Debates of Feb. 27th, 2023

This is page numbers 5397 - 5440 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Income Assistance Review Update

Addictions Prevention and Recovery Work Plan

Launch of Online Funding Portal

Renaming Great Slave Riding

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Cabin Radio Decision

Joseph Burr Tyrell elementary School

K'amba Carnival

Housing and Income Support

Education, Culture and Employment Infrastructure Fund

Land Lease-only policy

Dene Drum Songs in Gahnihthah

Eulogy for Chief James Firth

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

School Infrastructure Replacement in Fort Smith

Student Bussing Policies

Housing and Income Support

Land Lease-only Policy

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Cabin Radio Decision

Education, Culture and Employment Infrastructure Fund

Return to Written Question 55-19(2): Public Access to Forestry Decisions and Decision-Making

Bill 65: Builders' Lien Act

Bill 66: An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act

Committee Report 41-19(2): Interim Report on Bill 65, Builders Lien Act

Motion to receive Committee Report 41-19(2) and move into Committee of the Whole

Bill 66: An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, Received and Moved into Committee of the Whole

Tabled Document 843-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 37-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2022 Audit of Addictions Prevention and REcovery SErvices Tabled Document 844-19(2): Addictions Prevention and REcovery SErvices Work Plan (2022-2024) Tabled Document 845-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1319-19(2): REgistered Nurses Licensing Program Tabled Document 846-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1385-19(2): Midwifery Program

Tabled Document 847-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1341-19(2): Civil Forfeiture

Tabled Document 848-19(2): Annual Report 2018 Workers' Advisor Office Northwest Territories and Nunavut - Towards Recovery Tabled Document 849-19(2): Workers' Advisor Office Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2022 Annual Report

Tabled Document 850-19(2): Waste REduction and Recovery Program 2021-2022 Annual REport Tabled Document 851-19(2): Information for REturn to Written Question 55-19(2): Public Access to Forestry Decisions and Decision-Making Tabled Document 852-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1338-19(2): Outfitter Licenses

Tabled Document 853-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 33-19(2): Report on the REview of Bill 52: Elevators and Lifts Act

Tabled Document 854-19(2): Institute for Research on Public Policy Publication - Early Learning and Child Care in Canada: Where have We Come From, Where are We Going?

Tabled Document 855-19(2): Mineral Resources Act Regulations Targeted Engagement with Mining Industry Presentations - DAte Range 2021 07 08 to 2022 01 26 Tabled Document 856-19(2): Mineral Resources Act Regulations Targeted Engagement with Mining Industry Presentations - DAte Range 2022 01 26 to 2022 02 23 Tabled Document 857-19(2): Mineral Resources Act Regulations Targeted Engagement with Mining Industry Presentations - DAte Range 2022 02 18 to 2022 05 17 Tabled Document 858-19(2): Mineral Resources Act Regulations Targeted Engagement with Mining Industry Presentations - DAte Range 2022 09 09 to 2022 11 28-29 Tabled Document 859-19(2): Yukon New Minerals Legislation Discussion Paper, February 2023

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Main Estimates 2023-2024, Industry, Tourism and Investment, Deferral of Department (page 221)

Tabled Document 813-19(2): Main Estimates 2023-2024 - Executive and Indigenous Affairs - Deferral of Department (page 119)

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Bill 57: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022

Recorded Vote

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 365-19(2): Main Estimates 2023-2024, Industry, Tourism and Investment, Deferral of Department (page 221), Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. There are additional information items on page 141 to 143. Are there any questions? Member for Frame Lake.

February 27th

Page 5416

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I want to ask about the budget, or the funding allocation for the Status of Women Council found on page 141. And I think we'd heard earlier that a number of NGOs have received forced growth increases in their funding, and that doesn't appear to be -- well, maybe it is the case for the Status of Women Council, but can the Premier speak to that, please. Thank you.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Madam Premier.

February 27th

Page 5416

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have it with me. Maybe you can find it if you have it. I do know that within the last year's budgets there was an increase to both the Status of Women Council and the Native Women's Association. I do know that we're also doing the work with the NGOs and so I'm assuming that some of that will be taken into consideration. Thank you, Madam Chair.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

And if we can get that commitment to get that to the Members, that would be great. Member for Frame Lake.

February 27th

Page 5416

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Well, I'm just looking at, you know, page 141 and the contributions from the Government of the Northwest Territories in 2021-2022, the actuals were 582. Then it went down to 444 and it stayed there. So why was it higher in 2021-2022. Maybe there was some extra funding somewhere? But it doesn't look like they've actually received any kind of an increase, forced growth, you know, cost of living, inflation running at 6.3 percent. What's happening here? Thanks, Madam Chair.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

February 27th

Page 5416

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to ask Lauren if she wants to expand on it but my understanding is that the contributions are from the whole of the GNWT. It's not just from the executive. So sometimes agencies like Justice, for example, with this one, will give money, and then -- but it might be for a short-term contract so that's showing but it's not longer term. But, Madam Chair, if I could turn to Lauren.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Ms. Alexandra.

February 27th

Page 5416

Alexandra

Thank you, Madam Chair. As far as some additional funding from the department, there was additional funding provided to the Status of Women Council to support their engagement on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls engagement. So that's some additional funding that the department provided.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Member for Frame Lake.

February 27th

Page 5416

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Okay, thanks for that. So I take it then, though, that there is no increased funding for Status of Women Council for 2023-2024; that's what the numbers show. Why is there no forced growth increase for this NGO but there was for others? Thanks, Madam Chair.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Madam.

February 27th

Page 5416

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll have to get back to the Member. I do know that within the term of this government there was an increase to both of the organizations, so we'll get back to them and let them know what that was. But, again, we're just still at the process of doing the work with other organizations. So it's work that needs to be ongoing but we will commit to getting back to you when the last increase was and exactly what it was, how much it was.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

February 27th

Page 5416

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. I guess, I don't think I can ask any more questions. I'm going to make a statement. I think the Status of Women should have had an increase of forced growth like the other NGOs. Maybe that's clear because that's not what the numbers here show on the page and I think we need to be more consistent in how we treat NGOs across the board in our forced growth increases. And that's all I have. Thanks, Madam Chair.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member. Are there any additional comments to the information items on page 141 and 143? Member for Great Slave.

February 27th

Page 5416

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also agree that the work of the Status of Women is super important. And I'm just wondering if the Premier can speak to the process for hiring an executive director. It's my understanding that that position has been empty for quite a while and if the department could speak to what's happening there, that would be great. Thank you.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Madam Premier.

February 27th

Page 5416

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the Status of Women Council is an arm's length. It's not the -- the GNWT does not oversee them and tell them what to do. They provide reports through them; there is an Act for them but they really govern their own. So, Madam Chair, I'm not sure -- I don't even know why the last executive director left. I do know that it's not for the GNWT to determine their executive director. That's a process that they do. Thank you, Madam Chair.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Great Slave.

February 27th

Page 5416

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't think I said that the department was responsible for it. I asked what was happening with the fact that there hasn't been an executive director there. Given the importance of the work and that we are funding them from the GNWT to some degree, what does the department plan to do with the fact that there is nobody leading that organization? Thank you.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Madam Premier.

February 27th

Page 5416

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that we can send a letter asking them, an email asking them what their process -- where they are with the process and we'll provide an update to committee. Like I said, Madam Chair, it's not something that we take too much. I don't -- I don't even know -- like I said, I think it's only been a month or two that that position's been open but I could be incorrect. And those positions are often hard to get. Executive directors aren't a dime a dozen. But as soon as we reach out, we'll try to find out what's going on and then we'll submit an email or let all Members know what's going on with that position. Thank you.

February 27th

Page 5416

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Member for Great Slave.

Debates of Feb. 27th, 2023

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