The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the House about the Environment and Natural Resources' search of the Lutselk'e camp on September 13th. Many people have asked for more information about how and why a search was conducted at the camp near Artillery Lake. As the search was a matter before the courts, we could not provide more information.

On October 24th, the search warrant used for this search was quashed. I want to make it clear that the investigations related to suspected illegal caribou harvest and wastage remains open and are ongoing. As this search is no longer part of the active investigation, I am now in a position of sharing more information which has been reported by the officers.

Mr. Speaker, it is understood that on September 13th, two officers landed on a designated helipad located a short distance from the Timber Bay camp. The unarmed officers, in standard-issued uniforms, met with identified leaders of the camp. The officers waited until leaders at the camp had time to meet, consult their legal counsel, and let the officers proceed with the search. This meant that officers did not start their search for close to an hour and 20 minutes after they landed. Leaders of the camp did not agree to a request by the officers' to be shown where recently harvested caribou meat was located within the camp, which would have enabled the officers to do a narrower search. The officers only took small samples of meat to use as evidence, instead of seizing all meat. Once the search began, a member of the camp leadership and a number of other camp participants accompanied officers. The search, including small collections, took about an hour and 40 minutes. From landing to leaving, officers were there for around three hours. We expect this information, video taken by those at the camp, and other accounts will be assessed during the officers' conduct review, which the GNWT remains committed to complete.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of caribou to our Indigenous communities across the NWT, and we know that current harvest restrictions have been very hard on people who rely on this resource.

Mr. Speaker, the mobile zone is in place because the Bathurst herd has experienced a 99 percent decrease since 1986 when the herd was 470,000. In 2021, ENR established that 6,200 Bathurst caribou remained. ENR continues to work closely with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and renewable resource boards on a range of actions to support the conservation and recovery of the Bathurst herd, while also supporting harvest from healthy caribou herds and other wildlife species.

Mr. Speaker, this government knows just how important harvesting is to communities. We hear it from elders, leaders, harvesters and families. We also listen when they tell us to support more on-the-land activities and invest in programs that help families out on the land.

Mr. Speaker, we want to encourage traditional practices that help sustain wildlife populations and support recovery of the Bathurst herd. ENR has many programs designed to encourage communities and individuals to get out on the land and harvest, including the Community Harvesters Assistance Program and the Take a Family on the Land Program. ENR believes this work supports the GNWT's efforts toward reconciliation.

Respectful harvesting is a cornerstone of traditional values. The GNWT continues to work closely with Indigenous leaders and other co-management partners to encourage harvesters, families, and community members to harvest respectfully. I acknowledge that there are relationships that need to be restored in the wake of this incident. I have recently reached out to the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation to arrange a face-to-face meeting to discuss how we can continue our collaborative efforts to work together to support caribou recovery.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is committed to continue working with our partners to take the actions necessary to protect the Bathurst herd and help its recover for future generations. People and communities across the herd's range, and the NWT as a whole, expect that out of us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, making strategic investments in our transportation system is one of the mandates of the 19th Legislative Assembly and modernizing Northwest Territories airport infrastructure will help to achieve this. Investing in airport improvements keeps our communities connected while reducing the cost of living and supporting economic opportunities. Given our vast territory and dispersed communities, air travel is essential for Northern residents, businesses, and tourists.

The GNWT manages 27 public airports that support vital services, including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, forest fire response, and much more. Investing in our airports not only improves the delivery of safe and efficient transportation but also provides jobs, skills, training, and economic opportunities to communities and residents. In fact, a total of 200 Northerners are employed directly through our airports. This does not include jobs created through special projects, such as the capital construction projects.

Mr. Speaker, for many communities across the North, air travel is an essential service. For this reason, airport maintenance, and improvement activities are particularly important to ensure safe and efficient travel.

With this in mind, the Department of Infrastructure is completing work at some of our regional airports. We are undertaking drainage improvements at Sachs Harbour, Fort McPherson, Paulatuk, Jean Marie, and Sambaa K'e airports to increase the resiliency of these airports to the effects of climate change. Upgrades are being made to the air terminal buildings in Fort McPherson, Norman Wells, Wrigley, and Paulatuk to improve the travel experience at these airports.

A granular production and supply program was completed for Whati to replenish the airport's maintenance gravel stockpile for summer maintenance training. Additional material was stockpiled in Whati to be transported over the winter road to Gameti airport to replenish that airport's maintenance stockpile.

During the summer maintenance training program, granular material was placed on the Fort Resolution runway to re-establish the crown and promote surface drainage. Runway improvements are also being made in Inuvik, and I will be providing further details on the Inuvik Runway Project in a separate statement.

Mr. Speaker, with support from Transport Canada's Airport Capital Assistance Program, or A-CAP, investments in safety are taking place in several airports across the territory.

The airfield in Yellowknife has recently completed drainage rehabilitation work; Fort Simpson's airfield lighting is being replaced; and, Fort Smith is improving existing air side surface overlays. Additionally, mobile equipment that is nearing the end of its lifecycle are being replaced with support from A-CAP in Hay River, Fort Simpson, and Inuvik. A-CAP is critical to supporting our commitment to building capacity and supporting safe and efficient travel, and we appreciate the support of the federal government in helping us to maintain safe, modern, and reliable infrastructure here in the North.

In Inuvik, work is planned to replace the airport terminal building at the Mike Zubko Airport, which includes a new publicly accessible and modern air terminal building and a separate service building. This is due to start in winter 2023.

Mr. Speaker, improvements are also ongoing at the Yellowknife Airport. The 20-year master plan is close to being completed. The master plan considers flight and passenger traffic, infrastructure, commercial development, and changes to the governance model. Once complete, it will be able to provide a vision for the airport that will balance economic, strategic, social, and environmental sustainability with operational and regulatory needs.

Engagement played a crucial part in the development of the plan. That engagement included other GNWT departments and the City of Yellowknife, as well as a public survey for residents to provide their feedback on the final two options for the future development of the Yellowknife Airport.

I also want to mention that the new board of the Yellowknife Airport Economic Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting in June and recently held its second meeting. The advisory committee plays an integral role in shaping the economic future of the airport; and, in turn, has a profound effect on industry stakeholders, as well as residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT will continue to invest in all of our airports. By working closely with communities and the federal government to secure funding, and we will keep our communities connected while supporting opportunities for Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past several years, the health and social services system has been undergoing an important transformation. Today I am presenting an update on the ways that system governance has changed and how those changes help empower communities.

The transformation of governance and management of the health and social services system began in 2016. This change combined the separate regional health and social services boards into one entity - the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority - which works alongside the Tlicho Community Services Agency and the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority.

Mr. Speaker, the NTHSSA was established with a governance model that provides for regional concerns and a territorial board of management that combines and uses this regional knowledge to improve care and outcomes for clients. The integrated model includes six regional advisory health and social services bodies, known as regional wellness councils. Members are nominated by residents or leadership from the regions and appointed by the Minister. It also includes the territorial governance board, the NTHSSA Leadership Council, whose members include the chair of each regional wellness councils; the chair of the Tlicho Community Services Agency, and; the chair appointed by the Health and Social Services Minister.

The leadership council has been instrumental in improving community access to services, supporting local hiring to increase service quality, and focusing on system sustainability.

Further, the regional wellness council prioritizes community connections, each holding public meetings several times a year. At these meetings, residents can share their experiences. This information informs our work to improve service delivery and health and social services policies.

Mr. Speaker, we have achieved many successes over the last six years as an integrated system. In 2019, we reached an important milestone when we received system-wide accreditation for all three authorities. This means we are meeting nationally-recognized service and care standards. The leadership council supported this process wholeheartedly. We have also made significant progress in addressing concerns related to cultural safety and antiracism. We have implemented mandatory staff training, and we consistently engage with the Indigenous Advisory Board whose members provide advice and recommendations to ensure our programs and services meet cultural safety goals.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Mr. Jim Antoine, who served for six years as the inaugural chairperson on the Leadership Council. I want to thank Mr. Antoine for his dedication to the well-being of Northerners and his commitment to the organization. We will certainly miss him.

The new chairperson is Gerry Cheezie, who took over in August. Mr. Cheezie has a long history of working with First Nations, Metis councils, and all levels of government. He has contributed to various nonprofit and for-profit organizations in different roles, including two terms on the NWT Housing Corporation board of directors. I am pleased to welcome him to his new role.

This change in council leadership presents an opportunity to renew focus on the next stage of system transformation. The leadership council continues to identify key areas that will enable the governance structure to meet statutory requirements and improve programs and services for residents.

Mr. Speaker, while we continue to improve efficiency, there is still work to do. We face some challenges that are unique to the Northwest Territories, and others that are shared by health and social services systems across the country. We will continue to address these issues, as we work alongside the executive leadership team from all three authorities. We will always work to incorporate the valuable input received from communities and residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last weekend I went home and heard from constituents who are asking what this government is doing to address future flood preparedness for the communities of Hay River and K'atlodeeche. Residents are concerned that this government has been silent on what, if any, action is being taken, or is currently underway to assess the flood, our response, mitigation solutions, and emergency preparedness.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that we are only six months away from spring break up, and the question is - are we prepared to deal with another flood?

Preparedness does not suggest continuing to offload responsibility to communities that lack, not only human and financial resources, but the expertise to identify and evaluate those flood risk indicators. This government must be, not only an active partner, but take the lead.

Mr. Speaker, in a prior round of questions to the Minister of MACA, he alluded to the fact his authority for addressing flood preparedness and mitigation is limited to what is inside the community boundary. If we do not consider what occurs outside a community boundary, this government will not be prepared to effectively address future flood potential. Mr. Speaker, this is why we need to conduct a thorough post-mortem of the event that took place and to accomplish that, we must engage those government departments that have responsibility for the environment and communities. However, in saying that, we must task one department, or one agency, to take the lead - which, for the GNWT, would be the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. As well, it goes without saying that the Town of Hay River, K'atlodeeche First Nation, West Point First Nation, and the Metis, must be included in any and all pre- and post-flood discussions, assessments, and solutions.

Mr. Speaker, as the result of flood damage, this government, the federal government, Indigenous governments, residents, and businesses will have spent approximately $200 million to address property damage, loss of income, loss of revenue. On top of this figure, we will have additional costs associated with mitigation requirements, ongoing monitoring and assessments of the lake, river, community, and the Hay River Basin.

Mr. Speaker, at this point I am not comfortable in the answers I have received from this government when it comes to what is the plan going forward. Just as we have specialists when it comes to predicting and fighting forest fires, we need that same level of expertise in place when we talk flood and ice management, and those positions must be located in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our mandate commits us to settle and implement treaty land resources and self-government agreements, as well as make progress implementing the United Nations Declarations on the rights of Indigenous people. And, Mr. Speaker, when you look at progress to date, it's hard to see that almost anything at all has been done on these two priorities.

The mandate made an unambitious goal of settling two agreements in the life of this Assembly. To date, we have seen zero agreements. And with the last one being Deline self-government in 2015, it's over seven years since this government has signed an agreement on treaty land resources or self-government. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, many of the existing agreements are not fully implemented. There are sections, and there are still fights about implementation dollars.

At this point, Mr. Speaker, I would take any progress at all on this. Perhaps, you know, when this was first passed and we saw two agreements, some of us hoped for one of the big three - the Metis, the Akaitcho, or Deh Cho settling, but at this point, Mr. Speaker, I would take a small chapter on governance for a single group or perhaps one of the smaller communities' self-government agreements. I know we recently, in the last Assembly, signed an AIP with Norman Wells. I'm unsure of progress on that.

Even at this point, Mr. Speaker, I would take a group saying, you know, our existing agreement is fully implemented. We believe we have accomplished everything that was originally negotiated, and funding dollars are flowing, because I know many groups would not say that about their current agreements.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, an action plan was promised for summer 2022. Well, summer 2022 has passed, and we do not have an action plan. Now I know COVID occurred, and I know getting agreement on an action plan is a hard goal. But, Mr. Speaker, I grow concerned that we are going to leave this Assembly with absolutely nothing done to meaningfully implement UNDRIP.

Mr. Speaker, at a very minimum, I would have expected the government to have released by now a view of what they think they are doing that implements each article of the declaration, an analysis of what we are already doing very well and perhaps some areas of improvement. I would have expected legislation that was similar to BC or Canada in this area that binds the government to commit to providing an action plan, yet, Mr. Speaker, at this point, we have nothing to look for. There is no public document about what we are actually doing to implement UNDRIP. What is our interpretation of free, prior, and informed consent? I do not know these. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier about whether any progress will be done by this Assembly on either of our main priorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about the fuel prices in my riding of Nunakput, Mr. Speaker. Across Canada, it seems year over year significant increases in the fuel prices turn, and it raises the price of overall cost of living in our riding. Mr. Speaker, my riding, we rely on fuel for everything - transportation, to heat our homes, to hunt. In essence, Mr. Speaker, we basically need fuel to live.

When the prices get bad in the south, it even gets worse in the Beaufort Delta and Nunakput. Three or four communities in my riding have the price our fuel set by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Current gasoline prices, GNWT, for Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, and Sachs Harbour are $2.12 per litre, and $2.09 and $2.05 respectively. As October 25th, the prices of regular gasoline in Tuktoyaktuk, $2.31 a litre and $2.60 a litre for diesel at the pump. Mr. Speaker, prices are more than $0.30 higher than the gas pumps here in Yellowknife. Every time an increase in the price of fuel, Mr. Speaker, serious negative effects on the people of Nunakput.

Nunakput already faces the highest cost of living in the NWT. The senior heating subsidy in 2022-2023 additional payment on the GNWT announced in September is good but it's not good enough to cover the rising fuel costs for our elders and our single-parent families.

The government needs to find a solution to mitigate the rising cost of living for the residents in Nunakput. Mr. Speaker, we have to do more. We have to reign in the fuel costs is a place to start. I'll have questions for the finance minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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