Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Finance.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a responsibility to ensure benefits from the extraction of Northwest Territories natural resources are provided to residents of the Northwest Territories. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has three initiatives that are advancing the priority set by the 19th Legislative Assembly to advance the benefit retention approach to economic development in the NWT. I would like to offer Members an update of this work.

This month, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment launched a pilot program that will fund capacity building initiatives for Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations ready to take on a greater role in the Northwest Territories' resource industry. Early comprehensive and coordinated engagement between Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations and industry, is key to advancing mineral exploration and development in a responsible and timely manner. These engagements set the stage for positive relationships that help to create certainty and economic and environmental sustainability.

Community leaders have long identified the need to participate from the beginning in mineral exploration and development projects. Funding from the Indigenous Capacity Building Program will help position them to do this. It will provide support for strategic planning and capacity building activities like workshops and meetings, training, educational opportunities, and participation and attendance of individuals at industry conferences and trade shows. It will position Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, specifically, to benefit from activity and investment in our resource sector.

Mr. Speaker, our territory holds a competitive edge in its environment, social and governance, or ESG, performance approach to mining. It is rooted in the NWT's co-management regulatory system and the collaborative model for resource development that emerged among our mines, Indigenous governments, and communities in the form of socio-economic agreements, or SEAs.

This system established a new way of doing business in the Northwest Territories and has helped to create jobs and training opportunities for residents. It has resulted in the success of dozens of northern and Indigenous-owned companies, development corporations and joint ventures. Mr. Speaker, even these partnerships can be improved on.

As part of its work on this mandate, ITI commissioned a reviewed of its 30-year history of SEAs to evaluate the GNWT's overall approach and the extent to which they have, or can continue to, generate benefits for Northwest Territories residents.

The department will be releasing this review in the coming month. It will be convening, also, a single forum in December to address the review's recommendations and next steps directly with Indigenous governments, industry and GNWT representatives who have worked to implement these agreements to date.

Mr. Speaker, the third initiative promised by our government to support this mandate commitment was a review of the Northwest Territories' royalty regime.

We are advancing this review as part of the intergovernmental council of the Northwest Territories and guided by our collaboration protocol on legislation, regulation and policy development.

The protocol is the first agreement of its kind in Canada. Consistent with the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on lands and resources management, it respects the jurisdictions and authorities of Indigenous governments and the GNWT while also providing for a mechanism towards collaboration and consensus-building. More importantly, the protocol is now being put into practice.

The regulatory framework for the Northwest Territory's first stand-alone Mineral Resources Act is currently being developed according to this protocol, and the review of the NWT's Resource Royalty Regime is one part of this historic work. Between February and July, engagements with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, industry, elected officials and the public centered on whether participants felt the Northwest Territories' existing regulations permit a fair share of royalties to be returned; that they are contributing to a stable and competitive investment environment; and that royalty regulations are being fully maximized. What we learned in these conversations is being compiled in a What We Heard report that will be released by the end of this year.

Ultimately, the input received will be combined with what is learned from financial modelling and other research and analysis in order to inform recommendations for the development of royalty regulations in support of the Mineral Resource Act.

Mr. Speaker, directly and indirectly the three initiatives that I have highlighted today will improve our government's approach to benefit-retention.

Perhaps, more importantly, they are a demonstration of our government's continued commitment to work with Indigenous governments and communities in the pursuit of opportunities for economic investment and growth.

The Northwest Territories has the opportunity to not only realize incredible success from this resource development but has a path by which to do business better. This path includes high ESG value and long-term project certainty.

With these benefits, we come full circle, because the very investments we are making to support stronger relationships with Indigenous governments and Indigenous government organizations will bring greater value to the projects themselves and in turn greater value for our partners, industry, and the territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, climate change is one of the most complex and far-reaching issues facing the Northwest Territories today. Despite being responsible for less than 0.2 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, the Northwest Territories is experiencing rates of climate warming up to four times faster than the rest of Canada. This affects all aspects of our way of life. It is a serious threat to the economy, our socio-economic, cultural, and environmental health and wellness of residents. We know we must act now, and we must act decisively, and I am pleased to say that the Government of the Northwest Territories is making real progress as you can see by our response to climate change in the NWT annual report.

In 2021-2022, the Government of the Northwest Territories made significant progress on implementing actions from our climate change action plan and energy action plan, and, additionally, we facilitated four NWT climate change council meetings with representatives from Indigenous and community governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories to identify key issues and find solutions for the Northwest Territories.

The Government of the Northwest Territories also initiated the development of the new 2022-2025 Energy Action Plan that will guide the Northwest Territories' lower carbon energy transition over the next three years.

Mr. Speaker, together with Indigenous leadership and with the Yukon and Nunavut, we released the pan-northern leaders' statement on climate change at the northern Premiers forum in Whitehorse this past May. This statement illustrated the three territories' unique situation and sends a clear message about the need for federal support. We will bring Northwest Territories climate change issues and perspectives to the world in November when our officials attend COP 27 in Egypt. I am proud to say the Northwest Territories delegation will include Indigenous representation from both the climate change council as well as a youth representative. They will be presenting with the Government of the Northwest Territories and Yukon government at the Canada Pavilion to highlight climate changes in the North.

Moving into 2023, we will build on our momentum. The climate change teams are already reaching out to targeted stakeholders and the public to continue the work on how climate change is affecting communities on the ground. This engagement will inform our next steps, including developing the next Climate Change Strategic Framework Action Plan, and will focus on climate change adaptation risks and opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is a priority for me, for my family, my community, and this government. It has been. I am proud of the progress made on addressing climate change in the North, guided by the Climate Change Strategic Framework, 2030 Energy Strategy, and the Northwest Territories Carbon Tax. We are on pace to make progress on almost every funded commitment under the climate change action plan by the end of 2023.

At times, the changes we are observing in our environment can seem overwhelming. But as Northerners we are resilient and we will continue to make progress together as we address these challenges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today's statement's on offshore drilling. Mr. Speaker, 2016, the federal government imposed an order preventing certain activities in the Arctic offshore waters. The federal government prohibited activities in the Arctic Ocean, including oil and gas offshore drilling. Mr. Speaker, this wasn't good news for the residents of the Beaufort Delta. But the end of the order is coming up quick; it expires December 2022.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke in this House before, Inuvialuit region, we're Inuvialuit born and raised, and we want to see offshore oil and gas opening up again. With oil and gas, our people can go back to work, get high paying jobs, and bring monies home for their families. We know the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation will make top priority to ensure of workers of the Beaufort see these measures to protect the people, the wildlife, the marine environment, and what's written in our land claim.

At the time February 2020, the Premier responded that the GNWT is at the table with the federal government on this topic. The regional strategic environmental assessment is required to be undertaken through the moratorium, the final report complete July 2020. Mr. Speaker, the work required under the moratorium has been completed. We'll see the development opportunities. The Arctic is what's our future.

The GNWT and Canada are prepared to work with communities' potential opportunities in the Arctic Ocean, not only the Beaufort Delta region looking for the offshore oil and gas opportunities we see, the sea ice is melting, the Arctic corridors are opening up and this will increase transportation security, monitoring, and other opportunities could arise in the Arctic Ocean for the NWT residents. How long is the GNWT waiting to respond to this? And I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, over the last few years the number of violent and non-violent offences all appear to be on the rise throughout the NWT. Although crime impacts everyone, the stigma once attached to it is gone. It has become part of our disposable society and is all too common and all too routine.

Mr. Speaker, as with other Northern communities, Hay River is not isolated from increasing crime. Our community has had, and continues to have, our fair share of crime and quite frankly residents are frustrated that current enforcement practices do not appear to be effective or working. It is now reaching a boiling point where residents are considering taking steps to provide their own form of justice. Neighbourhood watch groups are having to form just to protect their homes and property. Homeowners and businesses are installing cameras and security systems to monitor not only visitors but intruders as well.

Mr. Speaker, the residents of Hay River need to feel safe when walking down the street, they need to feel safe in their homes, and they need to know their property and businesses are protected. They want justice if their rights are violated. Residents are losing faith in our justice system and policing services. They want answers on what is wrong with the system and how do we fix it and when will we fix it.

Mr. Speaker, at one time, rightfully or wrongly, correctional centres in the North were full. Now we see inmate numbers have substantially decreased in the North Slave Correctional Facility while Hay River and Fort Smith facilities are in the single digits and at times have no inmates. What is causing this decrease and is it the way of the future?

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that crimes continue to be committed, with fewer perpetrators appearing to be charged, sentenced, incarcerated or rehabilitated. We know people are innocent until proven guilty. We know that police and prosecutors have the daunting task of proving a case. We know accused persons have rights. We know the system is inefficient and slow. And, we know there are often delays resulting in an ever-increasing backlog of matters before the courts. If we know all this, why, or what are we doing to change the system to where it is effective, efficient, timely, and where justice is served?

Mr. Speaker, residents not committing crimes also want protection, and we need to ensure that protection is in place and effective. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have three sets of constituents who are all facing significant housing challenges. I have sent emails to the Minister of Housing about all these cases over the last three weeks, and I have yet to receive any responses to my inquiries. So today I am going to share some details about what these constituents are facing.

Mr. Speaker, the first constituent, who I will call Jane Doe, is a single mother who is facing eviction. Not only that, Mr. Speaker, but she never received prior notice of an impending eviction taking place. So she was caught off guard completely and was unexpectedly forced to leave her house. This happened in early September and she and her daughter have been couch surfing ever since. Jane does owe some housing arrears and is working to pay it off. In fact her mother, who is a senior living in the special care home, has given her a significant sum of money to help her daughter pay down her arrears. Jane Doe has tried going to Sutherland House, a house for abused women in Fort Smith, but the facility is at capacity. She also has multiple health problems and frequently uses the food bank to get by.

Mr. Speaker, the second set of constituents, whom I will call John and Jane Doe 2, are victims who lost their house to a tornado that struck Fort Smith three years ago. Since their house was destroyed, they were put into market rental housing because Housing NWT evaluated their income and deemed their income as too high to qualify for public housing. However, after they sold their property they were instantly ineligible for public housing but Housing NWT failed to communicate that to them. So John and Jane 2 have been spending tens of thousands of dollars on extremely high rental fees for the last three years. They should not have been paying so much money so Housing NWT needs to reimburse this family from some of their loss of income that they were needlessly spending and re-adjust the rent cost. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

The third set of constituents is another couple whom I will call John and Jane Doe 3. This couple lives in a public housing unit however during the summer, they were living in a campsite near Fort Smith because their unit was not liveable. They had leaks coming in from their upstairs bathroom which leaks in the kitchen downstairs, and there was tons of water damage throughout the House with mould developing in some areas. Jane Doe 3 also has arthritis and can't go upstairs of any multilevel building. There was also an incident where an employee at the local housing authority pulled up to Jane Doe 3 while having a yard sale and yelled, "Just move out of that house." She was trying to pay her light bill with the things she was selling in a yard sale.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, these families are struggling and need help now. Fort Smith does not have a homeless shelter, so these people are particularly vulnerable, especially because winter is here now so it's getting colder outside with each passing day. I hope to see some real solutions from the Minister of Housing on these files. I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the GNWT website it states the purpose of the Business Incentive Policy is to give preference on government procurement to businesses that are owned and operated within the NWT. It is designed to promote economic growth and capacity within the NWT business and the economy. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I spoke about a non-BIPed business getting the same preference as a local BIPed company in my riding and being awarded the contract even though the policy states otherwise.

Mr. Speaker, the BIP policy applies to certain government agencies and does not capture some of the other government -- GNWT public agencies and department, including some Crown corporations. But in schedule 1 of the Business Incentive Policy, it specifically points out it applies to, number 2, the NWT Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, we are asked as Members to approve budgets worth millions of dollars in public funds that flow through this House and some of these corporations. While I understand that it's part of our job, I do think it's a fair request to have our Crown corporations be open and accountable to this House, especially if things go over budget or when policies are not followed.

Mr. Speaker, an example of the BIP not being followed is possibly over $70 million worth of contracts given to non-BIPed contractors with Alberta mailing addresses this year in my community alone. And I fully understand some part of these dollars are spent from supplies or expertise not available in the NWT but anything that can be done in the NWT should be done by NWT residents who meet their -- and are BIPed and are monitored and held accountable when spending public dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I don't think this is the intent of the policy. How are we to grow our economy and provide opportunities for our residents if we are not enforcing the BIP policy to its fullest, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, I believe by having one policy that gives preference to our NWT residents and business that is applied across all our departments and agencies, including our Crown corporations, will do nothing but strengthen our residents, businesses, economy, our territory, and if it's implemented and monitored properly. And that's a government that I want to be part of. I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one in six couples struggle with fertility. Approximately 10 percent of the female population has polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, which routinely leads to infertility. For many, medication can make a difference but for others it doesn't work, or they face other fertility issues and complications.

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, it can take eight months just to get an initial appointment with a fertility specialist. The GNWT does provide services to treat underlying medical conditions that may cause infertility. However, when it comes to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, it is not covered and there are no plans to include it here.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT does absolutely nothing to cover any of the costs associated with receiving IVF treatment - no medical travel, accommodations, or per diems, including no financial support for the cost of the treatment itself which starts at around $15,000 per round and often requires multiple rounds prior to conception. IVF treatment also requires a referral from a doctor adding a further barrier to would-be parents as they wait on our broken healthcare system to get an appointment, further clogging up the system.

Currently, five provinces in Canada provide financial assistance to residents undergoing fertility treatments. Some of the largest provinces in Canada provide financial relief to residents requiring family planning support. Therefore, it baffles me that a small territory like the Northwest Territories cannot do the same. The government is clearly letting down NWT residents in this critical healthcare area. Often a person's desire to build their family is so great they will move away from the NWT to be closer to treatment sites, or to avoid continuous travel and work disruptions. Building our population to receive more federal transfer payments should be a goal of our government, so why don't we support residents to start and build their families here? Fertility financial support would likely only be accessed once, maybe twice, in a lifetime and would not be a recurring annual cost. As little as a $20,000 investment in supporting residents to conceive would return $37,000 annually in federal transfer payments per each newborn.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to see a jurisdictional scan to learn what other provinces and territories are doing to support their residents to conceive. In turn, I hope this will provide ideas for the GNWT to pursue to better support their residents. And I look to the Minister of Finance to look into this for GNWT employees, including the support to travel for treatment. Fertility benefits should be a basic part of our healthcare plans. Northern residents deserve this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the leadership in the Tlicho region have been advocating for years to establish cell phone service along Highway No. 3 to improve safety along the route Tlicho people travel to access goods and services from the capital city.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, it is well known that many people have lost their life on this road. It is a very busy road with heavy traffic between Yellowknife and Behchoko. As road users, we know there are many curves and dips in this road, and it can be especially dangerous in winter months when the road is icy, the sky is dark, and large trucks come often. Cell phone service is needed to prevent emergency situations where help cannot be reached due to the lack of cell phone service.

The Minister of Finance recognized previously in this House that the lack of cell coverage is a safety risk. Mr. Speaker, Northwestel, with much support from the Tlicho government, received federal funding to build the required cell service tower improvements and provide the service to all residents using this NWT highway. In a letter of support for the cell phone service for the cell service from Yellowknife to Behchoko project from March 11, 2021, the deputy minister of Finance stated the Government of the Northwest Territories appreciated, quote, "The potential for increase wireless coverage," end quote, along Highway No. 3 and on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake and are, quote, "committed to working with the Tlicho government and Northwestel to cover the annual operating cost of these assets," end quote.

Mr. Speaker, the capital funding is approved. The Tlicho and Northwestel did their part. Will the Government of the Northwest Territories keep its word on assisting with the cell service operating cost for the benefit of all residents who use this highway? The Minister of Finance also confirmed that an expression of interest was issued earlier in 2021 regarding lack of cell phone service on Highway 3. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

What has become of this work, Mr. Speaker? Does the Government of the Northwest Territories have a plan to implement cell towers between Yellowknife and Behchoko, and when will it be implemented? I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer just released a latest public health warning expecting an influx of respiratory illnesses in a wave from down south to head up here. Additionally, we know COVID is still spreading and we just recently released the bivalent vaccination. And this all, Mr. Speaker, is to say it's a reminder that when you are sick, it is best to stay home. Yet, Mr. Speaker, for many people that is not an option.

When surveyed, the number 1 reason people go to work sick is because they can't afford it. And, Mr. Speaker, the solution to that problem is simple: that is to require paid sick days.

The federal government has recently mandated ten paid sick days for all federally regulated employees. BC government requires five paid sick days. And, Mr. Speaker, I believe this should be a legacy of the COVID pandemic, is that we, as the GNWT, require paid sick days for all workers. And, Mr. Speaker, we're not talking about a lot here. When BC enacted this legislation, they worked with employers and employers said that more than half of employees don't use all of their paid sick time. And generally, a typical employee takes one to five sick days per year. But those one to five paid sick days a year, Mr. Speaker, prevents spreading illness in the workplace. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, for businesses who were surveyed in BC experienced increased productivity, retention of trained staff, reduced the risk of injury, improved worker morale, and increased labour force participation; all things employers want and all things we are desperately in need of in our retention and recruitment problem here in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about whether we can begin the steps to engage with businesses on implementing paid sick days. At a very first step, I think we have to find out who currently is not getting paid sick days in the Northwest Territories and what businesses view as a barrier to providing their workers with paid sick leave. I'll have questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project is a mandate item of the GNWT. It is intended to provide clean energy to the mineral rich Slave Geological Province and eventually connect the NWT electrical grid to the south. On the department's website, the project is intended to both increase hydro generation capacity and to stabilize electricity rates for NWT residents and businesses.

A promising aspect of this mega project is that the federal government recognizes the need to update grid infrastructure across Canada. In May, the federal infrastructure minister said that they see a very clear path to funding the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. And while the government may have a very ambitious and expensive long-term plan to provide clean energy, Mr. Speaker, the energy infrastructure we have today is what we are stuck with for the foreseeable future.

My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that currently Northwest Territories Power Corporation infrastructure is aging faster than we can keep pace. In NTPC's five-year capital plan, there is 30 to $50 million capital investment required every year just to replace aging infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, that is a very expensive Band-Aid.

We know too well that our power rates also continue to go up. Just this past May, NWT residents experienced an interim increase of 2.5 percent while the current rate application increase is before the Public Utilities Board.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners continue to pay increasing power rates because the cost of maintaining and upgrading the energy infrastructure is so expensive. We need more demand for energy services, more consumption of energy to bring down costs, but that too, Mr. Speaker, is looking dismal. On one hand, we are encouraged to think of climate change and not to consume energy but on the other hand, the more of us that consume energy in our existing system, the more we share the price and bring down the cost per unit of energy per person.

Mr. Speaker, we are not attracting new residents to help pay our energy bills, nor are we seeing a lot of major resource development projects coming online that require power to bring down the cost for residents. So, Mr. Speaker, Northerners continue to pay the price, and there is little to change this bleak situation with the energy infrastructure system that we currently have in place. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

Jacqueline May Hardisty was born on June 19th, 1969. She was the oldest daughter of Ernest and Florence Hardisty. She was born in Fort Simpson but raised in Jean Marie River.

When Jacqueline was younger, she was adventurous, mischievous, and lived freely with the other younger girls and boys. Jacqueline attended school in Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson.

Jacqueline was always so proud of her children - Malerie, Brennen, Gerald, Terrance and Keaton. She talked fondly of her children and grandchildren. Whenever she would call or was around her friends, she would make sure part of the conversation always turned to her family. When you spoke to them afterwards, they would always say "Jacqueline speaks a lot about her family and Jean Marie River. Thanks to your mother, we know a lot about your family."

Jacqueline was known as an amazing cook and organizer and cleaner. She was able to find employment wherever she lived. As I said previously, she was adventurous and enjoyed travel. She lived in numerous communities in the Northwest Territories, BC and Alberta.

Jackie had a contagious smile and laugh. When you were around her, you were always in for some good laughs. People always felt she was always bubbly. Even if she did not know you, she would start a conversation with you because she just loved to chat. Sometimes it was very hard to get your own words in but you were never offended. You always left with a happy heart and sore cheeks after speaking with her.

Mr. Speaker, the family, and friends would like to thank everybody for all the kind words, love, support and generosity during this difficult time for them. They would like to ask people to remember Jackie and cherish all the fond memories they had of her. Mr. Speaker, she will be sadly missed. Thank you

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with us today, I'd like to acknowledge the president of the Yamoga Land Corporation of Fort Good Hope, Mr. Edwin Erutse. And also with him, he also has his board of directors as well, I want to also acknowledge Jacintha Grandjambe who is the executive director to Mr. Erutse. And also Tammy Proctor and Curtis Manuel and Shawn Grandjambe who are also the directors.

I'd also like to welcome Marcus Pierrot as well who has just returned from Calgary. The Sahtu had supported a group of students going down to Calgary and viewing and taking a look at the universities and colleges and preparing them for their graduation year. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a young man who is a page here, Will Kanigan, the son of Julian and Heather. And the parents said please make sure you recognize him and embarrass him, so I fulfilled my commitment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a couple of students from Fort Providence Deh Gah School; they're acting as pages today - Tianna Head and Shyanne Weninger. They're in the building somewhere. I'd like to welcome them and hope they enjoy their time here in Yellowknife. It's wonderful to see them both here in the Legislative Assembly building. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to welcome and say hello to president Edwin Erutse. President Erutse gave the Standing Committee on Social Development a very warm welcome to Fort Good Hope earlier this year and spent a lot of time touring us around the community. And it was very much appreciated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think he's going to get lots of recognition, but I'd also like to recognize president Erutse and the Yamoga Land Corporation. It's only by working together as governments that we will provide the best services to residents of the Northwest Territories. So welcome to the gallery.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome my brother-in-law Curtis Mandolin to the House today. It's not too often I see family here, so welcome to the House and the rest of the Yamoga land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I'd also like to recognize the page from Great Slave, Carys Lyall, who is here. One of my favorite things about being a Member is to have the pages here and getting to interact with them. So I'd like to say welcome to them all. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Welcome. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber and I hope you're enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience with us. Mahsi. Acknowledgements. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is a special day and a milestone birthday for a constituent who I also consider a good friend.

Mr. Speaker, today I wish Mrs. Julia Pokiak Trennert a happy milestone birthday, and hopefully all her birthday wishes comes true. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Mr. Speaker, today I brought up my Member's statement in regards to the discussions on offshore drilling moratorium. I'm just wondering where's the -- with the Premier, where does it stand right now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the moratorium on the Western Offshore Ocean was actually called unilaterally by Canada in 2016. At that time, the Premier of the day called a red alert, which caused a lot of contention in the NWT. Since then, we were promised that they would do that Western Arctic Offshore Accord. We've had 24 meetings since April 2019 to May 2022. We were also promised that we'd be able to take part in the five-year science-based review of the moratorium. So we're looking forward to the results of that and hoping that the federal government will sit down with us and talk about their findings in that science-based review. That work is still to be finished, and now we're in the process of signing an accord.

I do want to say, Mr. Speaker, it's important that Canada work with us on this. It's right in our devolution agreement, section 3.2 of the devolution agreement has a commitment for Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, with the participation of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, to commence negotiations for the management of oil and gas resources in the Beaufort Sea and other northern offshore areas. So it's important that Canada work with us on this work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Government of the Northwest Territories and IRC cooperating and collaborating to strengthen their position with the federal government, and where does the GNWT stand on the offshore drilling and when will the people in my riding see the moratorium lifted? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, yes, we're working very closely with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. The moratorium, the discussions, the offshore accord, the science-based review, were to be done in partnership with the Yukon government, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the governments of the Northwest Territories, with Canada of course. Since that time, though, we've also got engagement from the premier of Nunavut who is also interested in the work that's happening. So we are working together, all of us, to make sure that the interests of the North will be protected because when the moratorium was first enacted in the NWT, we lost jobs, we lost potential, and I am concerned that the Beaufort Delta needs to have an economy. So I will continue that work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm really happy for that. I'd like to thank our government for that work that they're doing with the federal government to lift this -- get this moratorium lifted but making sure it's done right in regards to on a go-forward before it's lifted and letting our people advance notice, because we do want jobs in our riding and we do need that and we do need to take care of our own.

So, Mr. Speaker, my last question, how did, with the GNWT working with Canada and the Inuvialuit, support and advance the opportunities in the Arctic Ocean? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, I think it's important that the GNWT work with all Indigenous governments and specifically around the moratorium the oil and gas reserves that are -- and the LNR that's in the Beaufort Delta. We need to be supporting that work as we go through.

I'd like to say, Mr. Speaker, that the most critical thing that I've been saying to Canada all along is the importance to work with us, nothing about us without us. It's important as the Member has said that the people of the Beaufort Delta have a say in what's happening with the offshore drilling. And although I recognize that Canada does have the power to make a unilateral decision, Mr. Speaker, as I've said to the prime minister it's not about who has the power, it's how we decide to use that power. And I will continue to carry that message. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Housing has not yet responded to any of the three constituency files I referenced in my Member's statement. Can the Minister tell us when I can expect some answers for my constituents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. Within these files, there are very complex issues that we are dealing with. They are very sensitive. And according to what we've established with our renewal and with the documents that we have presented earlier this year that I'm trying to exercise our commitment throughout the Northwest Territories in making sure that the Housing NWT does make fair decisions throughout the territory and improve their working relationships with our tenants as well.

I will have a response prepared for the Member. But as of right now, I would like to bring that back to the department as this is a very sensitive issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain why it has taken up to three weeks for her office to respond to my emails about constituents' urgent housing concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and also thank you to the Member that, you know, like I had said that these are very complex issues. I would like to deal with these three clients very sensitively as well and making sure that we do provide adequate housing. But not only that, Mr. Speaker, we've got to make sure that we are fair and consistent throughout the Northwest Territories and exercising our policies fairly, working with the LHOs fairly as well. I will be following up though with the Member. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, hearing about a nonexistent homeless strategy, while there's no homeless shelter in Fort Smith, is not okay. Will the Minister ensure that these three constituent files will be provided with positive solutions to their situations so they are not out on the street? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be following up with the Member, like I had said, and I will make sure that Housing is making fair, consistent decisions when dealing with sensitive issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I guess I'm a little bit puzzled with some of the answers. Will the Minister support a pilot project for tiny homes in Fort Smith, because that would be a real solution to fighting homelessness, rather than just renting a building, as it would give homeless people some dignity and confidence back into their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Member is correct, you know, the community had reached out and they were looking at constructing tiny homes. But at that time, Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous governments weren't ready for the submission. Housing continues to work with the Indigenous groups to further that commitment that we do have. I am open up to being transparent and looking at alternative solutions for housing in the Member's riding as well and also throughout the Northwest Territories. As of right now, Housing has met with the Indigenous governments, but they have not submitted a proposal for tiny homes. But that does not stop our conversation. We will still continue. 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 Infrastructure.

Traditional sources of public financing alone won't be enough to meet the infrastructure or future infrastructure needs of the NWT, which are large and continue to climb. So my question for the Minister is what efforts are underway to find new sources of finance; for example, increasing the number of power users, tapping private sector funding and expertise through investments or P3s, accessing federal dollars, improving efficiency of existing infrastructure and making smart investments in new infrastructure, or regulatory changes. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Industry is changing. Electrification will add new revenue streams to Northwest Territories Power Corporation as customers demand cleaner energy. The federal government and the GNWT have set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the increased use of clean hydro, renewable energy for home heating and vehicle use will also assist the GNWT to meet these targets and maximize Northwest Territories Power Corporation hydro and renewable infrastructure investment. Northwest Territories Power Corporation is working with Indigenous governments and communities on ownership and investment opportunities. Community-owned renewable generation guidelines were developed as part of the energy strategy and have been adopted by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. These partnerships reduce the dependence on diesel and provides new source of financing for required capital investments. The Power Corporation's strategy looks to leverage our partnership to maximize our ability to fund asset renewals with the lowest cost to customers. As well, the GNWT continues to advance the development of foundational infrastructure which will make the territories more appealing to future investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend the person who wrote that because there's a lot of fluff in there, and there's a good job at putting a lot of fluff in there, but what I hear is a lot of targets but without viable solutions that we're sharing with the Northwest Territories that don't simply hinge on one mega infrastructure project that, quite frankly, we don't have the dollars for today. And that really might not end up, in the long run, achieving our energy goals in the Northwest Territories. And I hear what the Minister is saying that we're working on it but we can't say we're working on it without having the clear path to getting there.

Mr. Speaker, if new resource development -- if a new resource development project in the exploration or mine phase was to purchase NTPC power, that could have significant impact on NWT resident power bills. So can the Minister explain how the GNWT or NTPC is attracting new exploration or resource development projects to purchase NTPC power? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member giving me some questions here because there's a lot of good answers that are in here, so thank you for that.

So advancing projects such as the Taltson expansion project, Whati transmission line, Fort Providence transmission line will increase our ability to offer clean energy to industrial users. In particular, grid connections between our two hydro systems with hydro power from Taltson will open up clean growth opportunities north and south of the Great Slave Lake. As well, by consolidating community, industry, and transportation demand into one hydro grid will also spread the costs and attract new customers so that we can stabilize energy and have clean cost of energy here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister simply tell us how many agreements NTPC has entered into with resource development projects in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Absolutely. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation has signed an MOU with Osisko Metals that outlines the process of negotiating the power connection of clean hydro to the Pine Point mine. Northwest Territories Energy, which is the sister company of Northwest Territories Power Corporation, is also engaged in discussions to be able to provide power to the Prairie Creek mine that is located close to Nahanni Butte. We're also working with Department of ITI to provide power opportunities to other potential mines such as TerraX Minerals, Nechalacho Rare Earth Projects, and Fortune Minerals. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will also be in active participation in the geoscience forum that's happening in November to be able to build these engagements with other potential mining customers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, improving NTPC's institutional framework and governance model are key pieces to meeting its infrastructure challenges. And I know that this has been a core focus of Regular Members on this side of the House since we literally walked into this House. So by what date will NTPC have a diversified board of folks with expertise in electricity utility rather than deputy ministers, and will the GNWT explore new institutional arrangements for NTPC to provide more effective and efficient financing, funding, and infrastructure delivery? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have a date but I want to note that our current board do have the competencies that are a benefit to the organization, and I want to recognize that they have their own areas of knowledge and expertise. That said, one of our rationale for making a change would be able to include more members with direct electrical utility experience. I anticipate that any change like that will require transition time, and perhaps even some training for future board members. I believe we all want to have experience on the board. We also want to have northern experience brought to the table by Northerners. I do not want to suggest that all future board members are going to have direct experience with regulated utility companies.

And to the second part of the question there, Mr. Speaker, the governance review is not broadly looking at institutional changes beyond the current model in great detail. The reality is, is that our existing institutional model has features set in legislation, and we have not directed any changes that would dramatically change that. At some point, Mr. Speaker, we may consider changes but only if it's a benefit to the ratepayers.

I would be happy to speak to the Member on more detail. I've got lots of notes here. I'm not going to take up too much time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement spoke of the lack of a preventative maintenance program at the LHO level. This could be for all LHOs in the Northwest Territories. Can the Housing Minister advise if there is such a program at the LHO level and who conducts these checks? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for their question.

As of today, the Housing NWT does fund $13 million annually for preventative maintenance and also $250,000 is offered to the local housing authorities for training. Housing does conduct the preventative maintenance program in place for all local housing organizations, and the checks are done annually. And we are also having a preventative maintenance managers meeting in the coming weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi to the Minister for that answer. But where I live I know for a fact that no servicing of heating appliances were done this year.

Mr. Speaker, I've been apprised that the Housing NWT headquarters in Yellowknife controls the purse strings of all LHOs. What is the relationship between headquarters and their LHOs in terms of budgets and surpluses? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for the budgets that are established and that are worked on through the Northwest Territories, we do have a funding formula. But with the policy review that we are currently doing right now, that is under review as well, on how we do fund the local housing authorities as well, but we do also work very closely with the LHOs to determine whether they have a surplus. If they do have a surplus, we do identify operation and maintenance deficits and also surplus units and also further units that may have to be renovated. And also if there is a deficit as well too, headquarters work very closely with the local housing authorities to try to help them to get back on track as well. There is a lot of support provided from headquarters to the local housing authorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. It would have been interesting to ask for financial statements as to the surpluses that go back to headquarters because it may show a lack of a preventative maintenance program.

Mr. Speaker, I'm certain headquarters can determine if and when a preventative maintenance program is not being adhered to. Is there a reporting mechanism that is available to headquarters to determine if a preventative maintenance program is being followed at the LHO levels? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. And I just wanted to just emphasize that when there is a surplus at the local housing authority level that headquarters does work with the local housing authority to spend that money that is there. Some LHOs do carry over a certain amount of funding but that does also provide them with a financial security should they be dealing with any floods, any freezups, or whatever that may happen over the coming months. But also headquarters does work very closely and monitors the preventative maintenance of our units as well too.

I just also wanted to just speak about the budget that we do have. We did get allocation of $60 million over two years from the federal government, and $30 million of that funding is going to be allocated and put towards home repair programs for -- or I mean, sorry, public housing repair programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that.

Mr. Speaker, many of the heating units, whether they be furnace or boiler units, have ceramic firepots within to prevent burning a hole through the metal heating chamber from the burner. The state and condition of the firepot is extremely important as this will prevent carbon monoxide poisoning to residents. Tenants are not aware of how they can get carbon monoxide poisoning as there is no education material afforded to them. Tenants usually are alarmed when they spell diesel fumes which may not be related to the carbon monoxide. Will the Minister ensure tenants are made aware of how carbon monoxide occurs and if LHOs will install carbon monoxide detectors in the homes? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member as well too. And I just want to appreciate his work as well, that he did work with the local housing authority and also in his community and also with the technical questions as well. I'm not too familiar with the metal heating chamber and terms such as those. But I can assure you that we will be looking at the monitoring of carbon monoxide detectors within those public housing units, and I will follow up with the department to making sure that we do have them installed in our public housing units. Safety and health is a priority of mine as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Will the Minister commit to completing a jurisdictional scan to learn what other Canadian provinces and territories are doing to support their residents with infertility and report back on it to this House? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the question from the Member. We've done a jurisdictional scan, and there are some large jurisdictions with big populations and big revenue bases that can support specialized services such as fertility treatments. But that is not the case here, and fertility treatments are not covered. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask that the Minister maybe share that with me. I've missed it somewhere in my research.

The Minister's alluded to it a bit, but what other options and ideas has Health and Social Services explored to help our residents on their fertility journey; can she elaborate a bit on what work has been done so far? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the question. So the GNWT provides services to individuals who need a diagnosis and treatment for an underlying medical condition that is preventing pregnancy from taking place, and this is part of our insured health services. So if that service is required here, it would be provided here. And if is required in the south, then medical travel would pay for that to happen in the south. So that's the "why aren't I getting pregnant" answer.

In terms of assisting people who don't have underlying medical conditions to get pregnant, that is not part of insured services in the NWT. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I guess I struggle to understand how we can spend money and support people to learn why they're not getting pregnant but then not help them to get pregnant after the fact when we talk about growing our population. So can the Minister speak to whether or not she would look at changing the medical travel benefits to include those that are seeking fertility in the south? As I mentioned in my statement, a small investment here could lead to further babies being born in the Northwest Territories and future co-transfer payments from the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, falling pregnant is not a medically necessary intervention provided by our healthcare system, and we have no plans to change that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think this speaks a lot to how women's health is treated in our medical profession and healthcare system. If it were men that wanted to get pregnant and they couldn't, I'm sure we would have found a cure for it a long time ago, so. I would like to ask that the Minister work with her counterpart, the Minister responsible for Human Resources, and look to at least adding this to GNWT benefits going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for the comment.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT is known as a leader in one area, unfortunately that area is with respect to the national crime rate. Since 2005, except for a small blip, we have been in first place. However, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to justice, we all have a part to play, whether we're a parent, teacher, health worker, police, judge, lawyer - it doesn't matter. So Mr. Speaker, I'd ask the Minister of Justice if he can confirm what the resulting factors are that have contributed to the increase in the NWT crime rate while we see the correctional centres are showing a steady decrease in population? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a big question. I'll do my best to keep my answers short.

So the most recent information we have is from the 2021 calendar year, and that shows us actually a decrease in crime during that time. The total crime rate went down by 3 percent in the Northwest Territories driven by a reduction in robbery, a 21 percent decrease in drug offences, as well as a 7 percent decrease in sexual assault offences. On the other side, we saw an increase in assaults and breaking and entering. But that's 2021, and I know the Member -- there's issues going on right now in his community and so people want to know what's going on right now. And there's a number of factors that influence crime rates.

Socioeconomic factors, the age of the population. In the Northwest Territories we have a very young population. We have a significant amount of poverty in the Northwest Territories, a significant amount of trauma in the Northwest Territories. And when you talk about crime rate, that means different things. So there's the crime rate, just a pure number of crimes, and there's the combination of the types of crimes. So the crime severity index is one way that we can look at the crime rate by taking into account how severe certain cases are.

The crime severity index in 2021 also dropped by 6 percent, and the youth crime severity index dropped by 23 percent in 2021. So when we say we're seeing an increase in crime, we are -- there's a general trend. We were following the same trend as Canada up until about I would say maybe five years ago, and then we have continued to increase while the rest of Canada has sort of stayed steady or decreased. But we are very similar to other regions that are similar to us.

So Nunavut and northern Saskatchewan, you can almost map our crime rates, the trajectory, overtop of each other; they almost form a single line so. There's a number of different factors that contribute to the crime rate. And I'll also say that we have twice as many police officers in the Northwest Territories per person compared to the rest of Canada. So just the mere fact that we have that many officers would make you think that we're going to be -- there's going to be more crimes reported. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it seems like more and more people are just being released on bail after committing crimes. Can the Minister explain why people aren't being remanded into custody? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and this speaks to the Member's last question as well. Most of the people who are in the correctional system in the Northwest Territories are there on remand, meaning they have not yet been sentenced.

In the 2010s, there were a number of Supreme Court of Canada cases that spoke to bail and, you know, what was needed in order to detain someone versus to release them. The Government of Canada, in 2019, codified some of that language -- or those decisions. And now the release of accused persons is the cardinal rule and detention is an exception. So the Criminal Code of Canada and Supreme Court of Canada have both been moving in a direction where it is becoming more onerous on the prosecution, or the Crown, to actually have someone detained while they're awaiting trial. And we can see that in the Northwest Territories here with our numbers.

So between that and COVID, where you didn't want people, you know, crammed in small spaces next to each other, those are the factors that contributed to a decline in the number of people we have in correctional facilities. That being said, we are looking at more precise reasons. So there's a group in justice who is looking into this and hopefully sometime in the new year, we'll have some more concrete information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide any direction to ensure people who are in custody stay in custody while being remanded and not let out on bail? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could provide direction but no one would listen to me. The decision of whether or not to remand someone, to detain someone when they've been charged, lies with the courts, and so it's the prosecution, the defence, and the courts who make that decision and the courts are independent of course. Here we are in the Legislative Assembly which is one branch, the government is another branch, and the courts are the third branch. And I have no authority over that branch. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I said that we all had a part to play in curbing crimes and crime rate. You know, without involvement of everybody, we're never going to see change. You know, we have -- there's a relationship between crime and people's help. So if we're going to do something, we've got to do it together.

So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm what discussions, if any, are taking place with the federal government on solutions for the NWT to reduce crime rate and make our communities safer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Department of Justice attends a number of different federal, territorial, and provincial meetings at various levels. So I've recently attended a meeting with the ministers for public safety and ministers of justice across Canada, and these are the types of issues that we discussed, and I will say what the issues that are being raised here are also being raised across Canada. So this is not a territory issue alone.

There is work in different jurisdictions to look at policing and how police services could be improved. There's been recent talk about Alberta moving towards their own provincial police system because they think they can approach policing and crime prevention in a better way. British Columbia, there was recently a report from an all-party committee in the Legislative Assembly that suggested -- that recommended that they move toward a provincial policing system so that they could take an approach that is more tailored for them. So I participate in those types of federal- territorial-provincial meetings.

As well, there is a number of different working groups that staff from the department are on with the federal and provincial counterparts. So there's crime prevention working groups, drug impaired driving working groups, guns and gangs working groups, and a number of these. So there are a significant number of conversations happening, which is necessary given that the Criminal Code is a federal statute. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how can a company who is not BIPed and one who is not BIPed because, according to the BIP policy, would not qualify them to be BIPed, still get awarded a contract with BIP adjustments? This doesn't make sense to me. You know, if the Minister can explain to me where this policy exists. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, a company that is not BIPed can still receive a BIP adjustment. That is pursuant to one of the interpretive bulletins that's associated. If you go to the BIP web page, there's a whole list of interpretive bulletins. What it matters is whether or not there's Northwest Territories content or local content and if, in fact, there's -- so in other words, the company that's bidding on a contract, if they themselves aren't BIPed but their direct subcontractors are, including -- or if they have local content, they are still eligible to use the BIP adjustment or the local content adjustments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I know I sent a lot of information and I know the Minister also received a letter from the contractor and the subcontractor, the local content subcontractors. So whose responsibility is it, when there's BIP adjustments, to hold this contractor to account that they ensure that these local content, local suppliers, are being utilized and if not, what happens? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, construction contracts are monitored throughout. There are expectations to have monthly BIP content updates provided. They're monitored certainly by the departments responsible but procurement shared services does also share in that role. And I can say, Mr. Speaker, one of the changes that came about early in the process of the procurement review was to introduce vendor performance management, and that is something that's still fairly new but it has now been added into contracting provisions such that the contractor now knows that they will be subject to those reviews. If they're not meeting the content, if they're not meeting the contents of what they're expected to do, what they've committed to do, that essentially does put them then, now that this has been into the contract, puts them in breach of contract which can bring with it a host of different remedies. One of those remedies may well be, Mr. Speaker, that they become ineligible as not being a responsible company, would be ineligible for future bids. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So Mr. Speaker, will this Minister, you know, review with her clients, like if we have contractors that have ongoing bidding and they're not utilizing local content but they say they are, is there a way to do a review of local contractors that have been doing this and not following this process? I just -- you know, I can't go back to my community and tell these local contractors who live and pay taxes in the North that being BIPed is nothing, it doesn't mean anything, because that's what we're saying, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had a conversation earlier with the Member, and I did receive this letter. So I have details of the specific incident that's given rise to these questions but the questions are ones that should be posed in the context of the work we're doing on the procurement review. Certainly no Minister who is responsible for any project wants to have to hear that, in fact, bids are not being received as we expect them, that the processes and policies we have in place are not being followed. Even vendor performance management, we don't want to have to use vendor performance management to monitor the businesses in the North. We want the businesses in the North to be bidding on projects, using local content, using local procurement. That's what we've heard from the business community too. So when there is this disconnect, Mr. Speaker, most certainly I will go back to the department and make sure that, as we finish up the procurement review, that the processes that are there in place are clear, simple, well known, that they're not spread across the different departments with different versions and different objectives, that there is a central monitoring agency, and that everyone knows that if you're not following what's there that you will face some form of penalty so that we hopefully are not hearing of cases like this that are creating this kind of confusion within the business community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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