Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am very happy to say that we certainly are planning to have a new strategy, and with respect to success or not, I can say that, when the strategy first began back in 2017, there were very few commercial producers. We are now numbering roughly eight to 10 with some significant growth in the area. We are gathering the information now, and I would expect that more formal engagements will happen beginning possibly as early as the end of this year and, if not, early in 2022 so that it is ready indeed to roll out in due course next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The agriculture strategy states that, in order to develop the agriculture sector, regulations, legislation, and policies are required at all levels of government to enable the sector to grow and function. Under current legislation, the NWT's agricultural sector has limited room to grow. Production of meats and fish are two areas of concern. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm what, if any, progress is being made with respect to addressing the issue of legislation and policy that is happening in our agricultural sector?
With respect to meat regulations, that work is right now actively taking place in my colleague's department, Health and Social Services, and that indeed is part of the mandate and, as such, is moving along and will be reported on in that regard. Beyond that, Mr. Speaker, there is also now, newly formed, the territorial agriculture agri-food association. That is an entity that is very active in this space and one that I would certainly commend producers to be involved with as an advocacy group to identify any other barriers that may exist. Last, Mr. Speaker, there is recently rolled out the red tape working group for small- and medium-sized businesses, which I suspect a number of the businesses in this sector would likely fall into that category. To the extent that they are facing continued barriers, I would urge them that, once that group starts rolling out, that they would please contact them so we can indeed address those barriers.
Capacity building opportunities are important. As a First Nations person, I find the best way to learn is always hands-on training that meets regional and local needs. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister to consider ensuring that all communities throughout the Northwest Territories have access to a greenhouse and the tools required to support training and capacity building around agriculture.
I certainly am keen to see what can be done with respect to ensuring that we continue to grow this industry, not only in terms of its commercial value but also as far as it may impact on food security more generally. For now, Mr. Speaker, what I can say: if there is a community that is looking to have a greenhouse, looking to have access to some agricultural opportunities, I would urge them to speak to their local economic development officer or other ITI officer. There are programs and projects that can help support them, whether in terms of the training that may be needed or in terms of some community funding opportunities. I certainly would say again is that, if those are areas of interest, they should please reach out. We certainly have resources available.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I previously said, if we are expected to grow the industry, then we have to provide the support and tools required to make that happen. We can start with our institutions, such as corrections facilities. As both these facilities are under the responsibility of the same Minister, will the Minister of ITI commit to working with the Minister of ECE and Justice to establish small-scale greenhouses on institutional grounds to further the interests of the agricultural sector? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Those two departments, while under one Minister, have different areas, and they may not necessarily flow into the agriculture-commercial sector, for which ITI is responsible. Notwithstanding, Mr. Speaker, I was happy to discover very recently through my colleague that take a kid gardening is, in fact, a program that exists in schools across the Northwest Territories. Absolutely, I will commit to speaking to the Minister of ECE and the Minister of Justice to see what we can do to bring some synergy to this area and to agriculture more broadly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When I did the Member's statement, the one on behalf of the words of the elders, the words of the elderly ladies were talking about while they were standing, just like them standing here, asking the government. Because we are asking questions on behalf of the elders, the Minister of Infrastructure, I have a question for you. [Translation ends] The Minister of Infrastructure talked about engineering in her statement earlier. I would like to ask questions about this, the sorry inconsideration her and her department has for hundreds of people driving back and forth between Yellowknife and Behchoko on a daily basis. You would think, with their great feats of engineering, that they might give minor passing thought to the biological needs of people driving those roads. I am talking about simple places to relieve themselves. Mr. Speaker, the first question I have for the Minister is: why don't we have on Highway No. 3 and beyond to all our communities restrooms along the three side turnouts between Behchoko and Yellowknife? Mr. Speaker, Masi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The outhouses between Yellowknife and Behchoko were brought up in the House either this week or last week. The Department of Infrastructure and Department of ITI are both working in partnership in ensuring that we have adequate facilities along the way, including pullouts, because we continue to improve, promote, and deliver safety through investments in infrastructure because highway safety is our utmost priority. I do want to let the Member know that the Department of ITI and Infrastructure will be looking at developing a management plan in order to have a look at some of the highways, not only on Highway No. 3, but all along all the other highways in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, we have 10 highways in the Northwest Territories, and we need to ensure that there is some safety out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I did not hear much of an answer there. Highway safety, as the Minister indicated, we need to put that into actions; less talk, less study. We have experienced a tragic accident on the highway numerous occasions, and here we are still deliberating in the House about restrooms along the highway. There is urgent need. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how else I can relay that message, the importance of having those restrooms along the highway. Just putting into action on the general standards for providing public toilets or restrooms on the well-used highways like Highway No. 3, has her department, the Minister of Infrastructure, thought of devolving a position on this particular question that I have in this House?
No, we have not looked at developing a specific position for this outhouse and that, but we did talk about looking at another, perhaps, highway safety and look at perhaps bringing it to appropriations for some extra funding for finance. I hope I have answered the Member's question in terms of looking at working with ITI and to be able to come up with a management plan. I think that is the key here, is we need to have a look at it, address the safety issues, and come up with a plan.
[Translation] Yes, there are questions I have. I am talking about the elderly ladies, the elderly ladies. I am talking on behalf of what I was told. The Minister, we have to respect. Though we always say, "Let's work with one another; let's work with one another," that is not what I am hearing. These words of the elders are very important. [Translation ends] This is not an outhouse we are talking about. We are talking about restrooms along the highway. Will the Minister commit to coming back to this House with plans and funding for the construction of at least a minimum of one or two public washrooms or restrooms along highways between Yellowknife and Behchoko? I don't mean a long line of promises, study. We are tired of studying. It's a very simple problem that -- to death. A promise to put a 20-year plan in place, this is part of the commitment that needs to be made in this House. I need to bring the message back to the elder who particularly asked me, and I'm not getting any answers today. Can there be a plan in place that can be brought back to this House?
This is not a simple answer. We have to work with a variety of departments within the GNWT to look at it. There is some work that is involved; pullouts between Yellowknife and Behchoko, there are a number of things we need to look at. We need to see if there is space and provide technical support to ITI's efforts to fund and build outhouses, should ITI decide to do so. I'm not saying that we would commit to it because I can't. I need to work with the Department of Infrastructure to be able to look at some of the technical requirements to putting an outhouse there and whether the department is going to be able to find some funding and work together with this.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. It has been well over a month since we had a public forum in Behchoko, and part of the discussion we had was with the Minister's senior staff, as well. They agreed that we need to formulate partnerships to deal with these particular issues. It has been over a month, and we are still talking about, potentially, we can work on this. I would like to see an action plan in place during the life of this Assembly. Could that be established between the partners? Of course, working along with the Tlicho government because they are the ones who initiated the discussion. Could that be established within the life of this Assembly? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
From my understanding, the meeting in Behchoko that involved a lot of the key stakeholders was mostly around cell service. We had the Departments of Infrastructure and ITI, as well as some of the leaders, to be able to look at the safety of the cell service along the highway, and it was something that the working group was going to look at. This outhouse is a whole new subject that we need to perhaps add to that discussion, because it is something that we need to look at, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell us if her department considers it a priority to help all NWT residents find adequate housing regardless of their income level? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, absolutely. It is a priority for the Housing Corporation to initiate and engage with the Northwest Territories to find adequate, suitable, and affordable housing throughout the Northwest Territories. However, I know the Member is also going to be asking about the income threshold that we do currently have. The income threshold is established for fairness and consistency throughout the Northwest Territories, but I would like to take that back because there are a lot of considerations we need to look at with how we look at the rent that we are collecting for the public housing units.
Also, I really wanted to elaborate on the housing programs that we do have that try to work with the residents of the Northwest Territories to find affordable, adequate, suitable housing, and I'm hoping to hearing the rest of the Member's statements, as well, and the questions coming forward because it really puts together a different, unique approach that the Housing Corporation needs to consider. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the Minister tell us if she believes that the current means test determining seniors' eligibility for public housing is fair?
Looking at the number of units we have throughout the Northwest Territories for seniors, we do have approximately 2,900 throughout the territory; 374 of those units are occupied by seniors' housing. Also, throughout the Northwest Territories, the Housing Corporation has also established seniors' complexes in Fort Liard, Fort Providence, and a number of communities throughout the territory. Not only that, I wanted to elaborate that, for seniors' housing throughout the territory, we really engage into partnership throughout the territory. The Housing Corporation can't come forward and, right now, put new houses on the ground. We need to look at creative alternative solutions.
I just wanted to highlight that one of the only housing societies throughout the territory is the K'asho Got'ine Housing Society in Fort Good Hope, where they took some money out of their local government, partnered up with the Housing Corporation, and also looked at the need for seniors' housing in that specific community. That is the kind of approach that I'm looking for as a Minister. I need to work with the Indigenous groups, with the stakeholders in the community. We need to start addressing housing as the number one priority within the government, but not only within the government. We need to look at this with the Indigenous groups and the people of the Northwest Territories so we can continue to work in partnership and continue with that collaborative approach to make sure that we have and continue with affordable housing, adequate housing, suitable housing for the residents of the Northwest Territories.
Will the Minister commit to removing or changing the current means test determining seniors' eligibility into public housing units?
I know that the Member is going to continuously ask this question, and I really appreciate it because we come forward and we're coming up with adequate solutions that we are working on with the seniors. The Housing Corporation had lifted the requirement for land tenure and insurance for private homeowners in order for the client to adequately seek approval for our housing programs. The other thing that the Housing Corporation has done is eliminate the requirement for additional people living in the public housing units in order for us to calculate rent, where we're solely looking at the senior.
I recognize, coming from a smaller community, we do have elders in our smaller communities, and we do have extended family members who live with our elders who provide that adequate care. It really prevents them from going into the larger centres and the larger communities. We are supporting seniors to age in place, but with the questions coming forward, I would like to see a lot more creativity throughout the Housing Corporation, as well, in looking at further expanding our needs throughout the territory. Not only that, I need to really consider the other population, as well, of low-income families; the women, the children, and the overcrowding, the homelessness. I will bring this back as a Minister to my department. Sorry for the long answer, but I am very passionate about my portfolio. I know I can't house everybody, but I just take a look at all of the opportunities and the creativity that we can have in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, just to remind everyone to slow down a bit. Our interpreters may be having difficulty here. Also, be mindful for our other Members who still have to ask questions. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister consider creating a new seniors' housing strategy for the NWT Housing Corporation that does not discriminate against seniors based on income? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will try to speak very slowly, and I'll be very quick with my response. We are looking at the Core Need Income Threshold for seniors. This is something I will bring back to my department, but I cannot commit to putting together another strategy. I would have to bring this forward, and I will keep the Member informed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission. We've had a recent outbreak of COVID-19 at the Gahcho Kue Mine site; 19 confirmed cases, 11 of which are workers from out of the territory, but eight of them are NWT residents. My question for the Minister is: what is he doing to protect northern workers at this mine site? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WSCC is in constant contact with the line manager to ensure all reporting requirements under the line health and safety regulations have been followed. I was very happy to tell the Members and the public that WSCC has gone in on February 26th to 28th, and part of the on-site investigation is to ensure that their control plan, which is reviewed by both WSCC and the CPHO, has remained in place and was adhered to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I want to thank the Minister. It's good to hear that inspectors have finally been sent to the mine site. Can the Minister tell me whether there're any WSCC requirements or the control plan requires separation of northern and southern workers in terms of their accommodation at the site?
WSCC does not have authority under the Mine Health and Safety Act to dedicate the segregation of the two, north and southern workers. If it's an identified component of the control plan, the WSCC will enforce to adhere to this.
I want to thank the Minister for that, but it didn't really answer my question. There seems to be some kind of top secret exposure control plan that he can't even share any information with me on the floor of this House. I've asked about whether northern and southern workers are separated at the worksite. He can't tell me that. Now, I'll try something else. Can the Minister tell me whether this top secret control plan requires masking of employees at the site?
I understand the Member is trying to get information. First and foremost, this is the plan of a private industry of private company, so we need to respect that. It's their plan. In regards to his question, the Mine Health and Safety Regulations do not govern the use of face masks, and the WSCC is unable to enforce the usage. If the masks are included in the employees' control plan, the WSCC would enforce compliance to the plan. If it's in the plan, we make sure it's enforced.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. We have a top secret plan. You can't even tell me whether masking's required at the site. I'll try something else here, Mr. Speaker. Can he tell me if there's any requirements for cleaning of the shared washrooms at the site? That's a pretty simple thing to ask, Mr. Speaker. I hope he can at least answer that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
It is not top secret. It's a business. It's the company's control plan, and we need to respect that. We work with them through WSCC. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, washroom hygiene is addressed for non-pandemic situations. Changes as a result of outbreak are not covered under these regulations. The WSCC can enforce compliance if increased cleaning practises were identified in employer's control plan. Mr. Speaker, the Member needs to understand, if it's in the plan, we enforce it. If it's not in the plan, then that's where we can't enforce something that's not in the plan, which has been approved by WSCC and the Chief Public Health Officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As in my Member's statement, I would like to ask about the release yesterday. Can the Minister explain to us who exactly are a priority for receiving the Moderna vaccine in the category that was released yesterday? I'll quote under that category, "anyone 18-plus with CPHO approval." Why would we have this designated on the release? Is there a category under that? There must be something to make that decision to add that category. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The categories that were released yesterday were front-line workers aged 18-plus who interact directly with the public and are unable to work virtually in the following areas: schools, including teachers; teacher assistants or support workers; school bus drivers; front-facing administrative workers; daytime janitors. The next category is day homes and daycares, hotels, grocery stores, drugstores, banks, libraries, postal service, liquor stores, gas stations, and convenience stores; customer service agents at airports; media, including reporters and camera crews. The last category that the Member is referencing, I believe, is an area in which the CPHO could create an exemption for a group of workers who had been inadvertently left off of this list. Thank you.
Thank you for that answer. Are non-resident employees at remote camps a priority now, or any plan to vaccinate them in the NWT?
