This is page numbers 2775 - 2818 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 chairperson.

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Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, I want to relay my personal experience while attending school at Sir John Franklin, more of a comment to the Minister.

Coming from a small centre, this was a humbling experience. There were music classes, photography classes, automotive, mechanics classes, carpentry classes, coupled with drama and the arts. There was quite a bit of action happening at the schools. I just can't quite recall but I think I took them all. There may be logistical challenges but I believe we can overcome and meet those challenges head on. And I thank the Minister again for not discounting I guess initiative. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Taken as comment.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question's for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources who should actually be the Minister of Environment and Climate Change - still waiting for that change.

In my statement earlier today, I noted how the Yukon government has established a youth panel on climate change and that they met virtually for the first time in January of this year. Can the Minister tell us whether we will ever get a similar body for interested youth in the Northwest Territories and if not, why? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Climate Change Council was established in March 2021 and so they have been having meetings. Part of the development of this council is panels, and we do have a panel for youth and we are trying to getting them engaged. This summer, ENR has some opportunities for youth to be involved. But other youth have had the opportunity to reach out to me, and I've had the opportunity to meet with them. In my former life, youth were important. I always say our foundation of our elders and our future is our youth. So I'm more than willing to meet with them. We do have the panel and I can tell you that the council during their meetings are really interested in developing that youth panel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President, I wanted to recognize the work that the Member has done with youth -- or the Minister, I should say. There are a number of court cases in Canada against the federal and provincial governments due to their inability or unwillingness to deal with climate emergency without fobbing off responsibility in to the future which is what our government's approach is really all about. Can the Minister indicate whether our government is watching these court proceedings and perhaps watching over its shoulder for NWT youth? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is aware of these cases. The Department of ENR follows the shifts in climate change best practice and legal actions as part of their comprehensive approach to addressing climate change. Youth have a particularly important role and stake in climate change. As we all say, that's our future. At the people are going to be looking after this -- looking after us and our planet.

ENR continues to take active advantage of and providing opportunity to youth involvement, including the youth advisor group and youth gathering. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course one of the principles of these court cases is intergenerational equity and that is actually one of the considerations that is supposed to be used in drafting a statement of environmental values that -- sorry, quote: "Statement of environmental values that explains how environmental considerations, including the right to a healthy environment, will be integrated into decisions that might have a significant impact on the environment." End of quote.

Mr. Speaker, that quote is from the Environmental Rights Act that was passed a year and a half ago in the last Assembly. We still don't have that statement of environmental values. Can the Minister tell us when Cabinet will finally obey its own law and bring forward the statement of environmental values for public consultation and explain how the climate emergency was considered? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for the question. The statement of environmental values required under the Environmental Rights Act will outline how the environment will be considered when government decisions are made that may have a significant impact on the environment.

Specifically to the Member's question, ENR has prepared a draft statement of environmental values that will be ready for a 90-day public comments period by the end of this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President; I want to thank the Minister for that. Sometimes I feel like, and I probably even look like a dinosaur, Mr. Speaker. But the real dinosaur here is our climate change approach, which I think is headed for extinction as it's not going to be successful in doing our part to meet emission targets that are required to save this planet. So I'm not prepared to wait until another two years for Cabinet to only find out that it's not on track. It's back-end loaded with projects that will never happen.

So can the Minister tell us when Cabinet is going to review and revise the faulty climate change approach from the last Cabinet? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this required a lot of details and I thank the Member for giving us advance notice on it so it's going to be a little bit longer but I need to share this important information.

The 2030 Climate Change Strategic Framework in the 2019-2023 action plan were developed collaboratively with Indigenous governments and organizations and other partners in NWT after extensive engagement. As reported in the annual report released early this year, the GNWT and our partners are making a lot of progress in implementing the action identified in the 2019-2023 action plan.

I am pleased to report that all 104 action items in part 1 of the action plan have been initiated and are in process. The NWT Climate Change Council is established and its panels get off the ground, they will further prioritize future actions.

Progress is being made on some parts to action areas; for example, funding was secured to develop a climate change adaptation plan for wildlife in the NWT. Additionally, the last fiscal year, 15 positions were funded across five GNWT departments to support actions on climate change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like -- today my questions -- or my Member statement was on housing. You know, we have the overcrowding. We have houses that are sitting dormant. We have old housing that needs -- in dire need of repair. I'd like to ask the Minister if she's willing to commit to doing a constituency tour with me to see firsthand and hear it from the people on what's happening with the community and the housing situation that we're in. And when we're doing that tour, to bring a staff member to travel with her to see what's needed, like ordering windows and doors and that. I don't have very many houses in my riding in Nunakput, but I think what we could do is do a list because I know MTS is going to be coming and getting ready for the barging season and hopefully we could do it before then and get -- if they don't have that information already to do the proper renovations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will commit to go into Nunakput to do a constituency with the MLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that day.

Can the Minister provide an update regarding the summer retrofit programs in renovation season specifically for Nunakput before MTS day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did receive a list from my department. Currently we have in Ulukhaktok we have four units, Paulatuk four units, Sachs Harbour two, and Tuk nine as well. I also requested from my department the activity that had happened over the past five years, and it's quite detailed and I will provide that to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should have asked her last week, it's so good news. Now we need windows and doors, Mr. Speaker, and insulation for the floors. You know, I really -- this last about a month ago, you know, I really got a disturbing text message in regards to Sachs Harbour, one of the housing members there that's really going through a tough time. The house is in really dire need of repair. I really look forward to seeing him and the individuals that sent that message in regards to bring the Minister to hear it from them as well to get the problem fixed.

The renovation, can the Minister make sure that we're committing to local contractors in the communities, the work that's provided that's being put out for renovations, making sure they're local content. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Working with Indigenous partnership is a priority of our department and my leadership as Minister as well. When we had announced the $60 million co-investment and the allocation of the government's 25.5 million, all Indigenous leaders were consulted. So I will follow up with the Member to see if there's any interest at the community level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all the work, for instance, in Tuktoyaktuk that's happening with regards to the housing units, they got a note from the mayor regarding the gravel haul and working together with the school and piggy-backing at the same time because the gravel trucks are so wear and tear on the road in the community, and I'm hoping that they could -- Housing and Minister Archie to work together to get the gravel haul at the same time if it's possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for the question. I will follow up with my colleague, Minister Archie. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.