The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Ministers' Statements. Honorable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Madam Speaker, as we pass the mid-point for the 19th Legislative Assembly, it is important to take stock of where we are as a government, and the progress we are making in fulfilling the commitments we made in our mandate.

At the beginning of this Legislative Assembly, our government tabled the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2019-2023, which established the actions we planned to take to advance the 22 shared priorities set by this Legislative Assembly.

Madam Speaker, despite the ongoing challenges felt here at home and around the world because of the COVID pandemic, our government continues to make progress on our mandate commitments. In fact, we expect to be able to achieve the majority of our commitments within the life of this Legislative Assembly.

Later today, I will table our government's second annual status report on the implementation of the mandate. This report highlights some of our major accomplishments from the past year, as well as a number of expected achievements for the upcoming year. Madam Speaker, I would now like to share some of the highlights with Members.

In the past year, our government has continued to build and strengthen our relationships with Indigenous governments through the Intergovernmental Council and by establishing and holding regular meetings with the NWT Council of Leaders, and the Modern Treaty and Self-Government Partners forum. These forums support our government's efforts to build stronger, more collaborative relationships with Indigenous governments.

One of the specific initiatives underway at the officials' working group level is advancing the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are also in the process of undertaking engagement on the GNWT's draft Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

A number of initiatives are also underway to improve social supports for residents and community governments. Most notably, our government signed an important funding agreement with Canada late last year to create 300 full-time equivalent affordable childcare spaces by 2026 and support increased affordability for existing spaces for children from birth to age five. This funding will support the Early Learning and Child Care Strategy, scheduled to be completed in the near future.

Important social programs, including On-the-land Healing programs, the Healthy Family program, increased social housing programs and increasing housing units, as well as many other programs and services continue to be expanded.

Madam Speaker, we are also taking action toward growing, diversifying and expanding our economy in the aftermath of the pandemic. The procurement review was completed last year, and work is underway to develop and implement the policy changes necessary to maximize economic benefits for northern businesses and residents. We completed major infrastructure projects like the Tlicho Highway in the past year and continue important work to advance others, including the Taltson Hydro Expansion, the Slave Geological Province Corridor, and the Mackenzie Valley Highway. In the past year, we have also secured federal funding for the replacement of the Frank Channel Bridge and the Inuvik Airport runway extension.

Madam Speaker, we are also continuing the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university. By passing amendments to the Aurora College Act, securing federal funding to support infrastructure planning and the development of enhanced research capacity, we are creating a strong foundation that will benefit northern students, communities, and our economy.

With regards to climate change, the NWT Climate Change Council was established this past year, including Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, community governments, and other external partners. We have also integrated climate change considerations into our government's decision-making instruments.

This coming year will see the release of an updated 2030 Energy Strategy Action Plan to support the continued advancement of a number of projects aimed at reducing emissions, including transmission lines and the Inuvik Wind Project.

Madam Speaker, we recognize that new challenges likely lie ahead as we attempt to recover from the effects of the pandemic and adjust to a "new normal" where COVID is endemic in our society. It is therefore critical that we continue working collaboratively with our partners, including Indigenous governments, community governments, federal and interjurisdictional governments, industry, non-governmental organizations, and residents, as well as all Members of the Legislative Assembly, to address any new challenges and to continue to advance mandate commitments.

Madam Speaker, this represents only a small amount of the hard work our public service has done to deliver programs and services for the residents of the NWT. I am inspired by the way Northerners have pulled together through the last two years despite the many challenges. With a shared vision for our territory and a collaborative spirit, I am confident that our government will continue to make progress on our commitments as we enter the second half of our term. I look forward to discussing our progress on the mandate in more detail, and in continuing to work with Regular Members on our shared priorities.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, today is Pink Shirt Day, a day when we take a moment to pause and reflect on how we treat one another.

Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 in Nova Scotia. After a male student was harassed for wearing a pink shirt, teenagers David Shepherd and Travis Price organized an anti-bullying protest in which they handed out pink shirts to the students in their school. Fifteen years later, Pink Shirt Day has become a global call-to-action as schools, communities and workplaces are flooded with pink in solidarity against bullying.

This year's national theme continues as Lift Each Other Up. It encourages us to support people, embracing their cultures, identities, and true selves by reminding us all to demonstrate greater acceptance, inclusion, and respect for everyone. I am happy to see so much pink around the House today, as we stand together on Pink Shirt Day.

We all share the responsibility to ensure our schools and communities are safe spaces - where bullying is prevented wherever possible, and addressed quickly when it does occur. Bullying is a complex issue that affects people of all ages in all settings, including schools, workplaces, and online. The effects of bullying can last a lifetime, causing fear, withdrawal, social distress, and severe physical and psychological harm.

During these long days, the second winter of the pandemic, we may be challenged at times to find the strength to lift each other up. The impact of COVID-19 on our collective and individual mental health is real. This strain affects students, teachers, parents, families and community members alike, as we adjust and re-adjust to the ongoing changes required to ensure our communities and schools are safe spaces. Yet, simple kindness, acceptance, and compassion for ourselves and others can make a real difference to the people around us.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment works closely with the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure counselling is available in every school and community.

Madam Speaker, throughout the pandemic, we have heard a simple message - be kind. When we see bullying, we need to speak up. And when we are being a bully, we must reflect on our actions and seek out ways to do better.

We are all role models, whatever role we play in our communities, and our youth look to us to set an example, so today and every day let us celebrate all the things that make us unique, let us be kind to one another, and let us lift each other up. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank you for letting me put my name in earlier today for this.

Madam Speaker, over the past two years the pandemic has taken over the lives of Canadians. It has created and encouraged division amongst many. It has successfully torn families apart, pitted friend against friend, promoted animosity within social groups - all this mostly caused by misinformation, imperfect communication, and fear.

Madam Speaker, elders are being confined to extended care facilities. Out of fear, some people are unwilling to leave their homes. Social fractures in the community are causing anxiety and distrust. Not being able to feed one's family due to loss of employment is affecting one's self worth. Loss of one's business is causing depression. Limited access to acute healthcare services are costing lives - all of this leading to further anxiety, fear, uncertainty, stress, and sometimes loss of life.

Madam Speaker, we may be turning the page on the physical harm caused by the virus, and it is now time to focus on the healing aspect by managing the mental health damage caused by the virus, pandemic lockdowns, and restrictions.

Reviewing information on both sides of the debate, my understanding is that there is an unknown when we talk about how the pandemic has impacted one's mental health. We see words being used that include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, irritation, frustration, anger, insomnia, suicide, substance abuse, addictions, guilt and intimidation - all being indicators associated with mental health.

Madam Speaker, those with mental health disorders are prone to relapse causing their condition to worsen and possibly leading to potential harm. The pandemic has only heightened it.

Our healthcare system is the only safety net many people have, whether it is for mental health or for the many other health issues that have been triggered by this pandemic.

It has been asserted that those that will be most affected are those who face social inequities - something not lost on us in a territory with many small have-not and isolated communities. Madam Speaker, people of the Northwest Territories will be looking for a plan from this government to address those health issues that have arisen due to the pandemic and, more specifically, mental health issues.

For what it's worth, my advice to the Minister of Health and this government, if not already doing so, is to develop a post-pandemic mental health action plan that would provide residents with timely access to treatment. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Day 1 of 20 on budget from Nunakput, Madam Speaker.

Today I'd like to see the spending in the Nunakput riding. Our housing supports, our mental wellness is the biggest need in my riding for my constituents right now. I have 13 percent of our homes that are overcrowded, 28 percent of our homes are -- needed major retrofits and repair, 25 percent of our homes are in core need.

As I stated yesterday, Madam Speaker, the Beaufort Delta, we face serious mental health challenges among our people and the most severe high rates of suicide. Madam Speaker, what do we do with -- what do our youth have to look forward to with nowhere to live and no little hope? Our families are small -- young families with small children are over staying with family members, overcrowded, overcrowding. It's really serious, and we need to fix this problem. The GNWT is going to spend money to address these problems in my riding, when? For 2022-2023, the Nunakput riding represents less than 5 percent of the total capital budget. Last year, five housing units in my riding for renovated, and this year retrofits are 17 housing units are planned. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, this does not meet the needs of our communities in Nunakput. I hear from my constituents that are waiting on the housing list for years to get a house, into a unit. We all need to know that it starts with housing. If you don't have a place to live and a safe place for your family, you have nowhere to go, and you're relying on others and putting pressure on family, and you're drawing lines in the sand, and it's really tough.

Housing, we have to work together, Madam Speaker. We have to have -- I know it's a big challenge, but I think our minister and our government is up to it, that if we work together we could get stuff -- good things happening with housing across our territory and especially in Nunakput. I will have questions for the minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. As a member of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, I participated in a January 25th workshop "Can Hydrogen power the North?” organized by the Department of Infrastructure.

Hydrogen is a gas and it has been used in Canada for many years to produce fertilizer and other chemicals. Largely as a result of the climate emergency, there is international interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier. Fossil or carbon-based fuels are also an energy carrier but when burned, release carbon dioxide. For hydrogen, water is the usual byproduct which could help us better address greenhouse gas emissions.

The federal government released a hydrogen strategy in December 2020 showing the growing interest in this field. This was a virtual workshop with about 50 participants. There was a good cross-section of interests from GNWT, the federal government, community governments, Indigenous governments and corporations, NGOs, and business. The purpose of the workshop was to share information about what is known, and to initiate a dialogue around potential production and use of hydrogen in the NWT.

There are new technologies and products being developed by many manufacturers of equipment and vehicles that can use hydrogen, including heavy trucks. There are basically two ways to produce hydrogen - electrolysis of water and stripping of natural gas. Alberta has a growing hydrogen sector and economy, and the Edmonton to Calgary corridor will serve as a pilot project for trucks using hydrogen.

Bridge technologies that allow switching between hydrogen and carbon fuels would be helpful and could assist with some sectors.

More effective use of the retained carbon taxes and the large emitter trust accounts should be explored to promote pilot projects in the NWT. More work on the economics of alternatives is also needed.

The NWT experience with biomass is an example of how such a transition can take place. We need an energy transition plan with regional approaches to get us off fossil fuels. Infrastructure officials committed to publicly releasing the background document and a "what we heard" report from the workshop. Clearly, hydrogen will have to be part of a mix moving forward and should be in the next energy action plan. I will have questions later today for the Minister of Infrastructure. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in line with my statement the other day about economic recovery, today I want to talk about the long-awaited and major NWT infrastructure - the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

Madam Speaker, for decades, it's been envisioned by both territorial and national leaders alike, that the Mackenzie Valley Highway extend from the southernmost tip of the 60th parallel up to the Dempster Highway in Inuvik. Among the first to envision this was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker with his northern vision of developing the northernmost regions of Canada to enable a road to resources, to help unlock the vast mineral-rich lands in the territories.

Building on that vision over the years, the Mackenzie Highway slowly grew and extended more and more. But it was not until 1972 that it extended between Fort Simpson and Wrigley, which was only completed in 1994.

Madam Speaker, since that time, there has been many engineering, environmental, and financial studies on the construction plans for the remainder of the proposed highway. In 2014, however, the Government of the Northwest Territories had changed its original plans from the highway by shortening its length by nearly 500 kilometres, only extending it from Wrigley to Norman Wells. Moreover, since 2015, this project has been under environmental review by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. And to date, this review is still ongoing. Additionally, according to the Department of Infrastructure's website, since 2015, 40 of the 42 bridges have been built along with two access roads along the Mackenzie Highway's route.

Madam Speaker, even though I do not reside in, nor am I from any of the communities along this highway's route, as an NWT resident and leader, I consider this project a high priority for the NWT economy. In fact, as everyone in this House knows, this project is a priority for the 19th Assembly to pursue. Despite the fact that fact, however, I'm beginning to be slightly concerned by the lack of progress I've heard on this project's progression during the life of this Assembly. I don't believe I heard one update from our Infrastructure minister or Premier on the status of the Mackenzie Valley Project. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I do not want this Assembly to forget about the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project or its importance to the future economy of the NWT. This highway has many benefits which includes improved intercommunity travel, a lower cost of living in the project's region, and creating new economic opportunities like increased tourism or greater access to mineral and petroleum resource development. This project will not only benefit the Sahtu or Deh Cho regions but the entire NWT. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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