Members, before we start today, I would like to make an announcement regarding the Legislative Assembly's scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2014 and has been awarded to 17 northern recipients. Many of you will remember Haylee Carlson who worked at the Legislative Assembly for over 16 years. Haylee passed away from breast cancer in February 2020, and we wanted to find a way to acknowledge the impact she had on the staff and Members alike.

Haylee was instrumental in the creation of this scholarship which has helped so many students pursue their dreams of furthering their education. Today, I would like to announce that the scholarship name has been changed to the Haylee Carlson Memorial Legislative Assembly Fund. This fund will continue to assist individuals pursuing studies in political science or a related field.

Please help me in welcoming Haylee's family to the public gallery. Mike, Shanli, Trina, Kristin, Shelby, Dave, and Jude, brothers watching on TV. Also welcome to the representatives from the Yellowknife Community Foundation. Thank you for your work on this. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, the regulations for the Northwest Territories Mineral Resources Act define the first made-in-the-Northwest Territories approach to governing mineral development. That is not the only thing that makes them historic. They are the first legal instrument to be developed in their entirety under the legislative development protocol set out by the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resource Management.

Later this afternoon, I will be tabling a report highlighting the status and success of the Intergovernmental Council's collaborative process. This collaboration, Mr. Speaker, is deliberate and methodical. The legislative development protocol that is being followed by the Intergovernmental Council formalizes seven steps for the development of regulations. Work is ongoing, and as of this June 2023 I am pleased to say that the development of regulations for the Northwest Territories Mineral Resources Act was in the sixth of these seven steps.

The goal is consensus, and consensus takes time. The policy decisions that must anchor the development of regulations require not only hearing but understanding and trying to reconcile wide-ranging perspectives, interests, and approaches. Very often technical topics may first require participants to have expert subject-matter support so that discussions lead to the best solutions.

The subject of benefits is a good example and was a topic with high interest from all parties. In the last year, the Intergovernmental Council technical working group was successful in reaching consensus on 54 subtopics under the otherwise broad subject of benefits. Benefits are only one of many high-level matters relevant to these regulations. In all, the Intergovernmental Council technical working group considered 112 public comments from 11 separate submissions, along with input and feedback from multiple targeted surveys, presentations, and face-to-face meetings. Approximately 90 percent of this input has now been captured by the comprehensive policy intentions document that will guide legal drafters tasked with creating the regulations required.

The next step will be to finalize these draft regulations and post them publicly for review. Formal Section 35 consultations will also need to be completed with Indigenous governments. Once these steps are complete, the proposed regulations can be enacted.

Before the new Northwest Territories Mineral Resources Act comes into force, extensive work is also happening to update the associated business processes, implement complementary software changes, and introduce the organizational change that will be needed to administer the new Act.

Mr. Speaker, resource availability, technology, market demand, and global interest are aligning to create extraordinary opportunities for investment in the Northwest Territories' mineral resource sector. The implementation early in the 20th Legislative Assembly of a new, clear, modern, and streamlined legislative environment, grounded in the consensus of northern governments and Indigenous and industry partners and focused on the priorities of Northwest Territories residents, will be unique in Canada.

Thank you to the collaborative approach in which it was developed and the leading-edge policies that it is founded on, the Northwest Territories Mineral Resources Act will be a milestone in the evolution of the Northwest Territories that we can all look back and take pride in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to transforming the child and family services system to better serve children, families, and communities. Our primary concern is addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth within the child and family services system. We have made progress on this issue through quality improvement plans starting in 2019, but there is still more to do to ensure the child and family services system is culturally safe, that it supports children and youth in a meaningful way, and helps more families stay together.

Later today, I will be tabling the 2023-2028 Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan. This plan will guide the work to fundamentally shift the child and family services system towards the goal of cultural safety. Achieving this vision will require sustained engagement with Indigenous governments, communities, and other partners. To uphold transparency and accountability, we will continue to report on our progress through a public action tracker and on service delivery trends that appear in the child and family services director's annual report.

Mr. Speaker, it is vital to ensure children and youth feel connected to their family, community, and culture. As a society, we share a collective responsibility to ensure that each child and youth is nurtured in a safe and secure environment that enables them to reach their full potential.

The stark overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth within the child and family services system demands we make a paradigm shift in our approach. We need to think differently and act collectively to create a service framework that responds to the needs of Indigenous children, youth, and families.

The plan lays out seven priority areas that will guide our transformation. They are:

• Working collaboratively with Indigenous governments and organizations;
• Designing, implementing care rooted in Indigenous practices;
• Providing support to care providers and caregivers;
• Strengthening youth supports and transition to adulthood;
• Providing specialized services closer to home;
• Strengthening human resources recruitment and retention efforts for an inclusive and representative workforce; and finally,
• Reducing administrative demands for increased opportunities to connect with families.

Mr. Speaker, the development of the Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan was informed through a comprehensive approach. It drew insights from a diverse range of guiding documents, focused discussions, internal reviews, and the recommendations of the Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Social Development.

The onus to lead these strategic priorities within the child and family services system falls on the Department of Health and Social Services. A collaborative effort and commitment from within and outside the Government of the Northwest Territories is required to create sustainable change to address the diverse needs of children and youth.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the child and family services staff, caregivers, care providers, community partners, Indigenous governments, and community leaders for their passion and dedication to the well-being of children, youth, and families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Rick Hunt as the new president and chief executive officer of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, effective yesterday, October 2nd. This morning I met with Mr. Hunt and officially welcomed him to the position.

Mr. Hunt is joining the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission after almost 20 years of service with Nunavut's Qulliq Energy Corporation. His experience and depth of knowledge in the occupational health and safety field is extensive, and we are pleased to bring him on board.

Mr. Speaker, this will mark the first time that the WSCC's president and CEO will be based in Nunavut instead of Yellowknife. I am very proud of the partnership we have formed with our territorial neighbour and welcome the opportunity to work together to advance work safety across both territories. Nunavut Minister responsible for WSCC Margaret Nakashuk and I are equally supportive of Mr. Hunt's appointment and trust that he will do right in both jurisdictions.

This is an exciting time that will allow us to form an even deeper bond with our partner. We are also excited to have Mr. Hunt lead the WSCC through the next phase of our organization as we begin a new five-year strategic plan that will guide us through annual planning and reporting processes until 2027. The new strategic plan, called Paths Towards Safety, which I previously tabled, identifies a number of paths to improving safety culture through shared responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hunt is a champion of respectful workplace culture who values his colleagues' and employees' well-being at work. He is a strong advocate for collaborating and supportive relationships across all organizational levels. As a public servant, he also recognizes that he works for and ultimately the public. Understanding the needs and expectations of the public is a vital piece in providing quality services.

Since its inception in 1977, the WSCC has covered the same geographical territory When Nunavut was created in 1999. The governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut agreed to continue forward as a common agency. Maintaining this partnership between our territory is key in supporting the safety and care of workers in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. I remain very proud of this partnership and our shared commitment to workplace safety. I hope this historic appointment for the WSCC, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, benefits both workers in both territories for years to come. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, residents who covered their own evacuation costs continue to request financial support. As such, I have requested each to provide me with copies of their receipts and to sign a statutory declaration stating they have not received funds from other sources to cover those costs. These documents will be provided to this, and the federal government, for reimbursement consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I will provide context as to why residents may have covered their own costs and not followed MACAS's direction to use a designated evacuation centre. Mr. Speaker, let me start off by saying that on August 12th, Fort Smith residents were in the process of evacuating to Hay River where they were registered and were provided temporary accommodation and meals. At the same time, the hamlet of Enterprise was hosting their annual Gateway Jamboree. There was no concern of fires as it was understood the fire was still a long way from the community and posed limited risk - how mistaken we were - as what was to be unleashed can only be likened to a terrifying nightmare.

Mr. Speaker, for residents of Hay River, K'atlodeeche, and Enterprise, it was on August 13th, an evacuation alert was issued and soon followed by an evacuation order at 3 p.m. Residents, along with evacuees from Fort Smith, were directed to leave as soon as possible and all were told that ground and air transportation would be provided for those who had no other way out. All this was unfolding very quickly.

Mr. Speaker, some residents who were able to leave immediately with their own vehicle made their way out prior to the nightmare that was about to be become all too real. Day turned into night quickly as smoke blackened the sky and made visibility nonexistent. Drivers were unable to see as they headed directly into the path of the fire and had to drive with their vehicle door open as they tried to find a center line to confirm they were still on the road and not in the ditch. The heat from the fire was so intense that it melted the plastic and paint off the vehicles. Vehicles that hit the ditch were quickly enveloped by flames with passengers barely escaping with their life as pets and possessions were consumed by the heat and fire. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, as the fire was rolling over the treetops and consuming homes and equipment in Paradise Valley, residents were forced to take refuge in the river by sliding down a steep embankment and standing in the water for safety while others drove into the firestorm. Along Patterson Road, a similar picture emerged. With the fire burning all around them, residents were quickly gathering up personal items to take with them, all facing a darkened sky and flames which caused breathing and visibility issues and forced residents into the water while others jumped into their vehicles and drove onto the highway and into an inferno.

Mr. Speaker, if you were not there, if you were not one of those leaving by vehicle, if you were not one in the heart of the fire, and if you did not see the aftermath firsthand, then you would not understand why evacuees, at their own cost, took shelter at the first safe place they came to. Shaken and traumatized, with their lives at risk, with the mental and emotional anxiety of it all, their first thought was preservation and the safety and well-being of their families. They had no idea how long this evacuation would last. The sad part is that this government expected these evacuees to be thinking rationally about accommodation and meals.

Mr. Speaker, this was the reality that took place on August 13th, 2023. I will not have questions for the Minister of MACA or the Minister of Finance on this issue today but I do ask them, and all of Cabinet, to reflect on the terror these evacuees went through and come back prior to the end of this session showing compassion, empathy, and a commitment to support those left out of any financial compensation. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about the future polytechnic university and some of the actions taking place at Aurora College as it transitions into a territorial university.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to once again reiterate that there are several positions within Aurora College that are currently on loan to the Yellowknife campus but, in fact, they belong to the headquarters office in Fort Smith, and that includes the office of the president. All of the positions in question are entitled to be based in Fort Smith, and they must be returned as soon as possible. In addition, Mr. Speaker, one of the pillars of the 19th Assembly has been for our government to decentralize jobs and services away from the capital and back into the small communities and regional centres. We are not properly serving the people of the NWT when we have everything concentrated in the capital.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, last week, on September 28th, the Government of the Northwest Territories announced that it is seeking input on a post-secondary institution application that would deliver a new diploma program on Indigenous environmental studies and sciences beginning in the fall of 2023. The program is being put forward by Trent University and is being developed in partnership with YKDFN.

Mr. Speaker, while I certainly do support the people of the NWT having more program options to consider for post-secondary at Aurora College; however, I do not want new education options to be coming at the expense of existing programs that the college delivers. I am worried specifically how this new program might affect the world-renowned environment and natural resources technology program that has existed for many years at Aurora College Thebacha campus. I do not want the ENR technology program to be threatened, undermined, or replaced. Period. I especially do not want to see Fort Smith lose yet another highly valued and popular program that is taken away from our community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In closing, Mr. Speaker, given our current circumstance of an upcoming territorial election happening very soon, I want to urge the college itself, along with the minister of ECE, to hold off on rolling out this new program at this time. I believe it would be a better decision to wait until after the next government is formed in the 20th Assembly before any new major programs or changes occur within Aurora College. I will have questions for the minister of ECE later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Finance tabled the government's What We Heard report on the policy review of the Affirmative Action Policy. Additionally, on our one-day emergency sitting in August, the GNWT tabled the response to the Standing Committee on Government Operations report on Indigenous representation in the NWT public service and the recommendations of that.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee of Government Operations and the GNWT both consulted the public separately and, Mr. Speaker, both the government and standing committee have concluded that, overall, the 34-year-old Affirmative Action Policy is not working as it was originally intended to, which is to successfully increase Indigenous employment across the Northwest Territories -- or across the GNWT.

Mr. Speaker, the committee's report did a deep dive into the history of the Affirmative Action Policy and provided 12 recommendations on how the government could improve the policy to realize its intended effect. We can all agree that the Affirmative Action Policy isn't working and that it is outdated and needs to be replaced. To quote the GNWT, Mr. Speaker, the review has concluded that GNWT should introduce a new policy prioritizing the hiring and career advancement of Indigenous persons. This policy would replace the Affirmative Action Policy and would forward preferred hiring status, first, to Indigenous persons connected to the NWT, then to all Indigenous Canadians. The new policy being referred to here is the newly developed Indigenous Employment Policy which the government announced back in February.

Mr. Speaker, the spirit and intent of the Affirmative Action Policy is very important to Indigenous people of the Northwest Territories. Therefore, it's vital that if and when the GNWT decides to replace the policy then the overall intent of the affirmative action cannot be lost. Any replacement policy must ensure to continue that Indigenous people have priority hiring in our public service. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time I have spoken in this House about the administrative burden with income support program. The government creates such an onerous process for residents that it becomes challenging to access resources.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about people who are unable to work because of a disability.

Mr. Speaker, we have many people across the NWT that receive disability benefits but also access programs and services through income support. Mr. Speaker, there should be a more streamlined way for these individuals to access benefits without following the complex process that they follow today. These people's incomes are already below the poverty line and are some of the most vulnerable people in the communities.

Mr. Speaker, some of these people have disability which make it difficult for them to complete complex paperwork or participate in the workforce. The process, as it is today, puts more work on the income support staff and caregivers. These processes do not benefit the GNWT or the residents of the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, each month I receive concerns about income support from people with disability. Often the issue is late payments due to paperwork problems. We know these people are eligible for benefits each and every month. ECE should find a simpler way of processing benefits for these individuals. If we know someone has a disability, then they should be able to receive support and not have to continue to provide proof of that disability.

Furthermore, income support is often asking for bank statements. They ask for clients to share their bank account password to go into the online account to see if the clients are telling the truth. They also tell the clients if we don't have access to your bank account, you're not getting help. I'm sure the income assistance workers do not like it but they are bound by the privacy policy in place. This is a breach and invasion of privacy, especially for the most vulnerable. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a more holistic approach to program and services are needed in small communities. It is difficult for people trying to access programs and services to be sent from building to building, office to office, trying to access services, especially for those with disabilities. I will have questions for the minister of ECE. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since June of this year Live Power, a Canadian exploration company with its head office in Vancouver, has been drilling for hard rock lithium on the mineral leases near Yellowknife and N'dilo and Dettah. Live Power has one of the most exciting exploration portfolios of hard rock lithium projects globally, with Yellowknife lithium project being the flagship project. Live Power commenced a 45,000-meter drill program, and the drill result for 40 drill holes. It illustrates extensive width and excellent grades of lithium in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding. The NWT lithium outcrop are so large and extensive that it can be seen from space via satellite. The Yellowknife lithium project is one of the largest private sector exploration projects in the riding, and it is having significant job and business impacts for us. Live Power has opened a camp at the Hidden Lake area that is accessible via winter road for the Ingraham Trail. It also has a core cutting and lodging facility in Yellowknife providing more job and training opportunities for Northerners. Live is very proud of its strong collaborative relationships with the local Indigenous communities and Live prioritizes local Indigenous employment and procurement with 28 percent of Indigenous employees and 25 percent of northern employees working on its Yellowknife lithium project at the peak of the summer drilling program. Live's commitment to providing employment opportunities for Indigenous workers parallels the achievement of operating mines in the territory. This is another impressive feat for an exploration company.

Lithium is exceptionally important in the world as it's used in several industry applications, including electric cars. And lithium is ion batteries which plays an important role in the global transition to an economy that runs on a green energy.

Mr. Speaker, this project has a potential to be the NWT entry into the global lithium market. We must of course remember that the Live Power Yellowknife lithium project remains at an early exploration stage project at this time. Live is also that this valuable NWT resource will be mined and processed in Canada. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Live Power is committed to the NWT and to providing positive socio-economic impacts. Live will continue to employ and train Indigenous and local people as the workforce grows. It will also continue to partner with Indigenous businesses, such as the Yellowknives Dene that own Deton Cho Corporation with whom Live is already working closely to collect environmental and socio-economic and baseline data.

Mr. Speaker, the potential of moving from lithium exploration to mining will have welcome, long-term benefits for the NWT mining economy that come at a critical time as the diamond mine industry winds down. At the appropriate time, it will be my pleasure to introduce Live Power executives to the Assembly and ask questions to the Minister of tourism and investment regarding our government's role in enabling this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the territory desperately needs to strengthen and diversify our economy. Our residents must have access to healthy and affordable food, and the need for mental health supports is at an all-time high. There is one sector that can help us improve in all these areas. The agri-food industry provides residents with opportunities to grow their own healthy produce and to open small and medium-sized economic ventures while reducing stress and improving mental health.

Mr. Speaker, our infrastructure gap and limited supply chain leave us vulnerable to food insecurity as was clearly demonstrated during the pandemic. When it took great pressure by myself as the Minister of ITI, with the Minister of Finance, to get flexibility in the federal funding to keep our small airlines alive. If the GNWT can begin to provide a better support system to boost community gardens, encourage residents to start growing their own food, and build capacity throughout the territory, we can directly reinforce our food security efforts through increased community capacity.

I cannot stress this enough, Mr. Speaker. The federal government is not thinking of us when it comes to food security and the GNWT is not giving this topic the attention it deserves. The food security file bounces between departments, with no clear ownership, and I don't see an appropriate nor established path forward. Residents are constantly reaching out to find support to feed their families and social media groups are often full of such pleas.

Mr. Speaker, through coordination, collaboration, and clear responsibility of duties, we can move forward with a solutions-based approach to help build our agri-food sector. There is a lot of federal money available to the agri-food area which could help all our residents; first, by increasing money into the territory and bolstering economic activity but also by providing residents with a reconnection to the land - a reconnection that has been shown to improve people's mental health and well-being. We should be building green houses, investing in fertilizer production, and establishing seed sharing programs. We should connect those with land to those who don't have it that want to garden. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it does not take much to start something positive and build the capacity within the NWT to feed ourselves. Steps must be taken now to support our agri-food industry, an industry that has been battered by two years of flooding and fires. I know that the GNWT can do more in this area, and it often only takes a small investment to see huge local results as demonstrated time and time again by the growers of our territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members before we continue, I'd like to draw your attention to the presence of a former Member, Mr. Jackson Lafferty. Mr. Lafferty was a Member from 2005 to 2021. Mr. Lafferty was a Regular Member, Minister, and Speaker of the House, and now grand chief. It's always good to see former Members come and cheer on the Members of today. Thank you.

Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Assembly, Northerners have navigated crisis after crisis that started with a global pandemic. But during COVID, some monumental things happened to support residents' basic needs. This government payrolled income assistance clients, implemented harm reduction programs, found housing solutions for vulnerable residents, and equitably distributed laptops to students for access to education. These are huge, Mr. Speaker. And they happened in short order.

This bold action, and a need for fiscal recovery, offered a path forward to a common-sense approach to allocating government financial resources based on how effectively programs and services give value to residents.

Mr. Speaker, government renewal was sold as a review to better provide transparency to territorial priorities and how services and programs contribute to those priorities, evaluate the true cost and benefit of programs and services, and build more accountability for results into funding decisions.

In the life of the 19th, finance has changed FMB program evaluation metrics for new spending, how it deals with short and long-term budgeting and reviewed its approach to capital budgeting. But this does not address the status quo spending of this government and, for four years, life has been anything but status quo.

I believe in the value of government renewal, Mr. Speaker. The public service continues to grow as do resident priorities. Budgeting and spending patterns have impaired the GNWT's long-term sustainability. Planning and spending are often reactive, and capital continues to drive debt.

We are three years into the life of the government renewal initiative and anticipating its successes. We have yet to see the completion of a single department. And with nine departments and nine agencies to get through, I'm worried about the effectiveness of this process given its pace. The GNWT needs a stable fiscal footing to support the territory's sustainability and increased value for dollar for the money it spends. But, Mr. Speaker, residents can't afford to carry the cost of getting there and rely on the creative and innovative internal efficiencies promised through government renewal.

In 2020, the finance minister rightfully said, quote, if ever we needed creative problem solving to achieve responsive and effective results, it is now, end quote. We are still there, Mr. Speaker, and one could say it is even more relevant today. I'll have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Met. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I have been pushing for some time for a public review of GNWT's failing climate strategy which is really three separate and uncoordinated programs. These are environment and climate changes' climate change strategic framework, infrastructure's 2030 energy strategy, and finance's carbon tax.

As one of the final gasps during the current phase of the climate crisis, GNWT staff put on a three-day conference attended by about 150 participants in July. I want to give credit for the large gathering as there was a diverse set of interests and participants from all parts of the NWT and various sectors of the economy and voluntary sector. There was lots of good people at the conference, but I am not sure what will come out of the other end for the next Legislative Assembly and Cabinet. I am hoping that the next government takes the climate emergency much more seriously and puts in place legislation that will establish clear leadership and priorities.

I have continued to hear people say they don't understand GNWT's carbon tax, where the money goes and whether it is actually working. Persistent questions were also raised about our antiquated net metering approach and caps on renewable energy use in communities. The role of and governance at the NWT Power Corporation remains a lively source of discussion.

The GNWT's approach to climate change is failing again so here's some free advice for my Cabinet colleagues: We need a declaration that there is a climate emergency. The current forest fires might even convince Cabinet that climate change is an emergency now. We need legislation to back that up where one department is in charge and coordinates a whole-of-government approach. Integrated public reporting is needed, not three separate and disparate reports. We must focus on community-based energy solutions, not mega projects with no investors and no public support. And make the NWT Power Corporation part of the solution, not part of the problem, as it shifts to building energy self-sufficiency and doing itself out of a job with public governance. I will have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Affirmative Action Policy that the GNWT has been in place for about 40 years and has seen little improvement in increasing Indigenous people. And, Mr. Speaker, I think before any review is conducted by the government, they have to ask themselves whether they're willing to actually make changes.

The Affirmative Action Policy is a bit of a political bombshell, Mr. Speaker, because I think there is broad agreement that everybody wants Indigenous Northerners to be priority one. And then, really, the question becomes what to do about P2s. And if the government is going to remove P2s from the policy, then they have to go out and do that. Because, Mr. Speaker, at this point it's very unclear whether anything will result from the government's months and years long review of the Affirmative Action Policy.

We have seen different drafts of the policy. We've seen different versions of the policy. It is clear there are very strong divides and opinions in this territory on this but, at this point, we have to do something, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, if we are truly committed to increasing the number of Indigenous people in the public service in this territory, then I think the government has to look no further than the Standing Committee on Government Operations' review of the Affirmative Action Policy.

We had four simple recommendations:

1. Run P1 only hiring policies. Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a job advertised that was just open to P1s. That is a step we can take tomorrow. We should do that. It can rebuild trust.
2. Mr. Speaker, recommendation number 2 was around decentralization. It's not rocket science. If you want more Indigenous people in the public service, put the jobs where the Indigenous people are. You have to identify positions in headquarters, and you have to move them to communities, Mr. Speaker. That is how you increase Indigenous people in the public service.
3. Mr. Speaker, change the appeal process so that the appeal process can actually overturn a job. Mr. Speaker, right now the appeal process just kind of leads to this end thing where you may or may not be offered another similar position in the future. It does not overturn a mistake and give you the position that you should have got in the first place if you are an Indigenous P1 candidate who didn't get it.
4. Mr. Speaker, recommendation number 4 from our committee, guarantee one ADM position in all departments is Indigenous.

These are four tangible recommendations made by our committee after years of reviewing this. If the government is serious about this, they need to listen to that report and respond to them and make up their mind whether we're removing P2s or not, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

. Mr. Speaker, today I am very honoured to be speaking about the first Northwest Territories female athlete to win gold at the Special Olympics World Games.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, this is Yellowknife South resident Chelsey Makaro. And if you have the chance or ability where you are sitting to look up, she has brought her medals with her.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, this past summer, Ms. Makaro traveled to Berlin, Germany, as part of Team Canada to attend the Special Olympics World Summer Games. The games are held every two years and offer athletes with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to compete in a variety of sports. She's a member of Canada's swim team. I first met her prior to her departure when we sent her with a Northwest Territories flag. Today, she has proudly returned wearing her Team Canada jacket to show me her medals. Because not only did she participate as a swimmer on behalf of Canada at the games, Mr. Speaker, she brought home two gold medals - one for the 25-meter backstroke and another as part of the four by 50-meter freestyle team relay.

Ms. Makaro earned her medals. She worked tirelessly -- I have spoken with her and her father about her training -- -seven days a week, in and out of the pool, all through the year, up at six in the morning, and working with a number of representatives from across Yellowknife for dry land training physiotherapy. Her parents supported her along the way, getting her to those 6 a.m. practices, and clearly it all paid off. As I said at the start, these medals have made her the first Northwest Territories female athlete to win gold at the Special Olympics World Games.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ms. Makaro for representing the Northwest Territories on Team Canada. I want to thank her for carrying our flag with pride, with hard work, and congratulate Chelsey Makaro on her well-deserved and well-earned results at the Special Olympics World Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know how we top that; that's amazing.

Mr. Speaker, as the House is aware, the North American Indigenous Games 2023 were held in Halifax and surrounding communities between July 15th to 23rd. The NWT sent a strong team, and I witness the support these athletes received from parents who traveled to Halifax to cheer them on. Most athletes were able to get to Yellowknife in a timely manner to join up with their teammates. Unfortunately, Ava Erasmus had a really interesting adventure to get to the games. As some of you may have heard from Cabin Radio, she had to get a working cabin in the Nahanni National Park to Fort Simpson, then to Yellowknife, for Saturday's flight to Halifax.

As part of her job, she would take regular trips into the park and help at Virginia Falls with tourists. Everything was going smoothly until a threat of a flash flood held up the trip in the park, tightening the timeline between finishing up work at the falls and getting back to Fort Simpson to catch the flight to Yellowknife and then to Halifax. Upon getting into the park, things were going well for the first two days, then storms started rolling across the park delaying her departure from the falls. Some of the other adventures included food supplies being rationed, have a prolonged visit from a passing grizzly bear, and growing wildfires further complicated efforts.

Later on during the week, there was a break in the smoke and a Twin Otter was sent to pick them up but like the adventure to this point, it continued. The plane could not land, and it happened the next day too. After this happened, they started thinking about how far they could make it down the river and if they could make it to Nahanni Butte so they could be picked up there. At last a small aircraft, a Beaver, made it in and after a brief scare of having to turn around, the plane landed in Fort Simpson. Her parents picked her up with a packed a bag for her and headed off to the main airport. Unfortunately as she got to the airport, they witnessed the plane leaving.

Mr. Speaker, this led to her next adventure, a seven-hour drive to Yellowknife. She made it in at around midnight to have a quick sleep and then she met her teammates at 6:30 as they head off to Halifax.

Mr. Speaker, I would like recognize the other athletes from the Nahendeh. We had 21 athletes and coaches represent the NWT and their community. I will add the list and request it be deemed as read. They were great ambassadors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

• Ava Erasmus
• Brittany Kendo
• Christian Cli-Hopf
• Ryder Hardisty
• Colton Hardisty-Gillis
• Tanner Isaiah
• Ashanti Beaulieu
• Nicholas Bilodeau
• Amy Duntra
• Kadence Norn
• Javen Payou
• Syles Timbre
• Cadence Erasmus
• Gina Hardisty-Isaiah
• Helena Landry
• Lydia Nelner
• Blake Speed
• Amaria Tanche-Hanna
• William Tanche-Hanna
• Jacqueline Thompson
• Jaicee Tsetso

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on May 6th, 2023, Frank Gruben was last seen in Fort Smith. Almost five months has passed. Mr. Speaker, where's Frank? I'm going to ask again: Where's Frank Gruben? He's not been found. There's no word from him. No one has seen a thing or heard something of him, or choosing not to speak.

Mr. Speaker, it's not to tell the -- somebody's not telling the truth. Frank's family and friends are hurting.

I held Frank as a baby. I know his mother Laura, and I know his fatherAsaaq. Really, I grew up with them. I was speaking to his mom today. Frank was such a loveable person, she says. Always laughing, having a good time. He loved the Gwich'in language. He loved his family. He was harmless. Frank would never hurt anyone. Mr. Speaker, for him to go missing without any reason doesn't make no sense. He's loved by his mom. He would never turn his back on his family. Someone knows something, what happened to Frank.

When I asked Frank's mother if there was something she wanted me to say on her behalf, she said please bring my baby home. I want answers. Please help me bring him home.

We have to help Frank's mother, Mr. Speaker, and the family and the community in the Beaufort Delta. If you have information on Frank but are scared to step forward, there's ways that you could be protected such as Crime Stoppers and calling the RCMP. And there's a reward out for $8,050 she told me today, and you could call the Fort Smith RCMP at 876-872-1111 or, Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477.

Mr. Speaker, it's been five months since we last seen Frank. Frank's friends and family, I want to thank, first, Fort Smith First Nations and the community members who have searched for Frank. Thank you for searching for him. And we need to continue looking for Frank. We need to find him. We'll not forget, and we won't give up until we bring Frank home. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge today our grand chief, our Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, to the House, to the Legislative Assembly. I would like to welcome him. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Jackson Lafferty, grand chief of the Tlicho region. I just want to recognize him. Mahsi.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I also have with us today is Dr. April Hayward, the chief sustainable officer for Live Power. And Dr. Hayward has 25 years' experience in the fuel environmental science. As well, and also, we have Mr. Daniel Gordon, the manager of investor relations for the company. Thank you and welcome. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the grand chief of the Tlicho, Jackson. I'm sure that he's finding it easier to make decisions in one day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't see behind me, but I do believe that Mike and Shanli Carlson are still here, Mr. Speaker. They certainly were here in the House, and I am very proud to recognize them, particularly today, as residents of Yellowknife South. Miss Shanli is an absolute joy, and I am very pleased to have her around my house. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife South. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize grand chief Lafferty. Not only did he become grand chief but he right away took -- agreed to take on the chair for the Council of Leaders, which now is a different chair, but shows to his honour and his courage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to welcome grand chief Lafferty back to the House, former colleague and good friend of mine, and I'm really proud of his accomplishments in the last year. And you gave us Jane too; she's solid too and we're happy for Jane. And, you know, I just want to thank him for coming to take the time to visit us today and look forward to a little visit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2, and commends it to the House.

Mr. Speaker, I move, second by the Member of Hay River South, that the Committee Report 75-19(2) is deemed read and printed into Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. The committee report is deemed read.

---Carried

Introduction

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures (Committee) is pleased to report on its review the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. With the 19th Legislative Assembly coming to end the Committee has reviewed the current Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly (the Rules) and is making recommendations to better streamline administrative functions of the parliamentary process of the Northwest Territories. Committee is also making recommendations that the rules be updated to recognize the adoption of the Consensus Government Process Convention on the Introduction and Enactment of Bills Drafted Pursuant to the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol.

BACKGROUND

The Process Convention on the Introduction, Consideration and Enactment of Bills

Drafted Pursuant to the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol was signed by Premier, Chair of Caucus and Chair of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight on March 6, 2023 and was tabled in the Assembly on March 8, 2023.

The Process Convention includes the extension of the referral to standing committee for bills drafted pursuant to the Protocol from 120 to 180 days, the timelines for the consideration of proposed committee amendments and the attendance of IGC representatives in standing committee meetings, in Committee of the Whole and at the formal Assent ceremony following Third Reading of a bill. It is important to note that although The Rules do not address Legislative Proposals, the Process Convention on Standing Committee Review of Legislation does outline the process.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures has recommended that the Process Convention on the Introduction, Consideration and Enactment of Bills Drafted Pursuant to the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol continue with the 20th Assembly. To help create consistency for the next Assembly:

Recommendation 1 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Process Convention on the Introduction, Consideration and Enactment of Bills Drafted Pursuant to the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol be renewed in the 20th Assembly to maintain and further develop relationships with Indigenous Governments.

The 20th Assembly should familiarize themselves with the Process Convention and look to enhance this important methodology in the development of land and resources legislation for the Northwest Territories. Examples include the extension of the referral to standing committee for bills drafted pursuant to the Protocol from 120 to 180 days, the timelines for the consideration of proposed committee amendments and the attendance of IGC representatives in standing committee meetings, in Committee of the Whole and at the formal Assent ceremony following Third Reading of a bill. To help promote that integration:

Recommendation 2 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that, when the Process Convention on the Introduction, Consideration and Enactment of Bills Drafted Pursuant to the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol is renewed, consideration be given to further integration of the Process Convention into the Rules of the Legislative Assembly.

Administrative Changes to the Rules

The Committee is also recommending changes and clarity to help streamline the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Distribution of the Orders of the Day

Rule 1.6(6) requires the Clerk to “distribute the Order Paper for the day to each Member and to the Speaker”. However, by convention it is typically referred as the “Orders of the Day”. This is a change to create consistency in the rule book and provide greater clarity for members during house procures. To ensure consistency:

Recommendation 3 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 1.6(3) be amended by deleting “Order Paper for the day” and replacing it with “Orders of the Day” and that the title of rule 1.6(6) be amended to read “Distribution of the Orders of the Day”.

Law Clerk's Responsibilities

Rule 1.6(8)(c) requires the Law Clerk to “review within 15 days from the close of each Session all legislation enacted prior to it's distribution”. This is part of a statutory requirement of the Northwest Territories Act and is not required in the Rules. For simplicity:

Recommendation 4 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 1.6(8)(c) be deleted.

Raising a Question of Privilege

Rule 1.7(3) requires a Member to raise a question of privilege “immediately after the words are uttered or the events occur”. However, Rule 1.7(6) states that the Speaker will rule whether the matter was “raised at the earliest opportunity”. To ensure consistency:

Recommendation 5 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 1.7(3) be amended by deleting “immediately after the words are uttered or the events occur that give rise to the question” and replacing it with “at the earliest opportunity”.

Committee Reports Deemed Read

In recent years it has become practice to have long Committee Reports deemed read in their entirety and printed in Hansard. This is often done after an executive summary of the report, including any recommendations, is read in the house. In practice the motion to have the report deemed read has proceeded without notice; however, the Rules do not expressly permit this. To ensure clarity:

Recommendation 6 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the following be added after Rule 6.1(2)(m): “(n) to have a Committee Report deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety.”

First Reading of Bills

Rule 8.2(3) relates to a Bill being deemed read at First Reading; however, the wording in the rules is unclear and does not reflect the practice in the house. To ensure clarity:

Recommendation 7 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the wording of Rule 8.2(3) be deleted and replaced with “When the Sponsor of a Bill presents it for first reading the Bill will be deemed read for a first time.”

Board of Management

Rule 9.2(5) requires the Board of Management to be established in accordance with the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. As the establishment of the Board is required by law it is redundant to also require it in the rules. To ensure consistency:

Recommendation 8 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.2(5) be deleted.

Standing and Special Committees - Number of Members

Rule 9.2(6) sets the maximum number of Members of a standing Committee at six, other than the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. For Committees with six Members, a quorum of four Members is required. During the current Assembly it has, on occasion, been challenging for Committees with six Members to achieve quorum. To help ensure flexibility in the capability of Standing Committee to achieve quorum and set direction:

Recommendation 9 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.3(5) be amended by adding “With the exception of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, three Members are required for quorum unless the Committee's terms of reference states otherwise.”

List of Members

Rule 9.3(2) requires the Clerk “distribute to every Members a list of the Members comprising the Committees and the Board of Management”. In practice this list is also made public on the Assembly website. To ensure consistency:

Recommendation 10 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.3(2) be amended by adding “and make the list available publicly” after the words “Board of Management”.

Notice of Meetings

Rule 9.3(6) requires the Clerk to “post notices of all Committee meetings in the Legislative Assembly office and circulate them to all Members”. With the adoption of the communication website Moodle in the current Assembly, Committee Members are advised of meetings by email notifications via the Moodle platform:

Recommendation 11 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the wording of Rule 9.3(6) be deleted and replaced with “The Clerk shall notify all Regular Members of upcoming meetings and ensure Agendas are available publicly”.

Members May Attend Meetings - Exception

Rule 9.3(11) permits “a Member, who is not a Member of the Executive Council or the Speaker, and who is not a Member of the Committee”, to “attend Standing Committee meetings and may address the Committee after its Members have spoken, according to any limits imposed by the Chair”. Rule 9.3(12) provides an exception to the above rules for “public meetings of Standing Committees or when a Member of the Executive Council has been invited to attend a Standing Committee meeting”. By stating that rule 9.3(11) does not apply for public meetings or meetings when a Member of Executive Council has been invited, 9.3(12) may be interpreted as preventing a Member who is not a Member of the Committee from attending or speaking in these meetings. To ensure clarity:

Recommendation 12 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the wording of Rule 93(12) be deleted and replaced with “All Members may attend public meetings of Standing Committees and may speak according to any limits imposed by the Chair.

Reports of Committees - Response to Report Most Committee reports request a response from Government. Rule 9.4(5) requires a motion to be moved in Committee of the Whole to require a response from Government within 120 days. Consideration of a Committee report and associated recommendations within Committee of the Whole can be a timeconsuming process, often with little debate or discussion around Committee's recommendations. To ensure clarity:

Recommendation 13 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.4 (5) be amended to read: The Government will be required to table a comprehensive response to a Committee report, including all recommendations, within 120 days, or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days when: a) A report requesting a response is adopted by the Assembly; or b) A motion is adopted by Committee of the Whole requesting a response.

Appearance of Witnesses before Standing or Special Committees Rule 9.6(1) allows Committees to invite witnesses “at the discretion of the Chair”. In practice witnesses are invited with concurrence of the Committee. To ensure consistency:

Recommendation 14 Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.6(1) be amended by deleting “at the discretion of the Chair” and replacing it with “with concurrence of the Committee”.

Appearance of Witnesses before Committee of the Whole

Rule 9.6(5) requires the adoption of a motion by the Assembly for a witness to appear before Committee of the Whole on matters other than consideration of bills or estimates. It is conceivable that Committee of the Whole could wish to have a witness appear, in a manner like a Standing or Special Committee. Amending the rules to allow Committee of the Whole to have a witness appear without a formal motion in the Assembly is consistent with the process for having witnesses appear before other Committees. To ensure consistency:

Recommendation 15 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.6(5) be amended by deleting “through the adoption of a motion of approval by the Assembly” and replacing it with “with concurrence of Committee of the Whole”.

Point of Privilege

There are several references in the Rules which guides members on the use of a “question of privilege”. However, by convention we typically refer to a “point of privilege” rather than a “question of privilege”. To create consistency:

Recommendation 16 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends Rule 1.7(3) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Recommendation 17 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends the Sub-Title for Rule 1.7(3) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Recommendation 18 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends the Sub-Title for Rule 1.7(5) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Recommendation 19 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends the Sub-Title for Rule 1.7(7) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Recommendation 20 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 3.1(5) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Recommendation 21 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 3.2(3)(b)(iii) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Recommendation 22 The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 6.1(2)(f) be amended by deleting “question of privilege” and replacing it with “point of privilege”.

Conclusion

This concludes the committee report on the review of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly.

Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, second by the Member of Hay River South, that the Committee Report 75-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2, be received in the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. The Committee Report 75-19(2) has been received and adopted by the Assembly.

---Carried

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I see the Minister for MACA is smiling over there, so.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of MACA confirm if temporary accommodations are available for those persons who lost their homes during the wildfire will be made available and under what criteria? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, private accommodations will be provided for the people that were impacted by the wildfires. And, again, in regards to his riding, we have people in Peace River right now and other locations. They'll be there until January, but we will be looking at each case case by case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've had a couple of calls, people asking about accommodation, and I'd like to ask the Minister who it is that residents need to contact to access these accommodations? Thank you. Is it the Pathfinders, or who is it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's kind of a dual answer. If they're in Peace River or they have access to accommodations down there through Red Cross or our evacuation process, yes, please reach out to the Pathfinders that way. But if they haven't got accommodations, then, you know, reach out to their MLA, reach out to the South Slave or, if in case, the Pathfinders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if there -- and I think he alluded to it. Is there a limited time these temporary accommodations will be made available to people who lost their homes and if there is a limited time, what criteria will that be based on? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, these people that were impacted by the fires there, their accommodations we're relooking at it in January. But as we work on it, it might be extended until we get them actually back into their home or a replacement home as we work through that process. So right now, we got it in January and then we will be -- as we move forward, we'll be looking at each individual case by case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've got a couple of people who are actually in the temporary accommodation right now and they've been told they might only be there until the end of November. And the Minister alluded to that it would be end of -- or in January. So can extensions be granted, or can the Minister at least let the department know or let -- so they can tell these people that they're good until at least January and then, you know, they'll be given some time; it won't be, you know, a week before that they're told no, the extension's not going to be there or they are going to get an extension, because people are pretty anxious right now and they're worried they're going to be out in the cold this winter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know exactly which people he's talking about that are impacted, but my understanding is that accommodations are until at least January. But if the Member has heard of different situations, please reach out to us and we'll reach out to the department to make sure we fix that because we don't want these people that are being impacted by the fires to then have to be impacted by the accommodations. They may be -- part of the thing is they may be looking at maybe moving to Hay River and that might be some of the work that we're working on. But if the Member can work with me on this, we will get that resolved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. Last Wednesday, the Minister of Finance tabled the government's What We Heard report on their policy review of the Affirmative Action Policy. Following this report, can the Minister explain what the government intends to do next regarding the affirmative action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to be able to table this report. This has been a long time coming in terms of the work happening around affirmative action but, more importantly, around the hiring of Indigenous Northerners to the public service. And, Mr. Speaker, I can certainly say that the commitment of the Department of Finance and Human Resources to seeing achievement in terms of actual diversity and inclusion in public service remains firm.

With respect to what will happen next, Mr. Speaker, this is a policy that is of the executive council, and so there has been work done now to put together what a new policy might look like, to put together what a new direction might look like. The evacuations and the changes of timelines have made that somewhat a bit more difficult to act upon, but that work has certainly continued through that process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so can the Minister confirm if the government is firm on its assessment and decision to replace this old, outdated policy, the Affirmative Action Policy, within the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't obviously speak for the executive as its entirety since that, again, is a policy that belongs to Cabinet as a whole. But I would certainly say that, yes indeed, the Government of the Northwest Territories is firm in its commitment to prioritize the hiring of northern Indigenous candidates and firm in its commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Mr. Speaker, much has happened over these last four years, not the least of which is a public service strategic plan, which we didn't have before, the Indigenous recruitment and retention framework, which we didn't have before, implementation targets that are now public, and a diversity and inclusion framework. So much has happened, Mr. Speaker. I realize the affirmative action program is one more piece of that, but I would still say that all of those actions do speak loudly that we remain firmly committed to this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So can the Minister confirm that when -- and I'm going to say when, not if -- when the new Indigenous Employment Policy Comes into force, the existing Affirmative Action Policy will be revoked and will cease to exist? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, indeed, the -- an Indigenous Employment Policy was the subject of what was being consulted upon and various drafts were put out for review and for consideration and, indeed, if that were to be the direction that we go, that would end the now 30 some-year-old Affirmative Action Policy and bring with it the implementation of a new policy. It may be, Mr. Speaker, particularly given the timing, that we would want to delay implementation or we may want to make it, you know, a pilot or something that gives us a bit of breathing space, recognizing where we are in our timing and the challenges we've had this summer with timing. But in short, it's -- certainly if there's a new policy, that is the point; that it replaces the old one. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, I understand the Minister in saying if but when -- I'm going to just keep saying when. When this policy is approved and it is implemented, how long would the Minister consider the timeline to be before we would start seeing the changes at the frontline? Because every single one of us as MLAs, we all are MLAs first, have heard from our constituents on problems with hiring in the GNWT workforce. So when can this Minister -- when the policy comes into play, how long will it take for this government or the next government to have it roll out? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, no one should wait. No one should wait. And, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage people -- the Department of Finance does now have a full online reporting mechanism around Indigenous employment and around the Indigenous recruitment and retention framework. It includes all of the different steps that we had put to ourselves to achieve under the framework. It also now has publicized the targets for hiring of Indigenous candidates, and reporting on all of the implementation of that has begun. So no one should wait. That should be a tool, and the department should be held to it. All departments should be held to it because every department's targets are on there.

With respect to a new policy, Mr. Speaker, the beauty of it being policy is that it will have some more flexibility. If there's a new policy, typically what would happen is it does give an opportunity for departments and agencies to get used to it, to look at it, to refine it, to make sure that it is, in fact, the best one. So I can't give a timeline for a thing that we haven't announced. I can only say that, again, no one should be waiting. They should be using the tools that are already out there to their fullest ability. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as mentioned in my Member's statements, Trent University's applying to provide a new program of Indigenous environmental studies and sciences at Aurora College starting in the fall of 2023. Can the Minister of ECE explain who's pushing for and leading the efforts to introduce this new program at the college? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And so just to be clear, the program is not being offered at the college. It has nothing to do with Aurora College. This is a program that is a partnership between Trent University and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. So I would assume that it was the Yellowknives Dene who really initiated this. I know they're working very closely together. And I expect, or I understand that at least the first intake would likely all be Yellowknives Dene members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with an upcoming territorial election happening very soon, does the Minister believe that the timing of this new environmental-based program is questionable and that it should instead wait to be introduced until after the election? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The start date, I believe it's early in the new year, was what the program wants to -- when they want to begin the program. If we wait until after the election it will delay that, and they will miss their -- I guess their first semester. And so there are some deadlines involved here. Things would have happened earlier had it not been for the evacuations unfortunately. But I see what the Member is saying. You know, we have an environmental studies program. This is another one. You know, there's nothing wrong with a little bit of competition, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times, Fort Smith is the education capital of the NWT. Our community is proud and honoured with this distinction. Therefore, I am sure people can understand Fort Smith's concern with anything that might threaten the ENR technology program at Aurora College Thebacha campus. Can the Minister provide clarity on what exactly this new environmental program will be, which campus will it be offered at, and whether that will in any way undermine or threaten the ENR technology program in Fort Smith? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This program is being offered independently of the college, or it will be. And like the Member's said, the ENRTP is a world-renowned program. Not just one of the jewels of Aurora College, I'd said it's one of the jewels of the Northwest Territories so I can't imagine that the program has anything to worry about. The program that is out for public input right now -- and I encourage everyone, including the Member, to provide that input -- is focused on, you know, really the Yellowknives Dene and it was developed in concert with them. It focuses on Dene ways of knowing, doing, and being. So I think that they are two different programs, and there's room for both of them. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide assurances that the existing and highly regarded ENR technology program is not going to be dissolved or replaced as a result of this new program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And of course I can't make any assurances on behalf of the board of governors. They are arm's length from the Government of the Northwest Territories and from the Minister of ECE, but I don't think there's any concerns. I'm not at all concerned about the future of the ENRTP program. I think it's very well established and will continue to produce results for many years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ITI. As I mentioned in my statement, I'm hearing more and more from members of the community that are unable to properly feed themselves, especially people that are on income assistance and may only be taking home $800 a month. So given that there is a lot of money out there in the federal government, I'm also worried that we're not taking the most advantage we could of this area. So can the Minister advise me -- and I understand she has to get back to me -- on how much federal funding that we have received directly to support the growth in our agri-food industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that the -- I mean, we certainly have been receiving funding from the federal government under the sustainable Canadian agricultural partnership. This is a five-year investment by the federal government in the agri-food sector. And for us, we are expecting over $7.6 million over the life of that agreement here to the Northwest Territories which is, I would note, a 25 percent increase on numbers we were getting under the last agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, for once, that's great news to hear in this House. I'm always glad to hear that we're getting more federal money than less. I guess given that we've had these back to back years of quite terrible environmental conditions for our growers who are predominantly in the South Slave, you know, I just want to sort of reiterate that it is becoming quite concerning. So can the Minister or the department -- do they track the amount of, say, community gardens and greenhouses that are present throughout the territory? Like, how is the department supporting that initiative? Under food security, it's a little bit of a different one because each little bit of money could make a huge amount of impact so I'm just curious to know what way is the department kind of keeping track of that impact? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, indeed, this is an area where, while health and social services is the lead for food security generally, ITI certainly plays a significant role, and we are responsible for the agricultural sector as well as for community gardens and providing some funds to them. I certainly know, and I'm confident that the department is working directly with communities, that regional superintendents are working with those communities, and are tracking the amounts of growth in the sector. There, indeed, has been a lot of growth in the community garden sector. And in community gardens, Mr. Speaker, to be clear it's not just individuals going and using a plot only for themselves. I know I can speak, for example in Inuvik, where there's a benefit directly to the community and that what is being grown there does benefit the community. So the agricultural strategy, as I mentioned earlier, does require us to track. We are doing that. And I'd be happy to provide those numbers out into the public sphere. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister's response. But it did reiterate one of the concerns I raised in my statement, which is that this is an area where it does bounce between departments, or it's split over two, and like the immigration file we see that that does not generally work. You know, and if anyone is listening that will be around in the 20th, I do think there needs to be a Minister responsible for food security. I don't think we can go any longer without having somebody solely responsible for that who has to answer questions for it.

So next, can the Minister advise if there's been any grant programs that are available to residents or communities in those harder areas to grow? So I'm talking more about my colleague, say from Nunakput, or areas where they're not known to be agriculturally-minded in the past. What kind of programs or initiatives are being taken by the department to increase growing food in those areas? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's not -- under the agricultural strategy, there's not a carve out for one riding or another necessarily. They are done by ways of application. So, therefore, not necessarily reflecting that there might be more challenges to participate in one form of food growth and food -- commercial good growth or food creation because, Mr. Speaker, there's other options. And certainly, in some communities, country food harvesting may well take a greater place and have a greater role in providing for a community than what agriculture, say, might in another. But that's where -- while I -- there are multiple departments involved. This brings yet another department in of ECC. That said, Mr. Speaker, we have one shared briefing note. We have a group that works together across deputies and across officials. And so while I certainly don't speak for other departments, I am able to stand and to give information about all of them because there is the shared messaging and the shared commitment to the issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's not often that Cabinet proves my point, so I do appreciate that there is a third department that is now involved in this.

I think, again, it just speaks a little bit to what I was saying before, that there needs to be a sole direction, there needs to be a plan. We really need to be tackling this and especially given the food insecurity that people are facing. And, Mr. Speaker, I'm sure you're not immune to this. I am on a weekly basis hit up by residents of this territory for money to buy groceries for their children. And I know from speaking with my colleagues that I'm not the only one that this happens to. So when I look at this from a standpoint of mental health and getting young people involved and connecting them back to the land and, as well, even just things like food wastage is minimized when you're actually growing your own food. That one tomato I grew this season, I am going to eat that with gusto, I'll tell you, so.

So can the Minister speak a little bit further about sort of the impacts of the last few years on the agri-food industry. I'm glad to hear there's been some growth but the biggest complaint I heard was around heating the greenhouses, fuel costs, those types of problems or issues that are common across all of our industries. So could the Minister speak to that a little bit, given that we now also don't have the heating fuel rebate any longer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is, indeed, a -- well, again, bringing more expertise to bear from different areas in some ways can tackle what is really a very complex problem. So what we do have here is the teams are coming together. It's led by health and social services, so there is a team lead on it. Obviously from the perspective of commercial food production, commercial food growing, that is where ITI's expertise comes in. But this interdepartmental group involves multiple departments because it brings together, again, as I said, all these different areas and issues. I mean, I certainly can speak at some length about the challenges across sectors from the costs of fuel, from inflation, from supply chain issues, all of which has affected the agricultural sector, not to mention, of course, the wildfire seasons, the flood seasons, which have also in particular affected some of our most critical areas that provide a significant contribution to agriculture. Mr. Speaker, ITI's certainly well aware of it. We are looking to the federal government advocating for our sector with the federal government and for the need for more carve out. All of that work takes time, and all that work is lengthy. So I'll leave it at that today but, Mr. Speaker, to those working in the sector, we are well aware of how important this sector is to supporting food security in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the early days I was involved as a young councillor for YKDFN and impact benefit agreements with our community now, also with resource development agreements in our communities as well. So I've been involved with working with BHP, Diavik, and De Beers, and now we're getting to the point where these mines are going into reclamation. And so having said that, you know, our communities really are really in need of, you know, new mines to come up and to, you know, look for work for our young people in our community. And, you know, I was pleased today to talk about the Live Power, the Canada exploration project in our riding. And so I just got two quick questions to the Minister of ITI.

What steps are the government taking to ensure critical minerals exploration companies have the support they need to help the NWT transition to a critical mineral based economy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm quite pleased to get that question. I can say a couple of things quickly, mindful of time, although I would be happy to go on longer if I had more time.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, the MIP, or the Mineral Incentive Program funding, this is the amount of funding that is provided to exploration projects of all different sorts. And out of the almost $1.5 million disbursed thus far, Mr. Speaker, over $1.2 million of it went to critical minerals and metals projects, including a good proportion for lithium projects. So there's that.

It helps leverage dollars. So companies have to bring their own funding to bear and only then can they access this funding. So it leverages significant amounts of funds but provides an important incentive to the mineral resource industry here.

But secondly, Mr. Speaker, is with respect to criticals and minerals more broadly, we are looking to bring our own action plan, or priorities document, to put out into the public sphere the importance and the role of critical minerals and the future mineral resource industry of the Northwest Territories. And I am looking forward to that being out before the end of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister. Does the government have plans to support the critical mineral industry with green power to help ensure NWT resources will be competitive in the global market where low carbon products will prevail? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oh, Mr. Speaker, another one that I'd like to speak at about for some length. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a strong yes. I just don't quite know how it's going to unfold yet. That is a big ask.

The Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, we are not going to be able to last on diesel for the next ten years. That much is clear. Whether that will be in the form of the Taltson project, which we have spoken about in the House already and which has already a lot of interest in it, not the least of which is from the lithium companies, or whether we'll be looking for some other path forward. Mr. Speaker, I can say this is a good example where the industry is asking for this. The industry is asking for green power. They want a solution. And they want to be -- they want us to work with them and to keep them involved as we move forward so that they can, in fact, be the consumers, be the customers, and provide the pathway to really change the energy industry in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change who seems to be the lead on the climate emergency. I asked this question in the last sitting about whether our government considers climate change a crisis or an emergency. The answer was, from the infrastructure Minister was, quote, We could be dismissed or polarized by individuals who are holding very different views, end of quote. That's why we don't do it.

So following the horrendous fires this summer, can the Minister now tell us whether this government considers climate change an emergency for the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT continues to acknowledge the profound affect climate change is having in the NWT right now and the importance of building resiliency and addressing our emissions. Climate change has been a key part of this government's mandate. We've moved climate action in the territories forward through our climate change strategic framework and energy strategy. We're listening to Indigenous government partners through the NWT Climate Change Council, and we've advocated for the NWT perspective and funding at the federal and internationally level. We all agree that climate change will continue to affect our territories in many ways into the future, and we all need to work together to address this. Mr. Speaker, as the Member says, you look at climate change; four times of what the impact is at the national level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I didn't hear him actually use the word "crisis" or "emergency". At the recent Our Energy and Climate Future in a Changing World conference in July, some members of the public service used the words "crisis" and "emergency". So can the Minister tell us what the next steps are in GNWT's climate crisis approach as the current one continues to fail? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, other people use words that may or may not be what we're talking about. But the NWT is on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions target though we acknowledge that this is in part due to the mine closure. GNWT departments are working with partners to implement the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategy Framework and Action Plan. Of the 132 action items in the action plan, 74 are completed and 58 are on track. The climate change council includes a youth council and have been meeting quarterly to improve coordination, communication around climate change. And I've had the opportunity to meet with that council. I would certainly not characterize this process as failing. GNWT will conduct an independent review on the NWT Climate Change Action Plan/Renewal Plan in 2025. The GNWT is currently in the process of conducting engagement on climate change mitigation and adaptation actions through public engagement and our collaborative work on the risk and opportunities assessment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister. Of course, I still haven't heard him say the word "crisis" or "emergency" in relation to climate change. But the Auditor General raised the failure of two previous GNWT strategies to reach their greenhouse gas reduction targets, and the current one would also fail without the closure of the Diavik mine. Can the Minister tell us whether GNWT will actually embrace net zero as a target and when we might expect to reach that? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, GNWT recently completed a broad public engagement on emissions and targets. One possible scenario discussed was net zero emissions. There is a need to balance healthy economy with climate change mitigation in the NWT. The NWT approach needs to be achievable given our remoteness and cold climate. Any change to the approach to emission targets in the NWT will be part of the renewed climate change action plan and energy strategy in 2025.