This is page numbers 4369 - 4400 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.

Topics

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if her department will assist those in the fishing, agriculture, and tourism sectors with funding to offset loss of revenue and wages, something that I'm sure isn't included in the DAP process. Thank you.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's not a standing or standalone program that offers support for lost wages or lost revenue. And as many will recall, early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, both -- not only our government, the federal government had to be creating and crafting those types of programs sort of in the moment and in order to respond. So I can't say necessarily what type of additional programming or programs might become available, might need to be crafted. But I can certainly, again, indicate that we are in touch with the businesses in the community. We'll continue to do so. If there's community businesses that aren't being connected with or haven't had those connections, you know, I certainly would want them to reach out, whether through their MLA or through their regional ITI office, because hearing and understanding exactly the needs, what are those areas of need, and what is being covered by insurance, what is being covered by disaster assistance, and what gaps are there going to be get these businesses back up and running as quickly as possible. You know, the more we can help be flexible by understanding those specifics, the more we can then tailor any programs that might need to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final short supplementary, Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now what's happening in Hay River is that the businesses that have been impacted are basically cleaning up, trying to repair, you know, damages. And the reality is that no one will break even. But what I'm hoping is that we can get them to close to break even as possible.

You know, the ones that are working, you know, they're making a paltry $20 an hour under the DAP process. So Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if her department has identified or set aside funds specifically to assist those businesses affected by the flooding in the South Slave?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this I think actually draws on the Department of Finance.

So when there's emergencies of this nature, emergencies of any nature, you know, there's certainly money that gets set aside in our supplementary reserve for requests and issues that come up over the course of a fiscal year. Individual departments, once they have their appropriation on April 1st, may have flexibility. You know, this is depending on what's going on in the department. Projects might get deferred. Different work might get deferred in order to have some flexibility in a budget and to provide some short-term relief or short-term programs or enhance certain programs.

Beyond that, though, Mr. Speaker, there of course is just the simple reality that the government right now, we were protecting a significant surplus. So we do have some flexibility within our own GNWT budget and are keenly looking at what's happening in the South Slave working with MACA, asking everyone to register with the Disaster Assistance Policy so we have a good handle on what the needs are going to be, and then, as a whole-of-government, can be looking at what types of gaps there are and going back to the federal government to see what they can help us with to ensure that we are responding in a way that is flexible and responsive and really truly meeting the needs of those communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Justice in regards to the Builders Lien Act.

Multiple NWT businesses are asking and calling for modern legislation in regards to the builders lien legislation. Following public engagement in March of 2021, the Department of Justice tabled and public shared published a What We Heard report. And in that report, it indicated that a bill would be brought forward later in 2021 but the bill still has not been tabled. And so I'm wondering what has held up this work. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for Justice.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the department is currently drafting the bill for the new Builders Lien Act, which will replace the existing Mechanics Lien Act, which is quite a bold piece of legislation. The legislative proposal, which is one of the very first steps in turning a need into a law, was submitted in summer of 2021, was approved in late November, and the drafting began earlier this year.

The department was hoping to introduce the bill last year but, you know, things take time and it's fallen a bit behind. Nonetheless, we are considering all the feedback that the Member referenced and hope to have this bill ready soon. Thank you.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if we can expect a bill to be tabled in the House in the fall session? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's the plan.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, based on feedback from residents, can the Minister give us an idea of the scope of what will be included in the bill from what they heard in the What We Heard report? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And there's been really no major amendments since 1980s on that bill so that's why it's a repeal and replace essentially.

So in terms of scope, the purpose of the legislation is to ensure that parties who contribute work, labour, or materials to a construction project in the NWT are paid and to provide a remedy if they are not. Lien legislation also creates stability and predictability for owners of construction projects by setting out obligations they have to other parties involved in the project. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Minister. Minister, can the -- sorry, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if the bill will include mediation or arbitration as an alternative to court solutions? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the department has considered mandatory arbitration within the bill but is not contemplating this further based on the feedback that we received from the public. However, nothing in the bill will interfere with or prohibit the application of the Arbitration Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these questions are for the Minister of Housing. And I appreciate the fact that she came to Hay River last weekend and toured the assets looked after by the Hay River Housing Authority. So the questions I didn't provide them to you, but they're easy to answer.

What support is the department providing to those housing tenants displaced from their homes? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the questions. And I did travel to Hay River over the weekend as well. And I was glad to see that we do have the LHO and the manager very active at the ground level.

Right now, the Housing NWT is in the process of renovating and repairing the current units in Hay River that have been affected. Also we are looking at -- we also provided sea cans for people's belongings that have been damaged that are required. We did honestly provide as well too emotional support. I was very, very impressed by the LHO being at the ground level, and such a traumatic event. I was very, very glad to hear that the staff at the ground level has been very available and very cooperative with the community. It was something very tragic for that region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Minister is correct in saying that the LHO has been very supportive of the residents. They've done a great job in assisting them in making the move, especially out of Whispering Willows.

So what additional supports or supports are being provided to the Hay River Housing Authority and the board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now the Housing NWT, we did have employees going down to the community immediately as of last Monday, and they were doing the assessments of our public housing units in the community as well. But I need to bring this back to our department because I know this is going to be a really lengthy process but it is going to end up coming with a financial contribution to the LHO as well too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister tell me if there is a timeline to complete renovations to housing units, more specifically, I guess, Whispering Willows because that impacts, you know, a vulnerable sector of residents. Thank you.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm happy to also report that the LHO as well at the ground level had been very cooperative in trying to help us find additional places for our residents in our public housing units. The last update I did get was three to four months depending on availability of the contractors and the specific repairs that need to be done in Whispering Willows. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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