Colleagues, before we begin, I'd like to recognize Senator Dennis Patterson, former government leader, Minister, and Member of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Assembly from Frobisher Bay, or Iqaluit. Welcome.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, through strategic infrastructure investments, this government is committed to supporting the expansion and diversification of our economy, improving the quality of life for residents, and lowering the cost of living in the territory.

We have secured about $1.5 billion dollars in funding under various cost-sharing agreements with the Government of Canada. This funding will advance transformative strategic initiatives like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Slave Geological Province Corridor, and the Taltson Hydro Expansion projects, and will also support over a hundred other public infrastructure projects that is intended to help close the infrastructure gap between the North and southern Canada.

Mr. Speaker, through the Investing in Canada's Infrastructure Program, up to $590 million in federal funding will be provided for Indigenous, community, and territorial government projects across the Northwest Territories. More than $340 million of this funding has already been allocated and the rest has been earmarked for future projects. Our agreement for this program goes until 2033. Over $180 million is cost-shared under Transport Canada's National Trade Corridors Fund for the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Slave Geological Province Corridor. There is also more than $240 million under Infrastructure's Canada's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund and the Small Communities Fund, for which our agreements currently end in 2028.

Mr. Speaker, these are just the highlights of the federal programs and critical projects the department is advancing for the benefit of Northwest Territories residents, with the continued support from the Government of Canada.

I am often asked why projects are not advancing faster, why construction does not start immediately after funding is announced, and why it appears that we are not spending the money we have for these projects. Mr. Speaker, there are many steps between filling out a funding application and getting shovels in the ground. These steps take time and are often completed behind the scenes, but they are essential to any successful project.

First, we conduct critical engagement and consultation and collect environmental, socio-economic, and technical research. This includes gathering input from those who may be impacted by these projects.

Then we begin the regulatory and permitting phase. This process is also dictated by law, often includes environmental assessments, followed by acquiring licenses, permits, and authorizations. This can take several years to complete.

Mr. Speaker, the regulatory and permitting phases inform project construction planning and final design. It is only after these pre-construction activities have been completed that a contractor can be procured and the project can advance to construction.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT's negotiated contracts policy, which supports added benefits for local and Indigenous businesses, rarely aligns with some of the federal procurement policy. Decisions to negotiate sole source contracts with local or Indigenous businesses often add additional layers of federal approvals and further delays to a project's schedule. Overall, Mr. Speaker, for a project like a new road or a new transmission line, it could take several years to complete the necessary engagement, consultation, environmental and engineering work to apply for permits; several years to acquire the necessary permits; and then, several years to undertake construction. However, these are all necessary project steps that must be undertaken.

Typically, the bulk of a project's funding is provided for the construction phase. The front-end work takes substantial time to complete and uses less of the overall project budget. For projects that are fully funded, it can appear as though projects are progressing slowly and funds are not being spent. This is not the reality. Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to putting necessary behind-the-scenes work to advance our projects for the benefit of the residents and communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to bring economic opportunities to our people and reduce the cost of living to businesses and residents. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce a new focus on patient experience in the health and social services system. The Office of Client Experience offers a centralized point of contact for individuals to provide feedback, make a complaint, or ask any questions they have regarding the health and social services system. Staff are in the gallery and I will introduce them at the appropriate time.

The Office of Client Experience will provide support for all residents and their families when accessing health and social services, including system's navigation, client and family advocacy, and connecting clients with additional supports and resources. The office also supports system improvement and responsiveness, using client experience and feedback to inform changes needed to meet the goal of providing equitable and culturally-safe care and services.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the Office of Client Experience, I am pleased to announce the launch of the Indigenous Patient Advocate Program. Following direction from Regular Members, the Department of Health and Social Services collaborated with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and the Indigenous Advisory Body to develop these positions as part of a new initiative and comprehensive approach to improving client experience. The Indigenous patient advocates will help Indigenous residents, their families and guests by providing advocacy and access to cultural, spiritual, emotional, and language supports. The advocates are located in NWT's acute care facilities which are Stanton Territorial Hospital, Inuvik Regional Hospital, the Hay River Health Centre, and the Fort Smith Health Centre.

To access services, individuals can call the Office of Client Experience toll free or email them. The details are available online or from your health centre. They can also ask to speak with an Indigenous patient advocate at any of the acute care facilities where they have been admitted.

Mr. Speaker, to ensure the Indigenous patient advocates are successful in supporting and advocating for Indigenous residents, they have been given a mandate for change. This is an essential element of the program to ensure the advocates can address and resolve systemic barriers or challenges. The Indigenous patient advocates are members of their regional senior management teams, ensuring Indigenous representation and participation at those decision-making tables.

The advocates make up a territorial team that reports to an Indigenous director, with a shared reporting relationship with the chief operating officer, or COO, for their region. This approach will provide support and guidance to the advocates, as well as a peer network to help counteract systemic racism experienced by Indigenous employees as they work to break down barriers and support residents to navigate the complex health and social services system.

Mr. Speaker, system change takes time but the implementation of the Office of Client Experience and the Indigenous Patient Advocate Program adds direct supports now that contribute to our goal of providing the best care possible for patients and clients, while also informing longer term system-level changes for a better future for all residents. I look forward to reporting progress on this new and exciting initiative again in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for MACA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the athletes, coaches, managers, mission staff who represented Team Northwest Territories, better known as Team NT, at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games recently held in the Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta. I also want to acknowledge those who are representing Team NT at the upcoming 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island, scheduled from February 18th to March 5th.

It was exciting to finally see the return of the Arctic Winter Games after five years. Team NT had 347 participants strong, comprised of a diverse group of athletes who competed at 19 different sports. The Arctic Winter Games provide an opportunity for our coaches, officials, and athletes to engage with, and compete against, other circumpolar countries. Not only are the games an athletic competition, they are also the opportunity to promote social exchange and learn of cultural values from other countries and regions.

I would like to thank the Team NT's leaders: The chef de mission Mr. Bill Othmer and assistant chefs de mission Mr. Damon Crossman and Ms. Rita Mercredi, and the rest of the mission staff.

In addition to Team NT, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs was pleased to support the Northwest Territories Youth Ambassadors Program at the Arctic Winter Games. This program offers a wonderful volunteer experience for youth at major territorial, national, and international events. Participants work to develop life and job skills and to build the confidence necessary to deal with complex life challenges.

There were nine youth volunteering with the 2023 Arctic Winter Games host society who were between the ages of 16 to 19 in seven different communities across the Northwest Territories. Those youth are the role models and leaders of tomorrow, and I commend them for taking the opportunity to learn and grow by participating in this exciting volunteer experience.

In the coming days, Team NT will again be represented by 155 athletes and coaches competing in 11 sports at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. The Canada Games showcases the highest level of national competition for Canadian athletes and provides our national high-performance athletes a venue to compete with hopes of earning a spot on Team Canada for the Olympics or other international events.

I would like to wish the very best to our leaders for the Canada Winter Games: The chef de mission Ms. Rita Mercredi and assistant chef de mission Mr. Damon Crossman, as they and Team NT make their way to the games. I also want to recognize the many volunteers who are responsible for supporting Team NT. This includes Sport North Federation and territorial sport organizations volunteers who were responsible for selecting and managing teams. Volunteers are a significant and an important part of sport and recreation programs that contribute to a healthier Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories is extremely proud to support our teams at both the Arctic and Canada Winter Games through financial assistance and a range of other programs that support development of coaches and athletes at the local, regional, territorial, and national levels.

For those of you still celebrating the success of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games, I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this truly wonderful experience. For those who are about to attend the Canada Winter Games, have fun, work hard, make us proud, as you always do. Go Team NT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. It's Valentine's Day and I want to send some love to our colleagues on the other side.

On September 2nd, 2022, Cabinet significantly reduced the size of the land withdrawal for the reindeer grazing reserve. It's hard to tell how big the reductions are as there are no publicly available maps or calculations. But it has to be at least 75 percent. The reindeer grazing reserve and land withdrawal were first established in 1933 and then significantly expanded in 1952. I acknowledge that GNWT did consult the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in while reviewing the land withdrawal. I'm not against reviewing all of this but there should be a fair and transparent process as well.

The map I have seen of this significant land withdrawal reduction also shows how the Inuvialuit land selections, and possibly Gwich'in land selections, were constrained by this reindeer land withdrawal that was in place. It appears they weren't allowed to make land selections in there. Presumably the land withdrawal served some useful purpose back then. I am still trying to figure out what the actual reasons were for this land withdrawal reduction. When I did an internet search, one of the first items to pop up was a 2014 Canadian Press story about how the Conservative federal government planned to reduce the land withdrawal to facilitate oil and gas development. That was according to documents obtained under access to information.

It looks like the Conservatives were not able to make these changes before they fell out of power in 2015 and devolution took place. It appears that GNWT has now finished that work begun by the Conservatives in reducing the size of the land withdrawal. Mr. Speaker, I will table that news story later today.

Perhaps the other reason for the reduction was the Inuvik Wind Turbine Project where GNWT did not want a little matter like a land withdrawal for conservation purposes to delay the project in any way. Rather than consult and make appropriate changes, GNWT continues to deny that that land withdrawal and designation actually means anything. Why should our government be constrained by plans or conservation areas anyway? I have lots of questions on why and how the land withdrawal for the reindeer grazing reserve was significantly reduced in size by this Cabinet. I am sure the Minister of Lands is looking forward to those questions later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a decade ago we knew the demand and competition for skilled workers would intensify with an aging workforce and people leaving the labour market in large numbers. Well, we're living in the future, Mr. Speaker, and it's safe to say our demand exceeds our expectation.

Labour shortage is something I hear about every month. Northerners and northern industries have big dreams and big opportunities but can't turn dreams into reality without skilled workers. Mr. Speaker, don't fall off your chair but I need to applaud Housing NWT as leaders in recognizing they have a role to play in workforce development.

Today, the GNWT is still the dominant northern employer in a Yellowknife-centric work environment and the dominant industry-driver outside of mining. This means that opportunities for developing skilled labour in many NWT communities rest squarely with opportunities afforded directly or indirectly through the GNWT. Housing NWT recognized this and built apprenticeship opportunities into their capital contracts requiring industry to offer local apprenticeship opportunities on each project. This practice needs to be adopted by all GNWT departments and this government needs to take youth development further.

ECE's SNAP, or the Schools North Apprenticeship Program, provides the perfect landscape for this. SNAP pairs high school students with employers so high school students can get valuable work skills and explore trades careers. Kids earn while they learn using GNWT wage subsidies and get a high school graduation credit for every 40 hours worked.

But Mr. Speaker, of 24 SNAP students, only two are located outside of Yellowknife and of 14 SNAP apprentices, again only two are located outside Yellowknife. Today, the South Slave, Deh Cho, and Sahtu have no SNAP students and the Deh Cho, Sahtu, and Beaufort Delta have no SNAP apprentices. The Beaufort Delta has 861 youth between 15 and 24, the Deh Cho there are 404, and in the Sahtu there are 371. Mr. Speaker, surely one from each of these regions is eager for the opportunities afforded by SNAP.

The GNWT needs to recognize itself as a northern employer and take its own place in youth skilled labour development. Local entrepreneurs aren't the only game in town, Mr. Speaker, and unfortunately in many of our small remote communities, there are no other options for SNAP students wanting to learn a trade other than GNWT learning opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, every NWT community should employ a SNAP student, and I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time.

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

Mr. Speaker, spring breakup is just around the corner so let us talk harbour remediation. Mr. Speaker, once again, and in the off chance this government has forgotten, the community of Hay River has the largest inland port in western Canada. It is home to a Canadian coast guard base, a federal department of fisheries and oceans office; our own marine transportation service; and, what could be a viable commercial fishing industry.

The community of Hay River is a major and significant component of our northern transportation corridor as well. It is where truck and rail freight from the south converge to be loaded onto barge destined for isolated communities, 21 north warning radar sites, and mine sites.

Mr. Speaker, last spring the buildup of sediments at the mouth of the East Channel of the Hay River reached a critical level and most likely contributed some to the devastating flooding that occurred. Last spring, summer, and fall, we saw MTS, coast guard, and commercial fishing vessels grounded on sandbars which resulted in damaged equipment, community resupply interruptions, and added cost for community resupply by air.

Mr. Speaker, we are aware that harbour remediation takes money and planning. This government has been waiting on the feds to pay and for the past 17 years it has not happened, so it is on us to fix it. Last fall, a bathymetric survey of the harbour was completed. That work was followed up with a visit to Ottawa by the Minister of Infrastructure and other Cabinet Members, who I understand discussed the issue of harbour remediation and the matter of some financial support for it.

Mr. Speaker, I was expecting the meeting would have resulted in the remediation of the channel prior to spring. Now my concern is that this government will do nothing but lay blame on the federal government, a story line that is becoming old. Mr. Speaker, this issue is critical, not only for the continued viability of Hay River but for our remote communities, our local and northern businesses, our fishing industry, the resource sector, and the livelihood of our residents and businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I was hopeful that the Minister of Infrastructure would have fixed the problem with a winter dredging program. She still has time to make us proud and keep her name off the long list of prior Ministers who were unsuccessful in addressing this issue. Thank You.

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

Mr. Speaker, communities in the NWT have been chronically underfunded for years. Every community in the Northwest Territories has been challenged to manage basic services like water, infrastructure, waste management, and community development while also providing critical services like emergency response, community recreation and sport and cultural activities.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT made a mandate commitment to reduce the funding gap by $5 million, and I acknowledge that the GNWT is on track to achieve this. However, Mr. Speaker $5 million does not go far enough. A 2019 report identified that Northwest Territories' community governments face a $40 million shortfall in funding needs. The additional $5 million in funding does not even make a dent in this shortfall. And as we all know, Mr. Speaker, the costs and expenses to run communities has only risen since 2019 following the pandemic. The price of fuel, transportation, power, food, materials, and supply chain costs have all gone up. Throw in aging, deteriorating infrastructure, and the increased carbon tax, and communities are stretched very thin trying to provide even basic services. Additionally, many communities face the challenge of preparing and responding to unprecedented climate change, including flooding. NWT communities are then further challenged to respond to homelessness, addictions, and lack of hope among youth and residents.

Increased funding directly to communities will build local economy and autonomy. Increased support direct to communities allows communities to focus on critical social, sport and recreation programs, and services for our children and youth, as well as pay a living wage to their workers. Why is the Minister of MACA not advocating for increased funding for NWT communities?

Communities have been forced to absorb bigger bills and respond to unprecedented issues yet the GNWT is not meeting communities where they need to be met. I hear from many communities that local jobs are being reduced, and programs and services minimized because communities must make cuts. Communities are the most efficient frontline responders to address the needs of NWT residents so why are we not empowering them to do so?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my passion for helping people instilled in me growing up led me to a rewarding career of nursing for almost 20 years and to where I am today as an MLA to stand up for my constituents and all their concerns. But, Mr. Speaker, today I'm extremely excited for the Indigenous patient advocates that will be located in our four regional hospitals to begin their important work.

Mr. Speaker, as a first-time MLA in this Assembly, I heard concern after concern in regards to the healthcare of our constituents, communication barriers, travel mix-ups, escort concerns, feelings of lack of respect to my constituents as well as I heard from other constituents throughout the Northwest Territories about our healthcare system and how our Indigenous people were being treated in it. So when we began our 2021-2022 Budget deliberations, this was one ask I felt that was important to add to our list of asks as Regular MLAs, and with the support of my colleagues as they too have heard the same concerns, we were able to get these positions.

At first it was rejected in the deliberations. They felt that they did this in other areas, but we did not let this go as we knew how important this was to have a bridge from the healthcare system to the Indigenous residents of the Northwest Territories, someone who they could go to, someone who they could trust, someone that they know that will hear them and, like their title says, advocate for them. Mr. Speaker, I wish them all the best in their new positions, and I know our Indigenous residents will be served well by them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in October 2021, Housing NWT released a document titled Strategy for Renewal outlining various actions that Housing NWT proposed to do with housing within the 19th Assembly. That document was light on details and includes no mention of seniors or assisting seniors with their housing needs, which is concerning given the rising number of seniors we have in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, according to the 2021 census data, there are currently 2,455 seniors above the age of 70 living in the NWT. Further, according to the data from the Department of Health and Social Services, the number of seniors aged 70 and older will more than double within ten years. Considering these statistics, I am finding it troubling that the Housing NWT does not seem to be taking this data into account and they're not appropriately planning on how to address this for the future. Despite much talk about helping seniors to age in place with dignity and some programs created specifically for seniors, there has never been a dedicated seniors housing strategy created and carried out by Housing NWT.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to addressing seniors housing, there are some essential aspects to consider. For example, the layout of the home must account for occupants with potential mobility issues or people dealing with various long-term illnesses. Another aspect that needs to be addressed are situations where a natural disaster either destroys or severely damages the existing home of a senior citizen, because right now the disaster assistance policy is only available to people when a natural disaster occurs where the damage is so widespread to a significant number of people or properties were affected.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I think there needs to be a new way to calculate the rent for seniors regardless of income level, race, or which part of the NWT they live in. I believe there should be a flat rate, single-fixed cost system that determines the rent for seniors. There needs to be a greater fairness in equity afforded to our senior population when it comes to rental charges. Enacting these changes would reduce the amount of rental arrears incurred by seniors and would provide them with less financial stress and worry. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I raised this idea with the housing Minister several times this term and while she has expressed some interest of it, she's been unable or perhaps unwilling to commit to putting any action toward it. I hope the Minister reconsiders because I think that a seniors housing strategy would properly address the needs of seniors and would close some of the gaps that our existing programs do not address for our senior population. I will have questions for the housing Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the invasion of Ukraine, the Arctic Council has paused all meetings. The Arctic Council is a forum meant to promote cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic states and Arctic Indigenous peoples. The work of the Arctic Council supports the Inuvialuit people in the Nunakput riding. The council works collaboratively with circumpolar partners on many important projects facing the far North limited to climate change research, monitoring and adaptation, ocean management, Arctic shipping, waste management, and regional planning and development. Currently, Russia is the chair of the council and all the work is put to a standstill.

At the time when Canada and the NWT need to be focused on developing, securing the northern part of the NWT, we're not holding discussions with the circumpolar partners. The GNWT, what are we doing? What are we doing about this, Mr. Speaker? What is the messaging that the GNWT has provided the federal government to support its work on the council? When the Arctic Council is going to get back to business? I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I presented a motion in this House last June 2022 regarding improving healthcare in small communities. The motion was prompted by numerous complaints made verbally to me or was printed in the media in relation to the many cases of misdiagnosis of Indigenous patients in the small communities.

Mr. Speaker, this is where residents have been into the health centres numerous times for the same ailment, were not diagnosed, or were not diagnosed properly and sent home with Tylenol. And in most cases, it was the fourth or fifth time they were near, or they were in, their death bed. From what I'm hearing, this is still going on in our small health centres.

In part of the motion, I spoke about systemic racism in our health centres as many nurses come in from the south and don't understand Indigenous history of injustices done to them. Mr. Speaker, I would like to state that not all the nurses are in this boat as there are many that truly like to work with Indigenous people, especially Indigenous patients.

We can have all the reconciliation and sacred ceremonies with the health department staff, with the doctors, with the nurses, but that does not address the root problem of providing improved healthcare services. Mr. Speaker, at the very least the Department of Health and Social Services should provide oversight of the small community health centres to ensure quality of care. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiiledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know how many times that I am going to bring up the Housing NWT crisis but until I see some real progress, it's going to continue to be my top priority as long as I am a Member of this House.

Mr. Speaker, housing corporation was born in 1972 and in the last 51 years since its foundation, the agency has failed to meet the housing demands of our residents apart from them rebranding and exercising, in 2022, that gave Housing NWT, not much has changed beyond a slick new logo and family-friendly name.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation has spent a great deal of time thumping her desk about how great of a job she has done on the housing crisis here in the Northwest Territories. But let's face it, the GNWT and housing have no vision, no plan for solving our housing crisis and a half of century of failure is proof all we need. I find this even more frustrating when the Minister has few portfolios to occupy her attention and the boss is the Premier -- is a former housing Minister as well and who has often spoken her passion for the housing policies.

Mr. Speaker, I expect better from this government. Housing NWT has been applying for CIRNAC dollars from housing grants to address their own housing needs. That means needs of the people we serve. This means fixing up public housing units according to their schedule without any consultation or engagement with Indigenous governments, who gave Housing NWT the mandate to make these applications and spend the money on behalf of the Indigenous governments who are already struggling to meet their own housing crisis needs. It's unfair and out of touch to insist that these efforts are solving the housing crisis when they do little more than fix up the GNWT assets. Yes, it looks like a good photo opportunity to help the Minister's political fortunes, but it does not make a slick difference to our residents without adequate affordable housing.

As we need to do -- all we have to do is look to our sister territory Nunavut to see real progress on the housing file. Is it possible, Mr. Speaker, that without making real change, the NWT will continue to struggle in housing? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last fall, the Department of Health and Social Services went out to consult on their extended health benefits policy. And on first glance, it seemed that the plan was to expand coverage and means test it, something I had no opposition to. But upon a closer reading, it was clear that that plan was to do that at the expense of the specified disease conditions in the schedule to that policy, Mr. Speaker; something I do oppose.

And, Mr. Speaker, so the department tabled their “what we heard” report and in that report, it was pretty clear that there was support for expanding coverage to provide all NWT residents with access to supplementary health and drug benefits but not by removing existing programs or reducing coverage for residents currently on the specified disease condition program.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard many stories from constituents who have these specific diseases who are worried about the increased cost this will place on them, who are worried about how it will affect coverage, who are worried about whether they will continue to be on the drugs. Mr. Speaker, this is not the stress we want to put on our residents. I support expanding, you know, drug coverage and if those liberals would get their act together, maybe we would see a pharmacare program and that would be the proper step. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of health of whether we are actually going to listen to the feedback we got in the “what we heard” report or whether this is just going to be another what-we-didn't-listen-to report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to celebrate the life of Ms. Millie Kuliktana. It has almost been a month since Millie passed away. For the people that got to know her, she was a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, mentor, teacher, super volunteer, and sister who had a heart of gold. She was about serving others throughout her life. She was well known and respected across Canada, especially in Nunavut, NWT, Yukon and Alaska.

I like to share the first time I met her. I was hired as the recreation coordinator trainee for the hamlet of Coppermine, now known as Kugluktuk. It was the first week of December 1987. I was given the task of finding billets for ten out-of-town volleyball teams. I remember thinking how I was going do this? Millie's future husband, Simon Kuliktana, told me do not worry, Millie's coming home today, and she would get everyone looked after. True to his word, Millie came in and within an hour they were all looked after. This was Millie. Give her a task, regardless of the difficulty, and she had it solved. Later that day, she and Simon invited me into their home, and I have always been welcome since.

I watched their family grow and witnessed their children become what she was very proud of and the topic of conversation a lot. Quentin, Wynter, Shawn and Tundra are her and Simon's legacy. You could see her glow every time they were around, and her grandchildren became her special treasures.

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to be with some of the family when she passed away. I would like to thank her children for allowing me to be there with them; four of sisters, Edna, Helen, April and Jeannie; and two lifelong friends, Susie Evyagotailak and Kathy Okpik, at the hospital. It was such an honour. There are so many things I want to say but I am just saying she was an amazing person. She was always about family, this included extended family, and when we talked she always spoke so highly of them.

I was very fortunate to be added to the family in 1990. Her mom and father adopted me, and I was now her brother. It was like her sister Jeannie said, Millie watched you or welcomed you with open arms, making sure you knew you were part of her family and truly loved.

Throughout the years, I have had so many amazing conversations with her. It was always refreshing as she spoke her mind and with so much honesty but, most importantly, it was done with love. She cared and that was why she did what she did for others.

Mr. Speaker, at her celebration of life, her daughter Wynter did an amazing job with her eulogy and I would like it to be deemed as read here today.

To Simon, the children and grandchildren, may God bless you during this difficult time and may you share loving stories about her. She will be sadly missed, Mr. Speaker.

Welcome everyone, quana for coming. I know that Mom is so honoured to see you all here with our family today. We would especially like to thank Reverend Dixon and his wife Rosalind for coming to Kugluktuk. It was Mom's wish to have her service be provided in both English and Inuinnaqtun and our family made sure that her wish would be met. Quana Reverend Collis for welcoming them.

Another request of Mom was that she didn't want pressure put on me to do her eulogy, I looked at her sternly and said, "Do you really think I would let anyone else do it?" We laughed and she had no choice but to agree that I would provide her eulogy. All of you here have given both our Mom and our family support, prayers and hope all these years. In addition to your presence here, we have received so many expressions of condolence from the many people that our Mom has touched over the years. Their words and yours match those that echo in our hearts.

“Our Mom. Emotional, yet the rock. Tired, but keeps going. Worried, but full of hope. Impatient, yet patient. Overwhelmed, but never quits. Amazing, even when doubted. Wonderful, even in chaos. Life Changer, every single day" Rachel Martin

Millie Rose Qitupana, born on February 7, 1964 here in Coppermine, as the fifth child and fourth Daughter to Elva Wenek and Tommy Norberg.
A day before her birthday, at the age of 17, Mom would have her first son, Quentin. Although young, Mom knew that if she was to provide for her children, she would have to further her education. She gave Quentin to Nanny and Grandpa to raise him for the earlier part of his years when she would begin her lifelong career in education.

In 1978, both Mom and Dad would become best friends while pursuing their education in Fort Smith. They remained best friends until Dad says, in 1986, Mom would be the first girl he ever kissed sober, he knew then that she was to be his wife. Mom and Dad were married on December 26, 1987, by Reverend Dixon. I was born just shy of a month before their wedding and was given to them as a wedding gift. Dad welcomed Quentin as his own and together Mom and Dad later birthed our younger siblings, Shawn and Tundra.
Mom and Dad's pursuit to both advancing their careers and providing for their children was always a journey for our family. Mom and Dad uprooted us from Kugluktuk numerous times, living in Taloyoak, Iqaluit and Igloolik.

Mom and Dad showed us the true meaning of commitment through a marriage. Mom and Dad were never afraid to show us that sometimes, marriage could be difficult, but they always found a way to maintain their commitment. Mom was asked recently by a nurse what was their secret was to a marriage of thirty plus years, she says, "There is no secret. Even if it means we choose not to live together, we committed to being best friends first."

Mom and Dad lived true to that commitment, especially demonstrating that in sickness and in health, Dad stood by our Mom to the end. Mom and Dad taught us that wherever we were, we were a team that lead with support, commitment, trust, and love.

Mom was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension in 2010. I recall my siblings and I being called to a family meeting with our Aunt Edna, to which we were told that Mom would only have three months of life left to give. I recall that moment so vividly, because I knew in my heart that this was not it for our Mom, and that the support, commitment, trust, and love that our parents instilled in us would be the guiding force that would make sure of this. Mom's illness, although physically hers to bare, emotionally, it was just as much ours too. She was never doing this alone.

Our life as we knew it changed forever, each of us making countless sacrifices, enduring countless hospitalizations, and uncharted emotions. Throughout years of uncertainty, what became certain was our Mother's will to live. Mom taught us faith, hope, strength, and patience, and most importantly, gratitude. Mom could be in the most challenging situations, yet she could find reason to be thankful. Through the challenges and despite her ailments, she had a will to live and that's exactly what she would do. We camped, we hunted, we fished, we travelled, we gave her grandbabies, we never stopped. The power of grandchildren would be proven time and time again, often surprising Mom's Doctors and Nursing staff as our babies guided Mom through miracles in hospital.

Countless times I would recite the following quote to Mom on some of her toughest days, "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow." The most rewarding tomorrow that Mom would receive was on Thanksgiving weekend, October 14, 2019. At 9:37 in the morning, Mom would get the call to accept her new lungs and undergo the double lung transplant."

"The idea is not to live forever. But maybe to help another live a little longer. Without the organ donor, there is no story, no transplant. But when there is an organ donor, life sprints from death, sorrow turns to hope, and a loss becomes a gift." To Mom's donor, thank you.

The transplant experience encompassed so many emotions dating back to her public health diagnosis, this time though, was the highest level of hope that our family could be gifted. I have only shared the intimate details of this experience with a few, witnessing firsthand a rush of so many doctors to pull our Mom out of near-death encounters. It was moments such as these that would add to my trust in Mom's doctors. Mom's recovery wasn't without company, her dearest friends and family would join Shawn in her journey to recovery and on July 10, 2020 Mom would finally return home to the rest of our family. We made sure we celebrated that day so perfectly, setting up Christmas in July, singing happy birthday to everyone, and filling her home with people, music, and dance.

Mom had this really beautiful ability to bring people together and make some really incredible things happen. Among many of Mom's passions, one of her most powerful was the passion for this community. She loved the people of Kugluktuk with deepest sincerity, and she never lost sight of her vision for building healthy families that would contribute to the overall well-being of this place we all call home. I couldn't even begin to list the contributions that she has made to our home, but what I know for certain is that with every initiative that she provided, she had this ability to fill hearts with love, and comfort people with a sense of hope, regardless of what people were going through. I ask that you all can carry those beautiful moments and memories in your hearts, especially when times seem challenging. Sometimes we need a little help to maintain that hope, but know that the hope is within you, always.

With an aching heart, moments of reflection gave me comfort. What was once three months, turned thirteen years. I truly believe the demonstration of our parent's marriage, instilled within us the courage to be a team and lead our Mom through a life that she deserved. Although living through an illness wasn't ideal, it gave our family the gift to live through the beauty of vulnerability, appreciating and finding gratitude in all that we did together. Again, with an aching heart, we remain grateful. Mom's will carried her through to watching her baby Tundra and her first grandgirl Saveah, becoming Mother's. Our Mom as Grandma was the most beautiful type of love that our family could feel.

From our Kugluktuk Health Centre, to the Yellowknife Stanton Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital, a thank you will never be enough. Our gratitude especially to Mom's team of Doctors in Edmonton was a constant amongst uncertainty and the nursing staff in ward 5E3 were truly angels among us. They never failed our Mom, giving us thirteen more years with her, we consider their commitment a success and they should be so proud of themselves, because their work was reflected in our family.

I want you all to take comfort in knowing that Mom's medical team made sure that Mom's final days were free of pain. Quentin, Shawn, Tundra and I were comforted with the presence of our Aunt's Edna, Helen, Jeannie and April, Uncle Shane Thompson, and Mom's best friends, Kathy Okpik and Susie Evyagotailak. Their comfort, guidance and counsel will carry a special place in our hearts forever. We also took comfort knowing that Dad was home with Laila, Nick, Evan, Billy and Saveah and the grandbabies.

My siblings and I met to prepare ourselves for the removal of Mom's breathing machine. Together we chose not to cry as Mom's soul made its journey, we had to send our Mom off in honour, courage and grace. I am so proud of you guys. Your bravery made this moment so beautiful and I know that Mom was so proud of us for sending her off the way that we did.

To my family, the toughest days are yet to come, especially for our children. Our children were Mom's purpose and Mom was ours, and it's going to be a challenge to find our purpose through the grief. In those moments, make time for moments of reflection, what was instilled within us carried our family forward and we will continue, "we've got each other". May all that are gathered today be inspired by our Mother's will to live, we all have it, it's up to us to use it to live the best version of ourselves, for ourselves, our children, our families and our community.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community.

Members' statements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's an honour for me to welcome Mr. Senator Dennis Patterson into the House. I remember him visiting my father Jimmy Jacobson when I was a young boy in Tuk. Welcome to the House, Dennis. It's always good seeing you.

And I'd also like to welcome Denise Voudrach, patient advocate for the Beaufort Delta. Welcome, and I'm looking forward to letting you do all the good work that you're going to do for the people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two pages that are here representing Inuvik Twin Lakes, Kalena Weinman and Brianna Dillon. And I'd also like to recognize a constituent Denise Voudrach who is our Indigenous patient advocate that will be in Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to recognize the staff of the newly created Office of Client Experience that will provide support services to NWT residents navigating the health and social services system. With us today is

• Fraser Lennie. Fraser is the director and program supervisor for the new office. He is a Metis Sahtu beneficiary and lives in Yellowknife. Welcome.
• Glenna Simon. Glenna is the senior Indigenous patient advocate for Fort Smith. Glenna is First Nations and Cree, and she works out of the health centre in Fort Smith.
• Denise Ritias is the senior Indigenous patient advocate for the Inuvik Regional Hospital. She is a Dene of K'ahsho Got'ine and was born and raised in Inuvik.
• Anastassia Judas. Anastasia is the senior Indigenous patient advocate for Stanton Territorial Hospital. Anastasia is Yellowknives Dene First Nation member and lives in Yellowknife.
• Sharon Sunrise. Sharon is a system navigator. She is a member of and resides on the K'atlodeeche First Nation.
• Faith Woodruff. Faith is a system navigator. She is a Woodland Cree member of the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta. She lives in Yellowknife.
• And finally, Marie Douglas, client experience liaison. Marie is Gwich'in, North Slavey and Tlicho, and lives in Yellowknife.

I'd like to welcome them all and thank them for the work they've undertaken.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As it is Indigenous languages month, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the Dene Got'ie translators. Mary Jane Cazon from Fort Simpson and Samuel Gargan from Fort Providence. Mahsi for all the translating that you do for the elders out there. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm also pleased to recognize a couple of visitors joining us in the gallery today. The honourable Senator from Nunavut and former government leader and chairman of the Executive Council, Mr. Dennis Patterson. And the director of parliamentary affairs for Senator Patterson's office, Claudine Santos. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize all of the patient advocates, but Faith Woodruff I'd like to recognize as a former colleague in the NGO world and a personal friend of my own. Really glad to see you in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to recognize Dennis Patterson who I also know from the 1970s and consider a friend. Dennis. And I'd also like to recognize Glenna Simon, the new patient advocate for the Fort Smith Health Centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to have had the assistance of a couple of pages from Yellowknife South this week. Mr. Jude Brothers was here earlier this week. He's not technically in the House anymore, I didn't realize it was his last day, but I am grateful for his assistance. Today, however, we have Larah Peters, and she is also joined by her parents Michele and Ryan Peters. They are up in the gallery and are residents of Yellowknife South. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to recognize the patient advocates as well too and just recognizing the Indigenous hire, and it's a much-needed service that is required here in the Northwest Territories. Also to recognize Fraser Lennie and Denise Riddous Voudrach who do have grassroots to the Sahtu. And also respectfully Dennis Patterson. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber, and I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to have people in the gallery. Mahsi.

Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022.

Bill 57 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 20th, 2022 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. On February 13th, 2023, the standing committee held a public hearing and clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report its consideration of Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act.

Bill 61 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November the 2nd, 2022, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review. On January the 25th, 2023, the standing committee held a public hearing and a clause-by-clause review of the bill with the sponsor of the bill, the Member for Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its report on Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act, and commends it to the House.

Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act, (Bill 61) received second reading on November 2, 2022 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

Bill 61 is a private Member's bill, sponsored by the Member for Yellowknife North, to amend the Ombud Act. Many of the proposed changes derive from recommendations in the Ombud's 2019-2020 Annual Report and in committee's review of that annual report. Specifically, Bill 61:

• Allow residents to make complaints about a wider range of public bodies;
• Allows the Ombudsman to investigate complaints going back further in time, to 1999;
• Allows the Ombud to provide more notice of investigations to Indigenous organizations; and
• Clarifies the Ombud's mandate.

This report outlines key events leading up to the introduction of Bill 61, describes committee's engagement with stakeholders, and summarizes stakeholders' positions and committee's decisions on key issues.

I will now turn the report over to the MLA for Kam Lake, MLA Cleveland.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Welcomes Improvements to Ombud Act During 19th Assembly

In October 2020, the Speaker tabled the Ombud's first-ever annual report for 2019-2020. The Ombud's report made 14 recommendations for legislative changes to the Act. The recommendations were informed by:

• The Ombud's review of legislation in other jurisdictions;
• The advice she received from other Ombuds and legal professionals; and
• The issues that arose when responding to individual complaints in her first year in the role.

The Ombud made her recommendations "with the intent of ensuring that my office is fully enabled to fulfill the purpose and vision with which the Legislative Assembly created it."

Committee endorsed many of the Ombud's recommendations in our subsequent review report. That report was tabled in May 2021 and discussed in Committee of the Whole. The Legislative Assembly ultimately adopted seven motions that recommended changes to the Act.

At the time, Members hoped the Government of the Northwest Territories would put forward amending legislation in the remaining two years of the 19th Assembly. In this regard, the GNWT's November 2021 response was disappointing. The GNWT declined to pursue any legislative changes in the life of the 19th Assembly, agreeing only to consider committee's recommendations in the context of a "future review."

In June 2022, committee followed-up on the GNWT's response in a meeting with the government House leader. Committee wanted to learn more about the GNWT's position and, more importantly, make one more appeal for changes to the Act in the 19th Assembly. Shortly before, the government House leader and committee had collaborated successfully to incorporate recommendations from the Languages Commissioner, another statutory officer, into legislation in the life of the 19th Assembly. Committee had hoped for a similar process and outcome for the Ombud. Ultimately, the Government maintained its position and declined to make changes.

Committee is dissatisfied that efforts to craft recommendations that would improve government operations - which were endorsed as motions in the Legislative Assembly - are disregarded without meaningful and timely action. Our disappointment grows greater when our recommendations build on recommendations from our statutory officers. The statutory officers provide great expertise and effort in their work yet, in some instances, their recommendations have gone unmet with legislative changes for up to 20 years.

Committee therefore welcomes Bill 61. In particular, committee commends the Member for Yellowknife North for bringing forward these changes on his own initiative. The changes will improve the ability of the Ombud to carry out her mandate for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Committee Considered Input from Private Member, Ombud, Minister, Statutory Officers, And the Public.

Committee sought public feedback on Bill 61 with a public notice and targeted engagement letters to key stakeholders. Committee received written submissions from:

• The Member for Yellowknife North
• The Ombud
• The Minister of Justice
• The NWT Human Rights Commission.
• The Human Rights Adjudication Panel
• The Equal Pay Commissioner
• The Languages Commissioner - The Integrity Commissioner
• And one member of the public.

All written submissions are included in an appendix to this report.

Committee also held a public review of Bill 61 on December 9, 2022. At that meeting, committee received oral comments from the Member for Yellowknife North and the Ombud. Committee also met with the NWT Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Adjudication Panel to hear their concerns on January 16, 2023.

Committee extends our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed their thoughts, concerns, and advocacy for the review of Bill 61. The engagement in the review process demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and reinforcing our territory's institutions and governance. The input helped us to understand the benefits of the proposed changes and put forward amendments to further strengthen the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass the reading of this report on to the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you.

Committee Agreed to Most Changes as Drafted

Allowing complaints about more public offices.

Bill 61 would mean residents could make complaints to the Ombud about a wider range of public bodies, including housing associations and the Human Rights Commission. In verbal testimony, the Ombud indicated that she has had to turn down complaints because certain public offices are outside her mandate. For example: While the Ombud can investigate a public housing complaint from a tenant in Inuvik, where the local housing organization is defined as an "authority", she cannot investigate the same complaint if it came from Fort McPherson (Teetl'it Zheh), where the LHO is defined as an "association."

The legislative changes would add other public organizations to the mandate of the Ombud that are currently excluded, such as:

• the chief rental officer;
• the Assessment Appeals Tribunal;
• the Social Assistance Appeal Board; and
• staffing appeal officers.

According to the Ombud, other Canadian legislation does not typically exclude these types of offices from an Ombud's mandate. Committee requested a jurisdictional scan from the sponsoring Member, who provided one. The scan confirms the Ombud's assertion.

Committee previously recommended this change in 2021. Committee continues to support this change and hopes that the Northerners' complaints are treated the same way in each community and as they would be in other provinces and territories.

Investigating matters as early as 1999

Bill 61 would allow the Ombud to investigate complaints into matters that have come up since April 1, 1999. Right now, the Ombud can only investigate complaints into matters that have come up since January 1, 2016. The Ombud has reported that the temporal restriction of her authority has prevented her from looking into a small number of cases. She has conveyed that complainants have found the cut-off "arbitrary and unfair" and "hard to accept." The committee has agreed that the Ombud should not have to refuse complaints from 2015 while being able to investigate complaints from 2016.

The Minister of Justice expressed concern at the potential for an "overwhelming number of requests." The Ombud, by contrast, does not share this concern, saying that the legislation gives her many ways to turn down complaints. Committee is satisfied with the Ombud's explanation and believes any increase in complaints will be manageable. One member of the public also expressed support for the change. They noted that the Ombud's current restriction to reference information predating 2016 may distort the outcome of an investigation. Committee believes this change will help the Ombud make better, more informed recommendations.

Committee previously recommended this change in 2021 and continues to support this change. Committee finds the April 1, 1999, date appropriate as it is the date on which the modern Northwest Territories came into being. Committee further notes that this new date more closely aligns with the standard in Yukon. Yukon's Ombudsman Act links the temporal change restriction with the law's coming into force date, which was July 1, 1996.

Committee is pleased that the Ombud will be able to investigate complaints that pre-date 2016, and that she can consider all relevant information going further back in time.

Providing more notice requirements

Bill 61 would allow the Ombud to provide more notice of investigations, including Indigenous organizations, where the public body being investigated is created from an agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and an Indigenous government.

These changes are consistent with two previous committee recommendations. Committee believes these changes will better serve complainants and the authorities subject to a complaint.

Committee Amended Two Clauses

Clarifying the Ombud's mandate

Clause 3 of Bill 61 updates section 15(1) of the Act, which defines the Ombud's mandate. The goal of the clause is to provide clearer wording. The existing wording for the mandate is awkward and was the subject of considerable debate when the Act was first debated in the Legislative Assembly. The new, proposed wording is similar to that of a previous committee recommendation, which itself was based on a motion from the then Committee Chair in the 18th Assembly.

Originally, clause 3 of Bill 61 read:

3. Subsection 15(1) is repealed, and the following is substituted:

15.(1) The mandate of the Ombud is to investigate any decision or recommendation made, or any act done or omitted to be done by an authority or by officers, employees or members of an authority in the exercise of their powers or duties, that

(a) relates to a matter of administration or the implementation of a policy; and

(b) aggrieves or may aggrieve any person or body of persons in their personal capacity.

However, the Ombud was concerned with the phrase "or the implementation of a policy." She cautioned that specifically identifying one category type of matter of administration could lead to a narrower reading of the Ombud's mandate in the future.

The Minister of Justice was concerned with the same phrase, for a different reason. The Minister thought the wording could be interpreted as expanding the Ombud's mandate beyond matters of administration, to the potential impact on public policy decision-making.

Committee therefore agreed to and passed a motion to amend clause 3. The amendment effectively dropped the problematic phrase from the clause. The Member for Yellowknife North concurred. Committee believes that this deletion addresses the risk for confusion and ensures that the Ombud's mandate to investigate "a matter of administration" remains intentionally broad.

I'd like to turn it over to the MLA for Thebacha. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Member for Thebacha.

Investigating matters within mandates of other statutory officers

Section 23 of the current Act prevents the Ombud from investigating complaints that are within the mandate of certain statutory officers, unless that officer agrees. The current Act applies this restriction to six (6) offices:

• The Languages Commissioner;
• The Information and Privacy Commissioner;
• The Integrity Commissioner;
• The chief electoral officer;
• The director of Human Rights; and
• The Equal Pay Commissioner

Clause 6 of Bill 61, as originally drafted, would have continued to exclude these three statutory officers of the Ombud's jurisdiction: The Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Integrity Commissioner, and the chief electoral officer. But the bill would have added the three other officers to the Ombud's jurisdiction: The Languages Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission, and the Equal Pay Commissioner.

All three statutory officers affected by the potential change expressed concern about overlapping jurisdiction with undesirable implications. The Minister of Justice voiced similar concerns and recommended more consultation with all three affected statutory officers.

Committee reviewed and sought to resolve these concerns. Committee wanted to ensure guardrails to ensure that the Ombud cannot override decisions of the Human Rights Commission or the Adjudication Panel.

Committee consulted the Law Clerk on a couple of approaches to amend clause 6. Committee ultimately settled on the cautious approach that would maintain the exclusion of all six statutory officers covered in the existing Act. Committee also decided to expressly exclude the Human Rights Commission and the Adjudication Panel from the Ombud's jurisdiction.

Committee agreed to and passed a motion with such an amendment at the clause-by-clause review. The Member for Yellowknife North concurred.

Committee Considered Three Recommendations From The Ombud

In a written submission, the Ombud offered three suggestions to further amend Bill 61:

1. Clarify and make more inclusive the definition of "administrative head";
2. Remove the phrase "the implementation of a policy" from the Ombud's mandate; and
3. Remove the phrase "and any administrative policies of the Clerk" from subsection 42(2).

Committee agreed to and passed an amendment that addresses the Ombud's second suggestion. Committee did not consider the Ombud's first and third suggestions, as these were out of scope for Bill 61. Committee believes there's merit to reviewing both outstanding suggestions in the context of a fuller review of the Ombud Act. Committee has previously recommended that the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct a holistic review of the Ombud Act within the first two years of the 20th Assembly.

Committee Recommends Broader Review Of The Statutory Bodies' Jurisdiction

Committee believes the issue whether, how, and to what extent the Ombud can investigate other statutory officers of the Assembly merits further study, as part of a broader review. Committee notes that inconsistencies may exist between these statutory officers' jurisdiction - for example, while the Languages Commissioner may investigate a complaint against the Ombud, the converse is not allowed, at least not without the agreement of the Languages Commissioner.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations therefore recommends:

Recommendation 1

That the Government of the Northwest Territories, in consultation with the Board of Management, lead a holistic review to examine and clarify the jurisdiction of each statutory officer of the Assembly to investigate:

1. Other statutory officers of the Assembly;
2. Public bodies that exercise statutory authority on behalf of the Executive; and
3. Public bodies that provide statutory advisory services to the Executive.

The review should identify areas of over- and under-lapping jurisdiction and make recommendations to address discrepancies based on best practices.

Recommendation 2

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

Conclusion

On January 25, 2023, committee held a clause-by-clause review. Committee passed a motion to report Bill 61, as amended, to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the Standing Committee on Government Operations' review of Bill 61.

Mr. Speaker, I move, second by the Member for Kam Lake, that Committee Report 40-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act, be received by the Assembly and referred to the Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. 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. Bill 61 will be deferred into Committee of the Whole.

---Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Monfwi on February 8, 2023, regarding non-insured health benefits covered areas.

Indigenous Services Canada has advised the Government of the Northwest Territories that non-insured health benefits do not cover stays at in-patient treatment facilities for residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Returns to oral questions. Replies to budget address. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the housing Minister tell us if she or Housing NWT has ever considered a seniors housing strategy for the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The strategy that we had completed is for all the people throughout the Northwest Territories recognizing areas of improvement that we need to increase our services, increase our communication, and be really working with our partners throughout the territory. But we did make some changes to our seniors programming as well too where we do have the seniors aging in place program that was increased from $10,000 to $15,000. And we have also eliminated the co-pay for emergency repair for seniors. But we continue having the discussions throughout the Northwest Territories with the seniors societies and nonprofit organizations that do represent seniors, but I look forward to further collaboration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if a single flat-rate rent system for seniors would work in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I do agree with the Member, that we need to start looking at rental rates separately calculated for seniors throughout the Northwest Territories. Right now we are looking at our policy changes but this is not an ongoing, but I would like to take a look at our rental rate plan for 2023-2024 for that review, specifically concentrated on seniors, and also recognizing mobility issues and disabilities and just complicated issues that arise at that age that I want to consider that into the calculation of rent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider doing a pilot project of a flat rental system for seniors to test its usage in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And before any pilot project, I would like to conduct an analysis throughout the Northwest Territories and specifically on seniors as well. And I do also appreciate the Member that providing, I think she gave me the number to this House, there's 2600 I want to say, approximately, seniors throughout the Northwest Territories, and the number is increasing after the age of 70. So I would like to look at the possibilities of a pilot and how we would further be looking at services and improving services for seniors throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe that a new or modified disaster assistance policy tailored specifically to seniors would benefit the people of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The disaster assistance policy is linked to federal programming and financial funding through the federal government. We don't necessarily have that policy within housing. And I don't know what the impacts would be -- I would have to work with my colleagues on this side and looking at what we can further provide when these disasters actually do happen. I do recognize there was a tornado that had happened in Fort Smith. It did affect one of the units. We do have the flood that had happened as well too. But working with my colleagues on this side, we could work together for a more collaborative approach recognizing what can we do differently within the disaster policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Lands. I outlined some concerns with the process of significantly reducing the size of the land withdrawal for the reindeer grazing reserve. I fully understand that there was a consultation with Inuvialuit and Gwich'in, but there doesn't seem to have been any opportunity for the general public to comment.

So can the Minister explain why that land withdrawal reduction took place and tell us what public engagement also happened? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the land withdrawal order for the reindeer grazing reserve was originally established by the federal government in 1936, as the Member has said here in his Member's statement. The reindeer herd has never used the full area of the original land withdrawal. The very large withdrawal area resulted in local requests for leases being refused, including interest in cultural healing camps, personal cabins, and tourism lodging opportunities. Starting in 2021, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Lands engaged with the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit land claim organizations and wildlife management boards to consider a size reduction to the reserve. The land withdrawal change was completed in September of 2022. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course, he managed to forget that there was no public engagement. But presumably the land withdrawal for reindeer grazing offered some conservation value to other species in the area, including migratory waterfowl, bears, and perhaps others.

Can the Minister tell us whether his department researched the conservation value of the land withdrawal for other species before deciding to drastically reduce its size and can he share any such assessment with the public? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reindeer grazing herd was established under a land withdrawal order and never intended to be a protected area or a tool to manage and protect wildlife in the area. The GNWT's approach to reduce the size of the reserve to the area of existing herd activity was discussed with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to ensure the needs of the reindeer herd were met. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Of course it's question period; we don't actually expect to get answers here but, you know, I asked whether there had been any assessment of other conservation values. The Minister didn't respond. There are authorities and plans in the reindeer reserve area, including the Gwich'in land use plan and Inuvialuit community conservation plans.

Can the Minister tell us whether the reductions in the land withdrawal are in compliance and consistent with these plans and whether the Gwich'in Land Use Planning Board and the Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat were consulted? Merci, Mr. Speaker. And I did give the Minister the questions ahead of time. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Member for giving the questions ahead of time. Sometimes he doesn't like our answers, but we are giving him the answers, so.

The GNWT recognized the land withdrawal order overlapped with some Inuvialuit community conservation plans and some special management zones in the Gwich'in land use plan. As mentioned, ENR worked with lands to engage with the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit land claims organizations and the wildlife co-management boards to consider a size reduction to the reserve. This engagement included Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat, Inuvialuit Game Council, YMAC, Gwich'in Tribal Council, and the Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course they didn't talk to the Gwich'in Land Use Planning Board, but that's okay.

Now that the land withdrawal has been significantly reduced, our government appears to have completed the work of the Conservatives in 2014 to open up this area for oil and gas. So can the Minister tell us when these areas slashed from the land withdrawal will be made available for oil and gas development and calls for expression of interest? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That wasn't our intention. I don't know if oil and gas wants it there. He has an article from 2014. The Liberal government is in power right now in Ottawa so I don't know what's going on there. So, Mr. Speaker, the land withdrawal change was completed in September of 2022. This means previous withdrawal land was returned available public lands. So it's public land. If people wish to use it for healing camps, cabins, tourism opportunities, that is available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Order. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the need to maintain safe passage for marine vessels is not limited to Hay River but along the Mackenzie River as well, and it's all the more need to address this issue as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Infrastructure confirm the status of the bathymetrics survey completed last fall on the channel and harbour in Hay River? And I do appreciate the fact that she actually had her department do that which is a lot more, I think, than past Ministers have done. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I'll take that compliment when and where I can. We didn't forget. You know, we have bathymetric survey data from the coast guard in the fall for the navigable water of the channel. We also implemented this with our own data, as the Member is aware that we had some work done in Hay River. As well, Infrastructure has worked with many departments such as ENR, Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, MTS, and other people. So we are doing this engagement so that we can better understand the potential implications to the navigation.

I want to say that as a result of this, we have established volumes and locations of the sediment that is required removal. So there is approximately 200,000 cubic metres in total that needs to be looked at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate that answer. Can the Minister tell me what the status is on the development of a business case to access federal dollars for harbour remediation? Has that business case been completed and submitted to the federal government and, if not, why not? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lots of questions in there but I'm happy to say that we have developed an application for multiyear federal funding to restore the harbour under the Federal Oceans Protection Plan. Harbour restoration will cost millions of dollars, Mr. Speaker, to implement and then ongoing funding to be able -- that is required to maintain the channel and the harbour into the future. This application to Transport Canada is at the end of this -- we're submitting by the end of this week. Meanwhile, there is work done to continue some of the regulatory and permitting requirements.

And I do want to note, Mr. Speaker, we had good uptake from a variety of communities up the valley, those that are impacted, to be able to support our application. I want to say thank you very much for those that were able to support this very important application funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm pleased to hear that there is support from, you know, people along the Mackenzie River. And, you know, when we see oil and gas return, it'll be great.

Can the Minister tell me who in Ottawa she met with to discuss harbour remediation for Hay River and what was the outcome? Were any commitments received from the federal government? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I most recently met with the Honourable Omar Alghabra who is the Minister of Transport Canada while I was in Ottawa early December. I also plan to have further discussions with him while I'm in Ottawa next week for a federal-provincial-territorial Ministers of transportation meeting. These discussions will not stop. My department's analysis is being used to inform ongoing discussions with federal counterparts as well as funding proposals. We continue, and we will continue, to lobby the federal government to stress the importance, Mr. Speaker, of this marine supply chain hub, including the need to avoid any interruption of essential resupply and to maintain safe, secure, commercial marine shipping operations here in the Northwest Territories. While, Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that our federal partners will recognize this as a critical need for the work and to be able to help us address this issue here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're closing in on spring. We're closing in on flood season. So let us hope that if no dredging takes place this year, let us hope that the ice, as it moves through the channel, scours the bottom of the river, gives it the six feet that we need to get the marine vessels safely through that channel. So that's what I'm hoping for. But failing that, can the Minister provide me with a realistic timeline as to when harbour remediation will take place on the Hay River? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Minister's statement today I talked about how there's a lot of regulatory process that needs to take place, permitting requirements to be able to remove large amounts of sediment. These approvals cannot be avoided and will take months, Mr. Speaker. If we can obtain the required permits anticipated, we can get on that water and dredge as early as July 15th, which would result in a small channel by September.

Mr. Speaker, we do not control the federal and territorial regulatory processes, and this also assumes we secure funding as the cost to dredge this harbour is in the millions. This is a significant project, Mr. Speaker. Once we have a response from the federal government on our oceans protection plan application for funding, we can better determine next steps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, as I was explaining in my Member's statement, of the 38 current SNAP students in the Northwest Territories, many of those students are located here in Yellowknife, or what is referred to as the North Slave, and only four are located outside of the Yellowknife region. And so I'm wondering what has been the barrier to ensuring that there is a SNAP student in every NWT community or at least regional centre, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And just to correct the record, there are 24 SNAP students in the territory and 14 SNAP apprentices. After a student graduates from being a SNAP student, they can become an actual apprentice in the SNAP program. So some of the barriers are the fact that we only have so many employers and so many students in the territory. It is not always easy for employers and especially small employers to take on apprentices, although the government does provide funding for that. There are issues around -- and I'll say that we've had trouble attracting people in the trades for a while. And so that's part of the issue as well. You know, there's been a big push over the past few years to get more students in trades. And ECE has been doing their part. The SNAP program recently got a revamp. There's been new guidelines and handbooks. There's been additional outreach. So we are trying to -- there are barriers and we are doing our best to break them down, and we've seen those numbers increase due to those efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I absolutely hear the Minister that there are only so many employers in the Northwest Territories willing or able to take on this work and that it is a significant investment to be able to take on a high school student in this kind of capacity. One of the things that the Minister has at his disposal is an entire government, which is one of the largest employers in the territory and actually employs red seal apprentices and skilled trades people in multiple regions across the territory; in fact, Mr. Speaker, in all the regions across the Northwest Territories. And so what I'm asking is for the GNWT to actually recognize itself as one of the employers that can take on SNAP students and apprentices -- thank you, Minister, for correcting my terminology there. So is ECE willing to commit to ensuring that a youth from every NWT community, or at least region, is enrolled in the SNAP program before the end of the 19th Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lot of assumptions in that statement there. One of the first assumptions was that I have the whole government at my disposal. And I wish that was the case but that is not the case. And the other assumption is that I can make something like this happen. The fact is that we need students and we need employers to get together and work on this. And we are making efforts. There have been advances in the past few years; we've seen the numbers increase. And we are now working as a government to explore how we can get SNAP students into employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories and working with my colleague from the Department of Infrastructure. The Department of Finance is involved because, you know, hiring, it needs to conform to the collective agreement. So we are taking an all-of-government approach to this and I'm happy to see it's invigorating. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we were taking an all-of-government approach to this, we would see summer students in every region outside of -- including outside of Yellowknife. We would see SNAP students and SNAP apprentices in every region. But the fact of the matter is that a lot of those opportunities are often seen being taken advantage of solely or predominantly by students in Yellowknife. And I get that there's more population here. I absolutely get that. I get that there's more -- that there are more students here, that there are more employers here; I absolutely understand that. And I get that the Minister also can't force the government to do anything. But an example as housing, who is willing to put an apprentice in their contracts, there are departments out there willing to partake in these opportunities. And so I'm asking the Minister if he will especially work with Ministers of Infrastructure and Housing to tell them about the SNAP program because yesterday I heard in housing, in an exchange between a Member and the Minister, that they wished there was an opportunity before the apprenticeship program. This is it, Mr. Speaker. So I'm asking if the GNWT will be one of its own clients and partake in the SNAP program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that work is underway. As I stated, the Department of Infrastructure is actually looking at a couple students in different regions to take them on as SNAP students. So that work is happening. And, again, I'll say that when I came into this role I really did start pushing apprenticeships. Not that the department wasn't pushing them before but it really was one of my focuses. And, you know, we've seen more efforts gone into this area and we're continuing to see that. You can see it through the collaboration between ECE, the Department of Infrastructure, and other government bodies as we try to get more SNAP students. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that commitment from the Minister. I think this is an excellent program and a really big opportunity for northern students.

One of the things that I also mentioned today in my questions was summer students. Summer is coming. Now is the time where summer students are hired. And I would also like to see an effort on the part of the GNWT to also make sure that summer students are being hired across the Northwest Territories. And so will the Minister of education also commit to talking to his colleagues about ways to make that happen? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Summer students falls under the -- I guess the purview of the Department of Finance. That's generally where those types of questions go. Nonetheless, I'm happy to promote the idea of hiring students to my Cabinet colleagues, and I'll do that wholeheartedly. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June 2022, I tabled Motion 54-19(2), improving healthcare in small communities, calling for the Government of the Northwest Territories to conduct an external audit of client treatment records and client satisfaction. The response to the motion stated: Regular audits are undertaken at each health centre to ensure health services are delivered according to clinical practice standards and guidelines.

Can the Minister of health explain what a clinical audit in the small community health centre includes? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have only high-level information in this area. I can't answer that question. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister commit to prioritizing client satisfaction of Indigenous persons in the audit? And I'll still keep speaking to the audited. Mahsi.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the response to the Member's motion, there was quite an extensive section on cultural safety and how it was being pursued through initiatives such as the Indigenous patient advocates who were introduced today, as well as through cultural safety training, the living well together curriculum, which all civil servants are required to complete, and through to the office of client experience. Pardon me, the Office of Cultural Safety which provides inhouse training on cultural safety to increase confidence of Indigenous patients using the healthcare system. Thank you.