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

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm that he will have his department ensure that all DEAs have in place a comprehensive student bussing policy that sets out the rules and responsibilities for the DEA, bussing contractor, students, parents or caregivers, and any other, you know, people or things that would be included in there? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish I could say that I would ensure that DEAs have all the appropriate policies in place but my authority doesn't allow me to dictate to DEAs which policies they should have in place. We're happy to work with DEAs and encourage them to develop policies. If a DEA doesn't have a bussing policy, we can look at other bussing policies and provide those as templates, we can outline which policies DEAs should have, but ultimately it is up to the DEA. I know that in Hay River the DEA is working on improving their bus policy so at least in the Member's constituency that work, from what I understand, is well underway. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know that children who have grown up in the child welfare system are more at risk of being homeless, homeless than others. The high numbers of Indigenous children and youth in care relates to the high number of Indigenous youth in the NWT seeking homes, housing.

Can the Minister describe when the department is dealing with young adults what types of exceptions are considered to support that person? Does the department recognize the need for flexibility and compassion when providing supports to youth? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope that we would always be a compassionate government. Sometimes our own policies and procedures get in the way of that and recognizing that we are working to change the income assistance program so that it can be more compassionate so it is not so rigid. However, as it currently stands, the income assistance program is laid out in regulations and so it is legislated so there is minimal flexibility in many instances. However, when we can be flexible, we are. And I've seen many instances of that happening. Thank you.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

I would not have said compassion if I didn't have a reason.

Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure our residents have timely access to government supports as they struggle with many challenges. Completing unnecessary paperwork creates difficulty for accessibility. Can the Minister advise if there can be advanced payment to shelter and utility support to youth who are looking for support? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. So utility payments are paid to utility providers upon receipt of an invoice. So I don't think there would be advanced payments made without that invoice. But if someone needs income assistance, they can go apply for income assistance and then they receive it pretty quickly. There's not generally a big period where people are waiting. So I'm not sure what the Member is referring to in advance of what; receiving support in advance of what? Thank you.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Advance payment to shelters and utilities to people. That's what I'm talking about. To where these young people are staying at, living at, and if it can be part of their income assistance instead of the policy that's in place. That's what I was referring to.

So, Mr. Speaker, couch surfing is also homelessness. What support does the department of ECE provide to help young adults break free of homelessness? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So just speaking to the income assistance program, because ECE does much more for young adults than just the income assistance program, ECE will pay for eligible clients' accommodations. So pay really the full cost of rent, the full cost of utilities to someone who needs that service. So that is the assistance that we provide with people who are seeking shelter. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was almost four years ago that this House passed the Public Land Act, a landmark piece of our post-devolution work that truly gave a made-in-the-North approach to how we were going to deal with land. And so my question for the Minister of Lands is as we approach that four-year mark, when are we going to bring that piece of legislation into force? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Lands.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we started the process, we had to work with IGC in that process there. So we're hoping to have it done by the end of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was hoping the Minister could give us -- I'm happy, I really want to see the Public Land Act put into force and I know that requires phase one of the regulations. I was hoping the Minister could just update this House a little bit more about what exactly will be brought into force, hopefully by the end of this Assembly, to do that and what has now been put into another Assembly for the rest of the regulations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're working on trying to get all the regulations done. There's been a process working with IGC, the secretariat as well, and Indigenous governments. We're working with them. In regards to where we are, we are working on I think the last part of it. Again, it's -- we're trying to do it all and then we're going to take it to the drafting process and that, get it done there. So to give them -- there's nine regulations there we're working on. We got eight done, and we're working on that. So I will have to get back to the Member on the exact details and timelines on when we expect everything done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope all nine of those regs are done by the end of this Assembly. I think that would be a true step in getting the Department of Lands to start some of their other work.

First amongst that is the Land Lease-only policy, Mr. Speaker. I know the department has gone out and done a review on the Land Lease-only policy. I'm wondering if the Minister could update this House on when he expects to see changes to that policy. Thank you.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Short, Mr. Speaker, we're hoping to have it -- something here in the House by the end of this session. Not this Assembly but the end of this session. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think first in that policy, I and I believe the Minister shares, that people living in communities who've been in a lease for many years would be given the option to own their homes in fee simple. Is that something we can expect to see from the changes to the land lease-only policy, Mr. Speaker?

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't want to, you know, wreck the surprise and say that. But this is part of the conversations that we're having. Again, we have to recognize we have 33 different communities, different organizations like designated authorities, hamlets, and tax-based communities. So we have to look at those as we move forward. So we may or may not be able to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Finance who seems to have the reins when it comes to telecommunications for this government.

The Minister has probably had ample time to review the CRTC decision on Cabin Radio. Can the Minister tell us whether Cabinet has taken a position on the CRTC decision? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to be clear, I do not have any reins when it comes to telecommunications. There's a little thing called a constitution and the jurisdiction over this is exclusively with the federal government. That said, Mr. Speaker, under the Department of Finance, we do have the Office of the Chief Information Officer. The OCIO does represent us with respect to northern interests on internet broadband. And we were able to get a bit of information and some support with respect to telecommunications radio -- or rather with radio broadcasting. So in that regard, while this isn't going to be a Cabinet position, and again very clearly do not have that constitutional authority, I have indicated, and I will be writing a letter outlining the position -- a general position of support to the FM license application that's been put forward. Thank you.