This is page numbers 6337 - 6380 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.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I just mentioned with the population of 104 has a police station. So, Mr. Speaker, small communities should not be denied policing even if we are small, small community, we need law and order in order to keep our residents safe. I realize there are only so many resources but our small community need to be safe. Can the Minister encourage the RCMP to work more closely with leaders in Gameti and Wekweeti to meet their policing needs? Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, every time I hear from Members in the House, I do ensure that information is conveyed to the RCMP, and the leadership in those communities have direct relationships with the RCMP as well so I'm sure they're also conveying that information. So, you know, between all of us, I'm sure the message will get out there. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Transportation in regards to the Dempster Highway from the corner to the NWT border. Is the Minister working with the Yukon government and the federal Minister to see if we could get any funding jointly to get the highway fixed because the wear and tear on everybody's vehicles is -- like, from the Delta, Mr. Speaker, is there any possible way to make agreement, I guess, with the federal Minister to get monies for that road? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Quyananni. Yes, the Department of Infrastructure is working with the Yukon counterparts. I just want to note, Mr. Speaker, that the Premier Pillai was up in Inuvik for the northern Premiers meeting and, you know, we had discussions on putting a joint submission forward to Canada because the Member is correct, you know, I get a number of concerns that the Dempster Highway is doing a lot of wear and tear. I mean, you know, we as the GNWT has done work from Inuvik's side. You know, we're not done yet but, I mean, we're working towards the border, Mr. Speaker. You're fully aware of the conditions once you pass the border going into the Yukon. You know, we as the northern residents up in the Beaufort Delta, we use the Dempster Highway all the time for our supplies. So, I mean, yes, we are working with the Yukon government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know when I hit the NWT side, that's a real highway right to Tsiigehtchic. That highway's really well maintained, and well done to the department. But, you know, soon as you hit the NWT border southbound, right to the corner, you're pounding out shocks, and the wear and tear on not only the regular community trucks but to all the trucking companies too because the upkeep on that highway's so bad.

But, Mr. Speaker, the question I have right now is when will the Minister be doing that joint submission with the Yukon, and is there a timeline on that to get it submitted to the federal government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, I just -- I want to note that at the meeting, you know, we sat at the table. Premier Cochrane was there as well, grand chief for the Gwich'in Tribal Council was also at the table. We had really in-depth discussions. It's also a priority. And the grand chief had also mirrored some of my concerns as well. So, I mean, we are working together from the region to be able to further discuss. You know, it is important because it's a vital link standpoint for resupply but, you know, tourism opportunities as well that benefit both jurisdictions in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Arctic sovereignty, for example, is most importantly. Road safety for both territories. Mr. Speaker, we are working with the government. Premier Pillai had promised me that he would look into perhaps putting some money into the Yukon side. So I'm looking forward to furthering that discussion with him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Yeah, thank you for that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that. But when would we be able to get that joint submission in to get the monies to get that highway done, just the timeline? Is it this summer that they're going to do a joint submission, or is the Minister going to go to Whitehorse to get that done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the -- I just want to note, you know, yes we're pushing from the GNWT standpoint but realistically this has to be Yukon led. I mean, this is their part of the highway. We can't be submitting federal funding for another jurisdiction other than let's do this together. And, you know, in terms of timeline, I'm hoping by the summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I'm really happy to hear that the works going to be done by my Minister. And hopefully she could get into the Yukon into Whitehorse to go and meet with the appropriate Minister and to get this joint submission done and make them think it's their idea when it's actually ours. So I'm encouraging the Minister to get down to Whitehorse as soon as possible to get this done because it's just a little bit too much wear and tear on everybody's vehicles. And like I always said, you know, as the Beaufort Delta has more -- we do more of our shopping and everything like that in the Yukon so that road's really well in need of upkeep and care. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's -- that's my -- you know, that's something I want to do. I've been having discussions with the Premier. And, you know, I continue to work with the Premier's office to be able to have a road trip from Dawson all the way to Inuvik and hit every pothole there is on that road. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Question 1571-19(2): Housing Stability Worker
Oral Questions

June 2nd, 2023

Page 6346

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to -- for the record, to talk about the housing stability worker for Fort Smith and the South Slave. And I want to ask the Minister about this because I think the person has to have certain criteria. The criteria should be a person without judgement, a neutral person, a person who can navigate underprivileged clients in getting through the system for housing, and therefore it should not be -- it should not be a person who is part of the Housing NWT office in Hay River. It should have a separate office. And that's the way -- that's the only way we would solve the problems. I wonder if the Minister would agree with me on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier had just tabled a document in regards to homelessness as well too, and this is one of the actions through this strategy as well too. But looking at how we would be looking at a housing stability worker, that is a conversation that we are having throughout the territory as well. And I do agree with the Member that having this position not housed within housing and looking at further opportunities is what I would like to see. I like the innovative approach, and I would like to see the communities take more of a stronger partnership with us when we're addressing housing in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, strong leadership with such a need within the whole Northwest Territories for the underprivileged that do not have housing is a mandate of ours, and I want to make sure that the person that is allocated to these positions are completely neutral and without judgement and navigate the system. Strong leadership within leadership with elected officials is extremely important and must give direction. And I want to know if the Minister agrees with me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, I do agree with the Member with this approach as well. We've tried this in the Tlicho and looking at our successes and doing business differently and addressing housing differently as well. We've initiated this through the distinction-based funding and working with Indigenous governments. We've also done this with our community housing plans and identifying significant drastic needs at the community level, and I feel that this approach is where we need to start strategizing and start thinking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Only when we do these kind of changes will I regain my confidence in Housing NWT, because I feel that the underprivileged and some of the situations that I tried to navigate through in the last four years have not been dealt with, and I feel that change is with oversight, neutrality, no judgement, and making sure that the underprivileged are looked after. Would the Minister agree with me? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And yes, I do agree with the Member. I think we should have this approach throughout the Northwest Territories. And within the four years, I know that it's been quite challenging for this government and for the communities to see a lot of progress within this portfolio, but we do have the renewal that has been brought forward as well too, and we do have the policy changes, the energy strategy has been brought forward. And with that approach, I'm looking to seeing housing approach and do things differently and recognizing work with the communities a lot more closely, and I would like to see decisions made at the local level and bringing those up to our table and right here into the Assembly for our discussion so we can make sure that we do work productively with our communities and within this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that this navigator -- housing navigator with a neutral approach would be the answer to some of the issues that many of us have been bringing forward. Especially myself, I felt that I didn't get -- this is the one file that I feel that many times that I failed on. As a very strong -- I feel like a strong MLA who navigates for people who have not been treated fairly within the system. And I still feel that way. And with the new policy that has come out for homelessness and all that, I hope that changes, and I look forward to change. And I think it should be a priority for us before we finish this session, this next session in August. Thank you. Would the Minister agree with me on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And yes, I do agree with the Member, absolutely. And when I had this portfolio, I wanted to see significant changes. I do come from a smaller community. And I do come home, and I see these struggles right at the ground level, right from homelessness to outdated mortgages to mold in houses. And, you know, do we have the budget to address each and every one of these issues? This government and this portfolio has a hundred-unit rollout. And I know it doesn't seem as significant, but we -- Mr. Speaker, we haven't had a replenishment of units in the last four decades. And with the collaboration with the Indigenous governments, I brought forward the messaging from housing is that, you know, if you're not going to -- if the federal government is not going to fund the territorial government, then fund the Indigenous governments directly, recognize those federal agreements, recognize those negotiations that are going on. And with that, successfully we were able to see approximately $650,000 coming to the Northwest Territories but directly going to the Indigenous governments, and we work with them side by side, Mr. Speaker. But one thing I don't agree with is the Member did not fail with the approach and working with us. She has brought this portfolio to a different level where we are thinking differently. A lot of her advocacy has contributed to the policy changes, and I appreciate all of those comments coming forward. Thank you so much. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.