret that advancing the situation of women and girls was a huge motivator for me to enter politics. In my career and throughout my life, I have often found myself challenging stereotypes. During these difficult times, I have often relied on the circle of women around me. These amazing women have provided me with the wisdom and knowledge I need to help guide me in my endeavours and are there to comfort me when I stumble.

It's time to recognize women's achievements and challenge gender bias and inequality by seeking out and celebrating women's achievements. Everyone needs to be an ally so we can create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's choose to challenge gender bias every day and not just on this one day a year. In doing so, we can create a better future for everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to clear the air about a few things in relation to my personal experience of racism at the NWT SPCA. To begin, Mr. Speaker, I would like to state wholeheartedly that I support the NWT SPCA and all animal shelters for their work in protecting animals. I thank the SPCA for their work in this area. For that reason, I am not in favour of taking away funds from them. I am an animal lover. I have had multiple dogs over the years and was raised living with large dog teams because of my father, who was a dog musher. Dogs were always around me growing up. It was very traditional for trappers to have dog teams. Dogs provide the transportation for our livelihood.

This brings me to my second point. I know there is a process to adopting a dog, and I have been following that process. I sent the SPCA an adoption application in mid-December and called them several times and left multiple voicemail messages about my interest in adopting a dog. Also, not once throughout this process did I identify myself as an MLA. I would never do that. I am an ordinary person who does not expect special treatment. I always treat everybody with respect and dignity regardless of who they are.

Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, this whole situation is not about me versus the SPCA. People are losing focus about what I am saying and why I am saying it. This situation is about racism and how it exists in all facets of our society. There is no organization, whether government, non-profit, or otherwise, that is immune to systemic racism. We are talking about the uneven power dynamics of race that's inherent in our society. We are talking about the unconscious racial bias that many people have against people who look like me. We are talking about the ingrained barriers that people of colour face when assessing basic services in the community.

People like me face discrimination every day when accessing services like housing, employment, and even shopping in stores. People like me are followed around in stores because of stereotypes. People like me are denied, undermined, and suppressed all the time. That is a simple fact of our reality. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, overcoming racism is difficult, exhausting, and uncomfortable work. If our society truly aspires for reconciliation, then we must challenge racism head-on. However, in order to get there, it will take work, and that work will require the effort of all sectors of our society to pitch in and do their part.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate that I fully stand by my previous statement on this matter. The way I was treated was not okay. I don't believe I was treated with basic customer practices that people expect from organizations like the SPCA or other NGOs or entities that serve the public. Lastly, once again, Mr. Speaker: Black lives matter; Indigenous lives matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fundamental to any community's success is local ownership of land and buildings. Local landlords reinvest their rents into the community. They take more risk on local businesses, and they are key to a community's identity. However, Mr. Speaker, our capital city has a serious problem with local ownership. Thousands of our housing units and millions of dollars' worth of commercial office space are owned by southern REITs or various southern multi-billion-dollar investment funds. These landlords have long treated real estate as an investment as opposed to the offices and homes that we all live and work in.

Put more bluntly, Mr. Speaker, I want the GNWT to stop leasing from Northview high yield investment trust. I want us to stop being the anchor tenant in all of their buildings when they have repeatedly shown little interest in our community. The GNWT has funded this monopoly for years at a cost to Northerners. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, when many of these long-term leases were signed, Northview was Northern Properties and actually was locally owned. They were signed, and we justified negotiating many of those leasers at a higher lease rate as opposed to ownership to build up a northern business. This, in fact, is allowed in the GNWT Leasing of Improved Property Policy. However, we are not allowed to pay a premium to southern landlords, Mr. Speaker. Over the years, these properties have been sold and resold, and we have renewed the leases without any consideration of our own policy.

Our current policy requires that the GNWT only lease at a rate no greater than the cost of ownership. If we are going to sign a lease at a cost greater than owning a building, it must be to a northern business. A lease-versus-ownership analysis is required for every building in every GNWT lease signed over five years. Those premiums can only be paid to northern companies, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Infrastructure manages a $28-million lease portfolio. That is 109 leases for a total of 626,000 square feet of office space, many of them in downtown Yellowknife. That is millions of dollars that should be going to local landlords, to Indigenous development corporations, and to anyone willing to make sure that our government's rent money stays in this territory. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure about: despite all the talk of supporting northern businesses, we are not paying our rent to northern businesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with great pleasure and honour that I acknowledge Lucy Simon as a 2020 Wise Woman for the Deh Cho region. I had the opportunity to be at her celebration at Fort Simpson this past weekend with her family, friends, and the regional leadership. I have known her for over 28-plus years. She is someone I call advisor, mentor, knowledge-keeper, supporter, and, more importantly, "Mom." She has opened her home to my family and me. She treats my children as her grandchildren, and for this, I am truly grateful. As well, I have had the privilege to have gloves and slippers made by her. Everyone has asked where they come from, and they comment on the amazing bead and fur work. One set of her slippers were made for my daughter's wedding, and I wear them in the House.

Lucy Simon was raised in Jean Marie River and is one of eight daughters in a family of 15. Her parents, Mary Louise and Jim Sanguez, saw many changes from living on the land to living in the settlement. Through it all, they were always emphasizing, maintaining, and preserving the history and culture of Jean Marie River through on-the-land practices and art. The time and patience that her mother took teaching her the art of sewing is a true testament of seeing Lucy's art. She is a very talented artist, known throughout the NWT and nationally, with some of her work displayed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Her passion for creation started at a young age, when she was inspired by her elders and the land around her. Lucy created an extraordinary moose hair tufting called "The Voices of Our Elders," a project that was coordinated by the Open Sky Creative Society. She is very passionate about her creating traditional footwork, gloves, and takes pride in every detail of a finished product. Just as she learned from her mentors, she wants to pass on this creativity and knowledge to those who want to learn. Both her and her husband, Isildur (ph), raised a family of five and now enjoy the grandchildren. They teach them to speak and understand Dene Zhatie when they can and also the importance of education, just as her parents did at every opportunity and shared moment about these teachings of language and culture that her parents shared.

Lucy was employed with the Government of the Northwest Territories at the Deh Cho Health and Social Services division as community health worker for 25 years and continues to mentor those who work there. She is also the successful business manager of her own B and B for the past 18 years. Perhaps the best way to describe Lucy's thoughts are in her own words:

"When I walk through the bush, I see the beautiful northern roses and all the things around me that create pictures in my mind that I need to draw. The pictures I draw and create are interpretations of experience through colour and suit the beauty around me. When I dye moose hair, it is a few drops here and then that results in multicolours. This is where it is not just one colour but many shapes and patterns such as life."

Mr. Speaker, I wore a suit at her ceremony there, and today, I told her I would wear my suit again in the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have already heard today, yesterday was International Women's Day with a theme of Choose to Challenge. I want to use this opportunity to thank my colleagues, my friends, and my neighbours for their support that gives me my opportunity to choose to challenge in a position not often held by a female. By this, I mean very literal support. My partner works at a remote mine site and had to adapt his work rotation in order to accommodate the risk-mitigation precautions for COVID-19. His extended rotation was not what we planned on when I ran for elected office. The recent outbreak and resulting further two weeks of quarantine was also something I had planned on as we were beginning budget session, sitting until 6:00 p.m. and often later. Over 10 different households helped me with school pickups, and sport or activity driving, and various other childcare supports, plus another handful more checked in to offer their support.

Particularly in that first week of unexpected single parenting, colleagues here no doubt ran into my children when I had to bring them at 8:00 a.m. start on a PD day. Mr. Speaker, they were louder in the hall than what they should have been, but I want to express my gratitude and my pride that the Legislative Assembly is becoming a workplace that is accommodating and welcoming to the realities of working parents. The hours required of elected officials may be a barrier, but we are taking steps to show that it is a barrier that can be overcome. I believe this will help more individuals who are the primary caregivers to children to bring their perspectives into politics.

Mr. Speaker, other families have endured far more challenging work changes as a result of COVID-19. There are of course families with workers who are health workers, other front-line workers, or other rotational workers who are, in fact, now doing three- and four-week shifts, and they are all persevering. I thank them for that. I want to say, Mr. Speaker, if you know a family who you know is having work challenges, please consider checking in and offering your help. They might not be asking, but they might not be asking because they simply don't have the time or the energy to do the asking. Again, I thank this wonderful community here in Yellowknife. I simply could not be doing my job without all of you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife South. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate the board of directors of Inclusion NWT, the 2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award recipients in the group category. Inclusion NWT is located in my riding, but we all know and recognize their clients, workers, and staff from their presence in the community for many years, including in this building. At any given time, Inclusion NWT is serving 150 clients and families throughout Yellowknife, with services including supported and independent living; employment services; literacy classes; family, children, and teen activities; advocacy; respite services; skills development; and an FASD support service. You will see the Odd Job Squad everywhere, hired by upwards of 200 clients a month, and that is just one high-visibility program.

This impressive list of services is overseen by the nine-member board. In this year of COVID challenges, continued delivery of programming and services has required extra flexibility and adaptation. President Ben Russo and his board hunkered down to make sure all of the clients have been taken care of. While thankful for the award, Mr. Russo has said he would like to give it to the staff, as well, led by Executive Director Lynn Elkin. This group award goes to the board, whose members each deserve special recognition, and I will name them all. Serving with President Ben Russo are Vice President Pooja Chugh; Secretary Catherine Fairbairn; Treasurer Chris Cahoon; and Directors Tony Florio, Esther Rowe, Karen Lajoie, Bri Krekoski, and Pamela Weeks-Beaton. Please join me in congratulating the board of Inclusion NWT for their service, guidance, and commitment to serve clients through the ethic of people helping people. I salute the organization for its incredible contribution to our community. It truly is Inclusion NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Minister. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. It has been almost a year since all of the craziness of COVID began with us here in the Northwest Territories. While we have been largely unaffected by COVID in terms of actual numbers of COVID cases, there have been many hidden consequences resulting from this pandemic. The restrictions that were put in place to keep us safe from this disease also keep us apart in many other ways. We have seen the impact of this: rise in addictions, mental health, and social services.

In the past four months, my family and I have lost five significant people in our lives. In November 2020, I lost my youngest brother, Troy. It was the most difficult time; it still continues to this day. This past week, we lost my auntie, Therese from Whati. Therese was a second mother to me since my mother passed on in 2014. She took over the role. She was the matriarch for our family, our strength, our rock. Therese was the epitome of a Dene woman, a woman of such great strength, resilience, a traditional woman, a spiritual woman, a woman who loved all unconditionally. If she was here with us today, my auntie would be the one supporting all of us, holding us together in our grief through the most difficult times. She would be standing behind me, holding my hand right now.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very difficult time to stand here before you to talk about the most influential person of all times. Our hearts are broken yet again, and we are asking the public, the Members, for their continuous prayers and support through these difficult times. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Our thought and prayers are with the family and also with you. We're all here for you through these difficult times. Mahsi. Members' statements. Item 4, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 5, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 6, reports of standing and special committees. Item 7, returns to oral questions. Item 8, acknowledgements. Item 9, oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. I'd like to ask the Minister if she confirm the construction status of the RCMP houses in Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had announced 22 of the 42 RCMP units would be constructed this year. We are looking at completion for the Northwest Territories as of October 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would also ask the Minister to confirm how the design and the square footage of these units, especially for Hay River, was determined.

The RCMP units are a federal initiative that took engagement with the RCMP and the federal government. The federal design was submitted and approved by the federal government. The design was from the RCMP.

I would ask the Minister if she knows if the RCMP members were consulted on the design. I ask this question because the units appear small and seem to lack storage space, which I'm sure those with larger families would require if they're coming North.

Our conversations were with the RCMP and with the federal government for Canada. I'm not too sure about the consultation they would have done with their members. I don't have that information.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister know if the RCMP members are required to move out of their current houses and into the new units, and what will happen with the units they move out of, if they are required to move out? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Absolutely, the RCMP members, I hope they're moving into the units after we built them. It's their project. Also, for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, as the Minister, I am questioning the vacancy of the federal units that will be vacated by the RCMP members, and I am hoping to acquire them by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, that we would hopefully be eligible to be administering them and they would be transferred over to us. That's a conversation that would be further with the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm just excited because we've got five new units and the RCMP have got to get moved out, potentially. Today, I brought up aging housing units in my riding of Nunakput. I'm asking today: can the Minister tell me how fast we are accessing renovation funds per community in my riding to start planning renovations for this coming summer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, when we had started the restrictions and we started to act on COVID-19, the Housing Corporation had acquired $5 million and had distributed that amongst the LHOs in the smaller communities for housing repair. Right now, for your region, we have a number of units that are under repair and scheduled to be completed for this year. Just for the Member, we do have new construction built for Ulukhaktok, where we have two public housing units that are coming up, which doesn't seem like very much, but then it's the retrofits that we do have throughout the territory, where we have to bring these public housing units up to standard. I'm looking at hopefully completing the public housing repair this year of 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Are there any plans to replace the old Weber units that were built in 1970 in communities? Like, take them off the books and be able to bring in new builds in regard to the community, for each community in my riding, and be able to bring in new units for the people, and maybe even more complexes?

I'm quite eager to start working with home ownership throughout the Northwest Territories. The Weber units, we are working on a strategy within the Housing Corporation to have these units up for sale, to transfer them over to the public housing tenants who are acquiring the single-family dwelling units. We do have a rollout of units that will be coming together within the next few months. I don't have that list in front of me, as it hasn't been finalized. Just to try to speak about the Member's comments about his riding and looking at the condition of the homes in those communities, as well, these are shoreline communities, so I hear the Member on the damages that are quite significant in that riding. We are working as a Housing Corporation, and we are also working with the Indigenous groups in that riding, as well, to access the co-investment fund. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks, we will have an announcement to make.

I want to thank the Minister for that. This is a question in regards to getting ready for the summer retrofits and renovation season. I'm just wondering if we could get the third party to come into the communities to go and see every house in, say, Sach's Harbour and Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok to see, under the housing renovation, what the house needs and to see what is accessible to do for this coming year and be able to get it on the barge before winter season comes again. Is that possible, and using local hire to do that?

Condition rating is a priority, as well. We are looking at the public housing units. I know that we are reaching the 40-year mark for them, and yes, I will have my staff go into the Member's riding and to take a look at the conditions of the units that are there because I'm quite interested to see the amount of retrofits we need to get done for that riding and making sure that we do get material into that riding on time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that again. I would like to see if the Minister is able to commit to a tour this summer and not only that, but making sure that local people are hired to do the jobs and not bring in outsiders because outsiders, that's the problem that we've been having in my riding. I need local hire and local contractors to get those contracts so we're providing jobs for the community and it's done locally on a timely and cost-effective manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am a supporter, as well, for local hire, but some of the retrofits that are required, we do need the expertise to be flown in and to pass the inspection of the work that is potentially going to be done. I don't know the level of work that needs to be done, but I will keep the Member informed as we go forward and looking at possibilities of working with those specific communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I do notice that former Premiers' photos are in the past energy reports, so my questions are for the Premier even though her photo is not in one yet. The Premier must be aware of the need to get a grip on the escalating cost of living in the territory. Has the Premier provided direction to Cabinet to come up with innovative ways for energy savings to curb the cost of living? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll begin this line of questioning. I am just totally unhappy that my picture is not in the energy strategy. I have to say that, Mr. Speaker. Do I have a grasp on the cost of living? Mr. Speaker, I've said it more than enough times. I was a single parent for many years. I exactly know how hard it is to live in the Northwest Territories, so I will just stop at those questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Some of the largest energy users of fossil fuels are the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and Marine Transportation Services. Can the Premier commit to directing the departments to submit energy plans to guide the long-term development of secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for transportation, heat, and electricity?

I do know that we have a long-term energy strategy. However, it is not done in my portfolio. It is the Minister of Infrastructure, so I'd like to defer the questions to the Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have under the 2030 Energy Strategy, the GNWT and its partners will invest $400 million over the life of this strategy. These are to ensure we have a reliable energy system as well as to address some of the cost of the energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are on track to meet the strategic objectives of the energy strategy. We rolled out the new GNWT greenhouse grant program for governments, buildings, and industry to be able to support alternative energy and efficiency. We've also doubled some of the Arctic Energy Alliance funding to be able to efficiently triple the amount of reliable rebates available to residents, businesses, as well as communities. We're also setting the stage for our larger energy projects such as hydro power. With that, Mr. Speaker, I think that just goes to show that, within our current strategy, we are meeting some of our standards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Vision from 2020 was founded upon the goal of reducing imported fuels and greater utilization of local and renewable forms of energy. Can the Premier commit to developing a comprehensive biomass strategy that can be utilized by all departments, including NTPC?

I thought I heard Premier in there, but that's fine. We are always looking at ways to be able to reduce some of the costs, especially to the public, NTPC, housing, Housing Corporation. That's why we buy bulk, and we use MTS to be able to deliver some of our fuel services up and down the Mackenzie Valley Highway -- soon, we'll have a highway, it's just the Mackenzie Valley.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All my questions are all related to biomass strategy and not to liquid fuels. Electricity rates keep climbing every time the price of diesel goes up. I note the hydro dams and plants burn up a significant amount of diesel to operate. Can the Premier or Infrastructure Minister commit to having NTPC find innovative strategies to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions using biomass, and that, in turn, lowers the cost of electricity customers have to pay? Mahsi.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has delivered a number of biomass projects to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also operating costs. The use of wood pellets, boilers, has proven to be a reliable technology for the NWT and the residents. As well as businesses, local and territorial governments have all benefited from some of these successes. The use the biomass heating, like the Member mentioned, is considered for all GNWT facilities, and are currently being constructed. These are some of the projects that we are doing now, and like I said, we talked about the 2030 Energy Strategy and also the action plan. This is stuff we're working on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Last week, the Minister revealed that she is working on issuing a significant discovery licence for Husky Energy under the amended Petroleum Resources Act. This will be the first significant discovery licence issued under our improved regime. Can the Minister tell us whether she's going to consult Sahtu communities, Indigenous governments, and Regular MLAs before issuing the significant discovery licence? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories does indeed consult with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations at the stage of when there's a call for bids. It is much earlier in the process than where this particular item is at. In this instance, what is relevant here is Section 30 of the new Petroleum Resources Act, which actually says that the Minister shall issue the significant discovery licence if certain conditions are met which, indeed, they are here for Husky. As such, I won't have any discretion in this particular instance. The reason that the consultation takes place earlier and, in this case, took place, was under the previous federal regime. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's great to hear. I hope this is not going to be another resource giveaway, but the Minister sort of prefaced my next question: Section 30.3 of the Petroleum Resources Act says that a significant discovery licence "may contain any other terms and conditions as may be agreed on by the Minister and the interest owner of the significant discovery licence." It's not clear whether that means the Minister can impose work requirements or annual fees that could even rise over time or whether Husky Energy has a veto. Can the Minister tell us whether it is her intention to pose any terms and conditions in this significant discovery licence that require exploration to be carried out, northern benefits, or annual fees?

As I mentioned earlier, the particular instance here of Husky Oil is one where the call for bids stage took place in 2011-2012 under a pre-devolution regime, under a totally different regime than that which is envisioned by the new Petroleum Resources Act. The new act certainly does give the opportunity at the earlier stage of that call for bids to include rentals and fee structures and opportunities to really increase the possibility for revenue, but again, in this particular instance, we are well past that stage. I would also note that, yes, the new act includes the opportunity for issuing benefit plans, and in this instance, Husky would still, should it choose to proceed undertaking activity, have to go through the process of submitting a benefit plan. With respect to those parts of the process where they predated the current regime, there is not a fair opportunity at this stage to be imposing items that weren't there previously.

However, this is a somewhat unusual situation. Husky is, I believe, one of the last if not the last occasions where we are pulling something that happened in this pre-devolution time and putting it into the new act with the new stage as it goes through its evolution of its licence from the call for bids through to production. The questions being asked are ones that, in the future, when we are looking at new discoveries, I'll be able to answer a strong and firm yes into the future with those new projects.

I'm a bit perplexed at what I just heard. We changed this legislation in the last Assembly so we would give the Minister the authority to impose terms and conditions to get northern benefits; otherwise, we just give the company a significant discovery licence and they can sit on it for 15 years and do nothing. Is this Minister going to use her discretion to impose some terms and conditions to get northern benefits, or is she just going to give Husky Energy a blank cheque?

Again, this is an occasion where Husky originally had their processes done or their bids done in 2011 and 2012, and there is an element of fairness in the regime that we have to ensure to include at all times so that no business or industry of any sector is going to think that they come in here under a certain regime with a certain set of expectations and have it changed under them. In this case, while yes, if they intend to go out onto the land and conduct activities, they will have to be filing their benefit plans, and those benefit plans then have to now be made public. That is under the new regime. It is a tremendous opportunity for northern communities, but with respect to imposing, now, rentals and fees when they didn't have those imposed on them in the past, no, we're not going to be dragging something from 10 years ago and applying this. That's not fair, and that's not the right way to do business. In this particular instance, again, the act is getting that power now looking forward, and certainly, that's something that everyone can move forward understanding what that regime is going to be so that, into the future, there will continue to be those opportunities.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for that. In the existing exploration licence for Husky Energy, there already is an annual fee per hectare the company has to pay. Now, is the Minister prepared to keep that kind of annual fee in the significant discovery licence, or is she just going to give everything away? I want to know from the Minister: she has discretion to do the right thing and secure benefits for the North. Is she going to do that, or is she going to give this away, not even include an annual fee, as there is in the current exploration licence? Will she impose a fee in the significant discovery licence, same as what's in the exploration licence? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

This licence has been subject to significant review from the Department of Justice because of the fact that there was so much that had to come in from the past and into the present. That has been some of the challenge here. I'm not trying to avoid the question. I'm just trying to make sure that I'm not here on the floor of the House getting into something that really has gone through significant legal review, as I've said. I would certainly not expect that there is going to be less fees offered or a freer ride now than what it has been in the past. The significant discovery licence here flows from the exploration licence that was in place, and I'm quite certain that we will continue to follow that approach and looking for it. If they are going to look to renew, which is one of the new benefits of the act, then they are going to be looking to renew knowing that there is now this new regime in place where there may be additional or enhanced fees and additional or enhanced reporting, and additional or enhanced requirements. Again, I'm simply trying to steer us to the fact that, as we go forward, there is a new act that gives a lot more power and puts a lot more expectations on the industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier. As to my statement, I will be looking at the Yukon-NWT border. Has the Premier had conversations with the Yukon Premier about a bubble with the NWT, since he has the power to open the border on the Yukon side? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have had discussions with Premier Silver from the Yukon government around exemptions for residents to cross over the borders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'll wait to say if that's good news or not. With the high uptake of Moderna vaccine that we've been hearing of, and I know that the communities in my region have really been posting a lot that they've been getting high percentages of first and second doses. Recently, with all over 18 in Inuvik being able to receive the COVID vaccine, that covers the Beaufort-Delta, anyone over 18. Will there be a Yukon-NWT bubble anytime soon after those discussions?

I have had discussions with Premier Silver from the Yukon Territory. He is more than interested in having exemptions for residents to go across the border. We are, as well, interested in that. However, I have to put it out there: Premier Silver has let me know that, if he was to consider having an exemption, not a bubble, but an exemption, then he would not be okay with us closing the border when they open up to British Columbia; and in conversations, it will only be a couple of weeks, he's assuming, before they open up to British Columbia. At this time, that is the underlying factor that is not good news for us.

That's not good news, but my next question will be: will the Premier have discussions with the Minister of health and the CPHO, or has had discussions with them, on what the NWT plans on doing, especially knowing that we have higher rates of vaccine?

Absolutely, we have been having discussions with our CPHO around what will happen when the majority of residents in the NWT get vaccinated; 75 percent is herd immunity. However, there is still a population, there are still people who have not, will not, or cannot get immunized, and we have a whole population of children who we don't have a vaccine for. The major factor is actually that they're not projecting that the vaccines will be delivered in the South until late fall, September, so we have serious concerns. There is not enough research. My understanding is that, even if we have the vaccines ourselves, can we still transmit COVID-19 to other people? Those are questions we don't know. I know that our CPHO is well-aware of the mental health, and I know that she is tired of it just as much as all of us. Her job is to make sure that we keep as safe as possible, and she is trying to do that.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next question I am going to ask is: how long are we going to be in this public health emergency? I refer back again to the Emerging Wisely plan. I think the people of the Northwest Territories, the people of the Beaufort-Delta, have a voice, too, just like the people at the mines do when they are given exception after exception. How long will we be in this public health emergency, and do residents who have been vaccinated have the option to challenge this public health emergency if they choose to, especially after they have been vaccinated? Thank you.

I would like to defer that question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Premier. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the question. The CPHO conducts regular risk assessments of the context of COVID-19, and it is her view that a public health emergency still exists. As a result, her public health orders remain in place, and as a result, the self-quarantine for 14 days remains in place until a time when she doesn't think that that risk any longer exists.

In order to change those orders, as the Premier said, she has to do a scan of, for example, vaccine levels. While the NWT is now over 40 percent vaccinated, the number for the whole of Canada is 1.42 percent. There's not anything like equality of vaccination across the country. Secondly, there is still community transmission of COVID-19 in some southern jurisdictions. That's something that we have worked very hard to prevent from happening here.

The third part is that, while we know the vaccine reduces how sick people become with COVID-19, we don't have definitive answers about whether it also stops transmission, so that whether, as a vaccinated person, I can still carry the virus with me and pass that on. We are very interested in making the changes that the Member is talking about. We understand that people are fed up with the isolation, and they would like to be reunited with their friends and family, their former lives, and we look forward to a time when we can truly get this behind us, but that moment is not now. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Infrastructure about who exactly the GNWT pays its rent to. My first question is: how much a year do we pay in leasing to southern landlords?

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every year, we pay approximately $18 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's the $18 million that I really would encourage the department to look at and see if we can make that a smaller number and give that to some northern businesses. One of my concerns is that our Leasing of Improved Real Property Policy only permits us to pay a premium to a northern business, and if we are going to rent from a southern business, it actually has to be cheaper to lease as opposed to own. I am a little concerned that, as these buildings have been sold off, resold, merged, and acquiesced over the years, we have fallen out of compliance with our own policy. My question to the Minister is: is the Minister confident that that $18 million is, in fact, in compliance with our own leasing policy?

Yes, we are in compliance with the Leasing of Improved Real Property Policy.

I struggle with how that is the case. In a previous analysis, it showed that it's actually cheaper for us to own our buildings than it is, often, to lease them. This was part of the analysis that justified building the new government building and justified the GNWT building large office buildings in the past was that we could do it cheaper to own than lease. How does the Minister rectify saying that we are paying $18 million to southern landlords with the fact that we have previously concluded that its cheaper to own our own buildings as opposed to leasing them?

If the Member is able to share their document so that we can review it and perhaps be happy to respond because, right now, I am not sure how to answer without any context to this document that the Member is referring to.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The document I'm mostly talking about is the fact that we built a giant building, and we decided not to lease it. My final question to the Minister here is: if, in fact, we are renting any of this $18 million to a non-northern landlord, will the Minister commit to conducting the cost benefit analysis of lease to own versus the policy and make sure we are not, in fact, paying a premium to any of these southern landlords? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We will review these leases as they expire to have a look to make sure that there is the cost benefit. However, I do want to say that, in accordance with the policy, we undergo lease versus own analysis proposed on new lease contracts with terms of over 10 years. Currently we own 28 percent, and we lease 72 percent of our general office space, which is influenced by a number of things: location, local market conditions, operational needs, assessment, and also availability of capital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. During my Member's statement, I referenced additional funding that was earmarked in the fall 2020 federal economic statement. I am wondering how much of the $181.5 million in additional funding for arts and heritage does the Minister intend to request from the federal government, and does the anticipated NWT Arts Strategy support this request? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. None and no. The reason for those answers is because we have been informed by the federal government that this money is not flowing to governments. It's not flowing to provincial or territorial governments. It will be distributed through the Canada Council for the Arts. What that means is that there are a limited number of organizations in the territory that will actually be able to access this funding. We have a lot of artists in the territory who are just individuals. It might be someone making slippers in their housing and doing beading. Those individuals can't access that funding.

I have had conversations with the federal Minister about this before. During some of the COVID relief funding that rolled out, they did have an application process where individual artists could apply, but that's not the case in this situation. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to request any of this funding. Therefore, we can't, obviously, build it into our Arts Strategy, but we will support artists in the territory in their attempts to access this funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That's not fabulous news, because a lot of the extra funding and grants that are available to northern artists do come through and are filtered through our government system. They either come from ITI or they come from the NWT Arts Council through ECE. I am wondering if the Minister can confirm or not if NWT artists would actually be better served by an NWT Arts Council that was independent of ECE.

I think that the Member might be envisioning a different body than what our arts council currently is. Our arts council helps make decisions about how to distribute the funding provided by ECE. I think the Member might be thinking of something like an artists' collective in the territory or something like that. While there is, perhaps, merit to those discussions, that's not really what the arts council is at this point.

If the Minister is wondering if I have big dreams for arts in the Northwest Territories, the answer is yes. I'm wondering if the Minister would be willing to have a conversation with the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment about kind of our disjointed approach to art within the Northwest Territories. We currently have culture and heritage housed under as well as the arts council housed under ECE, and then we have tourism, which has a huge cultural piece to it, and, I believe, a huge untapped market for arts in the Northwest Territories and on the global stage. I'm wondering if the Minister will have a conversation about how to really bring together arts within the GNWT so that we can better support northern artists and give them that stage that they rightfully deserve?

This is a conversation that's been going on for years and years. I think that, from the outside, ultimately, when it comes to programs that support our residents, there should be no lack of service or service disruptions or poor service based on how its distributed among different departments. Ideally, the GNWT should be working together, sort of an integrated service delivery approach, and provide services to residents with a resident focus. How the government does that needs to be coordinated. I think that there's this coordination between ITI and ECE, and it would be difficult to completely separate this file. ITI isn't the type of department that would take over responsibility for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, for example; and ECE isn't necessarily the type of department who promotes and sells internationally. I think that the approach that we have now is to utilize the expertise in both departments and work together. That being said, I'm always looking for ways to do things better, and I'm happy to have that conversation.