Caroline Wawzonek

Mr. Speaker, increasing Indigenous representation in the public service has long been a goal of the Legislative Assembly. Indigenous under-representation within the public service is a complex and multi-dimensional issue and requires a variety of actions to address, from changes to policy and programming, to increasing resources and training opportunities. Historically, Mr. Speaker, the efforts to achieve this goal were championed by Human Resources. We now know we need a more collaborative approach that provides departments with the flexibility they need so they can address barriers that may...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Report on Departmental Indigenous Employment Plans Results 2022/2023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say with respect to the Dempster, in general, that what we are doing right now is looking forward to working with the Yukon and bringing both sides together towards jointly bringing our efforts to find a way to update and to improve the Dempster Highway. So we have road crews going out in this summer season and next summer season to do some initial scoping work and some geotechnical type studies and other studies so that they could be prepared to understand what kind of planning is required to ensure that that entire stretch is looked at. And so that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a regional office in every different region across the Northwest Territories, and each regional office is responsible for doing that type of maintenance when there are issues. There are a variety of different channels through each post. The deputy minister, the assistant deputy minister who is responsible for regions, and myself as well, are all notified. So when there's -- for instance, when there was the -- earlier this year and the ice roads were melting, we were all involved on various chats and emails and text groups and phone calls to notify...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If it's on any NWT asset, that is a fairly large number of assets, Mr. Speaker, and so I will want to ensure that I am providing an accurate response. I'll have to take that away and see if there are cameras on any asset across the portfolio of the Northwest Territories government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure does have some buildings where we are the owner, other buildings where we are a lessee. And in some cases, we would support other departments. So I'm not sure if the Member's referring to which of those types of situations. We certainly do have a lot of situations where we have had recently retained security firms to perhaps support particular buildings that are within our purview. And as far as policies, I can certainly get back to the Member. If there's a specific policy, there would have been an procurement process that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's my hope that it is a Building Act. Again, at this point, it's in our business plan. It's part of the work that would happen with the department, subject to where we land in terms of our budgets here. But if we are in a position, that is my intention, is that we'll move forward. We have a working group formed now and hoping to get started the process of developing what would go into a Building Act for the Northwest Territories, including what kind of accessibility legislation it would include. That would be what comes in the next fiscal year, or over...

Mr. Speaker, transportation infrastructure projects play an important role in the economic landscape of the Northwest Territories, providing business and employment opportunities while serving the essential needs of our residents. The Northwest Territories' 27 airports are the lifeline of the North, connecting communities, moving people and essential goods, providing access to critical services like health care, and are crucial during emergencies and evacuations for both residents and responders. We also know that many rely heavily on our airports, particularly in the areas of exploration and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that there are cameras that are in use for security purposes. Exactly, again, across the entire portfolio of assets and nature of each one, I'll want to just confirm so that we're always being accurate. And I do want to assure the Member there is work in place right now to ensure there's a policy for the use of any cameras, whether on current or future assets as it may be required. And we'll be happy to take the Member's suggestions to ensure that we have abiding by whatever rules or laws appropriate as they pertain to those cameras...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to get back to the Member as to whether there is a policy on cameras that restrict sound, if I understand that correctly. I suspect there probably is not such a specific policy, Mr. Speaker, and so if there's a particular issue that the Member's trying to get at here, I'd be happy to hear it. Thank you.