Debates of June 4th, 2026

But it's not generating money to pay for it. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's response failed to address the inquiry regarding revenue leakage to other jurisdictions. And to be clear, that's with respect to my written question. From the accountability standpoint, has the GNWT conducted a formal assessment to quantify the value of telecommunications traffic originating in the NWT that it is currently routed through to southern providers rather than the Mackenzie Valley fiber optic link? If so, what is the estimated annual fiscal loss to the Northwest Territories economy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we certainly do track the customers that come to the Mackenzie Valley fibre line. Right now that is predominantly as a result of the satellite array that is up in Inuvik, and certainly do look for opportunities, particularly with the coming, you know, increase in the Inuvik area from the department of defence and from other countries about the opportunity to increase traffic on the fibre line. But, Mr. Speaker, this is not -- you know, and it's not my expectation that this fibre line is going to suddenly become a significant cash cow. There is a small residential base, a small customer base here in the Northwest Territories to buy the wholesale fibre that we have. This was always meant to be the backbone that would provide fibre opportunities into small communities and better link our system across this territory, and that is what it continues to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government's response identified eight communities that remained, quote, satellite served, with maximum speeds of 15 megabits per second. Despite the Mackenzie Valley fibre Link being framed as a strategic public asset, on what basis of financial accountability does the GNWT justify the continued $12 million annual expenditure when we're not making revenue on these specific resident -- for these specific residents are forced in these particular circumstances to switch to things like Starlink, which far exceeds the 100 megabits per second to meet their community needs?

And lastly, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to revisit the earlier submitted written questions and answer them in a more fulsome way? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Finance, you've got two questions in there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I will take my pick of the two questions. I will answer the first. Mr. Speaker, the fibre line was always intended -- and, Mr. Speaker, I wasn't in the Assembly when the fibre line was being designed or debated or discussed or justified. Other Members may have been, Mr. Speaker, so. But, Mr. Speaker, I can see at this point in time, my understanding the fibre line provides an important point of presence into communities. The fibre line connects all the way up to Tuktoyaktuk, without which there would not be a point of presence of fibre. So every community pretty much North of -- well, North of Fort Simpson and even into the Fort Simpson area would be on some form of microwave or satellite. So the fibre line provides that opportunity, brings that satellite -- brings the satellite systems to opportunity in the North and provides a point of presence to all of those communities up and down the valley. And that was the intent of it, Mr. Speaker. That's -- it's providing that intent, it's providing that point of presence. And I think I will stop there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain how the department determined that $80,000 is the right threshold for financial hardship when these fees can cost more than $12,000 a year and residents are already facing a cost-of-living crisis? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Deh Cho. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am unaware of where the Member got the $80,000 figure, as the long-term care rates don't have that. There is no threshold for financial hardship when it comes to fees for long-term care in the Northwest Territories. If long-term -- currently, the way the process works, if there's long-term care clients that can't afford the fees, they can apply -- you know, there's income support that they can apply through for room and board to help cover those costs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The income threshold information came from the department's -- research got it for me. So can the Minister confirm what options are available to families who need care but fall outside of the income threshold for relief and cannot afford these fees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated, anyone who -- so the process for long-term care is that they're assessed by their practitioner, there's a care plan done, an application done for long-term care, and then it's reviewed by the territorial admissions, and then it's prioritized on hierarchy for the beds that are available in the Northwest Territories. And every single person, before they sign the agreement for long-term care, you know, they have the fees. And so in the Northwest Territories, that fee, I believe -- I believe it's $1,100. I'd have to get back to the Member on that accuracy, to the House. It is the cheapest in Canada. Anywhere else in long-term care, you know, it can range from anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 a month. This is for full care. But anyone who cannot afford these fees, they can work with their -- you know, with the health provider and income support to put in an application for their room and board. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from the Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, further to this, will the Minister commit to suspending the new alternative level care charge and reviewing long-term care fees before families are forced to pay costs they cannot afford? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these fees are only being charged to those clients who have applied for and been approved for long-term care. They are the same fees that are charged to all of the clients in the Northwest Territories in our long-term care and in our extended care that are admitted. In the Northwest Territories, as I mentioned, has the lowest, and currently it is $34 a day or $1,021 per month as of May 1st, 2026. And so with that, using the hardship, they can also -- it shouldn't put anyone -- anyone with undue hardship who doesn't have the means to pay -- the client doesn't have the means to pay, they can go through the income assistance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. What solutions are in place to ensure the experience of tradespeople who do not have a Red Seal can be captured and used? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member recognizing that there are multiple Northerners who have extensive experience in the trades but don't carry any formal credentials. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does have a process called the Designated Trainer Process, and this is where individuals who are not certified journeypersons or Red Seal holders can be assessed and recognizing as having sufficient knowledge and can then act as trainers and mentors for apprentices within the field. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that knowledge is recognized and the response from the Minister. My second question there, Mr. Speaker, does the department have designated trainers already in the NWT? If so, how many, and how many is in the Sahtu? Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are currently 17 designated trainers across the Northwest Territories. Specifically, there are two in the Sahtu region, four in the Tlicho region, one in the Deh Cho region, one in the Beaufort Delta, and nine in the North Slave region. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that clarification. What other improvements is ECE considering improving access to trades, especially to ensure workforce readiness in the time of the upcoming major projects, like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a very timely question, a very important question right now. Certainly, Mr. Speaker, last year there were additional entry pathways into the trades that were opened up by education, culture and employment. In addition, we continue to grow the SNAP program, or the Schools North Apprenticeship Program. We've more than doubled our SNAP students and tripled the communities that SNAP students are found in. In addition, Mr. Speaker, the department is currently reviewing the apprenticeship trades and occupational certification regulations. And in addition to that, Mr. Speaker, as you can imagine, there are multiple conversations happening in a very excited territory as projects of national significance are looking to be built in the territory. And so, Mr. Speaker, some of the other conversations that are happening are exploring communities to deliver trades essentials programming in the Northwest Territories, and in addition to that, exploring partnerships with education bodies, Aurora College, Indigenous governments who are looking to deliver trades fundamentals and trades opportunities in communities as well. Thank you.