Debates of May 23rd, 2024

This Hansard is the unedited transcript and will be replaced by the final copy soon (generally within 5 business days). In the meantime, direct quotes should not be used, when the final is published it will seamlessly replace this unedited copy and any existing links should still work.

This is from 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 residents.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Mandate of the 20th Legislative Assembly

Notice of Budget Address

Supporting Families with Disabilities

Liquor Tax

Mackenzie River Water Levels

Residents Affected by Enterprise Wildfire

Inadequate Housing in Mackenzie Delta

Health Care Workers

Aurora College

Hamlet of Fort Resolution Fire Plan

Carbon Tax

Education

Supports for Senior Citizens

Eulogy for Roy Joseph Mouse

Returns To Oral Questions

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Status of Aurora College Transformation to Polytechnic University

Liquor Act Regime

Carbon Tax

Affordability of Seniors Housing

Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations

Adult Literacy in the Northwest Territories

Notices of Assessment Collection for Income Assistance Clients

Fuel Resupply for Northern Communities

Nurse to Patient Ratios

Supports Available for Residents of Enterprise

Supports Available for Hamlet of Fort Resolution

Return to Written Question 2-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions

Return to Written Question 3-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy

Return to Written Question 4-20(1): Private Agency Nurses

Return to Written Question 5-20(1): Municpal Funding Gap

Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027 Tabled Document 68-20(1): Draft Inquiry Establishment Order (2023 Wildfire Season Preparedness and Response) Tabled Document 69-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Petition 1-20(1): A Ceasefire and End to Canadian Support for the Plausible Genocide in Gaza Tabled Document 70-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 23-20(1): Call to Uphold Human Rights in Gaza Tabled Document 71-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 152-20(1): Public Safety

Tabled Document 72-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions 2019-2020 Tabled Document 73-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 9-20(1): Home Heating Rebates Tabled Document 74-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 19-20(1): Carbon Tax Revenues Spent on Climate Change Adaptation Tabled Document 75-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 41-20(1): Lutselk'e Road Access Tabled Document 76-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 46-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Carbon Taxation Tabled Document 77-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 133-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Policy on Indigenous Hiring

Tabled Document 78-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 47 2(1): Yellowknife Wellness and Recovery Centre Tabled Document 79-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 78 2(1): Access to Family Doctors Response Tabled Document 80-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 103 2(1): Alcohol Strategy Implementation Response Tabled Document 81-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 109 20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy Response Tabled Document 82-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 111 20(1): Provision of Health Services to Nunavut Clients Tabled Document 83-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 148 20(1): Health care in NWT Communities Tabled Document 84-20(1): Follow up Letter for Oral Question 150 20(1): Long term care Health Support Services Tabled Document 85-20(1): Additional Information for Return to Written Question 4-20(1)

Tabled Document 86-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children's First Society Funding

Tabled Document 87-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 80-20(1): Supports for Electric Vehicles Tabled Document 88-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 105-20(1) and Oral Question 112-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap

Tabled Document 89-20(1): Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2023 Territorial General Election Tabled Document 90-20(1): Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly for 2023 Tabled Document 91-20(1): Speaking Up for Fairness - 2023/24 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud

Appointment of Ombud

Referral of Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, to Committee of the Whole

Appointment of Ombud

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Return to Written Question 4-20(1): Private Agency Nurses
Returns To Written Questions

Clerk Of The House Mr. Glen Rutland

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question No. 4-20(1) asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 28th, 2024, regarding Private Agency Nurses.

The Member asked for a breakdown of the total costs for agency nurses by fiscal year since 2019-2020. The health and social services system did not start using agency nurses until 2021-2022. For 2021-2022, the total cost was $531,568. For 2022-2023 the total cost was $5,330,579. For 2023-2024 the estimated cost was $4,441,235. This is an estimate as actuals are not yet finalized.

The Member asked for a breakdown of the total costs for agency nurses based on expenditure categories, those being salaries, overtime, per diems, travel, accommodations, performance bonuses, and any other form of remuneration. This information is quite detailed and later today I will table this information.

The Member asked for the total number of nursing staff positions in the public service that could be funded from an equivalent expenditure as on agency nurses. For 2023-2024, the total expenditures by Health and Social Services system on agency nurses was $$4,441,235. The average cost of a registered nurse position in 2023-24 was $143,000. Based on the 2023-2024 expenditure on agency nurses, this was equivalent to 31 registered nurse positions. It is important to note that the need that required the use of agency nurses is a direct result of not being able to fill critical functions. Recruitment efforts to fill all nursing positions is of the utmost importance and continues in a labour market that is both limited and highly competitive across the country.

The Member asked for the total number of registered nurses recruited to the public service since 2019-2020. Later today I will table this information.

And finally, the Member asked for the total number of registered nurses who have been terminated, retired or otherwise left their employment since 2019-2020. This information will be included in the information I will table later today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return to Written Question 5-20(1): Municpal Funding Gap
Returns To Written Questions

Clerk Of The House Mr. Glen Rutland

And, Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question No. 5-20(1) asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 28th, 2024, regarding the Municipal Funding Gap.

Increases approved by the 19th Legislative Assembly totalling $5 million to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs Community Government Funding budgets was distributed according to three Ministerial policies: Operations and Maintenance Funding Policy, Water and Waste Services Funding Policy, and Community Public Infrastructure Funding Policy. While the $5 million investment may not have kept up with the inflation as measured by the consumer price index, the additional funding represented a significant proportion of the funding the 19th Legislative Assembly committed towards initiatives.

To the Member's question regarding the current value of the overall municipal funding gap for the Northwest Territories, the difference between total territorial calculated costs and community government funding for 2023 is approximately $52 million, of which an estimated $18 million is related to general operations and maintenance, $19 million is related to water and waste, and $15 million is related to capital.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs acknowledges that the department's budget is lower than the full cost-calculation. However, because the GNWT is not the only source of revenue for community governments, the department calculated costs are not an appropriate measure of community need or a funding gap. The department uses this as a tool to allocate its community government funding budget based on the relative share of that community government to ensure that funding is distributed equitably.

The objective of the policies is for community government funding to be distributed in a fair and equitable manner. The distribution formulas measure the total cost of typical programs and services for all 32 community governments and each community is allocated their proportionate share of the budget.

Each community government makes its own unique decisions on the types of programs and services they offer to their residents and how they will generate revenue to cover the difference between costs and funding provided by Municipal and Community Affairs. Community governments have the same financial realities and challenges faced by all levels of government and must take these into consideration when budgeting and planning for the priorities of their residents. The challenge of sustainable community governments is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. As such, MACA does not attribute any parts of its funding calculations toward inflation. I will provide a summary of funding provided by the department by community once the 2024-2025 Main Estimates are finalized. It is well established that all levels of government are in a period requiring both fiscal constraint and well-planned priority setting. It is important for us to tackle our shared challenges together with community governments and to focus on how we can collectively best serve the residents of the NWT. The department continues to advocate for increased funding to community governments and remains committed to supporting community governments to implement their identified priorities and needs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Return to Written Question 5-20(1): Municpal Funding Gap
Returns To Written Questions

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Returns to written questions. Replies to Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports on standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Mr. Premier.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents: Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027 Draft Inquiry Establishment Order (2023 Wildfire Season Preparedness and Response); Response to Petition 1-20(1): A Ceasefire and End to Canadian Support for the Plausible Genocide in Gaza; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 23-20(1): Call to Uphold Human Rights in Gaza; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 152-20(1) Public Safety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Mr. Premier. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following six documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions since 2019-2020; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 9-20(1): Home Heating Rebates; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 19-20(1): Carbon tax Revenues Spent on Climate Change Adaptation; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 41-20(1): Lutselk'e Road Access; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 46-20(1): GNWT Carbon Taxation; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 133-20(1): GNWT Policy on Indigenous Hiring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following eight documents: Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 47-2(1): Yellowknife Wellness and Recovery Centre; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 78-2(1): Access to Family Doctors Response; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 103-2(1): Alcohol Strategy Implementation Response; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 109-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy Response; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 111-20(1): Provision of Health Services to Nunavut Clients; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 148-20(1): Health care in NWT Communities; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 150-20(1): Long-term care Health Support Services; and, Further to my Return to Written Question 4-20(1), a Table of Additional Information for Return to Written Question 4-20(1). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of social services. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Tabled Document 86-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children's First Society Funding
Tabling Of Documents

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following documents: Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children's First Society Funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 86-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children's First Society Funding
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and PUB.

May 23rd, 2024

Vince McKay Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents: Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 80-20(1): Supports for Electric Vehicles; and, Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 105-20(1) and Oral Question 112-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs.

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Colleagues, I have three documents to table: Pursuant to subsection 266(2) of the Elections and Plebiscite Act, I wish to table the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on Administration of the 2023 Territorial General Election. Pursuant to section 99 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I here table the annual report of the Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner to the Legislative Assembly for 2023. And finally, pursuant to section 43 of the Ombud Act, I hereby table Speaking up for Fairness the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud. Thank you.

Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud
Notices Of Motion

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 27th, 2024, I'll move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Krista Carnogursky be appointed as Ombud for a term of five years in accordance with the Ombud Act by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly.

And further, that the appointment become effective July 1, 2024.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will seek unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud
Notices Of Motion

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Member from Yellowknife Centre. Notice of motion. Member from Range Lake.

Motion 27-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, to Committee of the Whole
Notices Of Motion

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 27th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 27-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, to Committee of the Whole
Notices Of Motion

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Notice of motions. Motions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motions

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today regarding the appointment of Ms. Krista Carnogursky as Ombud. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motions

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Member from Yellowknife Centre is asking unanimous consent to deal with the appointment of the Ombud. Any nays? Seeing no nays, Member, please proceed.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motions

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues.

WHEREAS section 4(1) of the Ombud Act provides that the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, shall appoint an Ombud as an officer of the Legislative Assembly who is responsible for exercising the powers and performing the duties set out in this Act;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management was tasked with recruiting the Ombud and has recommended an individual to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Krista Carnogursky be appointed as Ombud for a term of five years in accordance with the Ombud Act by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly;

AND FURTHERMORE that the appointment become effective July 1, 2024.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motions

The Speaker Shane Thompson

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motions

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motions

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Any abstentions? Seeing none, the motion has been passed.

---Carried

Notice of motion for first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Member's Statement 4-20(1), Member's Statement 5-20(1) -- sorry, I think that's Minister's Statement, sorry. Minister's Statement 17-20(1), Minister's Statement 20-20(1), with the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh in the chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Committee to order. After taking -- I now call committee to order. What is the wish of committee? Go to Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Debates of May 23rd, 2024

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