Good morning, Members. Every year on the last Friday in October, the Poppy Campaign kicks off to raise funds to support veterans and their families across Canada. Today at 10:30 a.m. marks the Pinning of the First Poppy Ceremony at the Joint Task Force North in Yellowknife. Pages will be handing out poppies to Members at that time, and I invite you all to wear them.

The poppy is a symbol of remembrance to commemorate and honour fallen veterans as we approach Veterans Week. I want to acknowledge that November 8th marks Indigenous Veterans Day, and Remembrance Day is on November 11th. While exact numbers are unknown, it has been estimated that as many as 12,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people served in the great conflicts of the 20th century, with at least 500 of them sadly losing their lives. Indigenous veterans played a vital role within the Canadian military. Thank you, Members.

Ministers' statements. Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories stands with the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments against harassment, abuse, and unethical behaviour in sport. By being a signatory to the 2019 Red Deer Declaration for the Prevention of Harassment, Abuse and Discrimination in Sport, we commit to do our part to ensure a Safe Sport environment for all participants in the Northwest Territories. Canadian athletes and the sport sector have called on all governments to take action to address safety concerns in organized sports in Canada. Ministers responsible for sport answered that call with the Red Deer Declaration and have been leading efforts to develop and advance Safe Sport in Canada. Today I want to provide an update on the progress the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has made through collaboration with representatives of the Northwest Territories sport community.

In August I attended the conference of federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for sport, physical activity, and recreation. This gathering took place in Niagara Falls, Ontario, just prior to the Canada Summer Games. During this meeting, all ministers agreed to establish policies and procedures to protect athletes and to prevent harassment, abuse, and discrimination. This involved expediting a mandatory third-party independent process, including establishing procedures for the reporting and management of allegations for all funded sport organizations starting in 2023.

Also, we will continue to work with the sport sector and athletes to implement training and education on anti-harassment and abuse.

Madam Speaker, since the Red Deer Declaration was endorsed, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has completed an environmental scan of current Safe Sport practices in the Northwest Territories. In November 2020, the department held a Safe Sport summit with stakeholders and partners and has since facilitated several information sessions with sport organizations. There is now an NWT Safe Sport Framework and a Safe Sport Implementation Plan is currently being finalized.

The NWT Safe Sport Framework provides opportunities for territorial and major sport organizations to adopt a series of Safe Sport policies that will address several areas, including code of conduct, discipline and complaints, dispute resolution, athlete protection, volunteer screening, and risk management.

We know that requiring a strong policy base is only the beginning. The department intends to work closely with organizations to facilitate open discussion and understanding of the Safe Sport Framework and include mandatory training requirements within the NWT sport system.

Madam Speaker, having an independent, confidential mechanism to report incidents of harassment, abuse, and discrimination is an important element of Safe Sport. Most provincial and territorial governments are either establishing their own third-party investigation services or are negotiating with the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada to provide those services within their jurisdictions. The department is actively researching options that are best for the Northwest Territories.

In addition to Safe Sport policies, the department will require sport organizations to adopt a Concussion Awareness Policy and return to play protocols. This process will require a collaborative approach with our sport partners as we work towards the goal of implementing these initiatives by the end of 2023.

Madam Speaker, Municipal and Community Affairs is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive sport environment. We will continue to work with NWT sport organizations and our jurisdictional counterparts to make this a priority for our sport community in 2023 and beyond. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the federal government has the National Disaster Mitigation Program which provides communities access to financial support for risk assessment, flood mapping, mitigation planning, and investments in non-structural and small-scale structural mitigation projects. Municipal and local governments, public sector bodies, private sector bodies, Indigenous governments, and non-governmental organizations can make applications to this program.

Madam Speaker, apart from raising the road along Riverview Drive, little appears to have been determined on what mitigation measures, if any, will be in place to prepare the community for spring breakup. Residents who reside in the West Channel, Old Town, Corridor, and Paradise Valley are concerned and are asking what mitigation efforts and solutions have been identified for the area they live in. They are looking for answers and some form of communication from both the Town of Hay River and this government.

Madam Speaker, the flood damage to Paradise Valley was extensive. The only access road was compromised requiring a temporary one to be constructed. The embankment between the access road and river had trees and grass removed which further degraded the stability of an already unstable bank. This, along with drainage, needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Madam Speaker, the Corridor itself was not spared from flooding and will require some form of berm between the river and homes. The downtown core and Cranberry Crescent areas will also require some form of berm for flood protection. The West Channel area situated along the lake requires repairs to the berm between the airport and the residential area. In addition, there is an issue with a watercourse, known as the Oxbow, which allowed water to flow inland from the lake during high water. A flood gate should be installed as a preventative measure. The Old Town itself has minimal in the way of flood protection. Consideration should be given to raising the perimeter road to serve as a berm, along with restoration of the harbour and channel.

Madam Speaker, I will expect this government to work with the Town of Hay River and Indigenous governments to identify and access funds under the national Disaster Mitigation Program to address solutions. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, for the benefit of Hay River and Katl'odeeche residents and businesses, there will be a meeting on harbour restoration and harbour flood mitigation with the Minister of Infrastructure tomorrow from 11am to 2pm at the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre. Please attend if you can. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Lack of housing in Paulatuk. I've spoken in the House before, simply not enough houses in Nunakput riding. My constituents living in the farthest north of the residents in the territory and yet some families, Madam Speaker, live in cabins or makeshift tents.

Madam Speaker, a young family in my riding in Paulatuk who have been waiting for the Minister to deliver on the commitment on our last visit to get them into a housing unit. The Minister of Housing visited Nunakput riding over the summer of 2020. At the time, the Minister met the young couple that had been taken off the waitlist. At the time, the couple was receiving CERB payments that the Housing Corporation considered income too high. I want to recognize that the Minister did fix the problem where the Housing Corporation was counting CERB payment as income. But the Minister assured the couple two years ago that they would be prioritized and be putting on the waitlist.

Madam Speaker, it's October 28th, 2022. Snow is falling. The ice is starting to form; it's formed already. The temperature's minus 14 and blowing snow. Madam Speaker, the couple's still living in a tent or a makeshift cabin since 2022. It's time where the -- they have a baby, and raising that baby and that with no bathroom, no proper facilities for cleanliness. They've raised this newborn in a community of the Arctic Ocean while they wait for the Minister of Housing to allocate a housing unit to them.

Madam Speaker, there's no private market housing in the community of Paulatuk, no options for housing for residents and the housing units are filled. The government survey showed 311 people in Paulatuk with 90 homes. Madam Speaker, we should be giving out all the extra -- like, the old webber units and giving them to the people of Paulatuk and then being able to put new units in through CMHC. Madam Speaker, how many people in Paulatuk are on the waiting list for homes? How many people are homeless? We need the Minister of Housing to work with our community leadership and the people on the ground to show solutions today. It's 2022. Our people are living in the High Arctic raising their children in tents, Madam Speaker. I'll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, within the mandate to increase employment in small communities, the GNWT states it will support small communities in developing skilled trades people. But, Madam Speaker, that is the best action this government can do to improve the lives of the residents in the small communities. Just for identifying and stating this objective, this government gets an A grade. Now let's do more in this area to get the A plus rating.

Madam Speaker, when I previously brought up a training program for all settlement maintainers in our small communities, I was met with opposition to the idea. Specifically, I suggested training in the area of maintaining heating equipment such as furnaces and boilers and other required training to do the jobs required of them, all with the intent on saving time and much needed dollars for the department in the long run. This will save Infrastructure thousands of dollars flying or driving someone into a small community from a large centre and most likely, as has been known, only to bleed a furnace.

Currently, Housing NWT is setting up a training program for their housing maintainers. They will do training in all aspects of maintaining a building, repairing components of the building, basic understanding of the heating systems, whether they be a furnace or a boiler system. That is exciting, and I am overjoyed for our Housing employees in the small communities. I really, really, really want to be excited for the Infrastructure department too. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Members', the last I remember I identify as she/her, so Madam Speaker, adjust your speaking notes accordingly. Members' statements.

Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, to begin today I would like to respond to the answers the Minister of Housing NWT gave me during the question period yesterday.

Overall, the Minister did not give me actual answers to my questions. She told me that her department is examining the constituent housing files I referenced in my statement yesterday. She said there are many complex issues within my constituents' situations and that Housing NWT needs to be fair in their treatment to all clients. The Minister said she needed more time to get the facts straight.

Well, Madam Speaker, it's easy for any of us here in this building to say we need more time to accrue the relevant information. However, some of the people whom we were put here to serve don't have the luxury of time. Plus, there are so many channels and barriers for ordinary people obtaining assistance with government programs and services here in the NWT.

Sometimes I feel, as an elected official in this House, there are a couple on the executive side who use every excuse in the book to say no. Madam Speaker, it is very frustrating to see a lack of compassion given towards the suffering of people. I strongly feel that everything that is done by this government should be based on need, not means tested. We are such a small population base. Everybody knows everybody, so we ought be helping our constituents however we can whenever we can.

On another note, Madam Speaker, to end this session week, I'd like to recognize and thank all the leadership and constituents of Thebacha for their continued support in my work as their MLA. I thank them for all their feedback, ideas, and trust they have given me as their MLA. I'd also like to thank all the chiefs who called, that do not belong to my riding, and approached me this week to say hi or hello. I also appreciate remaining connected to my old colleagues and friends as a Member of this House. I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement, please.

---Unanimous consent granted

In addition, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you and I would like to thank Speaker Blake for making this Chamber light-hearted and fun at times as we go along. That type of attitude is much needed in this building sometimes, since we work through some tough, heavy, and challenging issues. I'd also like to thank all of the staff of this Assembly for their help through this term. I would also like to thank any CA Pascal for all the help and support he gives to me. Lastly, Madam Speaker, I want to wish all my constituents, along with all the people of the NWT, a safe and Happy Halloween. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Merci, Madam la Presidente. One of the bills passed during the legislative avalanche ending the last Assembly was a completely new version of the so-called Environmental Rights Act, the first time this legislation had been reviewed in 29 years. The standing committee of the day worked very hard to improve the bill with 14 successful amendments.

One of the new features of this little-used legislation was supposed to be a statement of environmental values. The NWT is the second jurisdiction in Canada to develop such a statement. This means the GNWT is supposed to consider the principles and provisions set out in the statement when making decisions that may have a significant impact on the environment. Those principles include the precautionary principle, polluter pays, ecological sustainability, intergenerational equity, and Indigenous rights. The problem with the bill was that there was no way to define what might be meant by "significant impact on the environment" and no responsibility for implementation and reporting.

I tried to bring forward reasonable amendments both at committee and Committee of the Whole to address these problems, but they were defeated. Unfortunately, Cabinet did not address the same concerns again when they were brought forward during the review of the draft statement of environmental values that took place earlier this year, or in the apparent approval of a final statement of environmental values on June 7, 2022. Recently I asked officials with three departments - Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Finance, and Environment and Natural Resources, what is meant by "significant impact on the environment" and who has responsibility for implementation and reporting. And guess what? No one knows.

The way the statement has been crafted is totally discretionary, with deputy ministers responsible for its application in setting government priorities; of the development of policy and legislation; and of the development, design, and delivery of programs and services. There is absolutely nothing about use of the statement or principles in Cabinet decision-making, tracking, reporting, or evaluation. You can't even find a signed and dated version of the statement of environmental values on any GNWT website.

What a disappointment and a clear indication that this Cabinet is not prepared to change anything with regard to its "business as usual" approach to the environment. I'll have questions later today for the Premier who according to the Statement is, quote, "accountable to the Executive Council and the residents of the NWT for the implementation of the statement". Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, other the last few years, nurses have shared the impact of unsupported work environments and critical staffing shortages on their morale and incentive to continue working in the North. And when our healthcare workers suffer, our residents suffer. Residents experience decline in healthcare, long wait lists, and reduced program availability, which all have direct negative impacts on the health and well-being of residents. This is felt especially by those people who live in remote and small communities who already receive inequitable healthcare.

Madam Speaker, our existing loyal healthcare staff are honest about what they need for retention, and this includes the appropriate complement of staff to reduce overtime burnout, ensuring safe work environments, and prioritizing work/life balance by making job sharing and annual leave possible.

Achieving this relies on people. Last week I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services to trade nursing education for return of service. This recruitment tactic, in the wake of global financial strain, secures a minimum of eight years of residency from southern nursing students, increasing our number of nursing graduates, and has a 100 percent rate of return on government investment. I was very happy to hear that the department is extending nursing bursaries to Indigenous and northern students, but this does not go far enough. We have long-time residents interested in nursing careers who would not be considered northern students. I am asking the department to extend nursing bursaries to non-priority students for any remaining spots in the Aurora College nursing program.

We have 30 spots in the nursing program, and an established bursary program that already has a priority level on it. So why isn't the goal of the department to ensure that the program is fully subscribed every year?

Our current healthcare system is crumbling by design. We cannot be neutral and safe with our ideas to address this. Our system needs intentional, sustainable, long-term planning and funding. All of this starts with people. We need to prioritize public health. We need to listen to and respond to what healthcare staff are asking for. And we need to fully commit to training new healthcare staff by ensuring Aurora College programs are fully subscribed. The key to strengthening our northern healthcare system starts with listening to our existing healthcare professionals and incentivizing healthcare education. My suggestion, Madam Speaker, accomplishes both. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, The Supplementary Health Benefits Programs will create a publicly-funded supplemental health benefits program for low-income residents. This program replaces the current specified disease condition criteria, with a needs-based, income-tested model, where changes will be phased in over time while leaving senior benefits as is. The creation of a new program is to include essential dental services and treatment, medical supplies, equipment such as hearing aids and walkers, and prescription eyewear. Access to the program will be income-based and residents must apply annually.

Madam Speaker, the proposed low-income thresholds are too low, particularly for individuals living alone, which is already more expensive. A working individual making $40,000 annually, living alone, and paying $20,000 in rent, is not going to be able to cover big items. Residents are assessed against household income, according to their CRA income statements.

Given the housing shortage, many people are forced to live together in one place, often in multigenerational situations. This is not out of choice but out of need. If they all work and the overall household income is high, they will be on the hook for paying more of their medical needs. How do we avoid penalizing those who can't get, or pay, for housing, and are now not eligible for benefits due to the higher overall household income?

All household members must provide their Canada Revenue Agency income statement with the new proposed cost-sharing model deductibles. For low to moderate income, it would be a contribution of 30 percent of the cost. Why not 20 percent or even 25 percent? Again, the $53,000 for the individual, or base income, is too low. These are residents living paycheque to paycheque, already on the fiscal edge - the working poor.

I applaud the inclusion in the proposed supplementary health benefits to provide financial assistance to offset costs for essential dental services. Preventative, restorative treatments to maintain good oral health will be covered. That includes exams, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride treatment, extractions, treating infection, pain or gum disease, and dentures. This is a positive step forward and we need to ensure that we are being realistic on who we allow to qualify for them. It's time that we stop crippling residents with an unrealistic cost of living and show them that their health is important to us. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment informed this House last session that work to change the name of Great Slave Lake was well underway as well as I'm expecting that same Minister to hopefully table some changes to the Official Languages Act which will stop using the term "North and South Slavey", but I do think probably the easiest change we could make to stop using what history have gone over, and many agree is a colonial name, would be to change the name of the North and South Slave region. This actually could be done overnight; it does not require legislative changes. These are just administrative names we use for our regions. I think also in doing that, there would be some justification for creating a new region for the Tlicho region. I think often their concerns get kind of lost in the capital and the North Slave, and perhaps it would justify some new superintendent positions being placed in their communities. I'll have questions for the Premier about whether we can make this change and finally stop using the term "slave." Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Florence "Gomo" Hardistry was born on August 25th, 1943, to George and Lucy McPherson in Fort Simpson. Florence was one of 14 children they had. She grew up with her parents and family until she attended school. Florence attended the federal day school in Fort Simpson, then she went to Grollier Hall in Inuvik, and then carried on to Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife. After she left school, she returned home.

Florence met her love of her life, Ernest, in Fort Simpson where they started their own family. They were married on December 31st, 1966 - six days after their son Noel was both. They had nine children. In the 1970s, they moved to Jean Marie River and this is where they raised all the children.

Florence was a homemaker most of her life, where she provided so much love to her husband, children, and their home. They managed Sambaa Deh Falls campground for multiple years. This is where they made friends with many people as the world. As well, she did work at Louie Norwegian School as a janitor for seven years.

Florence was known as Gomo in Jean Marie River. Yvonne and Douglas's children started calling her "Gomo", meaning mom, and the nickname stuck with her. All the children in Jean Marie loved being around her. She loved all the children as if they were her own. Her heart was pure gold and this was shown by presence she showed when she was around others.

Madam Speaker, Florence would often pick berries, spruce gum, and wood with her late mother-in-law Sarah and Yvonne. Sarah would always teach them about traditional ways and practices. Florence used to sew doilies and took great pride in them.

Florence developed dementia in late 2012. In 2013, she started requiring more care than her husband could provide for her in their home. For the past nine years, she was cared for in the Fort Simpson elders home care. The family is forever grateful for the staff, their care, and love provided to their wife, mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, and friend. Florence always told her family, friends, and those around her that she loved them. She continued to do this up to the day where it became hard for her to talk. The family asks that you continue this with your loved ones as well. The family would like to thank everyone for their kind words, support and comfort during this difficult time. Madam Speaker, she will be sadly missed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to be joined today by a page from Yellowknife Centre, Sophie Shen. I'd like to welcome her to the House. Thank you

Welcome. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd like to recognize Mary Jane Cazon, one of our translators here. She does an amazing job, and I thank her for continuing this. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm really pleased to have a page from Range Lake here today, Ms. Bethany Fenwick. I'm so glad to have them in the House. We couldn't do our work without you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to recognize Ms. Kya Wickens, a Yellowknife North page. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, apparently, I jumped the gun when I recognized my page the other day; she wasn't here. So I would like to recognize Carys Lyall who is a page from Great Slave riding. And as I said, I really enjoy having the pages here and thank them all. Thank you.

Thank you recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just want to recognize the North Slavey interpreters. With me here today is Theresa Etchinelle and Sarah Cleary. Thank you so much for your work in translating our work so the residents of the Sahtu can hear what's going on in the proceedings in the House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Monfwi.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Jonas Lafferty of Behchoko and Mary Sundberg of Dettah for doing an awesome job as our translator. Thank you.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we did a tour two years ago, and with the Minister's committed in a public meeting that we'd be working with a family to get them into a House. And to this date, I guess we could blame COVID, I guess, in not getting it done.

Madam Speaker, will the Minister commit today in putting a couple in Paulatuk who are living in a tent with a baby in a home before Halloween? I guess it said Christmas, but I want it ASAP. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Minister for NWT Housing.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the Member for his question. And I really sympathize with the Member as well too and also with the LHO and our function in smaller communities as well. Right now I don't know what units we do have available in the community of Paulatuk, I'm sure that the Member was referencing. And it is a priority of this portfolio to be housing people that are most in need, and I will follow up with the Member. But unfortunately right now I don't have the amount of units that are available in Paulatuk. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I spoke to the mayor this morning. There's one unit available in Paulatuk and is ready to be moved in. So I'm just wondering if it's -- like, and this couple's first on the waiting list I'm told. So I'm wondering if the Minister could approach -- see if the LHO in the community is available to put them into the unit ASAP or as soon as possible, because it's really in need. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will follow up with the Member. I'm not familiar with the unit that is available and the condition that the unit may be in and why the unit may be vacant. But just to acknowledge the Member, as well too for the community of Paulatuk, they will be receiving four units in 2023-2024. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with the current situation we have in Paulatuk for lack of housing, would the Minister be willing to work with the community in regards to -- with our community leadership which is coming down next week to meet with them to hear their concerns and what's happening with the local housing authority in the community. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will follow up with the community leadership as well. And I just also wanted to acknowledge that Paulatuk was one of our first communities to complete our community housing plans, and Housing did work very closely with the community and also funded that program as well too. But, yes, I would like to follow up with the leadership as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister commit on doing a community tour of Nunakput with me to hear the concerns of the people in Nunakput on shortage of housing and the situations that we're all dealing with on different problems with different communities? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And just looking at our schedules that we do have in the next few months that I would like to follow up with the Member to look at the availability as well too. But not only that, I would like to connect with the Indigenous governments in the Member's riding as well too to get a further update on how, and what progress has been made in regards to putting housing on the ground and give them a further update on the partnership that we've been successfully working towards. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm very passionate about training people in the small communities regarding the heating systems as we don't have trades people within the communities, and most times they're quite a distance away. My Member's statement alluded to training for all small communities' settlement maintainers, especially in the area of maintaining and performing basic servicing on furnaces and boilers. These will still be performed under the direction of a journeyman heating technician or operating engineer who could be stationed in the larger centre.

Can the Minister commit to ensuring our small community settlement maintainers get the required training to perform basic servicing functions to heating systems? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member. Is this for Housing NWT? Or who -- is it Minister of Infrastructure?

Yes.

Okay. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure currently has 13 settlement maintainer positions. And I'd just like the Member to know that of the 13, 100 percent are Indigenous. So that's very, very good news for the positions.

These employees are critical to functioning our assets in remote communities. The settlement maintainers, they do have a preventative maintenance, and they complete daily checks on our schools, our health centres, and our office buildings. They also respond to concerns and problems with heating systems, air handling units, washrooms, windows, and more. So, Madam Speaker, they do have the training to be able to do these positions. Thank you.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for describing their functions. What is happening is that they don't have any training program for settlement maintainers as the housing maintainers had a program before. They did the carpentry, the plumbing, and all the basic electrical, plus you sat in front of a furnace and boiler system for about six weeks until you really understood and could wire the systems, because that's what I'm after, is that type of training. These are much needed in our small communities to add value to the positions. And like I said, we don't have any ticketed heating specialists in our communities. So once they people are in that training program and understand the heating system, we got Aurora College, which is empty all the time, for this kind of a program. We need to better utilize that, because we're doing it for the housing maintainers and that's why I'm pushing for the settlement maintainers to get much needed training. I don't know why the Infrastructure department does not understand that. I wonder if the Minister can comment on that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we understand that. You know, all of our settlement maintainers have a journey person certificate in one of the building or mechanical trades and certification as a small system operator. You know, these are required to have training and knowledge in the National Building Code, plumbing, electrical, and fire code. So they do have the training. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, I think I've only asked two questions. Madam Speaker, I hear what the Minister is saying, I just don't understand why she's saying they have the required training. And I know that they don't have the required training to be able to perform basic servicing functions that they would have got from training in the Aurora College oil heat technician seminars that they have every spring. They have them for third year plumbers, plus they're open to housing maintainers, and they should be open to settlement maintainers to attend this training so they better understand what they're dealing with, because right now they don't. I'm wondering if the Minister can commit to providing that training this coming spring? Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, employees are able to request additional training from their supervisor at any time, and we encourage supervisors to support that when the operational requirements allow. Madam Speaker, we also support settlement maintainers that want to further their education, including programs that are offered through the Aurora College. We also offer mentorship with our journey person staff in the regional centres. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I hear the Minister, but I think the answers are coming from her staff or from within the department, because, you know, I'd really implore this Minister to seriously commit to providing the training that I've been requesting to all settlement maintainers up and down the valley, and many are in isolated communities where we don't have the specialists, and those are the people that are much needed in our communities that can help others too. And I really implore that she provides that training starting in the spring coming up, to settlement maintainers, to the heating systems training that's on for six weeks every spring at the Aurora College, to utilize the building, utilize the services. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure supports the development of all its employees. Employees are supported through many GNWT programs, including the Indigenous Management Development and Training Program. We also support them in any training that they request.

At this time, we do not have plans for a settlement maintainer program within the Department of Infrastructure but I will have my staff reach out to the Department of Housing NWT to be able to learn more about this program the Member's speaking about and see what opportunity may exist. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Can the Minister explain how the thresholds in the proposed supplementary health benefits were arrived at and what data was used to inform them? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister for Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I appreciate the question. The data was arrived at using income figures supplied by the NWT Bureau of Statistics. The target group for this initiative is people who don't have any insurance of any kind, so the examples were geared towards a lower income threshold. However, there is now a tool on the site which people can enter their income into, and they will find out what level of co-pay they will be required, if any. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear about the tool. I think that's really useful, and people can answer their own questions before they come to us to ask. I guess my question would be that data provided by the NWT Bureau of Statistics, how old is that data? I'm curious because we've really seen over the last year or two, post-pandemic, an escalating rise in the cost of living. So I'm wondering if the last two years, that change, has been factored into these thresholds. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't have that information with me.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm hoping that the Minister will provide me with that information, and I'll take that as a commitment.

Can the Minister explain how the situation of multigenerational living arrangements are going to be taken into account? Often, you know, we've seen in the past where a grandmother is helping out children, and they come to live with her, and then she is penalized for having that additional income in the House even though there is no overall rise to the amount of money she has herself; can the Minister speak to that. Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the intention is to look at individual income at this point. But what I want to stress is that this is not a program at this point. It's a discussion. We have provided four months worth of public consultation, and that now extends until November the 23rd. There are many ways to participate, including a town hall that will take place in mid November with more information to come. So if people feel that there should be a different way of calculating income, that it should be household income or some other form, then certainly that input is welcome. Thank you.

Thank you final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear that there is still time to input on this. I guess at times, though, in this era of over-consultation and survey burnout, it is tough sometimes for the public to realize that they still can input on things and other times when things are inputted on, the government just does what they want anyway. So not a question, just more of a comment. Thank you.

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

This is to Minister of Health and Social Services. According to the Office of the Auditor General Report, the Department of Health and Social Services does not do enough to provide residents with accessible, coordinated, and culturally safe addiction services. It is not clear from the department's work plan how it intends to address this situation in a meaningful way. Will the Minister commit to working with Indigenous governments to develop a process of consultation and engagement with communities and Indigenous governments outside its Indigenous advisory board? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have not yet heard back from the Standing Committee on the Office of the Auditor General's Report on addictions and aftercare treatment. So that report has not yet been tabled. But I will say, of course, we have accepted all the recommendations. The committee is considering a work plan attached to that. It does not, to the best of my knowledge, anticipate that we are going to disband the Indigenous Advisory Council, which now works with NTHSSA or that we would replace them with Indigenous governments. If I understand the question correctly, we are not planning restructuring; we're planning program responses. Thank you.

What funding and process mechanisms will be put in place to ensure community and client guidance translates into improvement on cultural safety? Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the cultural safety division of the department, which is called community, culture and innovation has a mandate to help with all programs and services to ensure that they are culturally safe and antiracist. So that would be in place in any initiatives that are put in place. At this point, the asks are, I'm going to say, primarily process-oriented with a view to collecting better data so that we know and we have a better idea of what the outcomes are, and we're certainly committed to doing that work. We want to be able to show that what we're doing is working. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. How will addiction recovery aftercare supports and services being developed by the Department of Health and Social Services engage with a leverage community-based resources such as elders or youth? Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have not directly consulted elders on any of these initiatives. As I say, they're not really new program initiatives. They're important things, but not necessarily the kind of things we would consult on, like disaggregating data. So we have regular meetings with the Indigenous governments through bilateral conversations and also through the NWT Council of Leaders. There are elders sometimes there. Certainly the Indigenous governments come with questions for health and questions about addictions, and we do our best to work with them and meet them where they're at, knowing that community-based solutions are usually the best solutions. Thank you.

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

Will the Minister of Health and Social Services provide an update to explain her rationale for choosing not to restore contract relations with Poundmaker's Lodge despite the clear and immediate need for the facility-based addiction treatment services they provide NWT residents? Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm not planning to provide any more information than I have already provided about the contract with Poundmaker's Lodge. It ends at the end of this month.

We have five other treatment options that residents can go to. There are three in Alberta, one in BC, and one in Ontario, as well as they can stay home and use the community counselling service, the community on-the- land programs, and so on. So while we are not going to continue with Poundmaker's, we do have those other options. And recognizing that we don't have a specific Indigenous option equivalent to Poundmaker's, we will be advertising for a service provider with a specialty in Indigenous healing, and that RFP is set to go out by the end of the year. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. My questions are for the Premier. According to the statement of environmental values, the Premier is, quote, "accountable to the Executive Council and residents of the NWT for implementation of the statement of environmental values," end of quote.

So recently I'd asked officials from three departments - Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Finance, and Environment and Natural Resources - who was responsible for implementation of the statement. And guess what, Madam Speaker, nobody seems to know.

So can the Premier clarify who is really in charge of implementation of the statement of environmental values, and how it is going to be accomplished? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the statement of environmental values states within it that it's the responsibility of each Minister, and therefore I defer that to deputy ministers as well, to take reasonable measures to ensure that departments adhere to the statement and provisions of the statement of environmental values when making decisions that significantly affect the environment. In addition, the deputy minister of ENR is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the statements and best practices to see if possible amendments are needed from time to time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Premier for reading off parts of the statement. But, you know, in my statement earlier today I said that there does not appear to be a signed and dated copy of the final version of the statement of environmental values anywhere on the GNWT website. So can the Premier confirm that there is no publicly-accessible final and signed version of the statement of environmental values, and can she commit to fix this problem? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Again, online things are not my strength but I have been assured by the department that the final statement of the environmental values is posted online. Signed versions are not posted on the policy section of the website as a GNWT practice; however, the signed version is posted on the Legislative Assembly website as the document was tabled. I'm going to do my check on that this weekend, and I'm sure the Member will let me know if it's not there. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Premier for that, and I can confirm there is a signed version on the ledge website but nowhere else on any GNWT website. And, of course, our website is not the GNWT website.

There is a requirement in the Environmental Rights Act for an annual report to be tabled in the House, although we've slipped on that in the past. I tried to include a requirement for some type of reporting and implementation of the statement of environmental values to the bill, but Cabinet opposed that. So can the Premier tell us whether there's going to be any sort of internal tracking of implementation of the statement and whether that will be shared with the public? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the statement does set out the specific responsibilities for the deputy minister. ENR must coordinate the administration and implementation of the statement, monitor advancements and best practices, and periodically review with involvement of many departments and agencies. The statements of the environmental values is only one of a suite of tools that the government uses to protect the environment. This is a new policy, Madam Speaker, and as previously mentioned to the Member, we'll continue to work on its implementation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Premier for confirming that there is no internal tracking and that there's no public reporting. There's absolutely nothing in the statement about how it is to be applied to Cabinet decision-making, tracking, reporting, or evaluation. That's a disappointment, Madam Speaker, that Cabinet doesn't take this statement of environmental values very seriously, in my view. But Cabinet now includes some sort of gender-based analysis on climate change implications in its decision-making. So can the Premier commit to include a section and analysis on the application of the statement of environmental values in this government's Financial Management Board decision template? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm not the Minister of finance or the chair of the Financial Management Board, but I can say Cabinet does have, when we look at things like legislative proposals, there is a section that addresses climate change, genders, as stated. What I can commit to is under the climate change for Cabinet that we will add the statement of environmental values so that's considered as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions are for the Premier. I guess simply I'm wondering if there are any plans or intention to change the name of the administrative regions North or South Slave. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We haven't thought about changing the names. It's something that I have been hearing about lately in the House however. But it is possible to change names. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm going to try this a different way. I know it's possible, that's why I'm asking. Will the Premier change the names? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thought I could get it over on the MLA, but I think he's quicker than I thought. What I can say, Madam Speaker, is that, in all seriousness we are currently -- ECE's currently doing a review of the geological place names for the Great Slave Lake. I've talked to the Minister and perhaps we can work together and actually see if there's interest during that work. And if there is interest, then we can pursue it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Yeah, thank you, Madam Speaker. I just would have wanted -- if the proposal to change Great Slave Lake goes through, I think it would be only appropriate that we then change the regions. It would be a little embarrassing I think for the GNWT to just be holding on to that. But I've often heard that, you know, the North Slave Region, which to me operates much more like a capitol region, doesn't really give the outlying communities the attention it deserves. Certainly when you look at the staffing contingent, that is clear that it's very much centralized in Yellowknife. I've often heard it repeated by my colleague from Monfwi that the Tlicho region justifies being separated out from North Slave with some superintendents placed there to give it the attention it deserves. I also think this just makes sense for, you know, an eventual building of self-government point of view. So I'm wondering in doing this work perhaps there is room to create a sixth administrative region in the Tlicho. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think that during the process of the consultation that should be looked at as well. I think, Madam Speaker, though, in honesty, it's a bigger discussion that we have to have at Cabinet table. I do realize that different departments have different zones. Some have five regions, some have seven regions, and I think there might even be nine regions in some. So I think it is a discussion that we have to have. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

My question is to Minister of Health and Social Services. What funding has been allocated to each of the commitments and activities in the work plans? Thank you

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the work plan hasn't yet been approved so I don't have a budget for it. Thank you.

The Minister talked about, okay, they're not renewing the contract with Poundmaker's, and there's five other options. Why only five? Shouldn't there be more if we're trying to help and work with the people? Because it is the people's choice of where they want to go, and Poundmaker's was the only one that we can think of that served the Indigenous communities. Now people don't have a choice. So I'm just wondering is the Minister consulting and working with the Indigenous government, the Indigenous people? She said there were some people at the meeting that she attended, but that's not good enough. Like, is she working because the OAG report states that. It says all over in the OAG report that to work with the Indigenous governments, consult with the Indigenous governments. And I'm just wondering, I don't think that is happening but I just want to ask that. Like, is she working with the Indigenous governments on this selecting? Like, who are part of the decision-making. Is it just the Department of Health and Social Services making the decisions? Are they working with the Indigenous government? Thank you

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, one of the things that we committed to in the response to the OAG recommendations is to engage with Indigenous governments to identify barriers to people attending addiction services and take a look at our standards and policies for contracts to make sure that they are culturally safe. So this is work that we plan to do in response to the OAG.

But in the interim, I had a meeting with the NWT Council of Leaders, which included leadership from the Member's region, to talk about addictions and aftercare. That happened at the end of September, and another meeting is planned for the end of November. And so I certainly am looking forward to continuing the conversation about how to strengthen our system. If the Member has particular people she would like me to meet or talk to, I would welcome the opportunity if she would invite me to her community. Thank you.

Yes, can the Minister provide a list to us of how many people attended southern treatment program for drugs and alcohol since 2019; can she provide the list to us? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can provide that information.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Well, I still have one more question for another Minister. But can the Minister -- can she come with me on a constituent tour in Tlicho region? Can she come with me so she can meet and talk to the Indigenous government, to the people, to the elders, to the youth, on the addiction and treatment program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a meeting arranged for the end of November with the Tlicho government and the chief of Behchoko, to which the Member has been invited, to talk about addictions and aftercare. So I'm looking forward to having that conversation. In terms of a constituency tour, I will repeat again that if she invites me and organizes the constituency tour, I am happy to come. Thank you.