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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I don't think I got an answer to my question. Great to hear that there's going to be a GNWT team that goes and does this.

Do community governments, Indigenous governments, have the ability to hire their own experts, their own -- some of their own staff or staff that they already have in place, do the work, and then seek reimbursement from our government to move this along more quickly? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that level of detail. But, you know, we will be working directly with those affected communities in order for us to making sure that we submit this disaster application correctly to the federal government, but also recognizing that we do have communities north of the MacKenzie River as well too that we're looking at if they are going to be -- if they do suffer the amount -- significant damage as well too due to the flooding season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Mr. Speaker. I know it's a question period, and I don't have to necessarily get answers. But I still don't have an answer to that question. So I'll give the Minister the opportunity when she answers my next questions to say that she'll actually respond to the first one I asked.

But, Mr. Speaker, I've had some concerns raised with me about the qualifications, perhaps some of the work that might have been done by some folks that may be doing some of the assessment.

Do homeowners have the ability to seek a second opinion, or if they disagree with the assessment, what is the process for resolving such a dispute? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is quite the level of detail that I don't have with me right now. And, you know, I just want to reassure that the department is trying to work very strategically with the affected communities.

And looking at -- just going back to the question of if the communities can hire their own assessor, if MACA or the government would reimburse, I don't have that level of detail. We haven't submitted a disaster application yet, and our conversation with the federal government is ongoing.

But then also looking at, you know, whether we would be able to offer this type of assistance, I don't have that level of information right now. MACA and Housing are currently in the affected communities. They should be returning today back into Yellowknife. And then we are going to be travelling into Fort Good Hope as well too. Making sure that when we submit this application, if there is further support in the smaller communities, how can we work effectively together in making sure that we do have the submission.

I know this is a long answer. But the other thing is that we're looking at positions to uphold this responsibility in making sure that, you know, we work very effectively at the ground level.

Receiving the information, how do we distribute the money, how do we reimburse the individuals, I don't have that level of detail, but those are questions that we are working on as well within the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le Président. I want to thank the Minister for that. I really do hope that she gets back to us in the House about these questions soon and makes that kind of information available to the public, because as a Yellowknife MLA, I'm getting questions about this now.

So my last question, though, on this topic, Mr. Speaker -- unless I put up my hand for a third round -- is, you know, the cost of construction materials is going -- is escalating exponentially right now. A sheet of plywood has gone up at least three times in value.

What is our government doing now to preposition or secure construction materials now while we can actually still get them to help make sure that the work that's done for these homeowners gets done this summer. Minister's promised -- sorry. Not allowed to point.

The Minister's promised that she's going to have everybody in their homes by this winter. What is our government doing to secure construction materials now to make sure that that work can actually get done. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know -- but with my other hat as Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, this is why I do have staff at the ground level. I need our department to conduct their own assessment. I need to look at the level of damages that are existing in the community, how many houses have been affected so we can put in that order for the material that is required to rebuild those units and get more of a -- I guess more resources happening at the ground level to work work with the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Written questions. Returns to written questions, Mr. Clerk.

Deputy Clerk Mr. Glen Rutland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to written question 26-19(2) asked by the Member for Frame Lake on March 29th, 2021, regarding the supporting community governments.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) works with community governments to help ensure their capable, accountable, and self-directed operations. MACA monitors communities and offers a wide range of supports, from informal, targeted and cooperative to more formal, legislated and broad, including the more intensive step of the Department taking on the management of the community.

When a community government is experiencing financial or operational difficulties, it jeopardizes its ability to govern and deliver community based services. MACA does have tools to help analyze the origin and cause of these difficulties, and uses these tools to help facilitate a resolution based on the community's needs.

Depending on the severity of the financial, governance or operational challenges, MACA may implement any or all of the following:


Operational Review: When a community first comes forward with concerns, MACA will

conduct an information seeking exercise, typically with staff internal to the Department, to determine if and where any concerns of significance are presenting in the community government's operations. This is often the first step before further action is taken.

Co-management: MACA may enter into a work plan with the community to address specific challenges. This is a mutually agreed upon work plan which is not provided for under legislation, but is instead used as an interim solution instead of immediately entering into a supervision or administration arrangement.

Supervision: MACA may place a community government under supervision. This involves the hiring of a Municipal Supervisor to work with Council and the Senior Administrative Officer to resolve issues. This tool is typically used where issues are of an operational or management nature.

Administration: MACA removes Council, and possibly the Senior Administrative Officer (SAO), and appoints a Municipal Administrator to take control of all community operations. This tool is significant and typically signals substantial governance issues and an inability or unwillingness of the council to solve the issues.

The Municipal Administrator's job is to stabilize operations and prepare for the eventual return of an elected Council

.

Since 2016-2017, the following communities have entered into or concluded their co-management, supervision, or administration agreements with the Department. Due to the nature of these agreements, which are typically financial or governance-related, MACA is unable to share any specific details of each community's arrangement:

  • Enterprise
    Fort Good Hope (K'asho Got'ine Community Charter)
  • Fort Liard
  • Fort Resolution
  • Fort McPherson
  • Norman Wells
  • Paulatuk
  • Tsiigehtchic

Over the last five years, no staff, employed either by MACA or any other GNWT department, has been seconded or assigned to support a community during a vacancy of a Senior Administrative Officer (SAO) or Finance Officer position.

Additionally, the department has the ability to provide some funding support to a community government if they are in need of procuring external financial services for short term contracts to help them with their financial processing activities. Further support is provided in these circumstances by MACA's community financial services section by supporting the analysis and review of financial information for council decision making.

When there is a vacant SAO position, the appropriate MACA regional office will reach out to the Council to offer their support in filling this critical position. When supporting the Council with this, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC) “Hiring your Senior Administrative Officer or Band Manger” toolkit is a resource often used by the Council to assist in their decision making processes.

The regional office will support the Council with creating the job advertisement, identifying where the job will be posted, developing screening criteria, developing interview questions and providing potential reference check questions. If desired, the Council may request that MACA staff sit on the interview committee which they may, however, the MACA staff member does not have any decision-making authority during the hiring process. The Finance Officer position is hired by the SAO, and they may request support from the Department throughout the hiring process.

The SCG provides training opportunities and support in six areas of community government operations: Finance and Administration; Public Works; Recreation; Public Safety; Planning, Building and Development; and Governance.

The School of Community Government (SCG) offers learner-centred adult education in the form of its programs and services which are specifically tailored to community government employees who are looking for opportunities to build their skills and competencies while they work full time.

Training and development opportunities are available online in both self-directed and instructor-led forms. The SCG, through these programs, provides support to community governments in areas of governance, strategic planning, human resource development, occupational certification programs, and a variety of courses.

In 2019-2020, the SCG hosted 19 learning events for Senior Administrative Officers accessed by approximately eight learners. These learning events were delivered on-line, video lecture, through self-directed courses, and webinars.

The SCG also hosted 13 learning events intended for Finance officers. These were delivered on-line and in class-room delivery style. Approximately 15 individuals participated.

As a result of COVID-19 and in-person restrictions, the SCG will continue to deliver the majority of courses in an online or virtual classroom environment for the immediate future.

Emergency First Responder (EMR) training can be delivered in person following approved COVID-19 protocols; however, the class size is significantly reduced.

In 2020-2021, there were no courses delivered through the classroom format; however, 13 on-line courses and seven webinars targeted towards SAOs were completed by community government staff. Five webinars for Finance officers were also delivered.

The SCG also administers the Advancing Local Government Administrators Program (ALGAP). ALGAP is aimed at recruiting, training, and retaining local government administrators (LGAs), and provides up to $565,000 annually in funding assistance to eligible communities for new and existing senior administrative officers within the following three categories:

•Investing Locally (Category One): Community governments with a vacant LGA position;

• Succession Planning (Category Two): Community governments with an LGA on staff, but who plans to retire or leave the position within two years; and

•Skill Building and Occupational Certification (Category Three): Community governments with an active LGA who wants to pursue Occupational Certification or requires assistance for training to achieve specific skills.

The program has supported 30 Category One and Two applicants, and 26 Category Three applicants since its establishment in 2010. ALGAP participation in 2019-2020 included participants from Hay River, Gametì, Enterprise, Fort Providence, and Fort Simpson. Community Governments who are most recently graduating students from the program include Fort Providence and Hay River. ALGAP participation for 2020-2021 to date includes LGAs from Fort Simpson and Tulita.

Additionally, the SCG supports LGANT annually with a $50,000 contribution agreement to be used for learning and training opportunities. In 2020-2021, the contribution covered the following expenses:

  1. Partial Communications Coordinator Salary for Administrative Projects
  2. Partial Executive Director Salary for Administrative Projects
  3. Virtual Conference Costs
  • Awards
  • Advertising/Promotional Materials
  • Speaker Costs
  1. Strategic Planning Costs
  • Facilitated Session
  1. Rebrand Costs
  • Promotional Items
  1. Pool of Professionals Cost
  • Advertising Campaign - Online, Newspapers, Magazines.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Clerk Mr. Glen Rutland

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written Question 27-192 asked by the Member for Frame Lake on March 30th, 2021, regarding the Slave Geological Province Corridor.

A request was made to provide details on the phases of construction of the Slave Geological Province Corridor. Specifically, the questions were asked to identify: the timeframes of construction; how each phase of construction will be operated and financed; the calculated costs of each of the phases including a breakdown of construction and anticipated operations costs, and the engineering class for the costs estimates; and whom the Corridor will serve. There was an additional question about how caribou and their key habitat have been considered in the preferred location for each of the phases of the Corridor.

Regarding the first two questions, the advancement of the Slave Geological Province Corridor is a priority of the 19th Legislative Assembly and falls within the 2019-2023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories commitment to make strategic infrastructure investments that connect communities, expand the economy or reduce the cost of living.

The Slave Geological Province Corridor has been identified as critical for future economic development in the Northwest Territories, as it will improve access to significant mineral resources in the region, increase the resilience of the region's current transportation system to impacts of climate change, as well as promote increased tourism and other business opportunities.

The current priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories is the Environmental Assessment for the Lockhart All-Season Road portion of the Corridor, which will provide all-season access to Lockhart Lake from the terminus of Highway 4 at Tibbitt Lake.

In August 2019, Transport Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories announced $40 million in funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund towards the completion of the Lockhart All-Season Road Environmental Assessment, and preliminary planning for the remainder of the Corridor from Lockhart Lake to the border with Nunavut. Financing methods and models for the construction, operation and maintenance will be explored as project planning advances, and following engagement with Indigenous governments and organizations, and with federal counterparts.

The timelines for construction of the Lockhart All-Season Road and the remainder of the Slave Geological Province Corridor will be contingent upon the outcomes of the Environmental Assessment, final design, and our ability to secure additional federal funding.

Regarding the third question on cost estimates, responses can be found in the Impact Economics paper titled “Economic Study of the Slave Geological Province Road”, which was prepared in March 2019 and is available on the Department of Infrastructure website. As work on the project advances, there will be refinements made to these preliminary estimates.

Regarding the fourth question, the most recent Corridor route analysis from 2020 factors in caribou core ranges and caribou habitat utilization, among other datasets. This includes, but is not limited to, archeologically sensitive sites, watercourses and waterbodies, and landcover classifications.

Additional public and Indigenous engagement along with environmental, engineering and design work will be required before finalizing the Corridor route.

Deputy Clerk Mr. Glen Rutland

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written Question 28-19(2) asked by the Member for Frame Lake on March 30th, 2021, regarding the Taltson Hydroelectric Expansion Project.

I will focus the first part of my response on the Phase One elements of the proposed Taltson Hydro Expansion, which is the addition of 60MW of generation next to the existing 18MW facility and a transmission intertie between the Snare and Taltson systems. Phase One is the primary focus of all federal funding and work to date to advance this Government's long-term vision as set out in the 2030 Energy Strategy.

The construction timeline for power generation, water-to-wire and control structure elements of the project and transmission line intertie are currently estimated to take four to five years to complete. Timelines will ultimately depend on the procurement approach and preferred transmission line route selected.

In terms of financing for the project, it remains a work in progress. The project is currently in a pre-construction phase, which is being funded by the federal government in the amount of $18 million dollars.

It is estimated that over $1 billion dollars will be needed to finance the total construction costs of the project. A key area of focus is on these cost estimates

that will be further refined, as the project advances and more feasibility work is completed. An investment of this magnitude will require support from the Government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government, and financial support will need to be confirmed in the future. Further, the project will require reasonable certainty that industrial growth and corresponding increases in power demand will be in place by 2029 to cover the long-term costs of these investments. We are leveraging advisory services from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to explore commercial structure and financing opportunities that align with public sector interests and our Indigenous partners. These discussions are ongoing.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of customers for this expanded renewable energy source, the project will support a more drought resilient, stable and integrated hydro system that connects the 10 communities in the Great Slave Lake area. The project will also need to rely on two to three industrial customers per decade, depending on the size and operating life of those specific developments. We are in the process of engaging with nine existing and potential mining customers in the Northwest Territories to understand mine development plans and estimate revenue potential up to 2029 and beyond. We are not yet in a position to specify who will ultimately sign on for power from the project in 2029.

Future phases of the Taltson Hydro Expansion, including timeframes for construction, project financing and energy customers, will be informed by current work on Phase One.

Regarding the Member's question on power generation and whether any additional impoundment or flooding will occur, Phase One will provide a 60- megawatt expansion with no new flooding and an upgrade to the existing control structure at Nonacho Lake.

Phases Two and Three power generation requirements will depend on the energy demand at the time. We have on the order of 122 megawatts of hydro potential at six discrete sites on the Taltson River. Some flooding potential would need to be considered in future evaluations of these projects. Each future phase of work will be subject to its own regulatory review and approval.

Regarding the question about greenhouse reductions, Phase One of the Taltson Hydro Expansion could displace greenhouse gas emissions by 224 kilotonnes a year in the Territory.

In Phases Two and Three, depending on the nature of demand, final installed hydro capacity, and the type of fossil fuel displaced, we could add an additional 448 kilotonnes a year of greenhouse gas emission reductions by displacing diesel fuel.

The Canadian carbon tax system takes a user pay approach to carbon emissions, so the credit for greenhouse gas reductions would belong to industrial consumers in the jurisdiction where it resides. In the case of the Phase Three project, with an interconnection to either Alberta or Saskatchewan, consumers in these high carbon jurisdictions would be the beneficiaries of the clean energy, and subsequent reduction in carbon taxation.

Mr. Speaker, regarding the question on the calculated costs for each phase, Phase One work to date is relying on an AACE Class 3 cost estimate for the power generation, water-to-wire package, and Nonacho control structure designs. These cost estimates were originally completed in 2010 and updated in 2017.

In terms of transmission line costs, three primary routing options are currently being studied, at a concept level, to assess technical risks and costs. The estimates fall in the range of AACE Class 4 or 5. Work commenced in 2019 and is ongoing. The detailed capital costs for the hydro expansion and transmission line are confidential but estimated at over $1 billion dollars. We can commit to sharing high level estimates in confidence with Standing Committee in the near future. The transmission line options and associated costs are a key area of focus and these preliminary estimates are subject to further refinements.

No all-season roads are currently contemplated for any new hydro developments on the Taltson River. Transmission line spur locations in the Northwest Territories will be dependent on the location of specific energy demand locations that emerge over the next 30 years.

Phase Two includes the creation of an infrastructure corridor that would support a road, communications network, and hydro transmission line into the mineral rich Slave Geological Province. The hydro line portion of that project is envisioned to take place from 2029 to 2035. Having a clean energy option for industrial development is a key component of maintaining and growing the NWT economy in a sustainable way, while advancing our climate change commitments. No recent work has been done on this phase of the project.

Phase Three of the project goes beyond 2035 and is a long-term vision to connect the Northwest Territories to the continental electricity grid, either through Alberta or Saskatchewan. No recent work has been done on the estimated timelines for construction of the Phase Three vision.

Deputy Clerk Mr. Glen Rutland

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question 29-19(2) asked by the Member for Kam Lake on March 31st, 2021, regarding vacancy rates in housing programs.

The Member enquired about the number of vacant units by program and community as of March 31, 2021. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table this information.

The Member also enquired about how long each vacant unit has been vacant. The NWT Housing Corporation does track this information, but the IT system is unable to generate a single report that covers this metric for all vacant Housing Corporation units. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is always striving to improve its IT system and this may present an opportunity for future development in the relevant software.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Returns to written questions. Replies to Commissioner's Address. Petitions. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Tabling of Documents. Minister Responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled Response to Petition 1-19(2), Returning Fort Smith Runway to Former Specifications; Follow-Up Letter For Oral Questions 679-19(2) Road Construction Economic Benefits.

And further to my Return to Written Questions 27-19(2), I wish to table the following document entitled A Slave Geological Province Corridor Class D Cost Estimates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following six documents entitled Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 494-19(2) Economic Recovery; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 505-19(2) Home Insurance; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 592-19(2) Development of the Northwest Territories Remediation Economy; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 616-19(2) Government of the Northwest Territories Open Government Portal; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 671-19(2) Public Services Supporting Northern Businesses; and Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 699-19(2) Northern Students Recruitment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following seven documents entitled Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 635-19(2) Housing in Hay River; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 643-19(2): Aging Housing Units in Nunakput; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 651-19(2): Retrofits on High Rise in Hay River; Follow-Up Question 653-19(2): New Housing Units in Inuvik; Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 655-19(2): Biomass Heating and Energy Efficiency for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 656-19(2): Senior Housing Needs.

And further to my return to written questions, 29-19(2), I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Unit Status Report Summary, March 31, 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following four documents entitled Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 498-19(2): Culturally Sensitive Healthcare Services; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 564-19(2) and Oral Question 673-19(2): Extended and Long-Term Care in Hay River and Extended Care Beds;
Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 632-19(2): Non-Insured Health Benefits and Dental Services; and Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 666-19(2): The Fourth Trimester. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of Motion for the first reading of bills. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President.

I give notice that on Monday, May 31st, 2021, I will move that Bill 29 Resource Royalties Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act be read for the first time. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Report of Committee of the Whole.

Third reading of bills. Madam Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

Page 2672

Deputy Clerk Of The House Ms. Wickens

Orders of the day for Friday, May 28th, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.:

  1. Prayer
  2. Ministers' Statements
  1. Members' Statements
  2. Returns to Oral Questions
  3. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
  4. Acknowledgements
  1. Oral Questions
  1. Written Questions
  1. Returns to Written Questions
  2. Replies to Commissioner's Address
  3. Petitions
  4. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
  5. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
  6. Tabling of Documents
  7. Notices of Motion
  1. Motions
  2. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
  3. First Reading of Bills
  4. Second Reading of Bills
  5. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
  6. Report of Committee of the Whole
  7. Third Reading of Bills
  8. Orders of the Day

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

Page 2673

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, madam clerk. This House stands adjourned until Friday, May 28th, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 3:19 p.m.