This is page numbers 4583 - 4606 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 indigenous.

Question 1170-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 4599

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Question 1170-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 4599

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a Member, I wasn't really asking for the money be given to me directly. Mr. Speaker, the money that I was asking for we could figure out as to how we're going to really do this report needed to assess the housing needs in our riding.

So can the Minister, or will the Minister commit to securing the funding necessary to complete the independent unbiased homeownership repairs assessment immediately that I outlined in my Member's statement earlier today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1170-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 4599

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did display a number of -- funding that will be provided to the Member's riding. Right now we are working with the Indigenous groups in the Member's riding. We did fund that project up to $100,000 to submit and further that proposal. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1170-19(2): Housing
Oral Questions

Page 4599

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now there's a recreational lease management framework, and it applies everywhere in the territory. It seems to be working well. Obviously, it doesn't apply in community boundaries or on land withdrawn for Indigenous land claim negotiations. But in most of the territory you can go out on public land and you can identify a lease, and the department works quite well with you to get one of those leases. And then what happens is you get into the Yellowknife periphery area, and the policy just ceases to exist. There's a land freeze. But as far as I can tell, Mr. Speaker, this isn't actually written down anywhere. What happens is you just have hundreds of people applying for leases and then they kind of sit in a pile, and nothing gets done with them.

And so I'm trying to understand where I could find this and why it exists. Can the Minister explain why there is a land freeze in this Yellowknife periphery area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Lands.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for asking this question, I think the fourth time, and I think will probably ask it a couple more times as we try to move forward on this.

Just for the record so everybody understands, the department is not currently accepting applications for recreation leases along the Ingraham Trail. The area has many different users and competing land interests, including areas of cultural importance. Decisions about new recreational leases in the area need to be made with consideration of all these interests. The department is working with Indigenous governments. And I need to really stress this: We're working with the Indigenous governments to understand their interests in this area. This essential work is necessary before the Department of Lands can begin accepting applications for recreational leases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My concern is that, you know, we are presently in the process of getting rid of about 700 squatters in this territory. Those who were squatting before 2014 are eligible for a lease. So we will, in fact, be giving out leases in this area to people who decided not to follow the law. And I'm not asking for a complete open application process. We know we would get hundreds of applications. I think the department already has a solution. In 2015, they gave out 22 in a lottery. I believe we could approach the Indigenous governments and maybe get an agreement for another 22 leases to go out and give some planning to this area.

So my question for the Minister of Lands is the department willing to do another new cabin lease lottery? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you Mr. Speaker, I'm going to answer a question he didn't ask but I'm going to answer it anyway. So people need to understand the department has posted nearly a hundred structures in the North Slave Region as working -- and is working through the enforcement process. Very few of these cabins meet the department's criteria. Any cabin that does comply is still subject to consultation with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, which is a fundamental component of leasing process.

In regards to his second -- the question that he asked, I'm aware there is a strong public demand for recreational type leases outside of Yellowknife, particularly on the Ingraham Trail. I'm hopeful that a ballot draw for recreational leases along Ingraham Trail will be possible within the life of this Assembly. But I want to do it right, ensure we take the respectful approach for leasing outside withdrawn areas with land and self-government agreements negotiated ongoing. We do have standard criteria and conditions for cabin leases we issue and so that criteria will apply to the future ballot draw. So, again, we are working through a process, and we're hopefully having it done by the end of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy to hear that, you know, we are working towards this. I do truly believe that we can work with YKDFN and get some sort of agreement on a plan. You know, obviously, they have their land withdrawal, we're not talking about that land, and on how we manage public land in this area with competing interests.

My question is, I often hear the response that this is all tied up in accomplishing our Public Land Act regulations and bringing some certainty to how we actually regulate the public land. Can the Minister provide an update to this House on the Public Land Act regulations and when those will be implemented? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The scope of the Public Land Act regulations work is significant, and they are being collaboratively developed with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations under the interdepartmental council protocol on legislative development. So again, what I was hoping to do was have this process done. But we've now added this process which allows us to do it properly and work with our Indigenous governments and organizations.

While the department is working to have a Public Land Act come into force at the end of this fiscal year, there are many factors beyond its control and should -- that could delay the timeline. Again, I want to ensure the work is done right, and we take a respectful and appropriate approach under the intergovernmental council protocol and ensure adequate stakeholders engagement and fulfill the government's consultation agreement. Once the regulations are further along in the development process, I will be able to provide a more concrete update on the timelines and I'll provide that to committee when it's ready to go. 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. Today I did my "thank-yous" to my frontline staff and all the people that have been helping us, I guess, across this last probably three months that's been so -- we are in a suicide crisis in the Beaufort Delta, Mr. Speaker. You've been affected. Everybody in the Beaufort Delta's been affected one way or another with this -- what's been happening.

I brought this up 18 months ago in the House, Mr. Speaker, on the post-COVID -- post-COVID, what are we doing to help the people in regards to when we come out of COVID post-pandemic? Mr. Speaker, I challenge all of us 19 Members in this House to work together for our constituents and our youth and our young men and our young women and our families that are so affected across the territory.

But, Mr. Speaker, today I'm asking if Minister Thompson, under sport and recreation, is the Minister willing to work together with myself and the Members on this side of the House, and the whole House, to do a suicide prevention task force in regards to -- not so much to work together, to make sure there's sporting events going on in the communities. Like, long ago when we were kids, you'd have soccer in Aklavik, basketball in Fort McPherson, hockey in Tuk, and different events that were -- and the education Minister to step in too, and our health Minister and -- to make sure that we're able to do something like this but take it more seriously. It's so easy to hear it on the radio. Like, I heard on the radio station, oh we're in a crisis. We live it, Mr. Speaker. We live it. We need to help. We're in a position to help to make our people -- help our people in this way. But I ask Minister Thompson if he's willing to take the lead, with myself working with him, to the betterment to our youth and our school system and our mental health as a whole post-COVID. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for MACA.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, and I thank the Member for the question. I've had the opportunity to talk to Mayor Elias and to the Member about this very specific issue. As well, I had the opportunity just, I think it was on Monday, to have the opportunity as child and family committee of -- or Cabinet had the opportunity where Minister Green brought forth this very concern and how we can work collaboratively together.

I can't make a commitment to -- for social services or ECE. But from Municipal and Community Affairs, I'm willing to work with the other side, work with the Member on how we can help get our youth more active, more -- the opportunities to work. We do have staff out there. We have organizations out there that -- within the sport and recreation system that we can work together. And I'm more than willing to have that opportunity to sit down with committee but also the individual Member up in the Beaufort Delta. And that Member's from up there, to see what we can do collectively. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when you look back at what we've been going through in the last few months, there have been so much pressure put on -- so much pressure put on our mayor and council, our community corps, and our leadership, to try to work together. And I thank the Minister of Health also for stepping in to making -- for getting funding for stuff like what we needed to do. But it's not their job in regards to, as a council. The job is to make sure that everybody works together. But it's not a day-to-day-to-day. We need help with the -- with our social services and working together with putting all our community organizations working together. So if everybody puts one thing a month -- RCMP has a one slot for two weeks. Another one myself, the hamlet, recreation department. So you're filling up and keeping people busy from drinking and drugs and stuff like that. Keeping them busy on that Friday night.

I have a young guy, Muckpah -- we call him Muckpah, Johnny's son. He's awesome young man. He's really doing good for our youth. But something like that would -- and I'm going to, with Minister Simpson -- I guess I'm going to float around -- working together, I know that we're -- this is really -- it's been really trying times. We need to work together for the people. It's easy to hear -- like I said, you're hearing it on the radio. So easy to say. And we sit down here, and when we're able to do so much. I want a commitment from the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you I'll make that commitment right now in this House that I'm more than willing to work with him. We are working on our youth strategy plan right now and how we're able to make it better for residents in the Northwest Territories. But the Member talks about a very serious situation and collaboratively I think we can come up with a solution. I just don't think it's just one department. It's the collective that we need to address this. In my riding, I've seen people that have unfortunately committed suicide as well. And it's a very trying thing on the community. But I'm more than willing to work with the Member on how we can get things done, how we can provide opportunities for our youth in the communities, and working with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Social Services. We're very serious about this. We did have -- like I said, we had our first meeting on this as we -- as a Cabinet, and it was an hour and a half. And we've already made a commitment for the next meeting to have similar conversations on how we move forward. But we're more than willing to work with the Member, and we're more than willing to work with committee. This is a serious concern. And I shouldn't just say committee - the collective, the 19 of us, how we work together on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, I'm really happy to hear that. But I'm challenging all of us Members of this Legislative Assembly to work together for the betterment of the people of the Northwest Territories; our youth, our elders, everybody that's affected. And we have to -- we have to get through this, and we will because we're resilient in regards to what -- for the people that we represent. And I think that if we have the commitment from the Minister working -- the working group, and we're going to get something started here. I'm going to talk to my AOC chair to get a working group to work together for the betterment of the territory. And I thank the Minister for that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. I take that as a comment. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a follow-up question from yesterday to the housing Minister.

Mr. Speaker, our elders are having a difficult time. Many have significant debts owed to the Housing Corporation from many, many years ago. The amounts are more than any elders can pay. Their modest income are being garnished, leaving them with almost no income.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to immediately reviewing the Housing Corporation's policies so as to establish a process for clients, especially the elders, to apply for forgiveness of their housing debts? Thank you

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, I hear the Member's concern. And working with the Tlicho government and working within that riding as well too, I've seen a lot of successes as well with the collaboration. We have also developed a working group with the Tlicho government. So the departments have been bringing up issues such as these as well to further address them. And they were also successful in receiving the distinction-based funding as well. I hear that they are going to be receiving, I want to say 16 additional units coming into their community.

But to answer the question, yes, I will commit to be working with the Member and looking at the review of those debts but further explaining that if these debts are more than 10, 15, 20 years, I would like to look at those and see what we would come up with for better solutions on how to look at those recoveries. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

I know we don't have enough time but this -- I'm going to follow up with a question on this -- written question -- written statement.

Mr. Speaker, the situation is very serious. The cost of living is going up. Everything costs more. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to directing her officials to immediately stop garnishing the income on those owing money to the Housing Corporation until her officials can develop a plan to allow people to apply for forgiveness of their housing debts? Thank you

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And with the portfolio, we are committing to the GNWT that we are doing things differently. Working with the Indigenous groups is a priority. I also am Indigenous. I do come from a smaller community as well. And I see these issues reflected in my riding as well. And looking at finding solutions but I do want to highlight to this government that the amount owing from the public to Housing NWT is approximately about $19 million. So I don't know if this government is wanting to write off $19 million for the GNWT. But I can work with the Member as well in looking at finding further and stronger solutions on how to address these issues. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Well, this is the government, okay, so. Mr. Speaker, I know that things take time. But the elders don't have the time. We need to honour our elders, not make their lives more difficult.

Mr. Speaker, when will this government act to help our elders and some of the families that are going through a hard time as well with the garnishing? Thank you