Welcome Members. Minsters' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Madam Speaker, over the last decade, the Department of Health and Social Services has been working on improving cultural safety for the Indigenous communities and peoples of the Northwest Territories. This critical work underpins everything the health and social services system does to redress the legacy of colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism that has so deeply affected Indigenous communities.

This fall, a distinct cultural safety and anti-racism division was established to create a system-wide environment where Indigenous peoples feel safe, respected, and free of racism and discrimination when accessing health and social services.

To reach this goal, all staff need a foundational understanding of the ways in which anti- Indigenous racism is experienced within health and social services. We know that racism creates barriers that prevent Indigenous peoples from seeking necessary healthcare. Racism is contributing to outcomes such as a shorter life expectancy and higher rates of suicide, mental health and addiction issues, as well as chronic diseases. We know that training all service providers about cultural safety and anti-racism is imperative.

Madam Speaker, the department launched mandatory training for all health and social services system staff and since June 2021, 240 staff have participated in the training sessions. The training takes place in-person over two days and is delivered by Indigenous guest speakers and a staff team that is primarily Indigenous.

Another significant initiative to improve client and community experience is the introduction of Indigenous patient advocates. Four senior Indigenous patient advocates have been hired and are completing orientation and training in preparation for the launch of the program later this year. The Indigenous patient advocates will work in NWT acute care facilities in Inuvik, Fort Smith, Hay River, and Yellowknife. Madam Speaker, they will support Indigenous clients to address their concerns, complaints, and questions, while bridging culture and language barriers.

Part of improving the relationship-based health and social services system in which cultural safety is included and valued is the design of a new social innovation project called the Baby Bundle. The Baby Bundle is available to all parents with children up to six months. The bundle contains clothing, toiletries, and a tote bag that turns into a backpack. The program has been in development for several years and tried out with parents in four regions to ensure it contains the right items. The bundle is combined with prenatal care and well-child visits. These visits are critical to improving health outcomes and positive early childhood development indicators for all children. This initiative also offers an opportunity for healthcare providers to build relationships with families, to engage in discussion and decision-making, and to share culture-centered approaches to welcoming a new child to the world. The program was launched the week before, and 600 Baby Bundles will be available across the NWT this year.

Madam Speaker, we are working to bring the NWT to the forefront of change and innovation in the way the health and social services system responds to the needs and priorities of Indigenous clients and helps them feel confident about cultural safety and comfort that results in improvements in health outcomes for future generations. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Minister for Infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, making strategic infrastructure investments is a priority of 19th Legislative Assembly. Given our vast territory, airports are indeed strategic infrastructure to the North. Residents across the territory depend on air travel for the movement of goods and people, medevacs, search and rescue operations, forest fire response, and much more. Our airports also contribute to the economic and social well-being of Northwest Territories residents. The GNWT is making major improvements to Inuvik's Mike Zubko Airport, a key part of the territory's multi-model transportation system. The improvements at this airport, I will speak about today, are the runway extension and civil infrastructure projects.

Madam Speaker, the civil infrastructure improvements will make the airport more resilient to the effects of climate change and help protect the permafrost below the airport. Plans to extend the runway by 3,000 feet, as well as upgrades to the lighting, navigational and military aircraft landing systems, it will support the Department of National Defence in meeting its obligations under the North American Aerospace Defence Command Treaty. Collaboration and partnership is an important part of how we do business in the North.

Madam Speaker. The GNWT is committed to maximizing employment and training opportunities for residents and businesses in the Beaufort Delta region. We have partnered on this project with Delta North Alliance Construction Incorporated, which is an Indigenous-owned and operated joint venture comprised of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, and EGT Northwind Limited.

In order to maximize local involvement, several work packages associated with the construction of the Inuvik Airport runway extension and civil infrastructure projects were created. In September 2021, a first work package for clearing and grubbing was awarded for $1.7 million. This work began in January 2022 and is now substantially complete.

More recently, the GNWT and the Government of Canada reached an agreement with the joint venture to advance additional work packages. A $41.2 million contract for drainage, earthworks, and quarry material production, was awarded in July 2022. The joint venture started this construction work last month.

Madam Speaker, this is an important project, both for Inuvik and the Northwest Territories. Like many capital projects in the Northwest Territories and across the country, it has been impacted by inflation and market escalations due to supply chain issues that have increased project costs beyond the original budget.

Current projections for the project have identified a shortfall of approximately $90 million and discussions with the GNWT and Canada continue to address this funding gap.

The GNWT will be responsible for a portion of the increased costs for the civil improvements.

We are working through these challenges with our partners, and the July agreement reached between the joint venture, the GNWT and Canada, is an example of how this collaborative approach allows us to advance this project.

The GNWT remains committed to doing all it can to see that this project is a success and benefits not just the people of Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta but the entire Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as we see the population of seniors and homelessness increase in Hay River and throughout the NWT, it is important we prepare our healthcare system to ensure trained personnel are in place to provide the health supports required.

Madam Speaker, we talk about keeping seniors in their homes and, as I stated previously, although an admirable expectation it is not realistic. This government expects to keep seniors in their homes, which may well work for those who have the financial resources, are healthy, mobile, and have family support. For those not in that position, there is a reliance on our understaffed health and home care services.

Unfortunately, home care does not provide 24/7 wraparound services thus placing that responsibility squarely on the shoulders of family. Madam Speaker, with increasing pressures on families just to keep up with the cost of living, it now requires two wage earners in the family to place food on the table while covering the necessities of life.

I have talked to seniors who do not want to place the additional responsibility of health and home care on their children who are already overburdened with the responsibilities that come with employment and raising a family.

Madam Speaker, we as government need to work towards identifying those gaps that currently exist within the system and fill them. We need to engage families, with their support identify solutions that will provide their loved ones with a quality of life each has earned. We must not forget that we are in a housing crisis and that there are persons who find themselves homeless and are falling through the cracks and, because of it, are not receiving proper care. To help them, we need to be out of our offices and on the street reaching out.

Madam Speaker, I recognize a pressing need in the community of Hay River for medical social workers, to take on the responsibility of supporting those who are vulnerable and require wraparound health, mental health, and a multiple of social care services. This work, as the Minister of health previously stated, is done off the corner of the desk of employees with other responsibilities and that is not acceptable. Our approach needs to change. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on October 3rd, the chief coroner released the 2021-2022 Early Release of Suicide Data Report to raise the alarm on the escalating rate of suicide in the territory. There had already been more suicides by September of this year than in any year total in the previous two decades.

Madam Speaker, Indigenous youth that identify as male were among the majority of those who turned to suicide due to the stress of their daily life. What does this say about the state of our territory and the kinds of resources, supports, and opportunities the government is providing for Indigenous young men to succeed and live healthy lives?

Madam Speaker, I have had the privilege of working with an Indigenous youth in my constituency. With his permission, I want to share a little of his story to acknowledge the difficulties he experiences and to honour the incredible strength and resilience he has shown to overcome these challenges.

Madam Speaker, this youth is intelligent, a determined student and a star athlete. He has the potential to be anything he wants in life yet he continuously faces barriers to his health, well-being, and dreams because he, as a youth, has lacked a stable home environment and financial resources. This is not his fault, Madam Speaker, but he is being punished for it.

When he reaches out for help, this youth faces a myriad of barriers that would be overwhelming for an adult to navigate let alone someone as young as 15. For example, what is for many a simple act of registering for an athletic tournament, for him is a series of "nos" to his funding requests because he is not eligible or does not qualify for financial support. Despite these disappointments, he always moves forward and finds ways to support his own aspirations, including through working hard at his part-time job while maintaining his studies.

Madam Speaker, it is important to understand the life experiences of this youth and those of so many other Indigenous male youths. Understanding these life experiences would allow the government to design programs and create resources that could provide critical supports to young Indigenous males throughout their lives. The time to support Indigenous male youth, and all youth, is now.

Madam Speaker, every statistic provided by the chief coroner is a person who was loved by their family and their community. So today I share, out of respect and care for them, and all youth in our territory. The youth are our future leaders and they deserve all the support we can give them to realize their dreams and potential. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Madam Speaker, it has been said in this House many times, and I stand up again, to stress that cell service is greatly needed on Highway No. 3 between Boundary Creek and Behchoko.

Madam Speaker, on Highway No. 3 there is very little shoulder on the side of the road to pull over if you need. This has been the cause of many fatal accidents. There is no room on the road to stop safely, and you are at major risk of being hit by oncoming traffic if you have to get out of your vehicle. Just this past weekend on Saturday, October 29th, we witnessed another accident - a small car collided with a truck carrying wood. It was dark; it was in an area without cell service. Luckily, Madam Speaker, this collision was not fatal. However, with wood spilled all over the entire highway, it was a major traffic hazard.

Madam Speaker, there was no ambulance, no RCMP on the scene, because there was no cell service to call for help. A young man was in shock. He was in pain and caught a ride back to Behchoko to the healthcare centre in Behchoko. It's shocking to hear, Madam Speaker, when the RCMP met the young man at the health centre, he was accused of leaving the scene.

To avoid all the unnecessary accidents which have taken so many lives and injured many others, leadership in the Tlicho region have been advocating to the Government of the Northwest Territories for years to establish cell service along Highway No. 3 and to make safety along this road a priority.

The Minister of Finance recognized previously in this House that the lack of cell coverage is a safety risk but, Madam Speaker, I am not seeing a capital budget that delivers more cell towers along Highway No. 3. Just this past summer in the news, an ultrafast electric vehicle charger will be available in Behchoko by 2024 at a cost of $624,000. I am aware this is a federal government project.

Madam Speaker, we asked for cell service and outhouses; we got an electric vehicle charger for hybrid cars. Madam Speaker, it is very ironic that people in Behchoko do not drive electric cars. Madam Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Madam Speaker, it is very ironic that people in Behchoko do not drive electric cars. People have enough struggle to find a house to live in. Not only that, with the high cost of living and low average income in the NWT people cannot afford it. Our region has been advocating for improvements in road safety and outhouses along our roadways, Highway No. 3 and Tlicho Highway, which the Government of the Northwest Territories has not been able to advance but they can build an electric vehicle charger station. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later today. Thank you.

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

Merci, Madame la Presidente. On October 21st, I volunteered for an interview with staff from Ernst & Young and the Department of Lands concerning a contract to consider whether GNWT should accept surety bonds as a form of financial security for environmental disturbances caused by industrial and commercial operations. I have raised concerns in this House in the past about this form of financial security and whether it is truly unconditional, irrevocable, and immediate.

Members may recall that for the first time in 2014, the GNWT accepted surety bonds backed by insurance companies for the Ekati Mine rather than irrevocable letters of credit from Canadian chartered banks, or cash. In the past, the federal government accepted some dubious forms of financial security, including promissory notes that were not guaranteed in any way, mining properties, and a hydro dam. Our government failed after devolution to ensure the public was protected from reclamation liabilities at Cantung, Cameron Hills and Prairie Creek. I have said it before, it's time that the Auditor General is called to help prevent further public liabilities.

This takes me back to surety bonds. It's not clear to me why the Department of Lands is focused on surety bonds for the convenience of the mining industry when so much other work is required to prevent further public liabilities. This work should include:

• Public reporting on the amount, form and expiry dates for financial security held by GNWT;
• Publicized reasons for decision when a Minister accepts anything other than cash for financial security;
• Making financial security mandatory, along with regularly-updated closure and reclamation plans and up-to-date financial security calculation tools;
• Prevention of perpetual care situations and industry-funded mechanisms to manage such sites;
• Restrictions on ministerial discretion to accept dodgey forms of financial security; and
• Development of legislation, policy, and capacity within GNWT to prevent further public liabilities.

I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later today on why our government is poised to accept surety bonds as an acceptable form of financial security. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I'm going to speak about two major Indigenous government agreements residing within the Thebacha constituency.

First, Madam Speaker, the NWT Metis Nation has been negotiating with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada, for at least 26 years, in an effort to eventually reach a final self-government agreement. I have spoken several times about this claim throughout this term, and there seems to have been little done in advancing, let alone finalizing this claim. I know the leadership of the NWT Metis Nation is keen on advancing this agreement as much as possible within the life of this Assembly. There is a concern among NWT Metis leadership about the lack of progress on these negotiations.

In addition, Madam Speaker, 2022 marks 20 years since Salt River First Nation's Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement was signed. Since that time, the agreement in its entirety has not been fully implemented by the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. There are still sections of that agreement which remains outstanding and have not been settled in trilateral negotiations with the territorial and federal governments. Salt River wants to receive the same treatment as any other reserve in southern Canada. Negotiations on the details on funding for core infrastructure and the development of the Salt River Reserve is a primary goal for Salt River, and they remain hopeful to advance that before the end of the 19th Assembly. I will continue to push for the advancement of both the NWT Metis claim, along with the full implementation of the Salt River Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement.

Ultimately, Madam Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a tall order that it needs to fulfill because there are at least 15 self-government agreements or treaty land entitlement agreements that are concurrently working on. It appears that the resources of Executive and Indigenous Affairs may be spread too thin since they have several fronts they are negotiating on. I do have some suggestions that EIA ought to consider to help in this area.

For example, instead of working on all 15 claims at once, they should identify the claims closest to finalization, and focus on whatever the two or three those may be, and work to advance and finalize those within the life of one Assembly. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In closing, Madam Speaker, I think Executive and Indigenous Affairs needs to manage its workload and expectations a little better so they can have a better track record on settling the many outstanding land claims and self-government agreements that exist within the Northwest Territories. I think Indigenous governments would be open to this so they can see more overall progress from the Government of the Northwest Territories to show for itself. I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would just like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween, including all the children going out trick or treating tonight, and ask everyone stay safe. And Madam Speaker, you know, no one's going to poison your Canadian or put any razor blades in it - that's all nonsense - but you know what people should watch out for? That's cars, Madam Speaker, because today is the most deadly day for pedestrians and children are three times more likely to get hit by a car today than any other day. So I just remind all drivers to slow down - the roads are slippery, watch out for children, do your best to avoid driving if there's a bunch of trick or treaters out there if you can.

And now speaking of driving, Madam Speaker, I am going to have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure on whether we could open that DMV for a few extra hours sometime. Thank you.

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

Madam Speaker, we live in a time where we have outpaced our demand for mental health professionals. I get calls from constituents unable to put their names on waitlists for youth psychologists and concerned by the demand on in-school ones. But if our youth aren't speaking with professionals, then who are they speaking with?

Suicide is a common conversation among our youth. In the NWT, roughly 160 to 180 people use hospital services every year following suicide attempts. Some of these people are youth and some were brought in to emergency by their peers. In North America, 19 out of 20 suicide attempts will fail, but people who try and fail are 37 times more likely to succeed the second time. Each failed attempt is the gift of a second chance. We need to be ready and resourced for second chances. And if our youth are providing peer support, then we need to prepare them for supporting roles and, devastatingly at times, survivor roles.

A few weeks ago, I travelled to Iceland and had the privilege of listening to inspired young adults speak passionately about mental health and youth agency. But I wasn't listening to youth from Iceland. I was listening to Dene, Inuit, Gwich'in, and Metis youth from the Northwest Territories. Our youth are powerful, insightful, and inspired. So we don't need to look to other parts of the world for answers; we need to look down the street and pass the microphone to the voices we are losing.

Hope grows when we have conversations about our paths to a new day. For things to get better, we need to see the role we play in our own tomorrow and that comes with agency. To have agency means to have power in our own future.

I commend the community of Tuktoyaktuk who started the conversation about what next by passing the microphone to their youth and asking them what they needed; what they wanted. But what is this government's next step to pass the power to NWT youth, to empower them to share ideas and access funding themselves? To our youth, living another day takes courage and hanging on to an ounce of hope takes strength. It will get better and you are worth life. I will have questions about how this government is empowering youth to have agency over their mental health. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I want to talk about suicide prevention across our territory. I am bringing to the House to recognize and honour all the youth that we lost to suicide throughout the year. Madam Speaker, when we lose a youth, the whole community grieves and the whole region grieves together.

Madam Speaker, our youth face difficulties in life. We need to do more for the youth, for our communities to come together to heal and be healthy. Engaging with youth, our leaders ask them directly what do you want to see in a community? They told us exactly what they wanted. In trying our best to provide that and those opportunities for them, we hosted basketball tournaments, hockey tournaments, ping-pong tournaments, painting classes, and crafts and activities in our communities.

Madam Speaker, sports tournaments across the Delta should be started up again in our school system. Recreation should be available for all youth so we could have things to look forward to, positive outlets in life, gives us a chance to see our friends and strengthen the bonds in our community. Madam Speaker, there's a lot we can do for our youth but we have to do it. We can't just talk about it anymore. It could save a life, not just in my communities that I represent but across our territory.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to bring this topic to the NWTAC, Association of Communities, to work together with our government to make a path forward for our youth and our communities to make it healthier. Madam Speaker, working together for a better future of the Northwest Territories we have to come together to get that done and stop suicide. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on July 26 I received an email from the president and CEO of ParticipACTION informing me that the community of Fort Simpson was crowned the NWT's most active community. In this email, they were proud to announce that the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge concluded with Fort Simpson being crowned Northwest Territories' most active community - taking home a prize of $15,000 to go toward local physical activities and sport initiative. The Community Better Challenge is a national physical activity initiative that encourages everyone in Canada to get active together throughout the month of June.

This year was the third edition of the challenge which saw more than 600,000 participants track over 500 million minutes throughout June. Madam Speaker, with the pandemic leading to further decline in national physical activity levels, the challenge provided a unique opportunity to help the country enjoy the benefits that of physical activity and sports provide, not only for our individual physical and mental health but also in building stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities. Some of the highlights they advised me:

• Over 3,000 Northwest Territories participated representing nine communities.
• Together, Northwest Territories tracked over 2,838,000 physical activity minutes over the month of June. Fort Simpson tracked more than 1,527,000 physical activity minutes.
• $9,000 in grants were given to 12 organizations in Northwest Territories with a focus on supporting organizations and events that promoted inclusivity and social connection for equity-deserving groups.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the residents of Fort Simpson for tracking over 50 percent of the NWT's time. To all the residents and organizations that were part of this event - well done, let's continue being active for the rest of the year. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Range Lake.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, every year at this time our society celebrates a ghoulish tradition - Halloween night. All schools hold Halloween costume parties, games, and there's prizes for the scariest costumes. For the children, there is excitement going trick or treating from house to house to collect all sorts of candies. Parents, I warn you, it is for your kids. Equally excited are the adults who have their own entertainment night at local establishments.

Madam Speaker, that was the first time I saw a ghost going from one ditch and across to the other ditch and back again and that was the whole length of the road; which reminds me, the man was in the hospital on Halloween for a series of medical tests - the last test had left his tummy upset. After making many false alarm trips to the bathroom, he decided that the fifth false trip would be his last and just stay in bed from now on. Then he had to go again, and this time it was the real deal and the bedsheets were covered in brown matter. This was very embarrassing for the man. So he jumped up, gathered up the bedsheets into a large ball and threw them out the nearest open hospital window.

A mixed martial arts fighter was walking to the hospital to visit an injured training partner when the ball of sheets landed on him. He started screaming, punching, and kicking his legs wildly as hard as he could, which left the soiled sheets in a tangled pile at his feet. As the fighter stood there staring down at the sheets, trying to work out what just happened, a hospital security guard, who just witnessed the whole incident, walked up and asked, are you okay? Still staring down at what just attacked him, the fighter replied, I think I just beat the crap out of a ghost. Have a Happy Halloween, everyone. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can't exactly see everyone but it's my understanding that Avery Parle and other members of the union are here visiting us today, so I would like to welcome and thank them for coming. Thank you.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to recognize -- oh, yeah, I can see them now. Julianne Fuller, the mother of one of the pages, and also Pierre Benoit Rondeau Chalifoux who is the chaperone for the pages. And I'd like to recognize two of the pages from Hay River that are here, Jackson Fuller and Francis Cook, and they're both from Ecole Boreale. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I too would like to welcome Julie Fuller. She used to be in Inuvik so past resident of Inuvik. Welcome. I'm in a different capacity today, so.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Madam Speaker, along with the number of adults on the street who are living with various health and addiction-related issues, we also have those with similar issues living in isolation with minimal or no supports. Madam Speaker, it is important medical social workers are available to those individuals who are requiring access to wraparound service. Therefore, Madam Speaker, can the Minister of health give us an idea of what wraparound health supports are available to assist the most vulnerable, which includes seniors, those living with disabilities, and those who are homeless? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. So adult services supports case management of people with disabilities, including those who may have addictions and mental health challenges. These positions aren't necessarily social workers, but they could be other professionals who are able to provide case management support. It's important to say, however, that this position does not exist at the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. They don't have a medical social worker or an adult social worker at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with staffing issues facing our healthcare system, will the Minister confirm if her department has considered the need to establish, for smaller communities, a shared medical social worker position that would provide wrap around services. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. The medical social workers work within the acute care settings and so at this time they are not in communities, and we don't have a plan to expand them there. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, one can point to lack of housing as a contributor to addictions as well as physical and mental health issues. Can the Minister confirm her department's working relationship with the department of housing to address the connection between the lack of housing and health? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to confirm for the Member that we, in fact, do see the connection between homelessness and health, and for that reason, we have been participating in the development of a homelessness strategy being led by the NWT Housing Corporation. We believe that homelessness requires a whole-of-government approach. It's not usually just one reason that a person is homeless or one kind of service, like a house that they need; they need a number of different services. And so we are able and willing to participate in improving services to homeless population and look forward to seeing the homeless strategy when it's available. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it is clear from the Minister's answer in this House last Friday that she is committed to the placement of two medical social workers in Hay River. I would ask the Minister if the funding for the positions would be long-term and secure going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I think that would be the intention, but I can't commit to this funding. What the process is, is that Hay River Health and Social Services Authority needs to make a business case for the medical social workers and then submit it during the regular business planning cycle. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. According to Statistics Canada, the national suicide rates are higher among Indigenous people than the non-Indigenous population in Canada. The NWT Office of the Chief Coroner 2021-2022 Early Release of Suicide Data Report does not include any data on race or ethnicity, and the absence of this data does not allow the government to target supports and resources to those who really need it. So can the Minister of Justice explain whether or not the chief coroner tracks this data by race or ethnicity? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister responsible for Justice.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So the information is currently not tracked. The coroner's office does ask families for information about ethnicity but not all families provide that information. So it's not a full data set. But I can't commit that the coroner's office to do something, but we can have that discussion and look further into it. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. He kind of answered my next question, which was could we commit to trying to track that data as clearly if we don't understand the -- or can't characterize the extent of the issue, then we wouldn't be able to come up with some good solutions. Given the overrepresentation of Indigenous men in our criminal justice system, which suicide prevention strategies are being used in our correctional facilities and rehabilitation programs? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So obviously the staff are the people who are in direct contact with inmates in correctional facilities and staff are -- they receive training in applied suicide intervention skills, so the assist training that's been discussed in this House before. They also receive mental health first aid training, and this year they've moved to the mental health first aid northern peoples edition training. The intake process at corrections includes screening for suicide and mental health issues. There are psychologists, counsellors, and traditional counsellors in the correctional facilities, depending on which facility you are in. And there are a number of different programs as well that incarcerated individuals can access. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I'm glad to hear that those supports are in place for people while they're in the criminal justice system or within the facilities themselves. Can the Minister speak to what's given or offered to inmates after they've left the facility as far as mental health and wellness counselling or supports go? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So once someone is released from a correctional facility, they often have to check in with probation officers, and those probation officers can provide additional support, often things that are maybe not even necessarily in the policy manual. You know, when you're dealing with people in real life situations, you might be providing supports that are outside of what is normally provided. But we don't have, I mean aftercare I guess, in the Northwest Territories for people who are coming out of jail. The move towards the therapeutic model at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre is moving in that direction where we are trying to give people the skills they need while they are incarcerated, and then hopefully begin to provide assistance afterwards as well so that they don't get back on the same track so they can maintain the progress that they've made. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I'm glad to hear the Minister speaking about a change in the way that we're approaching things. There's definitely a lack of aftercare for people that are released from our correctional facilities. Can the Minister speak to anything that has been done in the last year, so that's innovative or different to the Northwest Territories when it comes to our vulnerable Indigenous men? Has there been something within the correctional system that he can point to as a success. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So one of the major things that has happened in the past -- or just over a year -- I guess a year and two days ago was the new Corrections Act came into force, and that act restructures our correctional system with more of a focus on rehabilitation as opposed to punishment. We are still, you know, in the process of implementing that Act. It has only been a year, and much of that was COVID times so we haven't quite gotten to the point where I think we want to. But there's a recognition that doing the same old thing doesn't work, and so we are trying to move in a direction where we -- while we have people in the facilities, that we work with them and we help them so that they don't wind up back in there again. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Premier is a very compassionate leader when it comes to Indigenous issues. But when you have so many claims to work on and cannot concentrate on two or three that can be done in a single term, that's a problem. I would like to see at least one claim finalized within this term since we have only one year left. Does the Premier agree? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I agree that I'd like to see at least one claim settled within the term of this government. We have been focusing on the relationship building that was a little bit fractured in some of the Indigenous governments. We took a beating with COVID. We had a couple years that we couldn't meet in person, so that affected. But we have been listening, and we have been working, and we do feel that we're close with a number of them, although there's three parties to every table. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I understand at negotiations there are too many opinions. Speaking with one voice is extremely important when at negotiations. I've been there and done that. I'm also very respectful of the Indigenous leadership in their meaningful negotiations, and we must be able to mediate conclusions to some of their outstanding issues to succeed. Does the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's hard to disagree with things that are philosophical in nature so absolutely I agree that, you know, we need to mediate some conclusions to some of the outstanding issues. When I began my term, when I was able to meet with Indigenous governments and talk to them, two of the largest outstanding issues were the core principals and interests and then the other one was the publishing the mandate. We did both. We heard that those were the major issues, and so we published our mandates and we took away the core principles and interests, and yet we're still having difficulties at the tables. So Madam Speaker, what I've come to realize is that there's many issues at those tables. And so when you deal with what you think is a major issues three more pop up. So we're trying the best we can, Madam Speaker, but we don't give up trying. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the negotiating team that goes to these negotiations must have a mandate and needs to be able to call people to make decisions, otherwise meetings later on will be months away and decisions are never made. That is how the federal government operates. The territorial government needs to follow the same standards and process with meaningful decisions. Does the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Again, I absolutely agree with that. The thing is, Madam Speaker, it's really important to recognize, like I said, that it's not as easy as just one person making decisions. There's three parties. When I had first heard about the key principles and the interests, like I said we took them off the table. But that didn't stop things. The point is that whenever I hear of a major issue at the tables, and I do get regular updates on every table that's going on, if we're close and there's a standing issue, then I will try to negotiate with the department and find out what is going on. I'll talk to Cabinet, because they're Cabinet decisions, to see if we can be a little bit more flexible. And we have been flexible in this government, Madam Speaker. But any time that we're close or that a chief or Indigenous government reaches out to me, I do my best to try to see if we can unblock the obstacle on our side. However, like I said, that doesn't always work. But we keep trying the best we can do. And I am certain that all of these claims eventually will be settled. It's just a matter of when. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.

Madam Speaker, negotiations and implementations of claims is probably the hardest task of this government. The will of the leader to help mediate the process is crucial to the outcome. Does the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I absolutely agree with that. I know that Northerners want to see faster progress on the negotiations, and we continue to work towards that. However, Madam Speaker, it's really important that all Members realize that this is about the Indigenous governments. This is their future. So sometimes when we want to hurry things, it may be at the detriment of all of our governments. So I have a mandate to make sure that I take care of the public government, that I try to meet Indigenous governments, that I'm honest with Indigenous governments, and we have clarity in all of the agreements we sign. And we'll continue to do that as we go forward. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Madame la Presidente. My questions are for the Minister of Lands. The department seems to have placed top priority in our request from the mining industry to use surety bonds as an acceptable form of financial security. Ernst & Young has apparently been contracted to tell the government that surety bonds are good financial security. So can the Minister tell us how much this contract with Ernst & Young is going to cost and when a report is going to be finished? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Lands. Sorry.

Lands/ENR. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Ernst & Young have been contracted to do research on the use of surety bonds as a form of financial security, including how they were used in other jurisdictions. GNWT's position continues to be that security must provide GNWT with immediate, unconditional, and revokable access to the full amount of the security. The contract value is approximately $230,000, and the report is expected to be available early in 2023. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I'm still trying to pick up my jaw because I couldn't find the contract anywhere in the OpenNWT contract website. But Madam Speaker, I think the fix is our government seems to be poised to accept surety bonds without a real plan to prevent further public liabilities like Cameron Hills and Mactung. So can the Minister tell us why his department has identified surety bonds as the top priority when it comes to financial security in preventing further public liabilities? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I think me and the Member are going to probably have to agree to disagree on this. The research of security bonds is only one of several initiatives that the department has undertaken related to securities. The department's top priority is the development and implementation of regulations under the Public Lands Act which will include provisions for land restoration and security. Surety bond review has been planned and aligned with work under the Public Lands Act regulations. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Minister for that. Let's start with some easy stuff. Our government spent millions to develop some sort of a tracking system for financial security. That's good, but none of that information's been made public in an easily accessible form. Can the Minister tell us whether and when this government will actually post that information in a publicly accessible format, like a financial security data base, on a GNWT website? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The public lands requires public reporting on all securities held, and the department is currently reviewing how best to make that information available to the public. Information on security is also available on the land and water board's public registry. This aligns with the top priority of the department to develop and implement the regulations under the Public Lands Act. We need to get this important piece of legislation in force. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Minister for that. Now look, you don't need the regulations to start reporting financial security now. You don't need the regulations; just start doing it. So I know that our government has a protocol with some Indigenous governments around co-development of lands and resources legislation and regulations, and I support that process. However, our government seems to have forgotten that it must ensure that the public has a say in the development of legislation and regulations. More than eight years after devolution, there's been very little, if anything, from GNWT on preventing further public liabilities. So can the Minister tell us whether there's actually a plan for new legislation, regulations, policy, and capacity to prevent further public liabilities? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, again, I appreciate the Member asking these questions. Madam Speaker, multiple departments are currently working to implement the GNWT's approach to the management of contaminated sites. The action plan for the approach includes several items related to the prevention of public liabilities. This plan includes legislative and regulatory amendments as well as working with the land and water boards to update policies and procedures. Items have been completed including updated closure, cost estimate, guidelines, and a new estimate tool for land use permit securities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, before I proceed I want to make some clarifications, a correction to one of the sentence that I made earlier when I said we witnessed another accident, and I would like to correct that. We came upon another accident. So that's for clarification. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, an expression of interest was issued by Finance in 2021 to address the lack of cell service on Highway No. 3. Can the Minister provide an update on what has been accomplished since this time, what is the status of work to improve cell service on Highway No. 3? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the expression of interest allowed for an opportunity to do some costing and to understand the potential costs of installing cell towers along the highway. With that information in hand, that was the position that we were able to then give, which I think they were spoken to the House, that it looks at notwithstanding the capital expenses, which are themselves significant, there would also be an operations and maintenance expense of $500,000 approximately every year and no other known source of funding other than that of the GNWT. And so in knowing what the scale and size of those costs are, there has not been any change in the decision of not including that in this year's capital. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam 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?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is no plan to implement cell towers between here and Behchoko. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories can install electric charging station by 2024. Can the Minister commit to providing cell service between Yellowknife and Behchoko by 2024? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the vehicle charging stations, or the level 3 charging stations that are going in to Behchoko, are a project that is administered through the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. They apply to the GHG Emissions Fund, which is a largely federally-funded initiative. They then apply and are able to get funds through that program. And this is in response, Madam Speaker, to the fact that the federal government is making it mandatory by 2035 that there be zero -- 100 percent, zero percent emissions vehicles sales. So they'll be a period of time when vehicles can still run without that but any new vehicles are going to have to be zero emissions. So, Madam Speaker, we do need to have a plan at this point in time to be taking that seriously, to be ready for it, and that's what Northwest Territories Power Corporation is doing. The funds that might be available for any and all other capital project, Madam Speaker, would go through the usual capital planning process, the initiatives, and be aligned to the mandate of the government. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you. Can the Minister provide information on how many electric vehicles are on the road in NWT; how many people in Behchoko drive electric vehicles; how many people drive electric vehicle on Highway No. 3? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'll work with my colleague, the Minister of Infrastructure, to see what information can be provided. I can say that research went out regarding what might be done to help encourage the use of electric vehicles. Having more charging stations was one of the recommendations that came with that research. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. You know, I made a promise to keep asking about this for the life of my four years, and I'm hopeful one day that someone in the future Assembly takes it up and continues to ask too. But my question for the Minister of Infrastructure is there any hope of the hours of the DMV being altered so they, you know, are possibly open at any time outside of the government's normal 9 to 5 business hours? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, and I appreciate the Member continuing to ask questions, but my answers are going to continue to be the same. The Department of Infrastructure is not considering opening the Yellowknife DMV on the weekends. This would have significant costs, Madam Speaker, to double-fill these positions and additional security on the weekends. It would require two extra people to work all times for safety reasons. We already currently provide five days a week, by appointment and walk-ins. Many services are also available online, Madam Speaker. The work-life balance for our staff is so important, and walk-ins, many of these services are available online. One of the things that I want to say is the work-life balance for our staff is important, and I'm not willing to make them work on the weekends. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I understand that there was just recently a customer service review done at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and this kind of has led to us keeping the appointment-style model. But I'm curious whether there is a plan to move any more services online for the DMV? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, many services are currently made online and are accessible any time of the day, including Saturdays. For example, you can book driver examinations; you can print out your driver's abstract; you can renew your vehicle registration; renew your driver's licence - all on the website, Madam Speaker. We are also investing in changes to the DMV services website so that we can improve the user experience for existing online services. These are upgrades that are anticipated to roll out by the end of this fiscal year. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my first set of questions, if we get through a couple, are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

On October 20th, the department issued a communique identifying renewed plans for the youth advisory committee. I'm wondering if the Minister can tell the House how the department plans to use this committee to provide agency to NWT youth? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So the youth advisory committee is something that I was hoping to establish early on in the life of this government. That was derailed by COVID. So we have reestablished it -- or we are in the process of reestablishing it. Hopefully there will be a meeting in this calendar year. And the purpose of this youth advisory committee is so that I can hear directly from youth. I have lots of discussions with staff, I have discussions with members of the general public, with MLAs, but I don't have a lot of discussions with actual students in the actual education system, let alone from all of the regions. So what this youth advisory committee would be would be two members from each education body, and they would gather, and we would have discussions about initiatives that ECE is undertaking and about other issues that are affecting them as youth, and mental health issues I'm sure will be on that agenda at some point. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, does the Minister set the agenda for each of the meetings, or does the Minister work with the youth to set the agenda for the meeting? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So as this committee has not even been struck yet, we don't have a process for setting agendas. But I would love to hear from youth and know what they want to talk about. I don't want to tell them what they're going to talk about; I'd like to hear from them. We will be putting forward items obviously, but I would love it if the youth would put forward some agenda items themselves. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, is this committee solely to talk about issues, or will there be opportunity for youth to drive change within their communities? So will this committee also come potentially with the power to change policy, the power to change or provide recommendations to school boards, to communities, and will it come with funding? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So this is still -- as I said, we have not even struck the committee yet. So I think it will evolve into something that -- well, my hope is that it will evolve into something that provides the Minister of the day with information so that when they're making decisions, they have that perspective. And so in that way, that very direct way, youth will be able to drive policy change at the departmental level. I can't speak to the education body level because this is a Ministers advisory committee. But I will be sharing those recommendations with all of the different education bodies. There won't be funding for the youth to, I guess put on programs or whatever they might do with the funding, but the idea is that the voice of the youth will be part of the discussion about what needs to change, and will influence those changes. Thank you.

Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for Human Resources. I wanted to follow up on my questioning of last week around fertility treatments and subsequent benefit payments. So can the Minister speak to whether or not fertility treatments of any sort are covered by the GNWT's employee benefits plan? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, our benefits plan is that of the public service, and we really don't determine the benefits. We rely on what is covered for by them as the insurer. At this point, Madam Speaker, it is my understanding that that is not a coverage that is within that plan. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I do appreciate that that's the current situation, but given the number of emails that I've received since I spoke about this topic last week, there does definitely seem to be an interest and a need amongst members of the GNWT. So could the Minister speak to whether or not she's been approached about including fertility treatments in the benefits package. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, no, I can't say that I have been directly requested to look into this other than, of course, here on the floor of the House. And certainly in that regard I'm live to the fact that it's an issue. But, again, it would not necessarily be something that we would direct. It would be a matter that we'd be looking at alongside the insurer. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Given that I did some rough calculation or number crunching there around how this actually would benefit the territory from a population growth perspective, can the Minister commit to looking at the numbers and seeing whether or not the cost benefit analysis does show that providing fertility treatments in the Northwest Territories would actually be good for our bottom line? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I certainly do keep in mind that growing a population is a significant benefit with respect to the territorial formula of financing. I'm not sure I'm going to take the tabletop math necessarily right now and make policy on that, but I'll certainly go back and see if the department wants to speak to, you know -- I know there was a motion that has previously been on this floor about looking at population numbers, whether including infertility treatments in the benefit plans for public servants is going to get us there. Again, Madam Speaker, I'm not sure I'll be in a position to respond to a policy request on that basis alone but can see if there's any other information on might be happening at the national level with the benefits plan that is used by us for public service. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I will state that even a partial benefit to allow for either subsidy of the IVF treatment itself or the benefit -- the medical travel benefits or the per diems, any little bit would help. I've recently been contacted by people where it's $20,000, and both partners have underlying conditions. They're looking at 60 to $70,000 in order to have a baby likely. So more of a comment. If the Minister wants to respond, that's fine. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are live to the cost. There's a lot of different potential treatments that people may find very costly, things that are deemed as nonessential or elective that may not be covered through healthcare and may not be covered through GNWT public service insurance or any other private benefits insurance of which many companies do offer that. So, you know, again, that is part of the process of evolving, what we look at in terms of our benefits. At the moment, Madam Speaker, it is not included. Again, we do keep an eye on what's happening nationally. We keep an eye in contact with our insurer to ensure that we remain competitive in that space. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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