The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Welcome, everybody. Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Madam Speaker, settling and implementing treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories and a key part of the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Concluding agreements with our Indigenous government partners will advance reconciliation, recognize and affirm Indigenous and treaty rights, support program and service delivery by Indigenous governments, and set the stage for economic self-determination.

I understand why many MLAs and residents want to see faster progress on resolving outstanding land claims. This work has been underway for decades and Northerners, including myself, want to see the modern treaties settled. Madam Speaker, when negotiating agreements we must also recognize that for many of the Indigenous governments, there are strong feelings rooted in a history of colonization and mistreatment. In many cases, there is significant mistrust in the Government of the NWT. The territorial government is seen as a competitor, as a colonial imposition, or, in some cases, an illegitimate government altogether. This, of course, and makes the negotiations process much more complex and makes the work of relationship-building critical to making progress.

I am proud of the work we have done during the life of this government to advance negotiations. A particular focus has been placed on meaningful engagement and building on our collaborative partnership with Indigenous governments. In 2020, this government implemented a first of its kind collaborative development protocol for lands and resources legislation, building on the promise of devolution to work better with Indigenous governments. This protocol is unique in Canada.

Madam Speaker, this government has also established new intergovernmental tables to work directly with Indigenous governments, including:

• A modern treaty and self-government partners table that allows for dialogue around the implementation of land claims and self-government agreements between those Indigenous governments with settled agreements and the executive council members; and,
• An NWT Council of Leaders table where all Indigenous governments meet with the Government of the Northwest Territories and work on matters of common concern, including the implementation of the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Madam Speaker, these tables did not exist prior to this government. This work is meant to build relationships and help set the conditions for trust and success in all our work with Indigenous governments. We also worked very closely with the Indigenous governments during the pandemic and continue to engage on a range of shared objectives, including everything from housing to climate change.

Madam Speaker, I am proud of how this government has changed our approach to work more collaboratively with the Indigenous partners, to listen to their concerns, and to be flexible and accommodating in order to advance negotiations. In this regard, I believe we set a positive example for others to follow throughout Canada.

Early in this government, Indigenous leadership told me that they were frustrated by the negotiating mandate on core principles and objectives used by the Government of the Northwest Territories that sets out a mandate related to the standards expected of Indigenous self-governments. The core principles and objectives were originally adopted as an innovative made-in-the-NWT solution to a federal mandate requirement to have Indigenous self-governments

"Meet or beat" existing federal or provincial standards. To address the frustration, I asked that we assess its usefulness. As a result, this government eliminated that mandate in the interest of advancing files.

Madam Speaker, we need to be thinking outside the box when it comes to negotiations. In an effort to do so, we have also taken the extraordinary step of clearly stating the Government of the Northwest Territories' key principles and interests guiding negotiations. No territorial government before has done this. Making the key principles and interest public is a significant commitment to transparency and provides more openness on the interests of the Government of the Northwest Territories in negotiations.

In addition to the key principles and interests, I also heard complaints that Indigenous governments felt the territorial government did not have mandates in negotiations. We have since summarized our comprehensive mandates and made those summaries public, further demonstrating our commitment to concluding agreements.

I have never been content to just let negotiations continue without trying new things. However, residents should know that delays in completing agreements are complex. As we explore new ideas and approaches, we must recognize that sometimes Indigenous governments need time to build the understanding and support within their membership, or that the Government of Canada, a partner in all negotiations, might introduce a new concept to the table that requires further examination.

These governments also have elections and changes in leadership. Of course, delays might simply be the result of any party taking a hard position and being unwilling at the particular moment in time to explore interests that might see a different solution emerge.

Madam Speaker, I am proud of how this government has changed its approach - to work more collaboratively with our Indigenous partners, to listen to their concerns, and to be flexible and accommodating in order to advance negotiations. I continue to be willing to

Hear from Indigenous governments what compromises on both our parts are the key to concluding agreements.

There is less than a year left in the life of the 19th Legislative Assembly. I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm this government's commitment to work toward settling and implementing treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements over the next year. This work has required significant effort, not just for the Government of the Northwest Territories but for Indigenous governments throughout the territories, and I want to close by acknowledging and commending their efforts in these areas as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Madam Speaker, as employment levels reach historic heights, tight labour markets are being experienced across the Northwest Territories and Canada. To address labour shortages, the Government of the Northwest Territories is working to strengthen our northern workforce through legislation, funding programs, academic and technical supports, and enhanced programs and policies.

Madam Speaker, Skills 4 Success is the GNWT's overarching labour market framework. Its purpose is to improve employment success for NWT residents, close skill gaps for in-demand jobs, and more effectively respond to employer and industry needs. The Skills 4 Success Action Plan for 2021 to 2025 was released earlier this year and will serve as a roadmap for education, training, and skills building activities and investments.

Madam Speaker, we are making progress in several areas. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is building a comprehensive post-secondary education system through the Post-Secondary Education Act, which will establish the framework to recognize post-secondary education institutes and programs in the NWT. Work continues to transform Aurora College into a polytechnic university to increase access to quality post-secondary education opportunities for Northerners and provide training for jobs in demand.

A review is also underway to improve our student supports under the NWT Student Financial Assistance Program. Each of these pieces is important as we evolve post-secondary education in the NWT and equip students for successful careers.

Madam Speaker, to meet the needs of our workforce, ECE delivers a suite of labour market programs which provide funding for a variety of areas such as training, wage subsidies, and job creation. The department is also working on making labour market information easily accessible for our residents to guide them in their education and career planning.

Madam Speaker, we know that there is a high demand for tradespeople across the NWT and Canada. To support our trades workforce, the department launched innovative supports this year.

Build Your Skills is a program that helps to identify any gaps apprentices might have in their skills set and supports them to achieve those requirements in areas such as math, reading and science. To assist apprentices who face challenges with technical training, the department also launched the Virtual Learning Strategist pilot, an online learning platform that pairs each apprentice with a learning strategist. The learning strategist will work with the apprentice to identify challenges such as skill gaps, learning disabilities, exam anxiety, and individual factors that could affect their performance.

Madam Speaker, this week across Canada, National Skilled Trades and Technology Week will be celebrated as we raise awareness of the many career opportunities in the skilled trades and technology sectors in the NWT and nationally. This week, we honour the 40 Apprenticeship High Mark Award recipients and the 52 individuals who have obtained journeyperson certification this year in the Northwest Territories. I offer my congratulations to all the award recipients on their achievements and extend my thanks to employers of apprentices.

Madam Speaker, high employment rates, although positive for job seekers, can be difficult for employers struggling to fill vacant positions. This fall, the GNWT introduced a new Francophone stream to the Northwest Territories Nominee Program. This was identified as an action of our 2017-2022 Immigration Strategy to attract foreign nationals whose skills are aligned with current workforce needs, and to increase Francophone applications to the nominee program. One key difference in the new stream is that the nominee is the one to complete the application process, allowing employers to focus on running their operation as opposed to completing paperwork.

Madam Speaker, the people of this territory are the greatest resource and the driving force behind the territory's economy and sustainable communities. This government is dedicated to equipping residents with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need for employment success. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will table Changing the Relationship, the final action plan in response to the Calls for Justice on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples. At its core, this action plan is about relationships - Our relationships with institutions, governments, people, and history.

The national inquiry examined the causes contributing to the ongoing violence and systematic vulnerabilities that continue to disproportionately affect Indigenous women, girls and two spirit persons. They found that the thousands of truths shared reinforce the existence of acts of genocide against Indigenous women, girls and two spirit persons. Many of those acts are sadly well known in the Northwest Territories.

I have said it before, Madam Speaker; most Northwest Territories residents, and certainly everyone in this room, know someone who has attended a residential or day school, whose grandparent lost a family member during the '50s and '60s tuberculosis outbreak, or whose sibling was taken away during the '60s Scoop. We may also know someone whose friend, sister, or mother suffered from violence or was taken away by violence from her family too soon.

We continue to see disproportionately higher rates of poor heath indicators, lower education attainment, and other negative social, health, and economic indicators across the Northwest Territories' Indigenous population compared to the rest of Canadians.

In 2019, the Calls for Justice challenged jurisdictions across Canada to acknowledge that colonialism is not only a discrete event in the past but that it built systems, institutions, practices, and ways of thinking that are still around today. For example, residential schools might be closed but the deeper-rooted notion that Indigenous people are better off to be educated under a Eurocentric-designed system is not. The connection between the past and the present day and how this past continues to influence government, policies and culture and continues to impact people across Canada. It impacts every one of our relationships - with ourselves, others, with communities and with government.

Only through understanding this, can we begin to take action so that Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people are granted the same safety and security as their non-Indigenous friends, colleagues, and neighbours.

Changing the Relationship aims to understand and to find ways to change all of these relationships. Guided by engagements with Indigenous governments, community governments, and people with lived-experience, this action plan is a culmination of years of work that is intended to dismantle colonialism and racial and gendered discrimination from all levels of government and public institutions.

As the Minister responsible for this action plan, I feel the weight of the challenges ahead but also privileged to be in a position of such tremendous trust and with so much opportunity for change.

The team supporting the work of the National Inquiry prepared 233 pages of recommendations collected from 98 different inquiries, inquests and reports across the country, looking for answers to the challenges of decolonization and anti-racism. Without fundamentally altering the underlying relationships through which we read and apply these recommendations, the change that they might otherwise achieve remains fleeting.

Therefore, before getting into the individual or department-specific actions, we start out with a comprehensive approach for changing relationships with government and within government through change leaders throughout the public service. Our list of action items are then grouped according to the themes presented within the national report; namely, culture and language, health and wellness, human security, and justice. Some are specific, such as expanding the Northern Distance Learning Program while others are more far-reaching such as leading a system-wide shift towards a culturally safe and relationship-based health and social services system.

In every case, achieving these action items will not only be changing the systems, pathways, processes, and outcomes for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people but will also be transforming the way we govern in ways that will benefit every single resident of the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, the life of every mother, sister, auntie, daughter, or friend who has died, gone missing, been hurt, or been in any one of many ways silenced, is being heard. Their voices are the voices within the National Inquiry's final report and its Calls to Justice. These voices have carried us to a moment where we have an opportunity as a government, as a Legislative Assembly, and within our society to plant seeds of change. I am planting seeds with this action plan, but I am relying on every colleague in this room, and fellow leaders in every Indigenous government assembly, and in every municipal council chamber, to plant their seeds. Together, nurtured by a new sense of relationship, these seeds will grow into a strong and healthy forest. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I want to talk about MTS and the community resupply delays.

The reasons for these delays have been attributed to others and always no fault of our own management. This government is normalizing and accepting of this substandard form of service.

Madam Speaker, the Minister responsible for MTS previously stated reasons for not making the delivery to Sachs Harbour. What we have heard was that coast guard were late setting buoys, the Hay River channel was an issue, flooding in Hay River delayed access to the harbour, climate change was an impediment, fuel hoses were sabotaged in Norman Wells, weather was a factor, they were helping a company with fuel delivery, that they were waiting on suppliers, and the list goes on. Madam Speaker, what the Minister does not say, that while not making deliveries to Arctic communities which rely on annual resupply, is that MTS was busy delivering fuel to the North Warning System in Nunavut. They were delivering freight to Sabina Gold in Nunavut which had to be completed by others. They were shuttling fuel from the Torm Lily, a fuel ship, to Tuk.

Madam Speaker, while communities were waiting on resupply, MTS vessels were busy servicing other customers at the expense of northern communities.

Madam Speaker, this government purchased the assets of NTCL for the main reason of providing uninterrupted and timely resupply of goods to communities, something we have trouble with and accept failure with consequences for no one. I question who is providing management and oversight of MTS.

Any company, or person who has worked in the North will know that there are many factors that could impact a project. Knowing this, MTS management and this government should be prepared to adjust the best-intentioned plans with optional timelines and delivery mechanisms based on the many elements that work against timely delivery. These elements include weather, water conditions, ice conditions, mechanical issues, reliance on third parties, personnel, and taking on additional contracts. And in the end, the priority must be the communities and not that of bidding on other work if it interferes with community resupply.

Madam Speaker, we have asked this government to review the corporate structure and management of MTS for a reason; that reason being to identify a corporate model with experienced management that would provide safe, dependable, efficient, and timely delivery of goods and services to those communities relying on annual resupply. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last Friday, I spoke in the House about a housing shortage in Paulatuk. I described to the Members and the Ministers about a young couple living in a tent frame; a young couple that's been trying to get into public housing since their baby was one month old. It's unbelievable that the baby's 13 months old, and I'm still advocating for the family to have a roof over their heads, Madam Speaker.

This government has allowed a newborn to go without adequate shelter in the first full year of her life. The Minister stated, "Right now I don't know what units are available in Paulatuk." Madam Speaker, I can tell you Unit 65 is still available in the community.

I represent my constituents. I need my Minister to take action, Madam Speaker. A couple of months they completed their work a year and a half ago, the paperwork is in, they had patiently waited, winter's sitting in. It's minus 20 in the community, Madam Speaker. I have support from the community leadership. I'm asking this Minister, Member to Member, to take authority to provide Ministers to ensure that the family has a roof over their heads by this weekend. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Carlson Construction of Edmonton completed the Lanky Court apartment complex in 1976. At the time, CMHC was the mortgage holder with a 50-year loan in place - the projected lifespan of the property. Carlson Construction leased the property to the NWT Housing Corporation for 15 years with the GNWT holding a one-time option to purchase, exercisable in 1991. The building was originally intended to accommodate GNWT staff.

Madam Speaker, in August 1988, a report was commissioned, "Lanky Court - A Study of Building Rehabilitation for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation." This report advised the GNWT that they would need to spend $2.6 million to rehabilitate the Lanky Court Apartments. The property's appraised value at the time was $2.7 million.

In August of 1989, the fire marshal condemned the Lanky property due to electrical hazards created by longstanding roof membrane and envelope issues that dated back to construction. Madam Speaker, all of these problems are well documented in the 1988 report.

Northview currently owns the complex, and we all know they rely on public housing revenue for their northern portfolio. And we all know, Madam Speaker, what type of landlord this massive national REIT is.

Recently a tenant was paid more than $4,000 after maintenance crews left moldy stinking holes in common areas after repairing a leaky pipe. We have heard complaints in this House about the recent cockroach infestation. The Yellowknife Housing Authority says they are aware of the insect issue and are working with Northview to remedy the problem. However, tenants report being threatened with fines if they can't get out of their apartment to allow it to be sprayed yet the pest control specialists don't show up at the scheduled time.

We have one family living in hotel rooms due to the unabated mold growing in their apartment; and, trying to help a mother of five, one in a wheelchair, get the boardwalk cleared of snow so her son can attend school. She doesn't know what she would do in the event of a fire other than to drop her son off the boardwalk for a two-storey drop.

Madam Speaker, as the 50-year projected lifespan of the Lanky Court Apartments comes to an end, what has the Housing Corporation done to ensure the property is habitable? If it was deemed unsuitable for GNWT staff housing in 1989, why is it acceptable for it to be used for public housing clients now? I will questions for the Minister of Housing at the appropriate time.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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