Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister feel that that process is sufficiently effective at taking a strategic, high level approach to priority implementation in terms of determining what the best course of action is, you know, for a given -- I guess what I mean by the question is, you know, are we taking a strategic process or are we simply having each department kind of look at the priorities and what that department can do as opposed to kind of thinking wholistically what's the best way to attack the problem regardless of what departments we have. So just thinking more strategically in general about what we could do, not just what we can do with the current structure that we've got. If that question makes sense to the Minister, Mr. Speaker, do they feel that process is sufficient, or does the Minister agree with me that we could be doing more to strategically plan out our priorities? Thank you.
Debates of Oct. 21st, 2024
This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st 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 housing.
Topics
Question 329-20(1): Capital Budget Development Process
Oral Questions

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can always do better, we can always do more. So certainly happy to continue the conversation around how to continue to engage our process to be more strategic. I actually did find, Mr. Speaker -- it's the very back page of our capital planning document that's in -- those of us sitting in this House have it here. It's the very back page has the capital planning process in detail. Members of the public will see it in the tabled document. You know, and, again, the infrastructure acquisition plan and the process of GNWT dollars being assigned really does come down to one of being around critical risk areas. When we get into strategic conversations that very much involves the federal government as being a potential source of funding for major projects which then, you know, could actually be where we advance some of those bigger wish list items that we may have. How that project -- or how that process develops might be questions for the Premier's office with respect to federal engagement. The big question, Mr. Speaker, and I can feel your glare that I want to wrap up here, but it's a big question, lots to be said. Always can do better. You know, and, again, I'll probably just leave it there and expect the conversation to continue. Thank you.
Question 329-20(1): Capital Budget Development Process
Oral Questions

The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Question 329-20(1): Capital Budget Development Process
Oral Questions

Julian Morse Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister pointing out appendix B. Certainly that is the question -- the answer to the question I was looking for in question one. And I would just gently point out that -- or perhaps pointedly point out consideration of the priorities is not considered in that process.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to drafting a proposal for a new process for capital budget development which helps to better align it with the priorities of the Assembly? Thank you.
Question 329-20(1): Capital Budget Development Process
Oral Questions

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm more than happy to do that in part because although this is a summarized process, the priorities of the government are, as I said earlier, always part of every decision paper that comes before Cabinet or the financial management board, and they govern the work of every Minister through a mandate letter. So in ensuring that we're reflecting that both to the public as well as in our summary documents, it's critical. And if that's not coming through in terms of understanding where those opportunities are for the priorities to be reflected, then we absolutely should find a way to ensure that that's more clear. Thank you.
Question 329-20(1): Capital Budget Development Process
Oral Questions

The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Oral questions. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

George Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Justice Minister. In recent years since marijuana has become legal, the inclusion of hard drugs into our smaller communities has increased dramatically. Every time a known drug dealer is apprehended, they are set free with a promise to appear never to be seen again, and another person is sent to finish the transaction. When is this government going to start protecting the residents of the Northwest Territories by imposing stricter sentences on drug-related crimes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If every drug dealer who was arrested was never to be seen again, we'd be in a much better position I think. But the fact is that they often stick around. So just -- you know, there's three branches of government, the executive, legislative, and the courts. And so in the same way that I can't tell you, Mr. Speaker, what to do or any of the MLAs what to do, I can't tell the courts what to do. To add more complexity, the Criminal Code is actually a federal statute. So that's the federal government who makes that determination. So what we're dealing with here is a situation where the courts, which are independent from the executive, are interpreting the Criminal Code, which is a federal statute, and that's how they make their determinations about bail. And I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, I just met with all of the Ministers of Justice and Public Safety last week, and I met with all of the Premiers earlier this year, and bail reform is a topic at both of those tables. There is a big push nationally, and I'm part of that, to take steps to ensure that what the Member is talking about doesn't happen. If there are people who are negatively impacting a community, if there are drug dealers that are, you know, actively working to get people addicted, are kidnapping people, torturing people, getting them into human trafficking, that we are sentencing them appropriately starting right when the application for bail is made. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm on the same page as the Member. This has been one of the focuses of my time as the Minister of Justice and will continue to be a focus. Thank you.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

George Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Local authorities have always requested the assistance of community members, and the residents are much too eager to lend their assistance and regain their community and feel safe within their own homes. When and how will this government start to join in the fight against alcohol and drugs to ensure the safety of our future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And we are in the fight. We've been in the fight. One of the things that I do in relation to the RCMP is I provide the policing priorities of our government. So the RCMP, again, they are independent. Their operations are dictated by them and by the Department of Public Safety federally, but I provide the policing priorities. The number one policing priority that I provided -- and there's only four. Number one is to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs and alcohol in the Northwest Territories. So we are working on this. I have committed to introduce additional pieces of legislation that is intended to help the communities and the RCMP address these impacts. And, again, I'm working nationally advocating for bail reform and an examination of the laws around search and seizure to ensure that we are giving the law enforcement the tools they need to be able to investigate and arrest and prosecute and put away drug dealers and those who are harming the community. One of the things we need is for people to testify. And I know it's tough in small communities. People's families are threatened. But ultimately, that's one of the biggest issues we have is that it's hard to get people to testify against drug dealers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

George Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final: Public engagement is key to finding solutions. Will this government look at reaching and conducting public consultation to find solutions to this crisis that we are facing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Department of Justice has gone out to communities to consult on issues. For my policing priorities, I actually write to leadership across the territory and ask what I should include in those policing priorities. Ultimately I'll say the solution to this problem is a public health solution. As long as there's a demand for drugs, there's going to be drugs. There's no two ways about it. It's been borne out around the world and over the ages. So what we need is for -- what we need is healthy communities. That's really the ultimate solution. And so in my role as the Minister of Justice, we are looking at how we can better integrate health and the law enforcement to try and direct people where they need to go. We're looking at integrating services so that those people who need assistance have an easier time getting assistance and we have a -- we're more effective at delivering assistance. I'm not going to speak to the health file. I know my Minister of health is capable of that. But we are taking a whole-of-government approach to addressing this issue. I recognize the seriousness of the drug issue in the Northwest Territories. We've added RCMP officers every year since I've been Minister. We've just approved a new crime reduction unit that is being staffed right now and I hope to see going operational soon. We have the new emergency response team, Mr. Speaker. A lot of work is happening in this area. Is it going to be enough? If we all work together - the government, the communities, and residents, then I think it will be but it's going to take a lot of effort. And we're putting that effort in and hopefully we're going to see the results. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 330-20(1): Illicit Drug Trade
Oral Questions

The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions
October 21st, 2024

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 19th and 20th Assembly, I've been advocating for housing in -- affordable housing and housing repairs, and in my riding we have got over 350 units and mostly HAP units. The cycle of those units are reaching 44 years now out of their 50-year life cycle.
Mr. Speaker, I've been working with the Minister of Finance and housing Minister. I just want to ask the Minister of housing if she could give me an update on where things are at on my letter that I put forward to her office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to inform the MLA that Housing NWT has a contribution agreement for the Akaitcho territory government to complete the home inspection units as requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Wow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, this hard work in the last 19th and 20th Assembly to get this project off the ground, I just want to thank the Minister on that which is really appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, now that we are going to get this money to do the homeownership inspections, I would like to continue to work with the Minister so that we are able to put this proposal forward to CMHC. So I want to know if we can continue to build that relationship with our Indigenous partners. Thank you.
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions

Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intention of this work is to provide data and build a business case for the Akaitcho territory to look for federal funding to increase the supply of housing in the territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Minister. And I'm glad that we've been able to put this together and work together, and as this plan goes forward, I'm hoping that we could get our cousin over there in ECE, Minister, to help us out on some training components of that too. So I look forward to do that.
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to end it there and I just want to say thank you to the finance Minister, the Premier, and the Minister of housing for helping me on this project. Mahsi.
Question 331-20(1): Housing
Oral Questions

The Speaker Shane Thompson
Colleagues, I would like to remind you this is oral questions, to ask questions, not Members' statements, so please focus on that. Thank you.
Oral questions. Member from Deh Cho.
Question 332-20(1): Senior Care Services
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of health. What health care services are currently available to seniors in their home in the NWT? Thank you.
Question 332-20(1): Senior Care Services
Oral Questions

The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Question 332-20(1): Senior Care Services
Oral Questions

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, home care provides -- in all of our communities, we have home support workers and they provide bathing and making meals, nursing services for wound care and health checks, help with organization, and taking medication. In some communities, they provide palliative care for those who are dying and want to be close to home and family members. They loan out equipment, such as bathroom equipment and walkers. They do provide respite care to help out in the home so caregivers can get a break. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 332-20(1): Senior Care Services
Oral Questions

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho
Thank you. And thank you to the Minister for that. What is the GNWT doing to ensure elders can age safely and independently in their homes? Thank you.