Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find myself again having to address the House about problems in Education, Culture and Employment. Today I have to highlight shortcomings in the Student Financial Assistance program, unfortunately more than just one.
Over the summer I learned of two situations involving NWT residents, their desire to further their education and a Department of Education, Culture and Employment unwilling to adjust policies to accommodate them. Now, I realize and I accept that we have to have policies and that we have them for a reason, but they should not be so rigid as to defy logic.
Case number one: an NWT student at school in Alberta, a single mom with her children. At Christmastime she wished to return to the NWT to be with her family, and being with family at Christmas is apparently a policy that governs SFA travel for students. The student’s children were provided airline tickets by their father and came back home for the Christmas holiday. The mom, of course, wanted to be with her family, her children at Christmas, but her request to Student Financial Assistance for travel funding was denied. The policy is that students with families can only travel at the beginning and the end of a school year, not at Christmas. The reason, because Education, Culture and Employment has a policy to keep families together. Single students can return at Christmas and at the beginning and the end of a school year, but not so students with dependents.
So this student, who could not afford a ticket to come home, spent Christmas by herself without the company of her kids and other family members. I struggle mightily, Mr. Speaker, to see the logic in the Student Financial Assistance decision in this case.
There are other options. The department has to think outside the box, has to provide some flexibility to their staff to make decisions in the best interest of the student and their family, and here’s the solution for the Minister: put a dollar limit on student financial assistance travel per student or per family, allow the student to travel when they like, spending only to the predetermined limit. In the case I’ve described, it would allow the mom to travel home at Christmas but then have to make some adjustment for her family’s return travel at the end of the school year.
I said two cases, didn’t I, Mr. Speaker? Well, case number two, stay tuned for more to come tomorrow. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What say we head out for coffee and a visit? Oops! Sorry. You have a role defined by this Assembly that you’re required to discharge here in the House right now. In theory that applies to my colleagues and myself, too, but in practice it would appear that our presence here is superfluous as it’s apparent that Cabinet neither requires nor welcomes our input into matters of state, that we are an annoyance to be swatted away like a mosquito, or we are to be best treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark and well fed. You get the idea.
Recent examples of this attitude towards Members on this side of the House exemplify the situation. First, the recent revelations of cost overruns on the Inuvik to Tuk Highway amounting to $32 million estimated. Before the recent discovery of documents stating otherwise, we were told the project was moving along splendidly, on time and on budget. Clearly, this is not at all the case and hasn’t been the case for some time.
The government had plenty of time and ample opportunity to keep us apprised of the situation, most recently during committee meetings leading up to this session, but they chose not to. They only came clean when they were forced to through an accidentally distributed document. I wonder if we would still be in the dark if that document had not come to light.
Then there is the Stanton Hospital P3 upgrade. Oh, wait. I just read in the newspaper that we’re getting a whole new hospital with a whole new budget. That was news to me. I suspect it was news to all Regular MLAs not in the Cabinet loop. We have no plans for the old and sturdy building that will be vacated after renovations, or do we? Who am I to know?
Add to these $50 million worth of diesel going up in smoke with a one-time momentary benefit, not a peep from Cabinet until the decision was done, timed just before the election and, of course, no opportunity for input from MLAs. All of this happening while we are in committee meetings to deal with these very subjects.
Cabinet had the opportunity and responsibility to inform, but again chose not to do so.
There appears to be clear and deliberate intent to bypass any involvement of MLAs in the decision-making process that the principles of consensus government define and all of us are sworn to uphold.
It seems that we on this side of the House could make better use of our time by raising our caffeine levels. I expect that Cabinet will let us know if we take cream and sugar.
Mr. Speaker, I envy you your opportunity to fulfill the job for which you were elected and the support you receive from all Members of the House to do so. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this Assembly rolls closer and closer to its final days, I can honestly say, “Thank goodness.” The problem I see now is not watching the journey of the four years that have come and gone but it’s what is in store for the next four years.
Take for instance when I returned to the House in 2007, only then we learned about the Roland government’s butchering and contriving of cutting 135 jobs and $135 million out of the budget of the day, not to mention the bridge surprise which, of course, all came out of nowhere.
So where did it come from? Well, the simple marching orders created by those in power around the Cabinet table in the absence of Members. So, decisions were made behind the scenes, the deed was planned and, rather, schemed or certainly plotted and pitched to returning Members under the context of fiscal accountability. So, in other words, they were looking for confederates in the cutting and slashing, not to forget also the blame.
I raise this not as a reminder of the past but, rather, days yet maybe to come. We must always continue to be relentless in our efforts to provide efficient and effective government, one that meets the challenges of our day and, at the same time, one that is responsive to the needs of the people by being relevant. But while this government struggles with this last statement, more often than not I continue to be nervous about what surprises they hold for us next. All of this while I hear over and over that this government’s departments are drawing up lay-off lists to be rolled out in the next government, a plan to perhaps hit the Members early while they’re largely unorganized and green.
The government most likely will deny it, and who would be shocked if they did? So, as their metal is tested today, I can only hope that they will have the courage of their convictions and be honest to whom we serve.
But the undeniable fact is, I’ve been talking to different members in the public service in different departments and they have all been saying the same things. These proposed lists for trimming are already drafted. So, if you’re a young family out there trying to get ahead with your first mortgage, if you’re a seasoned employee trying to reach your numbers for retirement, if you’re someone planning a big holiday or one of those special purchases that you have that aligns with your hopes and dreams, I can honestly say be cautious about what steps you have and you’re about to take because I certainly hope our government will show you the same respect and honesty you absolutely deserve. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I’d just like to welcome everybody back to the House. I hope everybody had a good summer. I can tell everyone is really eager to get right into the issues that affect the Northwest Territories here and our Northerners.
Earlier today we heard in our Premier’s sessional statement that we do have a very slow economic growth, and now in order to be effective we need to acquire effective partnerships with everybody.
I think this is a great time for this government to embrace, focus and support other types of industry that we’ve ignored or haven’t given them the full support to really grow our economy in the Northwest Territories. One in particular is tourism.
In Inuvik alone this summer, being there most of the summer, I did see that we had a significant number of tourists coming up the Dempster Highway, and when I look at some of the statistics, it was about 300 more people than last year who travelled up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik. In fact, more people are going up the Dempster all the way up to Inuvik then they were stopping at some of the Yukon tourism facilities.
Inuvik does have something to offer, something to give, but I think it goes beyond that. What’s going on in Inuvik is we have a great stakeholders group that’s doing some really great work for the region, for the community, and they’re bringing in the numbers. They’re meeting on a regular basis and they’re helping our local businesses, our local tourist operators and some of our local community people getting jobs in the tourism industry. Some of the areas that they’re working on developing are things around developing of packages and experiences around cultural practices, looking at developing a heritage festival. Sales went up in carving and other artwork. As I said, locals are being employed in the service industry and more work is being done on things such as tourist training opportunities such as customer service, helping people pursue business licences that focus around tourism, and more importantly, I think they’re trying to create something that’s more sustainable not only during the summertime but all year round.
I will have questions later for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment on how we can help support our regional economic development community groups to increase our economic diversity throughout the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] It is a sad occasion when I rise in this House to mark the passing of one of our esteemed elders. It is my privilege today to honour the late elder Mary Rose Sabourin, who passed away on September 16, 2015. She was 94 years old.
Mary Rose Sabourin was a valued elder of K’atlodeeche First Nation reserve who was loved by many people. Mary Rose took great pleasure in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want to send my heartfelt condolences to her family at this difficult time and thank them for giving me permission to honour their mother today.
Mary Rose was laid to rest in the Hay River Reserve cemetery after a church service held in Hay River at the Roman Catholic Our Lady of Assumption Church. Her daughter Angie Sabourin gave a touching eulogy for her mother at the service.
The seasons and life moves on. This is something we all must accept; however, whenever we mark the passing of an elder, I cannot help but reflect on the rich contribution that she has marked on our community. Mary Rose Sabourin was a special lady of great age and wisdom, and her loss is deeply felt.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to pay respect to the Sahtu people who have lost their loved ones and offer our sincere condolences. To lose one is a painful experience one goes through. Often our elders tell us that life is precious and we don’t know when the Creator wants us back home in his kingdom. After all, we are his children in the end.
Life and death are two great mysteries that we wonder about in life. Where did we come from and where are we going in between these two spectrums we call life, God’s gift to us?
When someone we love with all our heart passes on, it brings all kinds of emotions, emotions we don’t understand at times. Yet, we have them and it’s difficult at times. Only with time we heal, it is said.
We need to learn from our cultural ways to properly help our communities and ourselves and to help our loved ones pass from this world to the next world with dignity and respect.
We pray for all the ones who have passed away since our last sitting in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to pay tribute to the late J.B. Rabesca. He was known as Tsena. He was an orphan of Lutselk’e.
Mr. Rabesca was born on June 1, 1922, and passed away June 3, 2015. He was 93 years old. The elder J.B. was born in Otto Portage, married to Mary-Louise in 1950 in Fort Resolution and later settled in Lutselk’e together to raise their nine children. He was a humble man who lived a traditional lifestyle. He loved to hunt and trap, passed down his teachings to his children and grandchildren and countless community members near and far.
J.B. is survived by his children Alec, Nora, Joe, Michael, Allan and Fredrick, and numerous grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary-Louise; sons Eddie, Roger and Frank; grandson Rufus James and granddaughter Holly.
My sincere condolences go out to J.B.’s family and friends. He had a loving heart and always had kind words to say. He always spoke at all of the gatherings at Lutselk’e.
I’d also like to pay tribute to the late Mary Fatt of Lutselk’e. Mary Fatt was born on June 30, 1938, and passed away June 17, 2015, just before she turned 77. Mary Fatt was born in Kache and lived briefly in Yellowknife and Rocher River before settling down in Lutselk’e with her husband, Pierre, and their four children.
Mary was well known for her beautiful sewing, generosity and her traditional way of living. She loved her children and grandchildren very much and she was sure to make them moccasins, mitts and other traditional clothing to wear, and she was very fast at making them. She taught many people to sew, tan hides, make dry meat, dry fish and many other things. She was involved in many local events. She was crowned the berry picking champ.
Mary always shared her knowledge and would set aside whatever she was doing to help others. She would help raise her grandchildren and loved them dearly. Even though she was sick, she never complained about being in pain.
Mary is survived by her children, Larry, Maggie, Ron and Suzie, and numerous grandchildren and her husband, Pierre. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Bromley on June 2, 2015, regarding scientific conclusions on climate change.
ITI is committed to environmentally responsible development of NWT natural resources to grow our economy for the benefit and prosperity of all NWT residents.
Every application to withdraw water in the NWT, including for hydraulic fracturing, is review on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be given to the volume of available source water in the area as well as any cumulative impacts from other withdrawals in the region. Any water licence will set a limit on the amount of freshwater that can be withdrawn by source and used for the operation. Storage of contaminated water through underground disposal is one available option that would need to be approved.
Other options include recycling of wastewater and fracturing fluid flow-back, or disposal at an approved facility in Alberta or British Columbia as no such facility exists in the NWT. More information on specific cases of water usage and waste management related to hydraulic fracturing can be found on the Sahtu Land and Water Board public registry.
According to the application for Water Licence S14L1-003, submitted to the Sahtu Land and Water Board for the 2014-2019 EL470 Multi-Well Exploration Program, ConocoPhillips estimated a maximum annual water withdrawal volume of 348,490 cubic metres, or approximately 139 Olympic-size pools, as part of the water licence consolidation.
The National Oil Shale Association, United States, estimates that mean water consumption for shale oil production is 1.7 barrels of water per barrel of oil production. At oil production scenarios of 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 barrels per day, the amount of water required annually would be approximately 740,000, 1.48 million, and 3.70 million cubic metres, respectively.
Federal delegation of authority for water management and approval of type “A” water licences has been transferred from the federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories, Minister of ENR, while type “B” water licences are issued directly by land and water boards.
As part of the department’s commitment to environmentally sustainable and responsible development, I will rely on the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and the expertise of ENR’s waters resources division for any detailed assessment of water quality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to recognize my wife, Melody McLeod, the other half the McLeod government, and also two constituents, Jugjit More-Curran and John Curran. Welcome to the Assembly.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. It’s always better to have the other half in here sometimes too. Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to recognize today in the House, Commanding Officer of “G” Division, Chief Superintendent Ron Smith, and also the officer in charge of criminal operations, Mike LeSage. I know they don’t get thanked enough, so I want to thank them for all the great police work they’ve done across the Northwest Territories. Most recently, with large seizures of illegal drugs and alcohol in communities across the territory. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of the Great Slave riding in the gallery today, Mr. Kieron Testart. Thank you for being here.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two Pages from Tsiigehtchic. We have Jessica Andre and my daughter Davina here with us this week.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Andrew John Kenny from the Deline Got’ine Government. Andrew John has been an elder and a guide for me for the last 12 years in the Legislative Assembly, and I’d like to recognize his commitment and dedication to the Sahtu people.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through you and to you, I’d like to welcome all members in the gallery here today, and we have some long-serving Northerners from Yellowknife here. We’ve got Gladys and Albert Eggenberger. Thanks for joining us here today. They’ve brought with them some friends all the way from Beaverlodge, Alberta. We’re got Ed Brown and we’ve got Carolyn Morgan. Welcome to the proceedings. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to welcome two Frame Lake constituents, long-standing members of the city of Yellowknife. I call them, I think they’re builders of our community, Gladys and Albert Eggenberger. I’m very pleased to see you guys here, and welcome to your visitors as well.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see that we have two of my constituents, although they’ve already been recognized, but they certainly deserve the credit and recognition once again. I’d like to recognize constituent Chief Superintendent Ron Smith and Superintendent Mike LeSage. They’re not only constituents, they’re both neighbours, so I feel very safe and very proud to have our RCMP members here in the gallery today.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I’d like to welcome everybody here in the public gallery. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge Frame Lake constituent Ms. Kirianne Ashley, a Grade 12 French immersion student at Ecole Sir John Franklin High School.
Ms. Ashley recently won a national French public speaking contest known as Concours d’art oratoire. First prize was a $32,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa.
Kirianne was the first place winner at the territorial competition in the Late French Immersion category, and she went on to represent the NWT at the national finals in Ottawa last spring. It was there that she placed first in her category and won the scholarship.
Please join me in congratulating Kirianne Ashley on this very significant achievement.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation a few questions. The one thing I forgot to mention was not only do we have issues with the hours of operation in Tsiigehtchic but also the waiting time. Many constituents have to wait 10 minutes on each side, not to mention the actual other 10 to 15 minutes.
With that, my first question for the Minister is: When will the department develop and construct a permanent landing that can be used on both the Peel River and the Mackenzie River crossings?
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The department works with the ferry operator to continue to try to improve the landings of both ferries at all times. There may be years when we have dumped a lot of gravel to try to secure and make the landings harder and so on and then they wash out. It is something that we constantly work at to try to make the ferry landings safe and even possible. We work on it all the time. So, if there is a permanent solution that is out there, we are also trying to find a permanent solution as well.
Will the Minister change the hours of operation on the Mackenzie River from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. back to 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., which would be the same as the Peel River ferry hours?
The hours of operation are something that we’ve worked with and we’ve heard from the community of Tsiigehtchic that they wanted the hours of operation moved to certain hours. We would work with the community. If the community recommended hours that everybody supports in the community that are affected, we would have no issue moving the hours around, as long as we’re not adding hours outside of what we’re allowed to do within the standards that we follow and the guidelines that we follow to operate the ferry.
At this time we’re operating within the hours that we think the communities want. If the communities don’t want those hours, then we will go back into discussions to perhaps change the hours to what the community would like to see.
