This is page numbers 2689 - 2718 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 health.

Topics

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was contacted by Chief Jerry Antoine of the Fort Smith First Nation regarding the recent flooding in the Deh Cho region. As a friend and former colleague, the Chief wanted me to pass on a message to the Premier of some ideas for how communication with those on the ground can be improved and how restoration can be done as effectively as possible.

Mr. Speaker, the message from the Chief is that the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to establish a single point of contact who will work directly with the community leads on the ground. There needs to be one person or a team of consistent individuals who are on regular and direct contact with the community leads working on the flooding and restoration efforts. It would also be ideal and preferred if this point of contact has authority and direct contact with the Premier's office. This would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all incoming and outgoing communications by those on the ground and with the Premier.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, there is also the restoration component of the situation. Affected residents, whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, need assurances from the Government of the Northwest Territories that the cost that they incurred from this disaster will be recouped.

Chief Antoine has already contacted professional technicians in restoration, but they are waiting on Cabinet confirmation that these costs will be reimbursed.

Mr. Speaker, one good idea suggested by Chief Antoine is for the Premier to consider establishing a disaster navigator who will be in charge of a small team to oversee all specs of recovery, including the assessment in the best interests of the flood victims. I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

COVID-19 Mental Health
Members' Statements

Page 2692

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. I want to talk about COVID-19 mental health impacts across my riding and across the Beaufort-Delta. We're already living in isolated communities living in a harsh environment. You know, thank God right now we have geese hunting and fishing that's been helping us to get people out. It is part of our culture and critical way of life.

Since COVID-19 requirements and social distancing especially impacted our way of mental health in our small communities. It's not known how the limitations on households and community gatherings, as well as on youth activities, will end.

Mr. Speaker, I'm concerned about the impacts this continues to have on our youth, our elders, and our people in our communities at large. Youth in the NWT are five times more likely to be hospitalized for substance abuse or attempted suicide than other kids across Canada. Substance abuse and suicide rates are higher compared to the rest of Canada. Depression and stress have increased for everyone through COVID-19 fatigue, and what happens and we have created a support system, elders and our social youth connection, to ensure that most vulnerable population, Mr. Speaker, especially our social restriction and COVID-19 are isolating our elders from our community and keeping them away from everyone and it's really tough on them.

We need to work towards getting something sorted out on our next steps. We look to actions that government has taken to respond to COVID-19 but there's been no specific funding or special support services responding to the needs of small communities so we can continue to socialize and have physical activities that are critical in the well being of our people.

In the communities, we also lack internet capacity to access government services that are offered during this pandemic. We need help with that too.

There have been a lot of public health orders with little government support. They support but lack of internet service, it just can't be done. The well-being of following the public health orders for all our communities. Mr. Speaker, I'm concerned about the lack of culturally appropriate funding for program services have been developed through COVID-19 to effectively respond to growing mental health concerns in small communities. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

COVID-19 Mental Health
Members' Statements

Page 2693

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

COVID-19 Self-Isolation
Members' Statements

May 28th, 2021

Page 2693

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the most recent outbreak in Yellowknife, like many members, many of my constituents turned to me for answers. And despite having multiple outbreaks across the NWT at different periods and being in this for a year and a half, it is clear we did not have many of the basic answers.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of lessons to learn as we move through this. But I suggest if we have to impose isolation on people, the first thing we do is send a personalized email to those people. I would suggest that email say: "You're receiving this email because you have potentially been exposed to COVID-19. Thank you for your sacrifice for keeping our community safe. If you need support over the course of your isolation, please use the resources listed in this email".

Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents did not receive contact from Public Health throughout their entire isolation unless they made a point of calling. It wasn't until days 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 that people started to hear from Public Health, Mr. Speaker.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the first thing that email should do is set out the difference between self-isolation and isolation. Many of my constituents had self-isolated before. They understood what 14 days looked like - being able to go for walks or runs or skis to get outside. Many of them thought we had reduced it to eight days with a negative test. However they were not self-isolating during the outbreak; they were in insolation. Many constituents did not know that we had the power to confine people to their property to 14 days and require them and all of their family members to get multiple tests before they were released. They were operating under the presumption that they were self-isolating.

They understood how self-isolation worked if they were essential workers. How they could go to work if they were essential. How self-isolation worked. Many of us have done self-isolation we've experienced this. But this was not self-isolation. And it wasn't until days 5, 6, 7, that people truly understood what they were in for the multiple testing requirements they needed and that, in fact, it might go well beyond 14 days depending on test results and the workings of your multiple family members.

Mr. Speaker, in that email, I think a number of resources need to be provided. Telehealth appointments for those experiencing mental health concerns.

Mr. Speaker, a lot more answers to the 'why'. Mr. Speaker, asking someone to be confined to their property for 14 days is one of the most significant infringement of Charter rights we can do. We must at least answer 'why'. Why going for a walk, fully vaccinated without a mask, was such a risk that we had to maintain. I still don't have that answer, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Health.

COVID-19 Self-Isolation
Members' Statements

Page 2693

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

COVID-19 Communications
Members' Statements

Page 2693

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I originally wanted to talk about the power and resilience of community. Through floods, the school-based COVID outbreak and the devastating loss of family, this month is a testament to how Northerners support one another through adversity. But what this government needs to hear now is how they COVID outbreak communication jeopardized the contact tracing, testing, containment, and commitment of both staff and NWT residents.

In May, over a thousand people found themselves suddenly self-isolating from potential COVID exposure at schools, restaurants, and children's activities.

First, the good news. Parents of a young child feeling under the weather had their child tested for COVID-19, and we are all thankful to that family. Public Health immediately started contact tracing to stop the spread of what was later learned to be a variant strain of COVID-19. The health authority successfully ramped up testing, secured Pfizer vaccines for teens making them some of the first in the world to be vaccinated. They maintained Moderna vaccine clinics that saw an increase in uptake, brought in departmental staff to help do testing callbacks, and not lost in all of this is the ability of teachers to instantly shift to online learning while many in isolation themselves.

But, Mr. Speaker, the government COVID response has a communication problem. Schools were closed close to midnight Sunday evening leaving many unaware and schools unable to prepare. Information from Protect NWT was not consistent. Advice given by Protect NWT and Public Health was also inconsistent. Public Health contradicted information published on GNWT's Facebook pages and new information came out every day in piecemeal. Some residents were incorrectly told not to isolate while others who hadn't gone to exposure sites were told they must isolate. Some were told they needed to be tested and then turned away at testing sites. And in some instances, health care staff argued about the rules in front of residents. People want to keep their children safe. They want to keep their neighbors safe and whether or not they agree with the rules, they want to follow them. Sound public health relies on sound decision making but without effective communication, sound decisions are jeopardized.

Mr. Speaker, the communication breakdown of this outbreak jeopardized the safety and well being of NWT residents. This is not our first and quite possibly not our last spread of COVID-19 and next time, this government needs to be ready.

COVID-19 Communications
Members' Statements

Page 2693

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Airport Taxi Fees
Members' Statements

Page 2693

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Mahsi, Monsieur le President. Further on the theme of the pandemic, we all know that COVID-19 has had impacts on small businesses and questions persist about how this government can help operators get through the hard times. The taxi industry is a prime example and I have a specific ask for how this government can help.

With the collapse of the tourism industry and discouragement of nonessential travel, the volume of airline traffic has dramatically shrunk. Air Canada is out of Yellowknife market entirely. WestJet is on reduced service passenger volumes and other air carriers are way down as well.

In response to my questions, the Infrastructure Minister has reported that the number of passengers transiting the Yellowknife airport is down a whopping.

73 percent for fiscal year 2020-21 over the previous year or before the pandemic.

The impact on Yellowknife taxi business has been harsh. One operator, Aurora Taxi, reports losing fully half of its drivers since the beginning of the pandemic. It's essential that each of the three taxi companies operating in Yellowknife or it's estimated that each of the three major taxi companies operating in Yellowknife have lost up to 40 percent of their drivers. Some drivers who used to make their living working only at the airport have left the business entirely.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Infrastructure Department offered some relief to these operators from the airport taxi stand licence. That's the fee paid by companies for the right to operate regular service from taxi stands at airports. For the first eight months of the pandemic up until the end of 2020, these fees were waived in recognition of the loss of the value of the business.

Although business has not gone back up, the Infrastructure Department reinstated the full $1,500 per month fee on January 1st, 2021. Those fees need to be rolled back or prorated. With passenger volume down by almost three quarters, it only makes sense that the cost of taxi stand licence be reduced or prorated pending a return to regular business. While we're all looking forward to the release of the updated Emerging Stronger economic recovery plan, some businesses still need immediate relief before they can recover.

I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure on how we can adjust our airport taxi stand licence fees to better reflect the current ability for small business, namely taxi operators, to make a living. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Airport Taxi Fees
Members' Statements

Page 2693

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Mahsi. Members' Statements. Member for Monfwi

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr.Speaker. Logistical roller coaster ride for the Northwest Territories and also the people of the Northwest Territories. But each challenge has been met with calm determination. And for that, Northerners and their leaders, their frontline workers, and caregivers must be commended.

We have shown one of the best COVID-19 responses in the world and have enjoyed the benefits of that sound, science-based approach.

But, Mr. Speaker, we shouldn't get carried away congratulating ourselves in the Northwest Territories. There are still many threats and challenges out there. And as the MJ MacPherson outbreak shows, even the slightest lapse have massive consequences.

For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I want to point out a number of areas that needs attention. First, Mr. Speaker, has to do with ongoing challenge of vaccine hesitancy. Our vaccination uptake has been good so far with 60 percent fully vaccinated and almost 70 percent partially vaccinated. But uptake has been uneven in two regions, my region, as Tlicho, and Sahtu region. Less than 50 percent fully vaccinated. Males trail significantly behind females.

Mr. Speaker, some jurisdictions have resorted to non-medical incentives to convince vaccine-hesitant people to come forward. Those incentives include cash lotteries and offer special privileges.

Mr. Speaker, herd immunity is achievable but only if we are prepared to think outside of the box with incentives such as these. I call this government to study such initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, I see there are a number of precautionary COVID measures the Government needs to consider. The second one has to do with making our schools and seniors homes less vulnerable. Mr. Speaker, we can do that by upgrading our heating and ventilation system to hospital standards, because, Mr. Speaker, we can see what happens with COVID once it's unleashed in such buildings. It's worse it's worth the investment because COVID and variants are here to stay forever, Mr. Speaker.

The government needs to look into virus prevent assistance for seniors homes and also schools. If its already not looked into such investment, it should start that exercise immediately. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous Consent Granted

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Masi, Colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we can't risk on our lowers. COVID and its variants are with us here and forever. This Government has an obligation. That obligation is to ensure we're ready for the new challenges that the new normal are present now and also in the future. I call on the Government to set up a standard task force to anticipate those challenges and ensure the government is ready for them.

I have suggested just a few challenges in need of some actions. Rest assured, there are many more that don't have time to deal with today, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Flooding in Nahendeh
Members' Statements

Page 2694

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, please be advised this will be the first of five Members' statements I will be doing about the flood situation in the Nahendeh. I can only speak about my experience and what I saw. Please note, there were a lot of moving parts, and I could not see them all.

As people are aware, both communities were in charge. They were the ones that declared the state of local emergency and are working with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Federal Government, including MP McLeod. From what I have witnessed and been part of, it is sometimes hourly contacts on top of their regular scheduled daily EMO meetings.

With all my heart and soul, I would like to thank the people of Jean Marie River First Nation, Chief, Council and Staff; the Village of Fort Simpson, Mayor, Council, and staff; and the huge number of volunteers and the regional EMO staff for doing an amazing job during the flood. Both communities and the regional EMO staff worked on their plan since January.

Unfortunately, what we witnessed was the worst flooding in recorded history from what I understand. There were things that we did not foresee, but thanks to these great teams, they were able to adapt.

I would like to thank the Town of Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Providence, and Norman Wells for opening their homes and communities for our evacuees. They treated our residents with great respect, and they were being well taken care of.

To the residents of both communities, I hope you are safe and secure wherever you are. I know it's been a stressful time, but together we will get through this.

To the residents of the Northwest Territories and business, thank you, thank you for all your kindness, donations, and support. This is why I am proud to be from the Northwest Territories.

As the GNWT involvement, I can say that various Ministers have discussions about the situation and being updated on regularly. I know I have been on several calls with my colleagues to discuss the situation. I can tell you from my witness, when the community had a request, the GNWT was very responsive. I know every request I received from the communities, that the appropriate Minister made it a priority to deal with.

Again, I would like to stress the leadership, staff, and volunteers in both communities did an amazing job during this difficult time. I know on the ground level, the GNWT, as a whole, stepped up and helped residents of these two communities during the flood.

In closing, please remember good leadership sometimes means stepping back and let the professionals and volunteers do their job with your support. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Flooding in Nahendeh
Members' Statements

Page 2694

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I ask this Assembly, what is an elementary, junior, senior high student's life worth? Well, Mr. Speaker, the South Slave Divisional Education Council answered that question and put that value at $70,000. It is that number that forced the Hay River District Education Council to make the decision to suspend all bussing services for all schools in Hay River for the 2021-2022 school year.

This government expects students to attend school. For those that come from affluent families, it may not be a challenge. But for many in Hay River, it will require a 40-kilometre return walk home. This issue and this matter is everyone's responsibility.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of Education if his department finds this commute which will require one to make the choice of walking 40 kilometres or dropping out of school acceptable in a community that stretches 30-plus kilometres where there will be no bussing for 21-22 school year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Education, Culture, and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I don't find if acceptable, and the department doesn't find it acceptable either. That's why I've been working on this issue for more years than I would care to admit. If this was an issue where I could write a cheque, and problem solved, then we wouldn't be talking about it. As a Regular Member, I worked with the Hay River DEA because they require new buses, and as Minister, I was able to sign off on their purchase of new buses. And now we have a situation where they can't afford to use those buses. So perhaps I can take this opportunity to let people know how the funding works for education bodies.

So in Yellowknife, we have DEAs. It's a single body. And funding flows from ECE directly to those bodies. The Tlicho Region, we have the TCSA. Funding flows to that body, and then they disburse it. And in other regions, we have district education councils. The way that it works, according to the Education Act, is that ECE provides funding to the education councils, and they divide it as they see fit. There's very few restrictions on how that money is to be spent. It's similar to the Government of the Northwest Territories. We receive money from the Government of Canada. We spend it on what the Members of this Assembly deem necessary. It's the same thing. We provide the district education council in the South Slave with funding, and they distribute it among the various communities. And they make that determination. And so it's a political decision made by the DEC. And this isn't a money issue. There's money there. There's money in the bank.

The Member referenced that in the last annual report, there's $3.2 million. I'm sure that's gone down because of the costs associated with COVID. But nonetheless, this isn't a case where the money doesn't exist; it's a case where a decision has been made to not allocate that money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, current legislation states that an education body may provide transportations to students for them to have access to the education programming. It is interesting that this government is pushing to have student grades comparable to the rest of Canada at the same time allowing barriers to exist that removes the child's access to learning. I would ask the Minister if he is prepared to have his department review the legislation and propose a change that would make bussing mandatory and fully funded in communities such as Hay River where the commute becomes a safety issue and impacts access to education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that's the plan. The reason I was so quick to move on modernizing the Education Act and updating our funding framework is because of my experience with the bussing issue in Hay River. I saw that the system as it was designed wasn't working, and we need to ensure that kids can get to school. I've been involved in a number of different engagements across the territories on education, and I think at almost every engagement, if not every engagement, people make the comment that kids need to be in school to learn. We can do everything else, but if the kids aren't there, they're obviously not learning. So this issue is vitally important. And I want to ensure that by the time we have the renewed the Education Act and the funding formula, that this will no longer be a problem. In the couple years, few years, until then he have to come up with a solution, though. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have read correspondence between the Hay River District Education Authority and the South Slave Divisional Educational Council. I have read correspondence addressed to the Minister from the Hay River Metis Government Council, West Point First Nation, and Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre. What I found interesting is that the South Slave Divisional Educational Council is all about having the Hay River District Education Authority cut deeper into education programs and services while they're unwilling to look at their own budget. The teachers, the Hay River District Education Authority, and the Indigenous peoples see the benefit of bussing as it relates to advancing education and the safety of their students and children.

So I ask, will the Minister reach out to the organizations that have concerns and confirm with them that the access to education will include bussing and that the safety of their children is paramount? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy to speak with those organizations. They are in my community and many in my constituency, and some I've already discussed this very issue with. Can I confirm that there will be bussing? I can't at this point because, like I said, this is a decision of the South Slave District Education Council and the Hay River DEA. And if I could just write a cheque and make this go away, that's what I would do. But the fact is that the education system as it is is very decentralized, and that decision-making authority lies with those bodies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I ask that you bear with me. Mr. Speaker, current legislations limits the Minister only direct the South Slave Divisional Education Council. There is no requirement for the South Slave Divisional Education Council to provide bussing or to follow any direction coming from the department, which is very evident by their refusal to fund the bussing shortfall in Hay River when they were sitting on the $3.3 million surplus at the end of 2020. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister if he will meet with the South Slave Divisional Education Council and the Hay River District Educational Authority, something that the South Slave Divisional Education Council has already refused to do. We are talking about children's education, safety, and it is our responsibility to come up with a workable solution to cover the bussing shortfall for the next two years.

Mr. Speaker, failing that, I would ask the Minister if he is willing to consider directing the South Slave Divisional Education Council to fund the 70,000 bussing shortfall or find the funds from within the department and provide direct payment by cutting a cheque to the Hay River District Education Authority for bussing; failing that, or dissolve the South Slave Divisional Education Council and appoint a public administrator or commence discussions with the Hay River District Education Authority to provide the opportunity to remove itself from the South Slave Divisional Education Council and be an independent divisional educational council on its own? Mr. Speaker this is our children's future we are talking about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Member bringing forward solutions. Often all we hear is complaints with no way to address them. So I want to thank the Member for that.

There are some authorities for the Minister in the Education Act. I can direct the education council; they don't have to follow that direction. If they don't, I could dissolve the board. But this is something that is within their authority under the act. So it's not you know, I wouldn't have very solid ground for just dissolving this authority or dissolving the Education Council.

The other comment was about commencing discussions with the Hay River DEA to remove them from the DEC, and in our Education Act engagements, that's one of the issues that we discussed, is what's the structure of the education system going to look like in the territory. And it very well could be that Hay River winds up on its own given the you know, these continuing situations that they seem to have with the education council. But, ultimately, what I want to do is I want to meet with the parties involved. I met with the DEA a number of times, and I'd like to meet with the chair of the DEC as well to have a discussion about this, because, ultimately, the education council, the education bodies are distinct in the GNWT. They're distinct bodies. And this is about relationships. We need to ensure that we have good relationships and that we're all working to the same end, which is the education of our youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.