This is page numbers 2659 - 2688 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 housing.

Topics

Candidates in Tlicho Election
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi.

Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recently deceased residents in Nunakput, and I'd like to give our thoughts and prayers to them.

Marcus Ruben, Elder from Paulatuk, born March 19th, 1933, passed away May 2nd, 2021. With his beloved wife, they had nine children. He was 10th born of 13 to Ruben Angik and Sadi Sukayualuk. And he'll be sadly missed in the community. And Arlon, his family, thoughts and prayers are with them.

Hellie Pokiak of Tuktoyaktuk deceased April 28th, 2021, survived by her beloved husband, Frank Pokiak, and his children, Beatrice, Verna, Shaeli, his son Warren -- her son Warren and her sister Julie Cockney.

Baby girl, Carly Alvira Tedjuk from Tuktoyaktuk deceased April 2021. Survived by her beloved partners Raymond Cockney and Suzanna Tedjuk, and her brothers and sisters.

Annie Gruben of Tuktoyaktuk deceased May 6th, 2021, survived by her beloved husband, Sammy Gruben; sons Sammy Junior, Randy, and Richard Gruben, daughters Janice Lavalee, Tanis Blake, Terri and Jamie Gruben; her brothers Roger, Raymond Ettagiak and her sisters Sarah and Catherine and Laura and Agnes.

Jean Kagyut, deceased April 21st, Elder from Ulukhaktok, survived by her beloved daughters Annie and Laura Inuktalik, and Marlene and Margaret Kagyut.

Mary Kagyut, deceased March 31st, 2021, originally from Ulukhaktok. Survived by her beloved daughters Alexis and Margaret of Ulukhaktok.

Robert Anikina, deceased May 25th, 2021, from Tuktoyaktuk. Survived by his beloved brothers Myles, Norman, Opie, Matthew, his sisters Clara, Rhoda, Maureen, and Lily.

And for all the families, may the good Lord give you comfort and peace during our difficult times ahead. Thoughts and prayers to everyone across our territories who lost loved ones since our last sitting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member from Nunakput. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and community at this time. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Eulogy for Mary Neyelle
Members' Statements

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mary Neyelle was March 22nd, 1934, at traditional Dene Camp at Fish Lake near Wrigley, Northwest Territories. She passed away on March 30th, 2021.

Mary was 86 years old. Mary and her late husband, Edward, had nine children together. They adopted Camille later in their lives. She had 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Mary had unconditional love for all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She was caring, passionate, loving, good-spirited, patient, great teacher, and an outstanding person and had a beautiful soul.

Mary had great respect for the land and knew about the traditional medicines from the land. She liked walking around outdoors and always said that it was so beautiful outside on the land. She often sat outside her house in Wrigley on the stairs in the summertime with a cup of tea and enjoying the warm sun, sunny days with birds singing and the squirrels making noise nearby.

Mary had many friends everywhere she went and even travelled to Montana, USA, once with her best friend, Ethel Lamothe, for a Sundance ceremony.

Mary was very talented in making traditional Dene handcrafts. She has made numerous beaded moosehide moccasins, gloves, mukluks, vests, jackets, wraparounds, picture frames, and a few other crafts for her children, great grandchildren, and many other friends and people who knew of her special talents. She attended handicraft events and sold many items.

Mary liked George Jones and Hank Williams country music -- country western music. And I have to agree. Those are amazing artists. Mary left a great deal for others to follow in acknowledge of the Dene traditional way. Mary will be greatly missed and will be remembered by her family, great grandchildren, great great children, friends, and many people who knew her. She left us with priceless memories which we will cherish in our hearts. We will sadly miss her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Mary Neyelle
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community at this time. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by the Member for Nunakput on March 31st, 2021, regarding medevac services. The air ambulance service provider has been contracted to provide coverage for the entire Northwest Territories. The contract requirements include dedicated services such as aircraft, aircraft crew, and air medical crew available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to meet the demand of air ambulance transport requests.

To achieve this, in accordance with the performance requirements in the contract, the air ambulance provider has bases in Yellowknife and Inuvik. They provide a combination of medical crew and aircraft crew and three dedicated Yellowknife-based planes and one dedicated Inuvik-based plane to meet the demand of both in territory and out of territory patient transports.

At this time, the current combination of planes and crew has met both response time and service level benchmarks within the contract, and there is no need to consider exploring additional resources for the Inuvik base.

Simply expanding the number of planes available at the Inuvik base will not directly increase capacity to move patients across the NWT because of the complexity of matching and dispatching resources such as aircraft, aircraft crew, and medical crew to the air ambulance transport needs.

As an additional patient safety support, there is a contingency plan for additional resources that can be activated immediately to ensure critical transports are fulfilled as and when needed. The Department of Health and Social Services and the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority will continue to monitor the service level standards and response times against the contract. They commit to reviewing the contract requirements upon issuing a new contract or current contract extension to ensure all communities across the NWT continue to have appropriate access to emergency air ambulance services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The flooding this year has appeared to have not only caught communities off guard but this government as well. It was the people of the NWT that stepped up and provided immediate support to the flooding victims, and we must recognize and thank them for taking on that responsibility.

It is now time to show compassion and to refocus our priorities and look after those that cannot return to their homes or businesses. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of MACA to confirm what resources and support her department is providing to ensure those families in Jean Marie River, Fort Simpson, and Fort Good Hope have temporary accommodation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation and MACA have travelled together into the affected communities right now. We're looking at Jean Marie and Fort Simpson. We're waiting to get back the affected number of houses that have been impacted. The last conversation I did have with the mayor that there was 20 to 30 homes that were affected, and then I got another update that there was 10 homes that were affected, and then 6.

So I need the department to return back to Yellowknife so I could further look at the assessment that we are doing internally and looking at programming that we can offer to that community and looking at housing repair options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This government and the federal government had no problem rolling out financial support at the start of the pandemic. I expect that the same consideration for those victims impacted by the flooding. The reality is that events like this will quickly deplete one's own financial resources and leave many with nowhere to turn. It's up to this government to fill that gap.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister to confirm if her department is working with the Department of Education and the Department of Finance to look at providing individuals and families with some immediate financial support. And if not, will she commit to reaching out to those Ministers in coming up with a support program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the department is working very closely with both leaderships in each of the communities. And, also, I just wanted to go back to the first question, is that I forgot to mention that we do have evacuees that are still housed in Fort Providence that are from Jean Marie River until we're able to further look at renovations and improving their housing situation there in the community.

Also, we still have evacuees at Kelly Lake as well too and looking at, you know, further accommodations for them, also, looking at the local hotels in Fort Simpson as well too that we do have. But financial support that is being offered to the community membership, I will have to get back to the Member. Right now, the department is very concentrated on the repairing of the units so we can have people return to their homes comfortably. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, our government is touting the Disaster Assistant Program, which is not all that it appears to be. It has severe limitations with respect to the amount of compensation for damages. It is really a payor of last resort. It is not clear on how payments or reimbursements are to be made. There's no timeline for the payment or reimbursement. And all this can be confusing to someone who is traumatized and just looking to survive.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to employing and making program navigators accessible to those affected by the flooding? There will be many questions going forward on the process of assessments, compensation, temporary accommodation, temporary financial support, and some will need assistance to complete the forms as well.

And I would recommend that navigators be someone from the community and that the people are comfortable with. Thank you.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank the Member for that question because we're actually working on that right now as well in looking, you know, at how can we further have that outreach to the affected residents in these -- in the flood risk communities. And, you know, just currently, right now, we have Fort Good Hope who has been affected as well, and we're waiting on to see what this is going to look like in the Beaufort Delta. So the navigator positions, we are looking at that. And hopefully the next little bit we'll be able to return back to Members with a positive response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the flooding victims, Michael McLeod, our MP for the NWT was quoted as saying, People can count on the federal government, that they will be there to help, and they will be there to help right to the end.

I will hold our Member of Parliament to the federal government to that promise. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm what ongoing conversations are taking please between her department and the federal government, and do those conversations include immediate financial support to flood victims? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to commend the MP Mr. McLeod for reaching out and for working with us so strongly as well and leading our connections to the federal government and looking at the urgency for the Northwest Territories as well. And looking at the flood-affected communities, we do have a whole-of-government approach, that we do continue those conversations with the federal government.

And in that, that we are looking at the disaster application and what details are required. But not only that, as a minister responsible, I am looking at what can we provide right now and those financial outreaches as well too. But right now, I don't have an update to provide to the Member, but we are working at that internally. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker

[Translation] Mr. Speaker, I made a statement earlier regarding the elections in my region. It will happen on June 14. But I want to ask the Minister, before the elections, whenever there's election, there's a lot of complaints that comes out regarding the regulations. I'm hoping for a smooth election and encourage the communities to work with each other and respect the final decision. But as in the past four years, we witness election and the commotion we had in the communities. [Translation ends].

The election in my region for communities, Tlicho region, are slated for June 14th. With every election, not just my communities but other communities as well, there's always criticism, whether it be breaking bylaws, nepotism, whether it be all these different accusations. That happens every election.

And I have a question for Minister of MACA. It could be just one question, depending on her answer, if it's "yes" or "no". But if there could be a dedicated MACA representative that's involved with elections on an annual basis or on the election basis. So I'd like to get a confirmation from Minister if she's willing and also dedicating, I guess, MACA representative to be at the final count June 14th in all four communities, Mr. Speaker. That's my first question. Masi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At our last sitting, I did make an announcement and I did acknowledge that all the elections that were happening throughout the territory, we have quite a bit that are happening within our municipalities, but I do hear the Member's concern about, you know, when the election is happening and the situations that may occur from that as well. I will follow up with the Member in looking at how can we further accommodate those elections, and should we need a person in there to help support those communities, I will continue the conversation with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I didn't get a commitment there, yes or no. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important matter. It's hundredth year anniversary of Treaty 11, and this is a milestone, and everybody's watching us, not just Tlicho region but surrounding communities. And it's very important that we have somebody that can oversee the election, a non-biased person from outside the community to just oversee the count and to witness it and to sign off that it was a fair process. That's all I'm asking for. And I think if Minister can commit to potentially committing to that, I think it will be more concise and clear election process, smoother process. That's what we want to see. And we try avoid from last four years of criticism that happened, and I think it can be avoided, Mr. Speaker. Those are some of the questions that I have for Minister. Masi.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wanting to follow up with the Member just on further details on the election and looking at the whole environment, I guess that, and the dynamic of how this plays out in his riding. But, yes, I will commit to having a person work with the -- who will work with the member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The emergency warming shelter in Inuvik is vital to our home residents. You know, in my opinion, it saved many lives over the years. This government has put millions into COVID restrictions to save lives. When are we going to do that, the same for addictions and homelessness?

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, in Inuvik, is her department continuing to help to ensure that the homeless in Inuvik are being looked after, if there's things for them in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.