The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Good afternoon colleagues. Wasn't that a great way to start our sitting? Please join me in thanking the Kole Crook Fiddlers for starting things off here today and, especially their great leader, Linda Duford.

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I also want to thank Sarah Cleary for our opening prayer today. Thank you.

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Colleagues, we last convened in this Chamber on November 3, 2022, and it is great to be back. I know you have been busy with your duties as members, Ministers, and with committees, but I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and are feeling refreshed and prepared for this sitting. I know that I am looking forward to it.

Before we begin, I want to take a moment to congratulate our Team NWT athletes who competed in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Alberta. Team NWT put on a great performance and brought home many ulus to prove it.

I also want to congratulate and say a special thank you to the Fort McPherson Tetlit Gwich'in Dancers, who won the hearts of many with their wonderful performances. Congratulations to all of our athletes and performers.

Colleagues, I want to thank the pages that will be with us during this sitting. We are fortunate to be welcoming pages from Wrigley, Inuvik, Hay River, Ulukhaktok, Whati, Tulita, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife. I have said many times that the youth are our future. I am proud of our page program, which allows us to bring in youth from across our territory. I am honoured and inspired to have our future leaders with us in this chamber.

I would also to thank our interpreters for the incredible work they do for us each and every day. During this sitting we will have interpretation into Dëne Suliné Yatié, Dene Zhatié, Inuvialuktun, Sahtúot'ine Yati, Tlicho, and French. It is because of their hard work and dedication that we are able to honour our official languages.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to remind each of you, as Members of this Legislative Assembly, to conduct yourselves in keeping with our rules and traditions. When we show respect for each other, for this institution and for our rules, we show respect for those who have elected us to represent them here in this chamber. That doesn't mean we will always agree. We won't. Disagreement, even passionate disagreement, is a part of our job. However, when we disagree, we must do so with the dignity and respect that our people expect from us.

Now, colleagues, it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads: Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of:

• Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2023-2024;

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023;

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023; and

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024 during the second session of the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Yours truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on Housing Northwest Territories' Renewal, including some long-awaited changes we have made to programs and policies that are already improving housing supports for those most in need.

In June 2021, at the first meeting of the NWT Council of Leaders, I stood with my colleague, the Honourable Premier Cochrane, and committed to conducting a review of the former NWT Housing Corporation's policies and programs with a working group identified by the council.

In the short time since that commitment, I was mandated and I am pleased to report on some of the results of the important work, which has been guided by Housing NWT's renewal strategy.

First, we made fundamental changes to our mandate. These changes include:

• A commitment to deliver client-focused services and assist those most in need;
• The recognition that housing plays an important role in the well-being of individuals and communities, and
• Recognizing that strong partnerships are key to improving housing outcomes.

With a new mandate in place, Housing NWT has its marching orders to work with the Council of Leaders Housing Working Group and to look at policy and programming changes through the lens of the new mandate.

Some of the resulting changes include:

• Eliminating the need for a co-pay for emergency repairs to ensure that emergencies are addressed in a timely manner;
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders and Indigenous governments on the design and location of these units we build;
• Addressing the higher costs of home repair by increasing the maximum funding amounts for projects funded under these three programs: The Emergency Repair Program, Fuel Tank Replacement Program, and the Seniors Aging in Place Program.
• Changing our approach to Community Housing Plannings to recognize the key leadership role NWT Indigenous governments are playing in providing housing supports to their members;
• Enhancing our support to local housing organizations associations is our primary partner in the delivery of public housing in communities, with better training and communication;
• Improving tools for tenant education and communications regarding their tenancy agreements; and,
• Lastly, working to plan, build and manage our assets in an energy efficient manner with the Energy Management Strategy and Blueprint, the details of which will be announced soon.

Housing NWT will also be moving forward with a new pilot program that is expected to offset some of the costs of shipping materials to remote communities and this is another program that will improve the availability of minor home repair materials where they are difficult to access.

Mr. Speaker, the changes guided by Housing NWT's renewal are not limited to programs and policy. They touch on all areas of Housing NWT's work. We have charted a new path for collaborative work with Indigenous governments, including agreements with the Tlicho government, Sahtu Secretariat, and with others to follow.

We are improving our communication with stakeholders and the public. We are seeking partnership with non-governmental organizations and others like never before. We have seen successes in our engagement with the federal government addressing housing priorities.

I would like to thank the Council of Leaders, and their participants on the housing working group, for helping us improve and modernizing Housing NWT's mandate, programs and policies.

Your contributions have led to positive changes that are already helping us better serve our residents. Our renewal has marked a turning point for the GNWT in how we address the territorial housing crisis.

Mr. Speaker, by providing fair access to quality housing supports for people most in need, I am confident that we will increase the well-being of individuals and communities across the Northwest Territories as stated in our mandate. I am proud of the work we have done thus far, and I look forward to the work ahead.

I would also like to thank the staff of Housing NWT for working strategically with our communities as well and also with the feedback that we've received. They've really made a lot of changes within this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, before we continue, I'd just like to welcome our former Member and Minister, Mr. Lou Sebert. Mr. Sebert was a Minister and a Member in the 18th Legislative Assembly. I'd also like to welcome Mr. David Jones, our Integrity Commissioner. Welcome.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the devastating impact that the drug poisoning crisis has had on the community of Hay River. The coroner has confirmed that there were six deaths related to drug poisoning in 2022. Many families are struggling to understand and cope with the emotional toll of these deaths.

Public health officials have noted that these deaths are drug poisonings rather than overdoses. The difference is that with a drug overdose, someone takes too much of something they know they are taking. But with a drug poisoning, the drug user is not aware their supply is contaminated with opioids. Because of this, we are now calling deaths shown to be related to fentanyl and carfentanyl "drug poisoning" to emphasize the added danger to all people who use illicit drugs. We need to help people understand that if they are taking drugs they must take precautions.

In Hay River all individuals who died from drug poisoning were alone. None of them had naloxone, a nasal spray which reverses the effects of opioids, and none of them were aware their drug supply was contaminated with fentanyl or carfentanyl. Anyone can be at risk of drug poisoning, including people who are using illicit drugs for the first time, people who use drugs recreationally, and people who are frequent or daily users.

Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority has been collaborating with community partners on initiatives to prevent poisonings, to help drug users recover and their loved ones to cope with the stress of having a family member who is addicted.

To date, the authority has distributed educational posters about naloxone around the community. They have been offering the Matrix program to help people recover from addictions, and the Hope for Families workshops. They have created a team comprised of a clinician and a mental health professional to provide outreach services over the next three months, and they are ready to support the town's new social issues committee and the elders group.

In December 2022, a group of healthcare professionals assembled to help respond to this situation. Last month, the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, along with the chief public health officer, and the NWT chief coroner, held a news conference in Hay River to raise awareness about the drug poisoning deaths and the presence of fentanyl and carfentanyl in the community. The chief public health officer and her staff also met with community members and service providers to hear their concerns about resource gaps and to identify supports to address the concerns arising from drug use.

Mr. Speaker, the health and social services system wants to collaborate with the community to enhance supports and prevent further harms related to drug use. While this situation has reached a crisis point in Hay River, we understand there are many residents who are concerned with a rise in the use of illicit drugs in their communities. We intend to apply the lessons learned in Hay River to address these concerns with them.

Mr. Speaker, deaths due to drug poisoning are entirely preventable. My thoughts are with everyone who has lost someone close to them due to the contamination in the illicit drug supply in Hay River.

All residents can support a safer community by learning to recognize the signs of drug poisoning, carrying and knowing how to use naloxone, not mixing drugs, and if using, to start "low and slow," and not to use alone. It is important to know that you are protected from drug possession charges under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act if you call 9-1-1 for help, and please do call. You may save a life. I ask everyone in the Northwest Territories to help prevent further drug poisoning deaths by treating one another with compassion and understanding as we address this complex issue together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will deliver the budget address on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Deputy Premier.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Caroline Cochrane will be absent from the House for today and tomorrow to attend the first ministers meeting in Ottawa, Ontario. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Deputy Premier. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we begin the final calendar year of our term, I'd like to start this session by first welcoming back all my colleagues into this chamber. It's good to be back after a winter break and holiday season. I hope all Members and staff of the Assembly had a good and restful holiday with their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, for my first statement, I want to share a positive story about a Thebacha constituent who was recently appointed into a very prestigious new career opportunity. On January 12th, 2023, the federal government appointed Mr. Ernie Daniels to the board of the Bank of Canada.

Ernie is a member of the Salt River First Nation and will serve a three-year term on the 12-member board of directors. Ernie has over 35 years of senior financial management experience, including serving as president and CEO of the First Nations Finance Authority for ten years, which is a First Nations-governed nonprofit financial institution. In addition, Mr. Speaker, according to a spokesperson from the Bank of Canada, Ernie, to the best of my knowledge, is the very first ever First Nations person to join the bank's board. And as someone who has known Ernie all his life and have worked with him many times over the years, I can attest that he is a very driven, bright, and dedicated individual. I know he will excel as a director with the Bank of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this appointment is not only a milestone for Indigenous people, but it respects the significant occasion for all of Canada. On behalf of the constituents of Thebacha and the people of the NWT, I want to congratulate Mr. Ernie Daniels on his achievement of being appointed to the board of directors on the Bank of Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, Hay River has, and continues to have, its fair share of substance abuse issues which has been driven home by the number of drug-related deaths in the last year.

Mr. Speaker, for those who are no longer with us, we grieve; for those who find themselves fighting a losing battle, we hear their cry for help. But are we as government listening? That cry is becoming louder, and it is not more studies they are asking for, it is not more reports they are asking for, and it is not more discussions they are asking for. What is being asked for is a safe place to detox with proper assessment and support.

Mr. Speaker, I am certain that we all know someone who is struggling with substance abuse, whether it be a family member, a friend, or that random person we pass on the street. Substance abuse has no qualms about who it engages and who it hurts. I hear more people in the community talking about never feeling so unsafe. I hear of children who are scared to go to the school bus stop because of the ongoing traffic to known drug houses. I hear of elders being coerced out money by family members who are looking to buy drugs. I hear of persons lives being threatened because of drug debts. This is the reality we are living in within our communities.

Mr. Speaker, the issue and impact of substance abuse in our communities, whether it be illicit drugs or alcohol, will not go away but that does not mean we give up and do nothing. I have constituents come into my office who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. I had known drug dealers attend my office who are addicts themselves and scared for their lives. All are looking for a way out but find that the resources needed are not there, not complete, and not immediate.

Mr. Speaker, we have no infrastructure or workable mechanisms in place to help those that are seeking detox support. They are told they need to be clean for 24 hours. They are told there are no available beds when they go to the hospital. They are told there are no trained addiction staff workers on the floor. They are told access to treatment facilities is weeks, and most likely months, away.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Minister of Health to make detox beds and qualified detox staff a priority, as I would rather visit my friends, relatives, and constituents at a detox or treatment centre than attend their funeral. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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