Members, I ask that you please remain standing. Since we last met, his Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, passed away. The Prince had a strong connection to Canada and visited the Territories from Inuvik in the North to Fort Smith in the South. The Prince even visited this very Chamber. On behalf of the Assembly, I offer our condolences to Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the Royal Family. I ask that you please join me in a moment of silence in honouring of his passing.

---Moment of silence

Thank you, colleagues. Please be seated. Members, I also wish to offer condolences on behalf of the Assembly to the family and friends of the Honourable David Searle and Mr. Sonny MacDonald.

Mr. Searle was the first person to fill the role of Speaker of the Northwest Territories of the Legislative Assembly, a prominent lawyer, community leader, and a member of the Order of Canada. Mr. Searle passed away on March 1st, 2021.

Mr. MacDonald, an internationally recognized artist, was responsible for the loon carving that sits here beside me in the Chamber, a recipient of the Order of the Northwest Territories and former Chair of the NWT Arts Council. Mr. MacDonald died on April 20th, 2021. His talent will be remembered both here in the Chamber and in the homes of many Northerners. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, with their families and friends.

I would also like to acknowledge the resilience of the people of Jean Marie River, Fort Simpson, and other communities, like Fort Good Hope and Aklavik, who have faced or are facing flooding in their communities. Please know that the Members of the Legislative Assembly recognize the challenges you are facing and are working to help it.

Members, it is my pleasure to welcome you back today. It is an honour for us to be here on behalf of our constituents and all residents of the North - of this Territory.

Colleagues, this will not be a long sitting, but the work to be done is important. The decisions you make in this House have important and lasting impacts on our constituents and all our people of this Territory.

I remind Members to conduct themselves in keeping the rules of this Assembly. Show respect for one another, for this institution, and, most importantly, for those who elected us. This is a place of the people. We are here to serve as their representatives, and we truly look forward to their return. It has not been the same without them here. I look forward to being able to welcome the public back into this building; however, the current Covid-19 situation does not allow it at this time. Although the Assembly remains closed to the public, media are welcome in the gallery; we continue to broadcast and live stream our proceedings. Our people need the opportunity to see and understand the work being done on their behalf.

Colleagues, the days are growing longer and summer is just ahead of us. This is a beautiful time of year, and we are blessed to live in this Territory. I know that many of us and many of our residents have been fortunate enough to be able to get out on the land in recent weeks, and we are looking forward to the summer.

To all Members and all people of the Territory, I want to remind you to be respectful and appreciate our land and resources. As we continue to take care of Territory, it will continue to take care of us.

And now it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2021-2022;
• and Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2021-2022, during the Second Session of the 19th Assembly.

Yours truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner. Thank you, Members.

Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by welcoming all my colleagues back to the Chamber for this sitting of the 19th Legislative Assembly. I look forward to providing updates on key issues and mandate priorities, as well as hearing from Regular Members on issues important to residents over the course of the next seven sitting days.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take some time to talk about community, about how that term has a renewed meaning not only with trying to address COVID- 19, but also in the last few weeks due to the impacts of flooding in many regions in the Northwest Territories. It has been incredible to watch residents support one another during such a challenging time.

Hundreds of residents have been impacted by the flooding, some hav lost everything, others facing significant repairs and efforts to replace possessions they lost. Some of which -- of what has been lost cannot be replaced.

Mr. Speaker, no matter the challenges we are faced in the Northwest Territories, there is a sense of community that is special and unique to us alone. No matter the emergency we are faced with, a global pandemic, forest fires, or flooding, no one can take that sense of community away from us. Every single person in the Northwest Territories has been negatively impacted by this pandemic, and yet the communities still came together to support others in need.

During the early days of the flooding, residents, businesses, and organizations stepped up and volunteered their time and money to help those who were impacted by the floods.

You opened your doors to your neighbours who needed a warm bed to sleep in since they couldn't sleep in their own. You donated airplanes full of groceries and hundreds of thousands of dollars to the United Way. Let us not forget the 2,500 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken as well, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, People came together to support those who needed it the most.

Our government, Mr. Speaker, was there to provide support however it was needed. Local leadership on the ground with the support of Municipal and Community Affairs Emergency Management Organization and volunteers worked day and night to ensure that residents were safe and had what they needed. A multi-departmental effort helped to provide staff and supplies, including a temporary medical centre to support the efforts on the ground.

The responsibility for managing a community emergency rests with local governments, and when they made requests for additional support, we were there to ensure they were able to take care of their residents. And as recovery continues and the flood damage is assessed, I want residents to know that we will be there to support you in your recovery.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is vast, twice the size of Texas. Our 33 communities are spread out, and in many instances, separated by great distances. But when one community needs our support, the Northwest Territories stands strong with them.

To everyone who contributed to the flood relief efforts, you are what makes the Northwest Territories such a special place to live. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the strength and resilience of our communities and residents across the Northwest Territories shines brightly as we continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to the NJ MacPherson outbreak in Yellowknife is an example of over a year of work preparing for the possibility of such an event. Safety and preparedness have been our top priorities since the pandemic began, and the response to contain this outbreak is an example of the hard work of so many to protect residents and communities.

The response of our health care and support professionals has been incredible. They have continued to go above and beyond to protect our residents and loved ones from the virus. I am extremely appreciative for their continued dedication to keeping our communities safe.

As well, Mr. Speaker, this response of our whole community has been overwhelming. Everyone worked together to support one another, and those self-isolating or tested positive. This community always comes together when times are challenging, and this has been no different. Because this outbreak impacted our youngest residents, the GNWT worked diligently to secure doses of the Pfizer vaccine to begin administering to those aged 12 to 17. Our youth were some of the first in the country to get the vaccine, Mr. Speaker, a true testament of our efforts to protect as many residents as we can from COVID-19.

Since the first case was confirmed, a tremendous amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to understand the extent of the spread and to contain it as quickly as possible. Because of this hard work, not only by our Chief Public Health Officer and her team, but by our incredible residents and businesses as well, we were able to prevent community transmission in Yellowknife and surrounding areas.

However, it's important to put things into perspective. While we are encouraged to see residents getting vaccinated at a higher rate than most jurisdictions in Canada, we still have work to do, especially in some of our smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, getting vaccinated is the right thing to do. It protects yourself, your family, your neighbours, and those most vulnerable, including our children, and the important knowledge keepers in our communities, our Elders. If we all do our part, we can begin to get back to the things we love, like community feasts, hand game tournaments, and travelling.

Every person who gets vaccinated plays an important part in our effort to beat COVID-19, in our combined efforts to protect the health and well-being of our communities and our loved ones. Please, get vaccinated. The Government of Canada has talked about a one-dose summer, where 75 percent of residents across Canada getting their first dose means things may start to return to normal. We all want that, Mr. Speaker. So let us keep doing our part.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is ready to turn its attention to the economic and social recovery of our great territory. The pandemic has brought into sharper focus the urgent need to act on social and economic development. Like every other jurisdiction, residents and businesses were asked to make great sacrifices to help protect the NWT from COVID-19. While we have largely escaped the worst of the health impacts, residents did suffer economic, financial, and social losses, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to helping the Territory recover and come back stronger than before.

The majority of our economic and social challenges are not new, though. Many of the efforts of the pandemic were a result of social and economic gaps and challenges that existed before the pandemic and which the Government of the Northwest Territories, businesses, and communities were already working to address. Continuing that work and accelerating where it makes sense is going to be a key part of how the Government of the Northwest Territories helps to promote recovery.

Mr. Speaker, we're committed to working on the social and economic recovery of the Northwest Territories so we can emerge stronger, and we have been engaging with multiple sectors on a plan. We'll be tabling this plan later in this sitting and will continue the discussion about how we will work together as a territory to promote recovery over the coming months and years.

Mr. Speaker, the partnerships we have forged during this pandemic have shown us the importance of collaboration and community in a time of crisis. Our success depends on partnerships with all levels of government and working closely with all stakeholders. The support of Indigenous and municipal governments, residents, and businesses has kept the people of the NWT largely safe from the waves of the virus that continues to affect other parts of the country and the world.

Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate, fortunate to have not experienced the same level of health impacts we see elsewhere. With the guidance of the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer, we have been able to keep many businesses open while still protecting NWT residents. At the same time, we know that some areas of our economy have been particularly hard hit and that many residents have been suffering.

As we have responded to the pandemic, residents, communities, and businesses have been very open in identifying the impacts and actions most needed to position ourselves to seize the opportunities that the post pandemic expansion will offer. By working closely with stakeholders to implement our mandate and the Emerging Stronger Plan, we have the opportunity to set the NWT up to be in a position to thrive. This includes continuing to build on our strong relationship with the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, Canada understands the impact the pandemic has had on the North. Covid-19 has laid bare the gaps in our society, and the federal budget released in April addresses several shared priorities and reflects that they are listening to what our needs are.

Investments in housing, child care, climate change, the green economy, and job creation are examples of their commitment to closing these gaps and ensuring a prosperous Northwest Territories for generations to come.

Canada's commitment to ensuring people are not left behind as we move forward aligns with our own efforts to create a better future for our territory and its residents.

Mr. Speaker, Canada is investing in areas that are important to our future and will benefit our efforts to meet the commitments outlined in our mandate.

Mr. Speaker, in the federal budget, we were heard. Our government had identified a number of areas for potential funding, including infrastructure, housing, connectivity, health, postsecondary education, climate change, and early childhood education. Working closely with Canada and continuing to strengthen an already positive relationship will help support our goal of social and economic recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I am optimistic that we share common goals between our governments, and I look forward to learning more about how we will benefit from the commitments made by Canada in the coming months.

We have faced one of the most difficult challenges our society has faced in the last century. It has not been easy, but I am confident that in the coming months, by working together, we will begin to emerge from the pandemic and return to the things that we love.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been committed to protecting the health and well-being of residents, and to this point, we have been successful.

Mr. Speaker, we are also committed to ensuring a social and economic recovery that will make the Northwest Territories stronger and support the success of residents now and into the future.
If we have learned anything in this pandemic, it is the importance of strong and collaborative relationships built on mutual respect, trust, and understanding. We have learned the sense of community.

Mr. Speaker, as we go forward, we will continue to work with Indigenous leaders, community governments, the federal government, stakeholder groups, the business community, and residents to ensure a holistic approach to our collective efforts to emerge from this pandemic a stronger Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier.

Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the potential for spring flooding for communities situated along our rivers is a reality. For the community of Hay River, it is an annual event that must be prepared for.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize and thank the Town of Hay River, mayor and council, staff, along with the Hay River Community Emergency Management Committee and volunteers for the great work they did to plan, coordinate, and carry out activities to respond to potential spring flooding. The committee, under the supervision of Ross Potter, Director of Protective Services, makes the whole process appear effortless; however, we all know that it is not as easy as that, and for that, I commend Ross and his team for their dedication and the hard work that they do to keep the residents safe while protecting property and keeping us informed.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize and acknowledge the residents of Vale Island for the preparation each made in the event evacuation was required, and this year a temporary evacuation was required, which I am pleased to say went smoothly. It is always difficult to leave your home not knowing whether or not you will have a home to come back to. The residents of Vale Island looked to friends, relatives, and businesses for support, whether it was for temporary shelter, a place to set-up an RV, or somewhere to drop of their pets while they manage the stress of the situation.

Mr. Speaker, it takes a compassionate and well-organized community working together to ensure the safety of those that may be affected by any potential disaster. Hay River has proven time and time again it is that community, and for that, I again applaud the residents, businesses, town employees, volunteers, mayor and council, and all who worked to keep us informed and safe throughout spring breakup.Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Member statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a previous members statement, I stated that housing is a basic necessity that everyone needs, especially here in the North where the temperatures swing dramatically. And at home right now, currently, it's snowing.

Mr. Speaker, I raised the issue on October 28th, 2020, regarding the struggles that the Inuvik Emergency Warming Shelters was having. At that time, the Minister stated her department was working on a homelessness strategy but the draft was still not complete.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister also committed to sending in staff to assist with the operations and staff support. I know this happened, but from what I know, that they came, and they left back to Yellowknife. The Inuvik warming shelter continues to have its struggles to the point where the board closed the shelter again in mid May.

Mr. Speaker, before the COVID pandemic, the shelter did normally close in the summer to overnight shelter, except for last year, due to Covid. And, Mr. Speaker, I don't know why the GNWT is not supporting the emergency warming shelter board and staff this summer as we have not moved out of phase two of the emerging wisely plan. At this point, it feels like we're going to be in the phase for eternity.

Mr. Speaker, you know as well as I the nights in Inuvik continue to get below minus zero. Where are they supposed to stay? Last year the town passed a bylaw about no loitering, no urinating on public streets in Inuvik. So now with the facility closed, down for the summer, where are we like, we're forcing them to break the law. Where are they supposed to use the washroom when there are no public washrooms available? Where can they get a meal and something to drink?

It's time the Minister who is responsible for Homelessness, who is also the Minister of Housing, work with the Minister of Health and Social Services, step up and begin a long-term plan for housing and really, truly assisting our residents with addictions and providing a place to sleep 365 days a year.

Mr. Speaker, it is vital to have dedicated staff to support and fund these NGOs and volunteer boards that are doing the work in each community that has a shelter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Homelessness.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members statements, Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have made several statements in this House about the Affirmative Action Policy and how it is not working as it should to help Indigenous people be employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Lately, however, I've realized the issues within the Human Resources Department go much deeper than just the Affirmative Action Policy. I'm seeing now that there are several structural issues around hiring in general that is impeding all people from attaining employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, last week I heard from many constituents with concerns around employment hiring within the Government of the Northwest Territories. It seems more and more that barriers are being put in place not only for Priority One individuals but for all applicants to the Government of the Northwest Territories positions. For example, two people spoke about two different issues, and both situations were identical. The government put out a job description, the constituents applied, some time passed, and the job was suddenly cancelled. The person called human resources and was told no one with proper qualifications had applied, thus the competition was cancelled. Then a new job was re-posted with identical descriptions and qualifications. I believe this was done to indirectly screen them out of competition in order to avoid screening them out officially on the record.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I attended a public meeting last week on the Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs. There was something said by the guest speaker which resonated with me. The speaker was a Metis lawyer who teaches law at the University of Manitoba, named Professor Brenda Gunn. She said, government employees need training and clear direction from Ministers, deputy Ministers, and assistant deputy ministers. Mr. Speaker, I seek a unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, that quote appealed to me because I don't think that our government has done enough of that when it comes to addressing the various hiring issues within human resources in the Government of the Northwest Territories. Direct intervention by the Minister of human resources is necessary. Continuously friends will take care of friends, families hire their families, and they protect each other from any potential repercussions because of it.

There are many people who want to better themselves and to seek employment by the Government of the Northwest Territories, but if there's no room to get their foot in the door and if there are gatekeepers protecting an exclusive club, then very few will ever get ahead, let alone get hired.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that a renewal strategy needs to be implemented within the entire human resources department of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Structural changes must be done to address the hiring practices, the hiring culture, and potential off-the-book decisions that are made that adversely affect applicants.

I will have questions for the Minister of human resources later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In recent years, northern tourism and the economy have been challenged by disasters like forest fires, the pandemic, and now flooding, causing this fledgling economic sector to become virtually non-existent. Through no fault of their own, our tourism operators require even more support than they ever have before.

Despite recent news that NWT lodges are allowed to bring visitors from southern Canada, this is not enough for our suffering tourism and hospitality sector. Many businesses do not have the means or capacity to adjust their business models to meet new safety requirements or aren't willing or able to take on the additional risks.

With the possibility of additional supports in the coming weeks, we must continue to work closely with partners like NWT Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce, and the business sector. Open dialogue with stakeholders and really listening to them is key to understanding the ongoing challenges, not just in regards to COVID impacts but with respect to the flooding and other natural disasters, as well as skyrocketing building costs.

From 2019 to 2020, there was a decrease of five Tourism Operators Licences or TOLs. Last year, the greatest declines were in the Beaufort Delta due to the loss of cruise ship tourism as a result of the restrictions on travel. If all TOLs are approved this year, there will be a total of 152 licences in place for 2021, a decrease of two from last year. However, many will likely not operate.

While this is the second year in which the GNWT has waived TOL fees, I don't believe this is enough. Fees will be waved for tourism operators who are not able to operate; however, some operators will continue to operate at a reduced capacity and will need support as well. How many will close if more assistance isn't available? What further supports will be provided during the post-pandemic recovery efforts in order to rebuild a successful and profitable tourism sector?

Relief programs from last season that have already been proven to help need to continue, as well, additional training and courses should be provided to help operators build their credentials, qualifications, and skills. These could include courses on plumbing, painting, or carpentry, as well as natural disaster and emergency response training; courses that have further benefit of helping people to maintain their own residences.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't try to just rush it in this time. Okay. Well, modern technology here. My apologies, Mr. Speaker. Oh, jeez. Sorry. I don't have it memorized. I apologize. Okay.

So, Aurora College could offer courses part-time or virtually so that small businesspeople and their staff can attend when it works for them. Safety training could cover areas like fire suppression and disaster training, including how to set up sprinkler systems, mitigate floods and fuel spills, and responding to other events that often occur as the result of our harsher and changing climate. All these workshops, short courses, and online training could also become tax deductible. The more we can help our small business sector and operators to survive the pandemic the better situated we'll be to recover. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, the reality of housing in the North is dire. NWT housing problems are well above the national average while funding for housing has decreased both federally and territorally. We have heard multiple times as GNWT cannot solve the NWT's housing problem alone and that the key to northern housing success is partnership. To foster these partnerships, our government needs to first create space for them.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT's policies and regulations need to harmonize to support the priorities of the people of the Northwest Territories. But instead we have multiple policies that work against improving housing for Northerners. Education, Culture, and Employment's income assistance polices play a key role in addressing the housing challenges faced by NWT communities. The income assistance accommodation allowance is the territory wide benefit used to access housing. If this benefit could easily be used to support key strategic partnerships with Indigenous governments and non-government organizations, it would offer long-term solutions to northern housing.

As it currently stands, this policy creates persistent barriers that require people to add their names to the public housing wait list to receive the rental allowance and restricts people from accessing other forms of housing as an end goal.

Today the end goal seems to be reliance on public housing. There is not enough public housing to serve the 900-person wait list, and the housing corporation lacks the strategic plan to transition people from public housing or to address its quantity and quality housing stock. This policy also excludes potential partners, like the private sector, nonprofit, or Indigenous housing providers to help house Northerners with permanent solutions to end homelessness.

This income assistance policy requires clients to pay for housing and utility arrears, creating another barrier to accessing the housing allowance. These arrears can take years to pay, and the policies that drive them do not reflect property damages caused by an abusive partner or arrears from rent increases caused by family members sleeping on the couch because they cannot pay their own arrears or rent.

Housing is a human right, Mr. Speaker. Partnerships with Indigenous governments and non-government organizations play a pivotal role in our future housing success but rely on this government to create space for solutions to our housing crisis with forward-thinking policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake.

Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is dictating to the communities as to the types of new housing to be built in their community.

Mr. Speaker, it's as if the Housing Corporation has free rein in the communities and decides where in the community they will build.

Typically, back in the good old days, anyone or any organization wanting to conduct any type of business or new builds in the community would consult with the various leadership organizations of their intentions. Mr. Speaker, this is meaningful consultation, and any time this path is taken, it leads to a happy, satisfied community.

Back in 2018, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation built two duplexes in Fort Providence. Both of the duplexes are approximately 6 to 8 feet high off the ground. This type of construction you would find in the Arctic regions. In the Arctic regions, they deal with 8 to 10-foot high snowdrifts.

Mr. Speaker, there was no consultation with the Fort Providence Housing Association nor the community leadership as to the type and style of housing that would be built at the time. I believe there's a similar situation in Fort Resolution. The federal government recently provided significant infrastructure investments in building much needed housing units for the small communities.

Mr. Speaker, sadly, there weren't any consultations with the community and especially the local housing association staff and board of directors. I, myself, feel slighted as I was not kept in the loop as to any decisions made by the NWT Housing Corporation in terms of the types of units going into my community.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Housing Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President.

An interesting study was recently released summarizing extensive soil sampling for arsenic covering much of the Slave Geological Province including the Yellowknife area. Thanks to local resident Mike Palmer who worked with Queen's University Professor Heather Jamieson for this work.

Using a combination of mineralogical analysis and statistical and geospatial analysis, they showed conclusively that in soils around Yellowknife and up to 20 kilometres away, most of the arsenic came from mining. Arsenic contamination persists even after more than 60 years after most of it was released from gold-roasting operations.

There is some evidence of arsenic slowly dissipating, but it will be with us for many years, if not forever. Background levels of arsenic in the Slave Geological Province were found to be in the range of 0.25 to 15 ppm and as high as 30 ppm for the type of rock around Yellowknife, comparable to findings everywhere else on the planet.

Some of you are asking, So what? Some previous work had claimed that the natural background levels of arsenic in rock around Yellowknife were much higher, 150 ppm or 5 to 10 times what this new and much more thorough study shows. The old work was done by consultants and a group called Yellowknife Arsenic Soil Remediation Committee in the early 2000s. In 2003 GNWT set arsenic remediation guidelines for soils at 160 ppm for residential use and 340 ppm for industrial use. I objected to those guidelines and believed that they were too high and not protective enough. The nationally accepted standard was and still is 12 ppm.

I have received numerous assurances that the 2003 arsenic remediation standards would be reviewed. I'm still waiting, and this new study that shows the background levels should be no more than 30 ppm rather than 150 ppm as previously claimed, there is an even stronger case now to review these outdated remediation guidelines.

I'll have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and what the plans are for reviewing the 2003 arsenic remediation guidelines, the implications for current remediation work at Giant, and for property owners in this city. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's been over six months since the Business Advisory Council disbanded and said that it didn't have faith that economic recovery was a priority for this Cabinet. And here we are, Mr. Speaker, still without our Emerge Stronger Economic Recovery Plan. And it's hard to have faith, Mr. Speaker.

Before the Business Advisory Council disbanded, they conducted an all-day strategic planning session where they made a number of recommendations on what we could do, Mr. Government -- or Mr. Speaker.

As far as I can tell, Mr. Speaker, those recommendations have largely been ignored. I once again in this sitting will go through some of those recommendations.

First: Offer a rebate program to NWT residents for staycations. Mr. Speaker, I love this program. In Nova Scotia, if you go on a staycation, you got 20 percent back. I think this should be the main vehicle for encouraging tourism within our territory, yet decided not to do that. We decided to ignore the advice of our business community.

Mr. Speaker, they advised that the GNWT should develop infrastructure to support electric vehicles. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT does not own one single electric vehicle station. Despite having 900 vehicles and spending 3 million a year, we don't own one single electric vehicle.

Mr. Speaker, they asked that we organize an online festival and show of NWT artisans of their work, as well as set up an e-commerce site for artisans.

Mr. Speaker, multiple governments and organizations for years have asked for NWT Arts to set up an e-commerce platform for our NWT artists, and we ignored this recommendations from the Business Advisory Council.

They said we should reduce fees and alcohol taxes for industry businesses. We're definitely not going to do that, Mr. Speaker.

They said we should consider specific respite for the hospitality industry, Mr. Speaker. I have yet to see that respite. Mr. Speaker, they asked that we declare a state of emergency, amend BIP to remove the limitation and create a benchmark. We have not done that, Mr. Speaker. In the Yukon, 15 percent of government contracts have to go to Indigenous businesses. There is a clear benchmark and a target they have reached. We still do not have an Indigenous procurement policy.

Mr. Speaker, there were many other recommendations from our Business Advisory Council, and as far as I can tell, they are not in our plan, and we don't have a plan. I will have questions for the Premier on where Emerging Stronger is at.

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

Masi, Mr. Speaker.

[Translation] Mr. Speaker, about our Tlicho region, there will be an election coming up very soon. The closing date for the candidates for Tlicho region has closed May 17th, and I feel people that's running right now, and for that -- for the Tlicho region for the four communities, there will be an election, and for the Chief and the Council as well. For Behchoko, there is 5 candidates for the Chief for Behchoko alone, and there's 31 candidates for the Council.

And for Whati, there is three people that's running for the Chief, and there's about 15 that is running for the Council.

And for Gameti, there's two candidates for the Chief and 12 candidates for the Councillors.

And for Wekweeti, there's two candidates for the Chief. They don't have enough candidates for the council. So now they had to add a few more days.

So today, Mr. Speaker, so much is happening in Tlicho region, and there's also lots of activities because people are also campaigning. And so we are hoping or -- or I am hoping it will turn out very well for all the candidates that's a lot.

So I like to say good luck to all the candidates. And so through this, all this, I just like to give all my good luck to the candidates. Thank you very much. [Translation ends]

Thank you, Member for Monfwi.

Members' statements. Member for 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for 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.

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.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for 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.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Homelessness.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This was brought to my attention in the spring -- I mean, in the -- I want to say March -- February or March that the Inuvik warming shelter, we were experiencing some inhouse challenges, I guess, with the management and with the board. The housing corporation did come into the community to try to alleviate that. The housing corporation did hire a manager to work with the board members in trying to alleviate the conflict that was happening amongst the board and looking at the status of the Inuvik warming shelter.

I'm committed as a Minister to visit that again as well, and, you know, I do understand that, you know, homelessness is a huge issue in our territory. But looking at where we actually do stand, if we do have an active NGO that is able to come and work with us as a corporation and carry out the responsibility, I will have to follow up with the Member on the current status. But as we speak right now, that there is still conflicts amongst that NGO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This challenge isn't from March or February. This challenge has been ongoing. I raised it in the fall session. They've been struggling. This is volunteer board of caring people that just keep trying to keep this open. Will the Minister can she commit that this manager or person is somebody who's in Inuvik and maybe where all of our shelters are to have somebody directly working in that community from her department in the community of Inuvik to ensure that this board has support. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, like, you know, as a Minister and as a department, like, we're willing to work with the community. But the last information that I did receive, that there was a decision that was made by the board to temporarily close the homelessness shelter. And the housing corporation does fund the Inuvik warming shelter $264,000 annually. But we're looking at the overnight operations and the conflict that is happening there. I will reach out to the manager that we do have there and see -- I want to get a further update on what has the progression been since we have stepped in and tried to work with the nonprofit organization and trying to offer them further supports. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When you live in a small community, when we live outside of Yellowknife, there's not a lot of people that can do the job as ED. The job is a difficult job in the homeless shelter, and if the person is qualified to do it, a government job comes up, they're gone. This is a position that is vital for ensuring funding is coming in, ensuring that staffing is being taken of.

This manager position, you know, this is where these kind of positions should be put in. We should start looking at this homelessness strategy and having a good plan to have if we have to start running it as a government. Will the Minister continue to make sure that this person is on the ground so that this volunteer board, if we even have a board left, will be there and be supported. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, the manager was created because there was conflict in Inuvik with the warming shelter and looking at the financial situation that they were getting themselves into, I guess, that the purpose of this position that was created was to try to work with the board to alleviate those challenges.

But we will be working -- well, we will be working with the community as well, because we did end up working with the Indigenous groups in the community. But it's really difficult, and it's challenging when we have NGOs that are facing these difficult situations and trying to alleviate them. But also we are there to support them as well too. So we could come together and look at the Inuvik warming shelter and re-establish the board members and also staff as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my final supplementary, I just want to know will the Minister commit to making sure that there's something in place for our homeless in Inuvik right now so that they have a place to wash, so they have a place to use the washroom, where they can try and get a meal. Like, we need to have something for our homeless right now. With this board, we don't even know if they're meeting right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the housing corporation is in full support. But we don't have the established board members that are there. We had issues with the staff as well. So, you know, we do fund this program annually. So if we have shut the doors and we are looking at challenges like that and looking at further training and the support of this manager to help the Inuvik warming shelter to get back and working again, that, you know, the position is housed in Inuvik. So I will follow up with the position to see where we are at with the board of directors, where are we at with staff, have they come to a conclusion. We need to start working with the homelessness. But we can provide the budget that is there for the homelessness, but we need people to run the programming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I'm sure he's already been briefed up on the excellent research by Messieurs Palmer and Jamison that proved the overestimation of natural background levels for arsenic in the Yellowknife area and the persistence of mining related arsenic after more than 60 years. We have an outdated 2003 arsenic remediation guideline that is based on this overestimation of background arsenic. Can the Minister tell us what the plans are now to review and update the drastically outdated arsenic remediation guideline. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for that question. I'm happy to tell the House the department is currently reviewing the 2003 environmental guidelines for contaminated sites remediation. This work is being done with new information on remediation criteria from the Canada Council of Ministers of the Environment as well a new data that has come on arsenic in the Yellowknife area.

ENR recognizes that the 2003 guidelines is dated, and the updating environmental guidance is standard practice as new data and scientific research is available. This work is nearly completed and will be finalized in the fall of 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le Président. I want to thank the Minister for that. Yeah, I raised this in the context of even the Giant Mine environmental assessment where I wanted the board to look at the remediation guideline, but they declined to do that.

This old work that was done leading to the 2003 arsenic remediation guideline, it overestimated background levels by 5 to 10 times. Of course there's a lot of other research, even the Minister mentioned some, that has been done on the toxicology of arsenic since 2003, and much of that points to the need for lower exposure for humans. Will the Minister commit to having the human health risk assessment work associated with the GNWT 2003 arsenic remediation guideline reviewed and updated to be truly protective of human health. .

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines are being developed using the Canada Council Ministers of Environment framework, which is specific to both health, human health, and the environmental health.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Minister for that. I don't think I got a response. I wanted some work done on the human health assessment work that was done back on the 2003 guideline, but I'll pursue that separately with the Minister. Clearly, there's a need to review this arsenic remediation guideline which currently only includes two land uses for residential and industrial use.

So in reviewing this guideline, is the Minister committing to expand the land uses that are considered, and then what, of course, are the implications for the Giant Mine remediation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Multiple land users are being considered for the GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines, and this work is in the process of being finalized. The Giant Mine remediation project has approved a closure and remediation plans by the MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

The criteria used by the projects were not solely based on the GNWT guidelines; they are site specific criteria for the Giant Mine that are confirmed through the human health and ecology risk assessment.

ENR has also led the development of the human health risk assessment for legacy offsite arsenic in the area surrounding Giant Mine. This work is near completion, and the public engagement is planned to begin in June of 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I think he answered most of my last question.

I don't want to sound alarmist, but in my statement today, I expressed that back in 2003, I had doubts about these remediation standards that were developed by this government. I don't think that it was just a coincidence that residential guideline for arsenic was set marginally above the known measurements of arsenic in soils in the residential built-up areas of Yellowknife. So what assurance can the Minister provide to Yellowknifers that this is still a healthy, great place to live, and that our property values are protected. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, I thank the Member for these questions. They're very important, and they have an impact on residents of Yellowknife. Updating environmental guidance is a standard practice as new data and increased scientific research is available.

I can assure residents of Yellowknife that the previous guidelines completed in 2003 was protective of human health and the environment. ENR will ensure our guidelines continue to be protective of the human health and the environment while incorporating new science and data that becomes available to us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Department of Finance has just recently begun a new government renewal initiative, would the Minister consider expanding the scope of that initiative to incorporate a renewal within the structure and processes of human resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Finance is one of the first two departments that will be going through the government renewal process. That process is already underway. It's begun. And as such, a human resources branch, being part of the Department of Finance, of course is going to be going through that as well.

But, Mr. Speaker, that's not the end of that, the work that's happening with human resources. We also are well underway in having the Indigenous recruitment retention framework actioned and developed, and that will also be providing a further human resources tool to all of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier, the department of human resources continues to put up roadblocks for people applying to government jobs. Does the Minister acknowledge that there are some existing questionable hiring practices within her department which adversely affects applicants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Finance, human resources has quite a wide range of programs that are meant to actually avoid roadblocks and overcome roadblocks.

I'd point, for example, to the Indigenous recruitment -- well, sorry. Not to the framework but to the Gateway Program, to the Internship Program, to the Regional Recruitment Program. There's quite a number of opportunities for people from across the Northwest Territories to become involved.

The department of human resources offers counselling in terms of preparing one's resume, of how to prepare for interviews. So quite the opposite, Mr. Speaker. I would say the Department of Finance is trying to take roadblocks down. You know, and of course there's always more that can be done department by department to ensure that when the hiring managers are out there that they are using those tools, that they're aware of those tools. And there is work that happens regularly already with them, and we're going to continue to do that so that they're aware of those tools and using them to their best availability. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize that more widespread issues other than that of the affirmative action exists within the department of human resources in relation to hiring practices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Affirmative Action Policy is obviously one aspect of what goes on during the course of a hiring practice. It's a very important one. But with respect to more widespread issues, again, Mr. Speaker, the department of human resources supports all of the departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories. All of the departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories have a role to play here.

And, indeed, earlier in the Member's statement, I heard describing of a hiring culture and of a hiring structure. Well, again, we've already put out the Living Well Together training module to help improve the hiring culture. It's mandatory for all staff across the GNWT. And as far as a hiring structure, again, as I've mentioned, there's quite a number of programs, and the Recruitment and Retention Framework Program is underway in its development right now.

So as far as making ourselves even better, that is certainly our goal, and I believe we are going to be attaining it on both the culture front and as well as on the structure front. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister commit to creating departmental changes to ensure that deputy Ministers, assistant eeputy Ministers are provided ministerial direction to follow policies that are neutral, professional, and that all competitions are open to equivalencies, and the job competitions are not arbitrarily closed for no reason, and ensure that the best candidate for the job is hired. No friends of friends or family friends or acquaintances hiring each other anymore. Does the Minister agree with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am also on the special committee. I also heard the recommendations that were put to us just last week with respect to the fact that governments have to ensure that direction comes from the very top.

So I appreciate the fact that the Member routinely gives the opportunity for us, all of us in this room as elected leadership, but particularly for me as the Minister have the opportunity to speak here in the House and speak to the public service to say that this is the vision of what we have for an inclusive public service, to have a diverse public service, and that none of us should be reaching in and hiring friends and acting in a way anything other than transparent and open and in a process that is fair.

So that, Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate that routine opportunity. Specifically, education and experience equivalencies, I would note come before a competition actually goes out, before candidates are screened. And so, in fact, that is a process that while I can look at it, it is already a process that's not meant to happen at the back end; it happens at the front end. And, Mr. Speaker, we're going to continue to refine those processes through all the tools that I've mentioned already today.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to first thank the NWT Housing Corporation for the units that are going into my community this year. It's very much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement expressed concerns with the lack of consultations with the communities by the housing corporation.

My question to the Minister is why is there no consultations with the communities, especially the local housing organizations' board of directors.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, the commitment for the housing corporation is to making sure that, you know, we do work with the Indigenous groups in the specific communities. But acknowledgement letters were sent out to the First Nations -- I'm not too sure how to pronounce it -- Deh Gah Gotie First Nations. Yeah. And the Fort Providence Metis Council and the mayor. They were sent letters April 28th just acknowledging what type of units are going into their community and having an opportunity for them to respond to us. But as of today, we haven't received a response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. Specifically, I was asking about the local housings organizations board of directors, because in speaking with them and even the staff, nobody's ever approached them. They never heard of anything.

I'm aware the original plan was for two single duplexes for my community. Now I understand this has changed and now will be constructing a four-plex. That change in plans could delay construction, as new plans have to be drawn up.

Is the Minister aware of these changes and the need for new design plans. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just also want to go back to the original question of the information provided to the local housing authorities. I will follow up on that, and I will follow up with the Member, that should have they been consulted, that they should have been working very closely with the district office.

But the community is going to be receiving a stick-built four-plex. And looking at the design, the design has already been completed. But constructing a stick-built in the smaller communities creates employment, and I'm really big on employment. And that was the opportunity for the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker and mahsi to the Minister for that and her willingness to follow up with the LHO. She mentioned stick-built, but I was hearing otherwise. There was talk that these units will be sandwich panel construction with the panels being built by a Yellowknife company.

Has there been a cost benefit analysis or cost comparison to determine if this method has significant savings versus stick-built construction?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, going with the stick-built is a lot more expensive than putting the panelized and the modular homes on the ground. But the opportunity that I wanted to explore was creating employment for the Northwest Territories. Through the delivery of the 60 units that we are working with the Eco Investment Fund, 40 of them are modular, and 20 of them are stick-built. And the opportunity, once again, is to create employment in the smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. I'm glad that she's understanding construction and creating employment in the communities. That's good. The flavour of this government is about energy savings, to help combat greenhouse gas emissions by incorporating biomass boiler systems.

Will this new building be incorporating wood pallet boiler system. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to get back to the Member for that further detail. I'm not sure if we have pellet boiler material available in his riding. I'm not too sure about that. So I'd have to reach out to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions, Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ITI. The earlier GRIT funding for tourism operators was a much needed, if somewhat delayed, relief for our tourism sector. This relief which includes money from CanNor has not been renewed for the upcoming year. With the easing of the restrictions delayed, it apparent that we will not see a viable tourism sector this year.

Will the Minister commit to providing a phase 2 of the GRIT funding or something similar for the upcoming year? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism, and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, the GRIT program isn't being renewed. But the good news is that a lot of work has gone into identifying what can be rolled out.

As we've been saying, I think, since early on, the role of the Government of the Northwest Territories is to complement and to help fill gaps when federal partners are not providing certain resources or have maximized what they are able to provide. And in this case, certainly have been waiting to see what CanNor would make available through or directly to Tourism or Hospitality.

As it is now, of course, I can say that we do have more coming. We have more coming, I think, I hope, this session. Certainly, the process of the consensus government model is one wherein we'll have to go through the necessary processes here in the House, but I think there will be good news in the course of this session. I know I've had a lot of conversations and connections from the other Members, and everyone in this House is recognizing the need to support initiatives for tourism. And, again, that work has been underway with ITI, with the Department of Finance for some time.

And also I would just last note that the industry partners, NWT Tourism, we are also certainly doing our best to keep them aware so that they can start to signal to their operators that they're far from forgotten, that, in fact, quite the opposite. A lot of work has gone into making sure we're ready to support them for this fiscal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't need to remind the Minister that she definitely has to be very vocal at her federal tables to ensure that they recognize the time frames in the North and our very, very short seasons.

Onto my next question: Insurance is very expensive in the North. And with the economic downturn from COVID, rates are only increasing. For example, a remote lodge could have an insurance bill of $12,000 for this year with no revenue coming in.

Will the Department of ITI grant a temporary waiver on the insurance requirement in the Tourism Act if a business is operating at reduced capacity? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the insurance waiver wasn't intended to be a one-year initiative; however, it was focused on those who aren't making offerings to the public. So there certainly are going to continue to be a requirement for some regulatory oversight and some insurance oversight for tourism operators when they are offering their services to the public.

That said, Mr. Speaker, there are, as I've said, programs that are imminently, I hope, going to be rolling out, other programs that I expect will -- that are ready available through various other, you know, funding pots, whether through ours or through CanNor. And if there are operators that are still struggling who are hoping to get back open this season, that I would encourage them to directly reach out to ITI, and we'll do our best to help them navigate what programs are available to support their insurance costs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased with that response. I just urge the Minister to encourage her department to actually proactively reach out to some people because they don't always know that they should come and ask for help.

One of the biggest complaints we hear from small businesses is the amount of hoops that they have to jump through to access funding and government programs, something that was really a problem even before COVID.

Can the Minister explain how the work of the Red Tape Reduction working group is reducing the burden on small business and, in particular, for artists and tourism businesses?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this involves more than one department, including the Department of Finance, and my primary message, Mr. Speaker, please, if anyone out there has a specific example of red tape that is impacting on a small or medium sized business, please, please send that example to [email protected], and -- because, shockingly, we haven't received as many responses as we would have hoped.

So while the red tape committee is focused on, again, small, medium-sized businesses, you know, at this point, I would say just send the examples that you have, because I hear it too. I hear the sense that there's too many hoops; there's too many hurdles; there's too many paperworks. But we need to know what the paperwork is; we need to know what the disconnects are, and we need to understand them.

I mean, I can come -- I've -- you know, try and come up with a few; the department's trying to come up with a few. There's a working group composed of industry members. But, again, please, by all means, I would encourage everyone out there to send those stories in. There is a structure that's now been set up with the working group. There's a structure within government that the departments have to respond to the working group when they've raised an issue. So there is that structure there. But we will do better when we have more.

The one example I can give, though, is that recently on the theme of the Member's question is that, indeed, ITI has worked with MACA with respect to remote tourism lodge owners and some of the hurdles and hoops that they had been complaining of for some time, and that as a joint department initiative, we were able to work those things through and I believe -- I understand from the businesses in a way that is going to be functional for them and a lot less red tape. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like there's a lot of red tape around the red tape reduction working group.

So, again, I just want to put back to remind the Minister, which I know she's aware of, that, you know, it is really hard to always -- or it seems that the burden is often put on constituents and residents to come forward to complain, to identify the problems. And during COVID, I think that's just a lot more difficult for people to be doing.

So I will continue to encourage people now that I know which email address to send it to. My last question is around the Deh Cho region and the flooding. What is the Department of ITI going to do to specifically help those businesses in the Deh Cho region that are affected by the flooding to, first, survive, and then rebuild their businesses. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now, ITI staff in the region, not only are they, of course, themselves no doubt suffering and experiencing directly the impacts of the floods, but I know that they have been involved in the front lines of helping with the efforts to really just provide immediate necessities and having immediate needs addressed.

So, you know, a course of thank-yous should be made as well to ITI staff there who I know are working very hard on that frontline. With respect to what's going to come next, Mr. Speaker, we've been doing a lot of relief and recovery effort in the last year and half now. That will continue, whether in the context of the pandemic or whether in the context of the floods.

And already I know of at least one example of where ITI staff from another region were able to ensure that programs and services and the needs of businesses were being met in a timely way, because they could step in even when the ITI folks in the region were unable to. That will certainly continue. So there will not be any delays, which is important, of course, applying for programs that may be in a federal nature.

I should mention BDIC which has also been over the last year saying to really take a client service approach. They contacted every single client that had outstanding loans to see if people needed to renegotiate things as a result of COVID.

And, again, I think that philosophy that we've seen will continue in the next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment.

Education, Culture, and Employment income assistance policies not only play a key role in caring for Northerners, but they also play a key role in housing Northerners.

So I'm wondering if the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment will remove the requirement that NWT income assistance applicants must add their names to the NWT Housing Corporation housing wait list, public housing wait list. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake.

Minister responsible for Education, Culture, and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe. That -- you know, well, when I came into this role as an MLA previously, I received a lot of income assistance questions or concerns from my constituents. So I know there's areas that can be improved, and that's why we've initiated review of the Income Assistance Program.

And through that review, this is one of those areas that we're looking at. I have to say that the Member is correct that housing is -- it's a government wide issue, and for our part at ECE, we do provide housing in a sense where we will provide rental support to individuals who can't afford it essentially, or who are down on their luck, who are having a rough time.

And these individuals have to use all of their own financial means first. And one of those -- or one of those things available to them is the social subsidized housing through the housing corporation. And the reason that that is currently a requirement is cost essentially. Over the past three years, shelter benefits have been provided to around 2,000 income assistance applicants in the Territory to the tune of about $7 million. Of that, 40 percent of those individuals were in market rental units; however, that accounts for about 90 percent of the cost. The 60 percent who are in -- who have been public housing accounts for about 11 percent of the cost.

So it would be a great cost to ECE to provide that benefit; however, someone's paying that cost of the public housing. And so the money's being spent by the government.

And so is there a way that we can make things more efficient, reduce the burden on people, reduce the burden on administration? And if one of those ways is by rejigging how we provide housing and who provides housing, then we want to do that.

So I don't have a firm "yes" now, but I want to have a policy that makes sense by the time this Assembly is over. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I think I'd like to report something to the Red Tape Working Group. Right now -- and I understand what the Minister is saying, and I appreciate they're doing a review on the income assistance policies. It's very much needed. But hanging on to a piece of a policy throughout a review that really isn't serving the people of the Northwest Territories just doesn't make sense to me. We have over 900 people on our wait list right now, and not all of those 900 people need public housing.

For somebody to have to walk down the block -- and in Yellowknife, it's about a six-block trek for somebody to make another trip down the street to go fill out another form before they can then come back and say, Okay. I did that part of it, and since they have no housing for me -- because our housing stock has not changed in decades, can I now please get the income assistance accommodation rent through ECE.

And so the wait list absolutely does not serve us at all. So while I appreciate that ECE is doing a review of the income assistance policies, I'm wondering if the Minister will commit to removing this portion of the policy that absolutely does not serve Northerners or the pocketbooks of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, no, I can't because of that money issue that I mentioned whereby we spend millions and millions of dollars on market housing compared to hundreds of thousands of dollars on the public housing. And right now, that's just the fact of it. That's just the budgets.

And this Assembly is the one that appropriates money, and we would have to come back for a large appropriation if this was the case. And so I can't commit to spending millions of dollars that, frankly, we don't have at this moment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I guess I just disagree with the Minister on this one because we don't have enough public housing stock in order to put people in. So whether or not we're pretending we don't want to spend it because we want to put people into public housing, we don't have the public housing units. And so whether or not we want to spend it, we're still spending that money. We're just creating red tape in the process of spending it.

My next question for the Minister, though, is private sector and nonprofits and Indigenous housing providers want to work with the government to create secure housing options for northerners through longer term lease and program agreements. Access to ECE's accommodation allowance is only available on a month-to-month basis, creating uncertain tenure for landlords and residents.

So will the Minister work with these stakeholders to increase housing allowance flexibility and create certainty through lease agreements with northern landlords? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for ECE.