Welcome, colleagues. First of all, I just want to welcome the grade 6 class from William McDonald here today. I got a quick introduction to them, and they may not be here when we do Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Ministers' statements. Minister for Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is reviewing the supplementary health benefits available to NWT residents. These benefits cover prescription drugs for approximately 1,500 residents, benefits that go beyond coverage provided by the NWT Health Plan. Unfortunately, these programs are not currently available to everyone, so we are now updating policies that underpin this program.

To access the Supplementary Health Benefits Program, you must be a senior or have a specified disease named on a list of conditions developed more than 30 years ago. The seniors program remains unchanged. Our current focus is on replacing the specified conditions program with one that provides more people with coverage. The specified disease conditions program discriminates against residents based on their diagnosis rather than their need for help to pay for medication. We want everyone to have access to benefits, and we know that some people can afford to pay a portion of the costs. We also know that some medication is very expensive. We are working to find the balance where we can provide benefits to more people by having those with the financial means to pay to do so, without creating hardship.

Madam Speaker, there are 2,200 people in the territory who do not have benefits through work, non-insured health benefits or Metis health benefits. We know that some of the residents do not get prescriptions filled because they can't afford them. As a result, they end up accessing the healthcare system when their needs become urgent. The change in policy will enable residents to access the medication they need when it is prescribed and before a trip to the emergency room or doctor becomes necessary.

Madam Speaker, recognizing that medication can be very expensive, we have already made changes to existing programs to enhance sustainability. We introduced the Lowest Cost Equivalent Policy which specifies that the Extended Health Benefits Program covers the lowest cost alternative drug in generic brands. We also put in place the Long-Term Dispensing Policy that requires certain medications be dispensed as a 100-day supply therefore reducing the number of dispensing cycles. We launched the Biosimilar Policy in 2021 to switch patients from biologic drugs to their biosimilar versions. All of these initiatives have reduced the cost of the department's supplementary health benefits programs. Work continues to identify further administrative improvements that will make them more sustainable. We are acutely aware of the continually rising costs of healthcare overall.

Madam Speaker, the proposal we have put forward for public engagement is based on what we have learned from research on benefits programs across Canada. The NWT is one of the only places in the country that does not have a government funded benefit program for low-income residents. It is time to change that.

We are proposing that residents with low income have access to the same suite of benefits as residents who are eligible for the federal non-insured health benefits and Metis health benefits programs. Benefits available under these programs are covered at no cost to those eligible for them. Residents above the low-income threshold will be required to pay for their drugs on a scale rising with income level until maximums are reached. When costs are maxed out, the GNWT will pay for the drugs required by residents.

We have posted a discussion paper outlining the proposed changes online for review and feedback, as well as sample scenarios and frequently asked questions. We have developed an online calculator to help residents understand how the proposed changes may affect them. We have met with interested parties, and we are planning to host a virtual town hall in mid-November where the public can ask more questions and provide feedback.

It is important for residents to make us aware of their many unique circumstances and nuances. We have been getting a lot of feedback so far. Keep it coming. We are learning a lot and your responses have been extremely valuable. For example, through the engagement we have learned more about the need for coverage of medical equipment and supplies. We want to create the program that bests represents peoples' needs. We will continue to accept feedback until November 23.

Madam Speaker, by embracing this important work we are taking care of those who do not currently have access to supplementary health benefits. We are working to ensure all residents have consistent access to medication without a financial barrier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Arctic Energy Alliance 25th Anniversary. Madam Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy, stabilizing the cost of power, and supporting national and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are projects and initiatives the GNWT is leading that will help us meet these objectives, like the proposed Fort Providence to Kakisa transmission line and our efforts to make biomass the main heating source for GNWT buildings.

We also need action at the community level. That means residents, businesses, and communities across the territory taking steps to reduce their own energy costs and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy in their homes and office building.

Madam Speaker, for 25 years the Arctic Energy Alliance has been providing that support at the community level. The Arctic Energy Alliance is a non-profit society, which is funded by the GNWT, dedicated to reducing the costs and climate impacts of energy use in the Northwest Territories by providing programs and services. Madam Speaker, back in 1997, when the organization was created, their primary focus was to be able to provide energy education and awareness, energy audits for buildings, and renewable energy initiatives. The Arctic Energy Alliance continues to deliver these programs and has broadened their suite of programs and services over the past 25 years. The organization now provides even more options for residents, businesses and communities to save on energy costs and become more energy efficient.

The organization has offices in all six regions here in the Northwest Territories. This allows the Arctic Energy Alliance to maintain a close connection to communities throughout the NWT and establish important relationships and partnerships at the community level.

Madam Speaker, this work is having a positive impact. Since 2011, the Arctic Energy Alliance's building energy retrofit programs have resulted in combined annual savings of $2.4 million in energy costs. The Alliance is also a key organization in helping communities develop energy planning in the NWT.

In 2020, the organization launched a pilot Electric Vehicle Rebate Program to help residents in hydro zones reduce the cost of transportation. In 2021-2022, the Arctic Energy Alliance invested approximately $5 million into various programs and services. Of this $5 million, $2.7 million is core funding provided by the GNWT and $1.7 million is provided through our agreement with Canada for the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. While this agreement is set to expire at the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, talks have already commenced with Environment and Climate Change Canada to renew this important funding. The remaining $0.6 million comes from various sources, including AEA membership as well as one-time GNWT funding. This investment resulted in significant dividends for the territory; 2,802 incentives given out, representing $1.8 million in direct savings for residents. This investment supported small communities, Madam Speaker, with over half the funding going to communities outside of Yellowknife. This also translated into greenhouse gas emission reductions of 1 kilotonne for the NWT - the equivalent of converting a third of the power generation for Tuktoyaktuk to renewable electricity, and 1,800 megawatt hours in energy savings.

Madam Speaker, in 2018 the GNWT released the 2030 Energy Strategy, our long-term approach in supporting secure, affordable and sustainable energy in the NWT. The Arctic Energy Alliance's programs and services are central to meeting our objectives of increasing the share of renewable heat in buildings to 40 percent and increasing energy efficiency by 15 percent by 2030.

Congratulations to the Arctic Energy Alliance on a quarter century of providing important energy programs and services in the NWT. I look forward to what the next 25 years will bring to the organization here in the Northwest Territories. Quyananni.

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

Madam Speaker, this government works to support Northerners who want to get out on the land and participate in the traditional activities as part of sustainable livelihoods. Since marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in September, I have thought about our efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and support residents of the Northwest Territories, and the mandate commitments of this government all serve to create a critical mass that builds bridges and strengthens partnerships.

Northerners, and particularly Indigenous peoples, have important connections to the land, water, forests and wildlife, which have supported culture, traditions, knowledge, and way of life for generations. Today, I would like to share some of our collaborative efforts with communities, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and other co-management partners to support sustainable livelihoods in the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources supports a wide range of programs that promote on-the-land activities, country food harvesting, and traditional economy. The Take a Family on the Land Program provides funding to help people take part in on-the-land activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, and sharing Indigenous knowledge. This new program is designed to be accessible for diverse families. The first year of the program was very well received, with 29 applications funded. This winter the program will be providing $75,000 to applicants from across the territory.

Recently, the department expanded its Hunter Education Program to provide a new credit course for high school students. ENR worked closely with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to develop and pilot the new course in nine schools earlier this year. Both departments are pleased to announce that the course is now available across the NWT and will help students connect with and learn from local harvesters.

A new kind of program was developed to help support land-based healing by learning traditional trapping skills. This past February, ENR worked with the Department of Justice to offer a pilot in trapper training at the North Slave Correctional Centre. The pilot was so successful that it has been offered as a regular program as of June 2022.

The department is also looking for opportunities to provide equipment and support to participants so they can continue trapping after release. This is more than just a one-time course for inmates. It is a chance to learn traditional skills and make real change in their life and in their communities.

In addition to these new programs, ENR continues to deliver a number of core programs that support on-the-land activities. A major review of the Community Harvester Assistance Program, or CHAP, was recently completed and the work has begun to implement all eight recommendations from the What We Heard report. A final report on the CHAP review will be released in December 2022. A review of the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program is underway and expected to be completed in spring 2023. The Hunters and Trappers Disaster Compensation Program will also be updated this winter.

Madam Speaker, we know that some traditional harvesters were impacted by the extreme floods we saw across the NWT in the spring of 2021 and 2022, damaging cabins and equipment that they rely on to hunt and trap. The Hunters and Trappers Disaster Compensation Program was there to help folks get back on the land to harvest. In 2021-2022, approximately $346,000 was paid to 38 harvesters to help them with recovery. So far this year, approximately $115,000 has been provided, with more claims anticipated.

This government recognizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge as an equal measure with scientific knowledge to guide our environmental research and monitoring and management programs. Community-based monitoring, developing an Alberta-NWT traditional knowledge framework for the transboundary water monitoring, boreal caribou range planning, and a new berry expert committee, are just a few examples of programs underway.

Elders, land users, and other Indigenous knowledge-holders contribute valuable information to support the NWT's environmental co-management system and inform the ongoing work across the government.

Madam Speaker, we have seen success in working with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and individual harvesters across the NWT. However, we all can agree that there is more work to do. This government will continue to invest and deliver programs that help Indigenous peoples in the North get out on the land, practice traditional activities, and support sustainable livelihoods. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Hay River has an increasing seniors' population and there is a need for new multi-residential barrier-free housing in Hay River. As it stands now, in Hay River we currently we have two senior complexes, with a combined count of approximately 33 units. Madam Speaker, Riverview Lodge, a seniors' complex in Hay River, is nearing its end-of-life, and there appears to be no immediate plan on the books to replace it.

Last February, the Minister responsible for Housing NWT stated that, and I quote: "The corporation anticipates being able to operate this facility for at least another five years."

The Minister further stated that, “Housing Corporation...is also in process of completing a comprehensive technical assessment of the Riverview Lodge seniors' complex to plan for its eventual replacement in the near future capital plan."

Madam Speaker, knowing this, along with the pace at which this government moves, I am looking to Housing NWT, if not already started, to start the process of developing a plan to replace Riverview Lodge with a multi-residential building. This building will go on what is known as the Disneyland site in Hay River. And in the process, because of location, I will be requesting that the existing Riverview Lodge property be considered for future multi-residential senior housing as well.

Madam Speaker, this is not a complicated issue. The need for senior housing is there; the vacant land is there; the tenants are available; and what we now need is a plan from Housing NWT.

Madam Speaker, I will stop here and will have questions for the Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Member for Monfwi.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, modernizing the Education Act is a big undertaking. It is ensuring we meet the needs of our students and communities. The change it can bring is powerful and will influence our society. Madam Speaker, when the Minister of ECE proposes a two-phased approach to changing the Education Act, I cannot help but think still separate, still unequal.

Madam Speaker, I truly hope we are not dealing with continuing the segregation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous education. It pains me to think this way. It pains everyone who knows about residential schools and may hurt our family members who have seen segregation firsthand. Madam Speaker, let me use an analogy.

Let's imagine that each phase is a school bus. Bus 1 picks up people, but it only picks up the people that it wants. The only people that are allowed on the bus are from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Indigenous people are simply left on the side of the road asking for a ride. The Minister reasoning, we got to get this done fast, before the end of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Bus 2 will pick up everyone, but we do not know when this bus will leave or if it will ever leave.

The Minister says that phase 2 will happen but he does not have the authority to commit to anything past the life of this Legislative Assembly. There should be only one bus. This is the right thing to do and the right way to work. I find it insulting to hear the Minister say we do not have time to work with Indigenous governments when, in fact, they are very important partners in the work that we do. Some of the concerns that I have with the proposed Phase 1 are the following:

1. We do not know what the proposed changes are and we have been provided no details on those changes.
2. I fail to understand how the proposed administrative changes, like definitions, are going to improve student outcomes like reading levels.

Madam Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

1. ECE plans to clarify, ministerial powers as part of phase 1. These changes are not simply administrative changes; they are governance changes.

Madam Speaker, the Minister needs to table legislation soon, but he says he does not know what changes he is making or what the legislation will look like. No wonder Indigenous governments are distrusting and feel like the Minister is hiding something. Madam Speaker, the Minister refers to the What We Heard report. He is going to say everyone was consulted.

It is clear from the letters the Minister received from Indigenous governments that they feel like they have not been consulted or that they have been heard. The Education Act has not been changed in over 30 years. If this is very important work has to spill over into the 20th Legislative Assembly, then so be it. I say it is better to do things right not fast. Madam Speaker, Indigenous governments are on the second bus, sitting in the back. This looks like segregation, not reconciliation. Taking the time to do this right is very important. Madam Speaker, the two-phased approach is divisive. It recalls the past which was guided by privilege and racism and ended in deep segregation and suffering.

Madam Speaker, this two-phased approach is disrespectful of our treaties and agreements. It will affect government-to-government relations.

Madam Speaker, no one wants to disrupt our students' path to learning. We want to address the colonial legacy and improve the education system together. Our elders have always taught us we must act collectively in unity and collaboration to achieve big things. And I say, "Nothing about us without us"

Madam Speaker, let us not send the wrong message. Let us correct this immediately and work in Phase 1 together. We need a path that shows we can do things together - To find this path together is what we owe our children. Mahsi, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the North is famous for our love of unique place names and Tin Can Hill is no exception. This beloved green space, located behind Rat Lake, is celebrated by new and long-term residents alike. It is where the snowmobile trail gets you out of the city, down to the lake, and across the bay in the winter. It was where the boats from across the lake would dock to resupply the town and where you can see evidence of our rich mining history at the old Con Mine. On Tin Can Hill, you can play and explore and walk on the 2.7-billion-year-old volcanic rock that underlies our town. It's where the city's folks run, walk, or bike extensive trail loops while conveniently remaining within the city. And recently the city and ECE decided it would be a good place for the new Yellowknife campus of the polytechnic university.

Madam Speaker, I understand why ECE decided to propose a standalone campus versus a downtown integrated approach. Without a standalone campus, there is no way enough funding can be secured. In other words, Madam Speaker, to fund the future polytechnic, the GNWT needs a "big ticket ask" to bring in "big ticket funding.” A plan that would incorporate existing buildings on a rental or leased basis would never get the fiscal support that it needs. As we all know, the feds love to give us capital money while operations and maintenance funding is generally not included.

Madam Speaker, my constituents, and other residents, are still reeling from the surprise announcement that the GNWT wants to build on Tin Can Hill. I understand that the engagement part is to begin now but clearly before this, nothing was done in a transparent manner.

The facilities master plan, submitted as part of the federal ask, shows all traffic to the campus entering through School Draw Avenue, an area that will become a bottleneck for traffic. People will also cut through the nearby Copper Sky complex to reach 52nd Street causing safety issues for residents there. As well, the plan calls for 50 percent of students to find housing in Yellowknife's rental market. How? Our residential vacancy rate will be zero by this spring, dropping from its current 1.9 percent, and there appears to be very little construction planned once current projects are complete. All this will lead to long-term tenants, including many pensioners and low-income families, to be forced from their homes due to rising rents and neighbourhood gentrification.

When asked, the department's response is that this will all be sorted out through the engagement process. However, Madam Speaker, if this consultation leads to a resounding no from residents, my question is, will the Department listen? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Cost of living in the -- for Canadians and residents of the Northwest Territories is going up. We see it all around us, the cost of electricity, global fuel prices rising, home heating fuel rising, consumer prices have all gone up. The cost of food inflation is going up everywhere, Madam Speaker. We know the cost of food is going up, especially the fruit, the vegetables, the baked goods, and the cereal. Madam Speaker, people in my riding can barely afford to pay for that. We have to rely on traditional means, hunting, to feed ourselves but the price of gas has gone up as well. Getting out on the land is becoming more expensive.

Electricity bills are going up. NTPC has put before the Public Utility Board the application to raise rates 5 percent over the next two years. Cost of fuel continues to go up. Inflation is at an all-time high.

We also know Nunakput communities face the lowest household income and personal income, the least opportunity for jobs in the territory. Madam Speaker, residents in Nunakput region can't pay for the highest cost of living. How much more can the residents afford?

I understand the federal government is forcing our government's hand on this tax but the GNWT protecting the residents in the High Arctic. Residents in my riding are having to pay the price of carbon tax. There has to be a way that the GNWT can draw a line to stop rising cost for the residents in Nunakput in a tiered system. We are already dealing with the high impact of climate change, the most sea ice changing, weather impacting our hunting. We shouldn't have to pay carbon tax for that, Madam Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I too would like to congratulate the Arctic Energy Alliance on 25 years in the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, we all know renewable energy and alternative energy solutions are the future. Our climate is changing and resources are depleting. We know we need to find sustainable energy solutions to replace non-renewable resources.

The Northwest Territories uses three main energy sources to generate electricity: water, diesel, and natural gas, along with some solar energy installations. An objective under the GNWT's 2030 Energy Strategy work is to reduce GHG emissions for electricity. Residents need to know what to expect between now and 2030 to reduce diesel consumption, and NTPC needs a comprehensive capital plan to reduce diesel consumption in the NWT.

There are successful examples of Indigenous companies installing renewable energy projects in partnership with NTPC. But building new energy infrastructure in the NWT does not come cheap. According to a recent report on energy transition, a renewable energy transition requires unprecedented investments in distribution systems and new renewable energy is supply. Given the 30 to $50 million annual price tag that NTPC pays to maintain our aging energy infrastructure and the added debt the GNWT would have to take on to build new energy infrastructure, it seems this is a clear path.

Partnership with a private sector, particularly Indigenous companies, to advance renewable energy installations across the NWT is a win-win. Renewable energy projects, developed in partnership with NTPC, ensure that renewable energy feeds into the grid and contributes to the GNWT's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Madam Speaker, when you look at the publicly-available information from NTPC and the GNWT, it is not clear whether there is a capital plan for developing renewable energy infrastructure in partnership with the private sector. But whether or not they have a plan, we are being charged for a lack of energy progression through carbon tax. Carbon pricing is about recognizing the cost of pollution and accounting for those costs in daily decisions, but here in the NWT it's largely the only decision.

Madam Speaker, it's a northern double jeopardy - charged by NTPC for using their expensive aging infrastructure and then charged through carbon tax for using our energy monopoly. With rising costs of diesel and northern cost of living, NWT residents should have a clear outlook of how the territory will add renewable energy sources and what the opportunity is for local companies. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. People love camping in the Northwest Territories, and I think we all know that. You can just look at the demand the minute the campsite bookings open for our 33 territorial parks, or you could look at the over 900 squatters we're trying to kick off the land right now, Madam Speaker. But what happens every year is that the season abruptly ends, and we have no winter camping anywhere in the Northwest Territories in our 33 beautiful parks that we all know and love, and I would like to see some sort of winter camping, Madam Speaker.

Now I'm not asking that we keep all our parks open year-round; clearly there's not demand for that, but some sort of option somewhere in one of our parks to camp in the winter. Perhaps you could snowshoe into a hut in the Mackenzie Mountains. Perhaps there could be some yurts set up to book in Sombaa K'e. Perhaps a place to legally leave a wall tent. Perhaps a place to have a two-week program of winter activities such as skiing, ice fishing, or snowshoeing in one of our beautiful parks. Honestly, Madam Speaker, I will take anything at all. We could even put it on a tourism brochure. I just believe we love winter and we love our parks, so why not have some sort of winter camping option. I'll questions for the Minister of ITI. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. In August, this government announced a new approach to adjustment of the territorial minimum wage, where it will be increased in relation to the consumer price index and the average hourly wage in the NWT. How is this going to ensure people get a decent standard of living?

The factors resulting in the setting of a minimum wage were reviewed for several years running by a minimum wage committee, which included business and public representatives with ECE representatives making a report to the Minister that was then kept secret. A few facts from their reviews stand out and from other recent events:

• A minimum wage is nowhere near the living wage regularly calculated by the territorial social justice NGO Alternatives North.
• Few people are actually paid the minimum wage but about 9 percent of the workforce benefited from the COVID-related Wage Top-Up Program showing the inadequacy of our minimum wage.
• The minimum wage is way too low to live on, and employers can't attract workers in the current competitive hiring environment. Anyone relying on the minimum wage for their income has to have more than one job.
• Proportionately, it's large employers that pay low wages, such as Walmart, Canadian Tire, Tim Horton's, McDonald's, and none of those businesses, their bottom lines, none of them are in danger.

When you look at it, the setting of the minimum wage is a deal between business and government where workers have little to no say. The higher the minimum wage the more the private sector has to provide for workers. The lower the minimum wage the higher the costs to government for social support programs such as healthcare and more.

A low minimum wage is a public subsidy for business. I operate on the principle that if a person is working, they should be able to maintain a dignified minimum standard of living - working should give you enough money to live on. That's the premise behind calculation of a living wage, which provides the basic basket of necessities for a person or family. That's where we should be going, Madam Speaker. I'll have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on where we're going to get this new approach to a minimum wage. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Member for Thebacha.

Madam Speaker, today I'd like to talk about the business community in the NWT. Over the course of the pandemic, every sector of our economy was adversely impacted by some level because of the interruptions the pandemic had on our daily lives.

Early on in 2020, all nonessential businesses had to shut down entirely and continued doing so periodically into 2021. Those actions have had a serious and long-lasting impact on the business communities, and some businesses have since shut down altogether while others are still trying to recover and remain afloat despite all the costs they had to incur during that time.

Madam Speaker, among the issues that the businesses have had to deal with is the rising cost of commercial insurance. For example, I'm aware of at least one NWT business whose yearly commercial insurance costs have increased from $17,000 to $43,000 a year over the course of one year. That business was also forced to find a new insurance company from southern Canada because the NWT company they used previously refused to cover them anymore. These are considerable sums of money for any business to incur but especially for small and medium-sized businesses. How businesses are expected to cover these types of costs and remain open in the long-term is beyond me. This is very concerning and something needs to be done to address this.

Moreover, Madam Speaker, the rising cost of inflation and the cost of living are also causing hardships for the business community. For example, rising fuel costs are increasing the cost for shipping and the transportation of goods. The price of building materials are also going up, which is increasing the cost of all construction projects. All these costs are putting more pressure on businesses because many of their employees are struggling to make ends meet. Therefore, businesses are struggling to recruit and retain workers at competitive wages. This cycle is creating a shortage of workers in all sectors of our economy and is negatively impacting the business community.

Additionally, Madam Speaker, according to a new report published on October 12th, 2022, authored by the economists at the Royal Bank of Canada, a recession will likely occur in Canada within the first quarter of 2023. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

RBC, which is Canada's largest bank, says that the primary reasons driving the recession are interest rate increases, inflation, and a rapidly cooling housing market. They anticipate the recession will raise the unemployment rate across the board and that lower income people will be the hardest hit.

Lastly, Madam Speaker, the overall gross domestic product of our economy has been getting smaller with each quarter. So that is also a signal of declining economy. All these factors are harming people and business owners. People need help. I'll have questions for the Minister of ITI later today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Bill C-237, An Act to Establish a National Framework for Diabetes, received royal assent on June 29, 2021, in parliament. In response to this Act, the Government of Canada just recently released a framework for diabetes. The report recognizes diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting people living in Canada. Rates of diabetes is rising around the world. People with diabetes increased the risk of severe outcomes through COVID-19.

We know in the NWT that 10 percent of people in the NWT over 24 years of age are diagnosed with diabetes, and that the rate of diabetes grows with age and is more prevalent in the regional communities. We also know that our population is aging in the NWT and chronic diseases are projected to rise. What we don't know, Madam Speaker, is how many people are living undiagnosed with diabetes in the NWT.

The health minister herself said in the House, December 2021, for people who need diabetic care it really starts with the diagnosis of diabetes. Madam Speaker, for people living with diabetes undiagnosed, the symptoms may not be that obvious but the consequences of living undiagnosed with diabetes can result in life-threatening complications.

We also know, Madam Speaker, the NWT has a high rate of ambulatory care and that hospitalizations for some chronic conditions could have likely been prevented through better chronic disease management and better access to primary care. Diabetes is a national concern, and it should be a concern for the NWT as well.

What is the GNWT doing to really address the root causes of diabetes and take action that supports the lives of people in small communities? I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Mahsi.

Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Mr. Speaker, on August 16th Speed Skating NWT proudly reported that Val Gendron from Fort Simpson has been recognized by Speed Skating Canada with a Coaches Award of Excellence. The Coaches Award of Excellence is awarded to those who have made meaningful contributions to the sport of speed skating in the role of a coach. Each year a maximum of three winners are selected for the award. This year they recognized two with Val being one of the two winners.

• The Coaches Award of Excellence is intended to recognize coaching excellence within a given year and may be bestowed upon an individual based on the following criteria:
• Exceptional achievement of the coach's athlete with a strong link to the coach's training program;
• Innovative programming or initiatives that drive athlete recruitment or retention;
• Coaching technique that contributes to athletes development on and off the ice;.
• Adapted programming and coaching techniques to keep skaters active and engaged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

As people in Fort Simpson and the NWT know, Val put her heart and soul into every speed skater she has coached over the last 30 plus years. We would not be happier to have her as part of our community.

Madam Speaker, I have been very fortunate as a parent, now as a grandparent, to have Val in my children and grandchildren's sport life. It is very interesting to watch her with generations of children and the love she passes on to the athletes for the sport. I am happy to say my daughter was part of the nomination team for Val's submission. On behalf of the community of Fort Simpson, I would like to again congratulate her for the award and, more importantly, passing on the love of the sport to our youth.

Madam Speaker, I will ask my colleagues to recognize her here today with a round of applause. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Members' statements. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, I'd like to talk about the bravery and sacrifice of Canadians, both past and present, who have helped, and continue to help, shape, and protect the foundation of our society - freedom.

For generations, men and women have heeded the call to protect democracy. They have left their families, their dreams of higher education, a good-paying job, their desire to create music or art, all so we can live our lives the way we choose.

Madam Speaker, they protected us from evil so we could enjoy the peace and prosperity we know today. Their stories can be found in cities, towns, and villages across Canada. It has long been a practice in many Canadian jurisdictions to name geographical features in honour of men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces who died in service of their country. It's no different here, Madam Speaker.

There are 316 place names in the Northwest Territories named in honour of those who gave their lives to protect freedom and democracy.

Located just north of the Saskatchewan border, Moss Lake is named after Warrant Officer Class 1 Donald Moss, who died on December 22nd, 1941. Son of Arthur and Kezia Moss, of Toronto, Moss has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, U.K.

Woodman's Head, located near Blackwater Lake, just north of Wrigley, is named after Leading Aircraftman William Daniel Holloway Woodman, who died on August 8th, 1944. Son of Thomas and Anne Woodman of Edmonton, AB, Woodman is buried in the Harrowgate Cemetery in Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Madam Speaker, Golby Island that is located on Lac La Marte, just northwest of the community of Whati, is named after Lieutenant Commander Thomas Maitland Wake Golby, who died on February 22nd, 1943, along with six members of his crew when his shipyard was mined and sunk east of Gibraltar. Son of Agnes Golby; husband of Joan A. Golby, of Victoria, BC, he has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial.

The list of place names is available on the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre website, Madam Speaker, and I hope Members of this House and residents will take the time to look at the list. It is a resource that can help us better understand the names of places around us, and the people who gave their lives so current and future generations could live free. Madam Speaker, Lest we Forget

Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I'd like to take the opportunity, on behalf of Mr. Speaker's absence, to recognize two of his constituents from Aklavik Moose Kerr School Kyler Irish and Gabriel McLeod who's here as pages.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Minister Archie.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd like to recognize the staff from the Arctic Energy Alliance that have joined us today in the gallery. We have Mark Heyck who is our executive director. He's here along with his staff, Marta Goodwin, Faye MacDonald, Libby Macphail, Leon Milner, Dharshan Maheswaran, Sheena Adams, Linda Todd, Abdul Mohammed, Kevin Cull.

I'd like to -- we have some folks that are tuned in, Louise Schumann and Darby Desrosiers.

Also I'd like to recognize Robert Sexton who is the president of the Arctic Energy Alliance board of directors.

Steve Loutitt is here as well, my deputy minister for the Department of Infrastructure has joined, along with his daughter Emmy Loutitt. I know Emmy has shown a keen interest here in the Legislative Assembly.

So welcome to you all. Thank you for being here.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I also would like to congratulate the Arctic Energy Alliance for 25 years of service to the NWT in saving energy and introduce four members of the staff who are residents of Yellowknife Centre - Faye MacDonald, Dharshan Maheswaran, Taylor Arsenault, and Mark Heyck. Thank you very much for coming.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Madam le Presidente. I too would like to recognize a Frame Lake resident in the gallery, Sheena Adams, whose the program coordinator for Arctic Energy Alliance, and former Yellowknife city council colleague Mark Heyck serves as the executive director. So I'm sure they're here to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Arctic Energy Alliance, and I welcome them to the proceedings today. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to recognize Jennifer Wicks who is a constituent of Range Lake. Welcome to the House.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to welcome and congratulate Arctic Energy Alliance. I guess nobody probably told you that you get lots of acknowledgement when you show up in the gallery. I specifically would also like to acknowledge my constituents Abdul Mohammed and Kevin Cull who are here from Great Slave. Thank you very much.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are a very interconnected little community here in Yellowknife. And so also present from Arctic Energy Alliance are Marta Goodwin and also Mike Goodwin. And, Madam Speaker, deputy minister Loutitt also happens to be a resident of Yellowknife South when he's not acting in his deputy minister role, as is Emmy Loutitt. I welcome all of you to the gallery. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Monfwi.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to acknowledge and welcome Leon Apple, originally from Gameti, and he currently lives in Yellowknife. And I would like to welcome the Arctic Alliance as well. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. While we're giving all the love right above me here, the Arctic Energy Alliance, I'd love to direct some above Cabinet over there. We also have in the House with us this evening -- or sorry, this afternoon, Avery Parle, who is the vice-president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour. So welcome.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last but not least Yellowknife North constituent Linda Todd, everyone. Thank you.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Well, if we haven't forgotten everyone, so welcome. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the chamber, and I hope you're enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience in here. We haven't had one for a long time. I think this is the biggest we've seen since the day when cabinet was elected. Welcome.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Reports of committee on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's going to be another long one today. Madam Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the 2022 Audit of Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services and commends it to the House.

Reviewing the Addictions Audit to improve the GNWT's Workplan Response

On May 31, 2022, the Speaker tabled an audit report entitled Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services in the Northwest Territories. This performance audit was conducted by the Auditor General of Canada, who is also the Auditor General for the Northwest Territories.

The performance audit looked at whether the Department of Health and Social Services, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, and the Tlicho Community Services Agency provided addictions services to meet the needs of Northerners. This audit matters because the NWT has a high rate of substance use and addictions have widespread impacts on the lives of individuals, families, and community members.

The audit found that the department and the three health authorities:

• Had not figured out how to achieve equitable access to addictions services;
• Did not do enough to ensure addictions services were culturally safe for Indigenous residents;
• Provided only limited aftercare services;
• Had gaps in coordinating addictions services; and
• Did not do enough to collect and analyze data to know whether their addictions services were effective in helping residents achieve their desired outcomes.

The audit made seven recommendations to improve addictions services. The department and health authorities accepted all seven recommendations. In response, they developed the Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services Workplan. The workplan highlights new actions the department and health authorities are taking to address the audit recommendations.

Committee is responsible for reviewing the audit and the department's response. The review ensures that government is accountable to correct deficiencies, implement recommendations, and execute policies and programs in line with the Legislative Assembly's intentions.

On October 6, 2022, committee held a public hearing on the report. Officials at the Office of the Auditor General and the department briefed committee. They explained key audit findings and the department's workplan.

In response, committee developed thirteen (13) recommendations. Our recommendations reinforce accountability and request additional actions to improve programs and services that help Northerners avoid and heal from addictions. If implemented, these recommendations will:

1. Provide immediate supports to young men;
2. Ensure healthcare services are culturally safe;
3. Secure federal support to set up healing centres in the NWT; and
4. Strengthen the follow-up process.

Committee is pleased to submit these recommendations and looks forward to their implementation.

Responding to suicide deaths

On October 3, 2022, the chief coroner took the unprecedented step of releasing data earlier than usual on suicide deaths. The data points to a health crisis: In the first nine months of 2022, 18 Northerners died of suicide, more than in any full year in the last two decades.

In releasing these statistics early, the the chief coroner hoped to spur the government to respond. Indeed, the Minister of Health and Social Services has indicated that "a whole-of-government response is needed."

Committee also sought to respond to the chief coroner's report in the context of this audit review. The chief coroner's report includes a statistic that potentially connects suicide deaths to addictions services - that is, the number of suicide deaths with alcohol as a contributing factor.

To get a better understanding, committee examined more than twenty years of data on suicide deaths. Committee found that.

• Since 2001, 212 Northerners have died by suicide
• Alcohol was a contributing factor in over one in every two deaths, 112 in total.
• Males under age 40 made up over one in every two deaths, 114 in total.

The age profile of the NWT's suicide deaths is younger than Canada's. Here, men in their twenties and thirties are most likely to die of suicide. Across Canada, men in their forties and fifties are most at-risk.

These statistics, and the loss of life that they quantify, are deeply upsetting. Each life lost is a tragedy that extends to families, friends, and communities.

The link between many suicide deaths and alcohol points to the urgency of the audit's focus: to provide addictions prevention and recovery services that meet the needs of Northerners.

The department's workplan commits to promising plans to improve addictions services. But many planned activities, even if implemented successfully and to the full, have timelines of a year or more. Process-driven activities, such as revising hiring practices by the end of 2023-24, will take longer still to influence service quality.

While committee supports all the department's planned activities and understands this work takes time, committee wants to see actions with immediate impacts. Incorporating these immediate actions into the work plan would enhance its relevance, effectiveness, and credibility. Committee's recommendations for immediate actions focus on the demographic group most at-risk of living with suicidal thoughts or behaviour: young men.

I will now turn it over to the MLA for Thebacha. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Member for Thebacha.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Provide immediate supports to young men

Ease access to the On the Land Healing Fund

The On the Land Healing Fund helps Indigenous governments and organizations provide land-based addictions treatment, including aftercare programming.

However, the Auditor heard from some Indigenous groups that administrative requirements make accessing the fund difficult. In both 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, the department failed to distribute $500,000 to $600,000, almost one third of the fund's $1.8 million budget. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 1

That the Department of Health and Social Services review and relax administrative requirements to access the On the Land Healing Fund, with a view to ensuring full uptake of budgeted funds in 2022-2023, and report on whether the funds were dispersed.

Increase support for men's wellness programs

More generally, the GNWT should ensure that all budgeted dollars that support men's wellness are spent each year. Effective programs should receive increased support. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 2

That the Government of the Northwest Territories increase funding for grants and contribution programs that target men's wellness.

Sponsor a Men's Wellness Conference

In October 2022, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council in Saskatchewan hosted a men's wellness conference. The conference discussed the root causes of issues facing some Indigenous men and solutions for change. Over 200 men participated.

Media reporting of the conference includes testimonies that highlight numerous positive outcomes. Participants opened up, shared painful experiences, gained emotional understanding, used humour to balance heavy talks, and recognized that they were not alone. Organizers hoped the men would bring lessons and renewed hope back home, launching their own groups to support healing and change.

Committee wants to see a similar conference in the NWT and believes it could be organized within six months. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 3

That the Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with Indigenous governments, and by the spring 2023, sponsor a men's wellness conference. The conference should focus on hearing, learning, and sharing about the root causes of issues facing some men, such as racism, trauma, isolation, violence, and addictions.

Add a youth priority area to the work plan

The department's work plan is broken down into seven priority areas, corresponding to the Auditor's seven recommendations. Considering that suicide deaths occur disproportionately among young men, committee wants to see an eighth priority focused on people aged 29 years and under.

This new priority area should bring together relevant activities focused on young people from the rest of the work plan into one spot. Potential examples include:

• Equitable access to addictions services for youth in child and family services;
• Disaggregating data on young people; and
• Reviewing job descriptions to hire more Indigenous graduates as youth counsellors.

This youth priority area should also add two new commitments. The second commitment, on sports and recreation, requires the collaboration of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. The Minister of MACA has said that sport and recreation programming is important, especially to youth, for its health and social benefits, including mental wellness. Committee agrees, but is unclear whether MACA sees its role in mental health promotion in collaboration with other GNWT departments and agencies. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 4

That the Department of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, add an eighth priority to the Addictions Prevention and Recovery Work Plan focusing on people aged 29 and under. This priority area should include clear commitments and performance measures to:

• Increase access to and uptake in counselling and healing supports; and
• Increase youth participation in sports and recreation, including measures to improve access to facilities and programming.

Ensure healthcare services are culturally safe

Measure cultural safety effectively

The Auditor's definition of cultural safety was "an outcome where Indigenous people feel safe, respected, and free from racism and discrimination when accessing health and social services programs." Cultural safety is important to remove barriers to accessing services and make it more likely these services will meet Indigenous clients' needs.

A key challenge to ensuring cultural safety is effective measurement. Measurement is important because programs intended to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion, can have varying levels of effectiveness and must be assessed with evidence. But since cultural safety is an outcome inherent to the Indigenous client, departmental reviews of standards and policies is not enough to ensure cultural safety. Insight from Indigenous clients is required. Committee encourages the department to set a goal toward defining how culturally safe outcomes are measured. This work should be done in collaboration with the NTHSSA Leadership Council. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 5

That the Department of Health and Social Services implement. An approach to measure whether users and non-users of the Government of the Northwest Territories addictions services find those services to be culturally safe and provide a timeline for implementation.

I will now turn the document over to the MLA for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Member. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Extend work on cultural safety throughout government

The importance of cultural safety extends beyond addictions services. Committee wants to see work to understand, enhance, and measure cultural safety applied to other areas at the health authorities and in the GNWT. The department should outline how it will build on its most recent cultural safety action plan, Caring for Our People, in the months and years ahead. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 6

That the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct a whole-of-government review of cultural safety in all standards and policies associated with GNWT programs and services and provide a timeline for implementation. This review should identify barriers to cultural safety to inform efforts to remove or reduce identified barriers.

Prioritize revised hiring practices

The work plan aims to revise hiring practices for addictions positions that formally recognized the value of Indigenous qualifications by 2023-2024 fourth quarter. Members believe this work should be completed sooner.

Work on job descriptions and hiring practices should have already been underway before the work plan was developed. The Department of Finance's Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Action Plan contains five action items to increase Indigenous representation at all departments and agencies, including at the health authorities. That plan was launched almost one year ago, in November 2021. The department and health authorities should collaborate with the Department of Finance to expedite this work plan commitment. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 7

That the Department of Health and Social Services and health and social services authorities, in collaboration with the Department of Finance, prioritize their commitment to revise hiring practices for addictions positions to recognize the value of Indigenous qualifications. Committee further recommends the timeline for this work to be moved up by six months, to the second quarter of 2023-2024.

Incorporate Indigenous knowledge into standards of practice

While the work plan commits to revising the hiring process to recognize the value of Indigenous qualifications, it does not explicitly extend that logic beyond the hiring phase and specifically to standards of practice. Western medical standards create barriers to cultural safety for Indigenous residents. They make it harder for Indigenous people to gain accreditations to become healthcare providers within the system. They also distort the measurement of outcomes. Indigenous people lead different lives than non-Indigenous people. The desired healthcare outcomes for Indigenous people do not always match those defined by Western standards.

Indigenous standards of practice are also a matter of rights. Article 24.1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples declare that "Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices." Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 8

That the Department of Health and Social Services and health and social services authorities review and adjust standards of practice to recognize the value of Indigenous knowledge and provide a timeline for implementation.

Set up mechanism for staff-identified changes

To complement the work plan's top-down, holistic approach, committee proposes a bottom-up mechanism for healthcare staff to identify improvements. This will empower frontline staff to develop, implement, and communicate creative solutions in real time while the larger policy approach is in development.

Committee is not aware of any such mechanism, available system-wide, to drive bottom-up change. Frontline workers have an important perspective on the challenges in service delivery. They may be able to propose out-of-the-box solutions not conceived elsewhere. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 9

That the Department of Health and Social Services and health and social services authorities set up a distinct method for frontline staff to identify barriers to care and cultural safety or propose better practices and policies on an ongoing basis and provide a timeline for implementation.

Reach those at risk who do not use addictions services

A key concern for committee is overcoming barriers to risk at each individual who does not access addictions services. The Auditor highlighted the need to gather data from individuals who are not service users. Committee believes the work plan can go farther to reach at-risk individuals and therefore recommends:

Recommendation 10

That the Department of Health and Social Services collect and analyze data from residents who do not use GNWT addictions prevention and recovery services, to identify creative ways to remove barriers and make services more culturally safe and provide a timeline for implementation.

Secure federal support to set up healing centres in the NWT.

Members have heard repeated cries for one or more in-territory healing centres. Right now, Northerners who want to access facility-based addictions treatments must leave the NWT to receive this service. Neither the audit nor the work plan provide a determination on whether the NWT should set up in-territory healing centres. The auditor noted that the lack of in-territory facilities could create barriers for some clients, including those concerned that southern treatment may not reflect their culture. However, the auditor stopped short of recommending a healing centre. The work plan is silent on the matter.

By contrast, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action No. 21 is quite clear. It states: "We call upon the federal government to provide sustainable funding for existing and new aboriginal healing centres to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harms caused by residential schools, and to ensure that the funding of healing centres in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is a priority."

The federal government recently made good on this Call to Action for Nunavut. Canada is providing nearly $50 million to support up to 75 percent of the construction costs for the Nunavut Recovery Centre. Nunavut's centre will be based on Inuit cultural practices and provide a range of treatment and healing interventions. Canada will also provide $10 million in ongoing annual operating support.

Between Call to Action No. 21 and Nunavut's recent precedent, committee believes it's time for the GNWT to secure federal support for one or more healing centres in the territory. This should include immediate access to detox centres in each region. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 11

That the Government of the Northwest Territories, in collaboration with Indigenous governments, pursue federal funding to help set up healing centres in the Northwest Territories.

Strengthen the follow-up process

Present performance measures and regular reporting

Committee wants to ensure that the department demonstrates its progress towards achieving the work plan's expected results. One potential risk, in this regard, lies in the lack of disclosure on performance measures. The work plan that the department presented at the October 6th public briefing contained activity measures to describe what work would be done. The work plan also included high-level statements on expected results. But missing were specific performance results that are easily measurable.

Committee is aware that the auditor required the department to comply with word count limits. More detailed aspects of the work plan, like performance measures, may not have fit within the publishing constraints. Committee wants to see performance measures and regular public reporting on progress towards associated targets. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 12

That the Department of Health and Social Services present performance measures for each activity in the Addictions Prevention and Recovery Work Plan and provide a timeline for implementation. The department should report on progress with:

• A web-based tracker, similar to ECE's Action Plan to Improve Student Outcomes Progress Tracker, on a quarterly basis; and
• A public briefing at committee, in spring or summer 2023 before the 19th Assembly ends.

Madam Speaker, I would like to pass the final reading of this report back to the MLA for Yellowknife North. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Incorporate recommendations into work plan

Committee's recommendations aim to reinforce existing commitments in the work plan and initiate additional actions to enhance addictions prevention and recovery services.

Committee wants to see the department respond more substantially than with a standard tabled response and sooner than in 120 days. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 13: That the Department of Health and Social Services make changes to its Addictions Prevention and Recovery Work Plan, as soon as possible, to reflect the recommendations contained in this committee report

Conclusion

This concludes the Standing Committee on Government Operations' Report on the Review of the 2022 Audit of Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services. Committee looks forward to the government's response to these recommendations.

Recommendation 14

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Yellowknife North.

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022 Audit of Addictions, Prevention and Recovery Services in the Northwest Territories be received by the Assembly and moved into committee for further consideration. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 9.4(4), and ask that Committee Report 37-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report of the Review of the 2022 Audit of Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services in the Northwest Territories, be referred directly to Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Sorry, we have to go back to the unanimous consent of -- thank you. So the motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. The committee report will be moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

---Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm seeking unanimous consent, again to waive Rule 9.4(4), so that this Committee Report 37-19(2) can be referred directly to Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 9.4 (4) and have Committee Report 37-19(2) referred directly to Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Committee Report 37-19 (2) will be referred directly to the Committee of the Whole for consideration later today.

Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Our NWT's senior population is ever increasing. Just to maintain a home, it's becoming an issue for many seniors. Winter is especially difficult for many. General home maintenance is difficult to maintain and is very costly. Accessibility and comfort is an issue. Seniors need barrier-free access. Madam Speaker, seniors want to know they are a priority to this government. Can the Minister responsible for Housing NWT inform this House how her department is actively addressing housing needs for an increasing number of NWT seniors? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of NWT Housing.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the Member for his question. Housing NWT is a part of the interdepartmental mandate efforts to enable seniors to age in place with dignity by increasing supports for seniors to stay in their homes and communities and that this has also played a part in the Housing NWT's strategic renewal efforts. Housing NWT continues to administer over 370 public housing units for seniors across the territory. Housing NWT's designs continue to reflect the needs of our seniors. For example, as part of our current federal cost-shared new public housing unit delivery, Housing NWT is delivering an innovative two storey duplex that can accommodate seniors accessibility needs on the first floor. As part of the 100 new public housing unit delivery, Housing NWT is delivering ten accessible seniors units that will be allocated to all five regions of the Northwest Territories. These units will be designed in a way that seniors can age in place in their home and have their accessibility needs addressed. Housing NWT continues to support a suite of homeownership programs tailored to the needs of the seniors, such as the Seniors Aging in Place Program. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I thank the Minister for that response. Madam Speaker, can the Minister tell me has the technical assessment of the Riverview Lodge in Hay River been completed, and if not, where is it in the process that the Minister previously indicated was underway? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question and the statement as well too. Housing NWT has undertaken a technical assessment of the Riverview Lodge in Hay River. The findings of this report indicate that overall the building is in good condition. The report includes a range of recommended capital upgrades to extend the building's operation life for over another -- for another ten years. Housing NWT continues to maintain the building and closely monitors its condition. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That's interesting with the findings there and, you know, when I've had the opportunity to go in the building, you know, I might have a difference of opinion. But anyways, Madam Speaker, can the Minister tell those seniors in Hay River whether their planning for a new seniors multi-residential facility has been completed or at least started with an estimated timeframe. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The seniors housing needs continue to be a discussion with the community as part of the development of the Hay River's community housing plan. Preliminary planning for the replacement of Riverview Lodge is underway, including possible funding sources. Detailed plans for the replacement of the building will involve close community engagement with leadership, the Hay River Senior's Society, and stakeholders. A range of factors will be considered in the process, such as proximity and local amenities. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the Minister tell me in the decommissioning of Riverview Lodge in ten years, has consideration been given to include planning for a new facility on that site? I think the location of it is important because it is downtown, and seniors like the location. It allows them to get out and walk and visit and also to use the amenities that the downtown core provides. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm happy to say that Housing is considering this area for future development. We do have plans that are on the way. Right now it is a discussion within the department, and I will keep the Member informed as we progress with the new seniors' complex. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My Member's statement was the GNWT presented legislation to increase carbon tax last week. Legislation will remove carbon tax rebate for home heating fuel, change increase of home heating bills by hundreds of dollars in my riding. In the press release yesterday, Madam Speaker, there was nothing said about the impact of heating bills. Can the Minister tell me how much heating bills will go up for the average household in the communities of Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, and Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I do have that information. I was just trying to see if I could pull it up quickly to provide that sense. I certainly can say, Madam Speaker, that quite unfortunately the communities in the riding of Nunakput are likely to be facing some of the highest impacts from the change to the federal carbon tax rate. And Madam Speaker, I'm not sure it does much good at this point to try to guess at those numbers. But they certainly are facing some of the highest increases certainly in the Northwest Territories as a result of the change to that carbon tax rate. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Could we have that information that she just said before the end of the sitting.

Madam Speaker, our government's press release said nothing about the impact of higher carbon taxes in heating bills. It didn't say anything about the impact of cost of living average in a household or a business. When the government raises its taxes to explain the impact of people from $50 a ton to $65 a ton, it's not meaningful information for the people. Government should provide more transparent accessible information on its proposal, Madam Speaker.

Can the Minister commit to release information on how the carbon tax will affect households in each community now through to 2030? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I certainly will be able to release that and make sure that we get it to the Members, make sure we get that out to the public. And Madam Speaker, you know, to be very clear also there's a difference in terms of who's being impacted. Folks that own their home are likely to pay more because they pay their heating fuel. Folks that are in market rentals that are paying for their heating fuel are likely to pay more. Folks who are in social housing or affordable housing will not be paying simply because that's part of the costs that get paid for them. Or if someone lives in a rental situation where the landlord won't be passing that on, they wouldn't, although given the increases, that is certainly not something one wouldn't want to plan on. But there are a number of households who are in other circumstances, they will be facing increases and we'll make sure to get that information out what the anticipated average rate increases will be by community. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the press release said, again, that GNWT offset its heating costs using a cost of living offset will the equal average out household heating cost increase and the people will still get impacted through the social housing due to the local LHOs going to still have to pay for that fuel which comes out of their budget which is so limited.

Madam Speaker, will the Minister consider a fairer approach to the carbon tax to offset such as a tiered cost of living offset payments to give more support to the people of the Beaufort Delta in a tiered system? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I certainly would consider that. And Madam Speaker, I just wanted to acknowledge that, you know, it's thanks very much to the ideas presented by committee that the department can go back and take some time and see if there are other ways to try to mitigate the increases to the federal carbon tax. One being a tiered system by region but at the same time looking at, you know, that -- as I said earlier, home -- someone who owns their home, someone who doesn't own their home, even within a region, there's going to be differences in what someone pays. So we do want to do some work to try to be as equitable as possible but acknowledging that because there certainly are those ridings who are facing those higher costs, Madam Speaker, we are going to go back and see if there is a way to adjust to account for that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you. I thank the Minister for that, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, some provinces rebate provincial sales tax and heating bills. We don't pay provincial sales tax but we do pay GST in our heating bills, and that adds 5 percent on our tax on every bill. What measures has the Minister considered to support heating costs in the Beaufort Delta? Has the Minister considered asking the federal government for a rebate GST on heating bills in the territories when heating costs is most expensive? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I can say that I have not heard it raised, the idea of requesting specifically a GST rebate on heating fuel. So as I said earlier, I'm happy to take that forward. And more generally, I will acknowledge I've certainly been tasked by my colleagues to take the message to Ottawa given the impacts of climate change in the Northwest Territories that the increased costs and what that's going to do to individual residents and businesses is, as I say, a message that I've been tasked to carry forward and I certainly will do so. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ECE. Can the Minister explain how the department and the city are going to work together in order to finalize the access to Tin Can Hill as a university? And by access, I mean the physical access. We can talk about the getting Northerners into the university at a later day. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So there is a regulatory process, and the City of Yellowknife -- it is their regulatory process. And so officials are meeting with the -- officials from ECE are meeting with the officials from the City of Yellowknife to get an understanding of what that process is and the timelines involved with that. But it is through that process that the issues of traffic flow and things like that can be dealt with. And the college wants to be a good neighbour to all of the residents in the area. I can assure you of that. And we don't want to create a situation where there is, you know, concern in the neighbourhood or there's safety concerns. That's not the goal. The goal is to build a post-secondary institution to benefit the people of the Northwest Territories, not to cause disruptions in neighbourhoods. So as I said, the city is driving those -- that regulatory process, but as soon as we find out what that process is and we get some timelines, I'd be happy to share that with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister's comments and commitments to share with me. I do think that there's a lot that can be done to ensure that residents don't feel blindsided as we progress. And I just want to get that plug in for extension of 52nd Street so that School Draw and Copper Sky don't deal with the traffic coming out of the university.

My next question, though, is to do with the facilities management plan. It does comment in the plan that the community learning centres are going to be a key role in the future polytechnic as extensions into the smaller communities and tied to their regional centres of Fort Smith, Inuvik, and Yellowknife campuses.

So can the Minister speak to the fact that several of the small communities do not have a community learning centre, so how will those communities get that support or be an extension of the nearby polytechnic campus if they don't have a learning centre in which to operate? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And one of the goals that we set out with this transformation was to ensure that the college had a presence in every single community in the Northwest Territories. And that's not the case right now. What that presence looks like, that is what is being worked out. In a perfect world, there would be a physical space with appropriate internet connections and whatnot in every community, but this is a massive project and we're looking at improvements to the three campuses as well as a number of community learning centres. So it's not likely that every community will have a community learning centre, a physical space in the near future. But the college does want to be able to expand what they offer online so that if you're in a community without a community learning centre, you can begin your studies online and then perhaps move to a community with a community learning centre or to a campus community to complete those studies. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I almost thought I was going to get a commitment there for every community to get a community learning centre but the Minister is smarter than that. So I do appreciate the commitment on the access; however, that does bring up the lack of internet and computer availability and education within our small communities. I guess then that leads me to my question.

I sort of noted in this job if someone is not responsible for something in particular, no one seems to become responsible for it. So who within the organization of ECE will be the person that coordinates and ensures that the communities get those CLC faculties or at least have the access to that in the community? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So we're on a path, along with Aurora College, towards a polytechnic university. And it is going to be the college who is going to be making those decisions about access as we progress further. Once we have a board of governors in place, which I hope happens early in the new year, it will be that board of governors that will be fulfilling the mandate of the college and focus -- one of the focuses from the beginning has been ensuring access to college programs in every community. So it will be the board of governors who will be tasked with ensuring there is access in every community. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I know there were some controversy around the board of governors, but I won't touch that here today. I guess my last question is around how will the community learning centres be used to utilize or open up for other initiatives within the community? I had the great fortune of going over to Makerspace recently and seeing their space, and the big conversation there was not so much about always having the programming for people but having the space so others can execute their programming. So if the Minister could respond to that, that would be great. Thank you.

Thank you. And since we've made the changes to the Aurora College Act, I can't speak for the college, but we are working closely together so I can say that the college is open to working with community partners. There is a Makerspace up in Inuvik, and that is part of the college already. And so if there are other opportunities to work with third parties and their synergies, if there's space required and the college has that space, I know that they would be happy to make those connections when it makes sense. We all need to work together and pool our resources. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions to the health Minister stem from my Member's statement regarding diabetes.

Canada's framework for diabetes acknowledges a self-reported rate of diabetes among First Nations and Metis adults is, respectfully, 1.9 to 1.5 times that of non-Indigenous adults. And the number rises to 4.7 percent among Inuit.

The report also notes cases of diabetes in Indigenous communities are often more severe than those in the general population. My question is what is the health Minister doing specifically to address the rate of diabetes among Indigenous people in the NWT, especially the Indigenous communities? Mahsi.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we don't have a specific Indigenous diabetes approach but we are well aware that this is a disease that has a greater effect on Indigenous people, and men in particular, and so that's something that we work with awareness of.

We started some primary healthcare reform projects in the last year, and one of the aims of these is to improve access to services for people who have chronic conditions. So the planning is underway now to expand the primary healthcare reform projects to the Deh Cho, Tlicho, Beaufort Delta, and Hay River regions. So with that, the Member should be able to see some changes in his community around chronic disease management. Thank you.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. I think she took care of my second question so I'll move on to my third one.

Madam Speaker, can the Minister commit to increase diabetes awareness and education in small communities and the consequences of untreated diabetes in a culturally relevant setting. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have a territorial specialist of chronic disease management who has been in the position since May of 2019. It's that person's job to research and provide recommendations on patient care standards related to chronic disease management services. The focus is on providing culturally appropriate and standardized diabetes programming by working with all of the community-based dieticians to ensure that that's the case. Thank you.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, can the Minister commit to including screening efforts in small communities in a culturally relevant setting where people are empowered to get tested? Mahsi.

Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is a timely question. All persons, regardless of where they live, are offered screening for diabetes. That's an inventory of risk factors and then a blood test which would confirm whether the person is diabetic or prediabetic.

I'm pleased to say that work is going to begin this year, and ongoing for three years, to work with families who are living with type two diabetes to develop culturally relevant diabetes education materials and programming and looking also at on-the-land camps that would be specifically for intergenerational families affected by diabetes. So planning is going to begin on developing and putting out this initiative in the next few months. And I welcome the Member to ask me additional questions in the winter session. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions, to start, are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

We learned last week that there are currently 30 spots in the Aurora College nursing program. So I'm wondering if the Minister can tell us how many bursaries are available? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.