This Hansard has not been finalized - this is the "Blues" in Parliamentary speak, or unedited transcript in regular speak.

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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 know.

Topics

Question 277-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Child and Welfare Services
Oral Questions(reversion)

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have the level of detail that the Member is asking. But what I would like to provide the Member is that knowing that we have a large number of children in care and, you know, and we did a lot of work on child and family services in the last government, and as I was part of that work as Regular Members, one of the things that I don't think a lot of us from that time walked away from was knowing where the children were. So I can provide some of the information that the Member is asking, but I also want to share that a large portion of the children that are in care have been -- the families either have -- are under voluntary service agreements, which then they can be supported. So a lot of those children are still with their families at home but now are being able to be supported by child and family services. And when those children aren't at home because they're supporting the family and, say, family members have to go for treatment or for other things that they may be struggling with to bring that family back together, another large portion of those children are now been in placements either with their extended family or with another Indigenous family within the community or most likely in the community. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 277-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Child and Welfare Services
Oral Questions(reversion)

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you for that information. Mr. Speaker, why is the department -- I heard this from countless people, a lot of people are saying this. Why is the department still putting Indigenous children into homes with different nationalities and different cultures from their own? Thank you.

Question 277-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Child and Welfare Services
Oral Questions(reversion)

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our old foster care system, you know, there wasn't -- from all of the information that I've been provided and the work that's been done within child and family services is to work with the family to find now somebody who is either within the family, next of kin, a close relative, another Indigenous person. But those families also have to, you know, go through the foster family. We have not a lot of Indigenous foster families, and the more Indigenous foster families and the more family members, when they know that there's children that are possibly, you know, that may be needing to support their own family can become foster families and be flexible, like, within child and family services to say that, you know, like, we'll take on our -- like, your nieces, our nephews, our cousins' children, and child and family services will work with those families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 277-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Child and Welfare Services
Oral Questions(reversion)

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you. This is another question families have been asking, too, is they want to know what is the department doing to reunite children, children in care with families, those who are possible? I know there are some that it's beyond their control; I'm not talking about that. Permanent ward as the last report. Thank you.

Question 277-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Child and Welfare Services
Oral Questions(reversion)

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department continues to follow up with families, you know, to try to meet them where they're at and to see what steps need to be put in place in order to have the children reunited into the home. And if there's specific instances where the Member, you know, has families that are feeling that this is not being done, I would encourage those families, you know, to reach out to my office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 277-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Child and Welfare Services
Oral Questions(reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Deh Cho.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECC. Can the Minister tell me what supports are available to cabin owners as they clean up the charred and damaged properties that once were their cabins? Thank you.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Minister for ECC.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, currently, there are programs, the Harvesters Fire Damage Assistance Program, which supports harvesters across the NWT with fire damage. However, that program does not speak directly to the Member's question and it doesn't have a provision for clean-up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since they don't have a provision for clean-up. How about for assistance for cabins that were burned? Thank you.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The program covers costs up to $40,000 for harvesters to get them back on the land, back to their traditional economy lifestyle, and that could include the recovery of damage to a cabin. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you. I have a little bit more of a different question then. My next question is what constitutes harvesters? Like, what do they have to be harvesting to be considered a harvester? Thank you.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the parameters of the program indicate a harvester must have 20 percent of their annual income -- or 25 percent of their annual income come directly from the result of harvesting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Final supplementary. Member from Deh Cho.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Sheryl Yakeleya

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you. 20 percent of their annual income from harvesting, is that like harvesting fur, wood, fish? Cutting -- like, cutting wood? Picking mushrooms and doing stuff like that, is that what that means? Thank you.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

Jay MacDonald

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't want to speak directly to all of the specifics because I don't want to miss anything. But I will certainly provide that information back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 278-20(1): Disaster Assistance Programs for Traditional Cabin Owners
Oral Questions(reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Madam Deputy Premier.

Tabled Document 115-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 55-19(2): Report on Bill 55: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act
Tabling Of Documents

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 55-19(2), Report on Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 115-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 55-19(2): Report on Bill 55: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, deputy Premier. Tabling of documents. Minister of ITI.

Tabled Document 116-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 64-19(2): Report on Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Business Development and Investment Corporation Act
Tabling Of Documents

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 64-19(2), Report on Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Business Development and Investment Corporation Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 116-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 64-19(2): Report on Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Business Development and Investment Corporation Act
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Minister of ITI. Tabling of documents. Member from Great Slave.

Tabled Document 117-20(1): Union of Northern Workers Petition to Stop the Closure of the Men's Unit at Fort Smith Correctional Centre
Tabling Of Documents

Kate Reid

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a petition titled Stop the Closure of the Men's Unit in Fort Smith, NWT, which does not strictly conform with our rules to be submitted as a petition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 117-20(1): Union of Northern Workers Petition to Stop the Closure of the Men's Unit at Fort Smith Correctional Centre
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Tabling of documents. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Tabled Document 118-20(1): Petition Regarding Proposed Government Wellness and Recovery Centre Building in Yellowknife
Tabling Of Documents

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a petition from concerned citizens to the proposed government wellness and recovery centre building at 5019 - 51st Street in Yellowknife. That's in downtown Yellowknife Centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 118-20(1): Petition Regarding Proposed Government Wellness and Recovery Centre Building in Yellowknife
Tabling Of Documents

The Speaker

The Speaker Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.