Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is most definitely an easy commitment because I've previously made it to the Member for Yellowknife North. Absolutely. Thank you.
Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to hear it because I was speaking to the council and we're concerned about the opportunities. Can the Minister -- would the Minister be willing to lean into the Aurora College to ensure that any of the CLC money that could have gone to these communities could be partnered with, specifically, the NWT Literacy Council because they don't have that perspective. So that last commitment was working together, well, yeah, that's great, but can we look at getting Aurora College to work directly with the literacy council to save the community learning centre projects. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I've previously shared with the House, I cannot direct the operations of Aurora College. That would be seen as interference, and I'm prohibited from doing so under the Aurora College's Act. But the commitment that I have made is that, first of all, to acknowledge that this is an issue that needs to be reviewed and that there are other parties within the Northwest Territories who want to be involved in some of this work which is very promising and very good. And so as the Minister of education, I have committed to following up on these programs, following up with communities, and ensuring that at the end of the day we're talking to the partners that want to be involved in this project. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's nothing prohibiting the Minister from inquiring with the board chair and the president and maybe the board overall about saying, here is a partner willing to meet the needs of the communities, Mr. Speaker, and we would -- and that includes even the larger communities. So, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to engage in this conversation especially because this House is the funder. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly always happy to have conversations, always happy to pass along the messages from the House, and certainly very interested in learning what the future of literacy programming looks like in the territory and working very hard on that. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member's statement, my first question for the Minister of Infrastructure is around the sailing dates and, importantly, has the department now, given the analysis of what happened last year, are they looking at sailing dates and, as importantly, communicating those dates out to the residents of the communities that will be ordering the goods and services for the barge? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sailing dates and specifically cargo cutoff dates are typically communicated a little later in the spring as we're still waiting to see what the water levels might look like as we get closer into the spring dates.
I can say, Mr. Speaker, and I'm happy to say, that we have new director other at MTS, and the director was able to use the opportunity of NWTAC to make some connections and good connections with communities so that when we are able to communicate and as we're able to communicate, we're doing that in an effective way. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that. Yes, and, you know, earlier the better when it comes to getting those dates out for sure. But I appreciate that they're are factors in that.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke in previous Member statements about the need to maybe look at logistically looking at Inuvik and/or Tuk or both kind of ramping them up a little more given that the difficulty we're having getting through the ramparts and sailing now and to maybe do some of that barging from Inuvik or Tuk all the way up to Fort Good Hope and certainly the coastal communities. Is that something that the marine transportation services are looking at to kind of building up some of that infrastructure this year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are no plans at the moment to significantly modify the infrastructure that's up in the Beaufort Delta region. However, I can say that some of the -- there was a tug and a barge -- barges left up in Inuvik back in 2024 so that they are ready -- more ready and more able to move quickly as soon the waters are navigable. Obviously still hoping that this year's water levels come back and that we're not facing quite the same level of challenges next year but did take those steps to say that we are positioned so that at early parts of the season when, hopefully, things are easier to navigate that we'll be able to do so. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you for that. I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. So it's my assumption, then -- and I know one shouldn't assume -- that the majority of the goods and services that are going to be transported into the coastal communities and the Inuvialuit settlement region will, indeed, look to be transported via truck to Inuvik and/or Tuk for those hubs to get that product into the coastal communities. Thank you.
Member from Inuvik Boot Lake, I got a little note given to me, please remember to slow down a little bit for our translators. Please and thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so last year we were able to see successful delivery using -- in some cases coming up and around the top and utilizing Tuktoyaktuk as a delivery starting point as well as relying on the Dempster Highway. Obviously, there are challenges with both of those routes, Mr. Speaker, but we certainly were able to use those over the last couple of years and have always learned lessons to help improve it. So now I don't want to say that that's for sure the only option this year; we are still hopeful. MTS monitors water levels. We work with ECC's hydrology team about water levels, and the word's not final yet that the situation is unnavigable. So, again, for the moment, we're sort of keeping an eye on things. We've made plans to go in whichever direction we need to, and as with the last couple years, we'll be able to respond once the water levels are more clear. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement, my questions are a follow-up and directed to the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier has said the territory is in discussions with the federal government to push for tangible action like competitive mining incentives and a strong federal partnership. What work is the senior envoy doing to support the economic mandate of the Assembly at these discussions? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Mr. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's no doubt that the focus these days is on the economy, and that's across Canada. You know, because we're facing a threat from an external actor who is really threatening our economic stability and viability of our country. So the economy is going to loom large with the role of the senior envoy. And the purpose of this role is to have a connection with Ottawa so that we can move things along. There's big projects that we can't do ourselves here in the Northwest Territories. Things like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, we'll definitely need federal support for that. The Taltson Hydro Expansion, we'll need federal support for that. And so it's ensuring that we have those touch points with our federal counterparts. There's also things like the North of 60 mineral exploration tax credit that we have been pushing. And that's another thing, that we can't do that, but the federal government can do that, though. You know, there's also the opportunity to meet with industry. Industry is always in and out of Ottawa lobbying, and there's opportunities for the envoy to have those types of meetings with industry and discuss what's going on in the territory, and to support Indigenous governments in their economic -- their pursuit of economic opportunities that involve Ottawa. And so there's a number of Indigenous governments in the territory with great relationships in Ottawa, know how to get into a Minister's office, a federal Minister's office, but we have a number of Indigenous governments that don't have settled claims, don't have that level of capacity or integration with Ottawa, and the envoy will be able to help them as well. And if we help an Indigenous -- if we support an Indigenous government to advance their economic opportunities and the economy in their region, that helps the entire territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Premier for that clarification.
My second question, can the Premier explain the transparency measures and the process for how the work of the envoy to the Government of Canada will be reported back to the House. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, of course, I'm always here in the House to answer questions, so that's a transparency method that works across government. But the results are going to be -- or sorry, the accountability is going to be in the results. I hope to be able to show this House and show Members that, with the support of the envoy and the entire GNWT, we're actually getting things done. And so I don't have -- you know, I don't have a framework to parse out, you know, what percentage of that success is attributable to this role. But the fact is that, you know, I am here to be held to account for the actions of the government and for my actions as Minister, and so that's always an option for Members. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank to the Premier for the explanation for that previous question.
My last question, can the Premier explain the mandate of the envoy position and specifically say whether this will be a permanent position within the Premier's office or just temporarily support head of the federal election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the idea behind the envoy is to have a dedicated, proactive, and strategic link between the political offices in Ottawa and the political offices here in the Northwest Territories. That's what's often needed to get things moving. And as to whether or not the position is permanent, well nothing in politics is permanent, so I can't speak for the future of the position past this government. And even during the life of this government, we'll see things work. I think too often the government will make a decision and then stick with it whether or not it's working. I'm happy to see how things work and adjust as needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Finance. So on March 3rd, the GNWT received an increase to the federally-imposed debt limit from 1.8 to $3.1 billion. Can the Minister explain if the extent of such a large increase to the borrowing limit is only to respond to expenditure shocks like climate disaster impacts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, no, that's not the only reason. The situation we faced over the last several years of climate impacts and fiscal challenges has put us in a situation where the significant sized operating surpluses that we've been managing to create for ourselves, rather than having those available to reinvest or to cushion us, are winding up being used for those purposes and so that means that we then take on more debt to fund operations and to fund our investment and capital. So looking, then, over the next few years and, frankly, seeing, you know, what is happening and what may be coming over the next few years, whether it's climate change or other geopolitical risks, puts us in a situation that to continue to ensure that we have a borrowing room available to us and what that borrowing is likely to be required us to go and seek a borrowing limit increase. Obviously, we were coming up right close to what that borrowing limit would be. The fiscal responsibility policy for us created an internal amount or an internal threshold where if we hit it, we would -- that would trigger our own internal obligation to go and ask. So between those two factors, Mr. Speaker, that's what led to the request. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister consider revising the fiscal responsibility policy so that the Assembly can invest in discrete targeted ways to alleviate some of the social issues we have collectively prioritized? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fiscal responsibility policy puts up some guardrails around how we take on debt and for our debt management. But -- and while that's obviously something I'm happy to talk about that, and it's important to maintain those guardrails, we want to be in a situation where we're utilizing our debt ideally to invest in things that benefit future generations since those would be the generations that would be ultimately be paying off debts whereas operational expenditures, programs and services of today, ideally are funded by the operational budgets that we have today. So, you know, Mr. Speaker, there's no reason that this Assembly and that the government can't continue to make choices around operations and spending. The fiscal responsibility policy tries to simply put some guardrails around when we take on the debt to do the things that we need to do as a government. But, again, shouldn't create any kind of mental or political barriers to ensuring that we're meeting the responsibilities of the Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was reminded by a constituent before this session that in the 1990s, the federal government decided to make reductions on the health and social transfer payments. Such a situation doesn't seem impossible now. So, bluntly, the TFF and equalization payments could be on the chopping block in a new government. Can the Minister broadly explain the GNWT's approach to TFF negotiations which are ongoing and upcoming and what she hopes to see. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I obviously have not a whole lot of control over what a new federal government may or may not do to funding levels that support all three territories and to, frankly, 40 percent of Canada's land mass. Certainly, with the current geopolitical climate would certainly hope that Ottawa recognizes the importance of investing in 40 percent of Canada's land mass as a statement about Arctic sovereignty, as a statement about Arctic security. The territorial formula financing approach for us comes up due in 2029, but we are engaging with the other two territories. We want to work together in terms of ensuring that when one of -- that as we all move forward, that we're moving forward understanding, you know, what each one may be asking or how we want to approach this. And what I can say lastly, Mr. Speaker, with respect to what we're doing today, we are re-examining the level of funding that we receive, the kinds of inputs that go into the formula that Ottawa then utilizes to determine the amount, and to really look at whether or not some of the inputs that are there and some of what the, you know, considerations that are given have actually kept pace with the reality of the costs and the needs and the costs of providing for the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories. So that is not an uncomplicated economic analysis and position to make. That's why we're getting that started now so that we're not waiting until 2029 to get there but we can begin that process and that advocacy today. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the NTHSSA website, the goal of primary healthcare reform is six demonstration projects to test primary health care improvements. Can the Minister say what projects will be completed in the Tlicho region. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is working with the Tlicho government and NTCSA to build capacity for diabetes management, prevention, and awareness programs aimed to help people with diabetes management of their condition, raise community awareness to prevent -- yeah, so diabetes engagement.
So one of the things that they're doing is they're doing this -- they're going to be doing this through workshop cooking classes and cultural programs. It is a piece of the primary care reform that will be in the Tlicho, so on chronic disease management. That is the piece that will be happening in the Tlicho. Right now, I think within the staffing levels that they're having struggles within the Tlicho it hasn't really got off the ground yet, so. But that is what's planned for Tlicho. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you for the information. Primary healthcare reform is intended to include opportunities for public feedback. Can the Minister commit to conducting a detailed public consultation with community health system clients. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we are rolling out primary care in the different areas, as you are aware that we just -- NTHSSA has just released that they will be doing the primary care in Yellowknife consult when -- so patients that are going through the system will be -- they'll be doing a survey with them on their feedback of the services which will help to drive the improved changes. And so as we are rolling out those in the different areas, primary care, those things can be put in place. We would need to have -- ensure that those programs are rolling out so that they have something to compare to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a family doctor is largely unavailable to most residents. It is foreign to us in small communities. Can the Minister explain how primary health care reform will lead to having more doctors and nurses in small communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, primary care reform -- you know, as it's rolling out into the small communities, what we do have actually is a form of primary care in the communities right now. But what we need to be doing is we need to be looking at all of our communities, and that's what the working group is established for small communities and health cabins, to be looking at what are the needs of those communities and how are we going to be able to provide the services that are needed in those small communities, knowing that not every small community is going to have a resident physician. You know, they will -- but maybe there is a different makeup of frontline staff that -- like, especially in Indigenous communities, can we get more local people that are in the communities to train and do certain jobs? That is one area.
Another area is physicians. And, you know, the Tlicho is actually doing this, and some of the other regions now, is they're having appointments with a physician that can't always be in all the communities but can be virtually. And being able to have that connection with a nurse there and then a physician to be able to, you know, walk through some of those conditions. It's opening up our -- we're expanding on how we're utilizing our services and our technology to improve the care in the smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.
As I spoke about in my Member's statement, organizations such as the Yellowknife Seniors' Society have been advocating strongly for the adult day program to be re-established in Yellowknife, particularly to support seniors with dementia and their caregivers. So what consultation has the department done specifically with organizations and families supporting seniors with dementia and Alzheimer's to assess the need for such an adult day program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
