Mr. Speaker, advancing, finalizing and implementing land resources and self-government agreements is one of the key priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly and one of my personal priorities. The negotiation of Aboriginal rights agreements is underway in all regions of our territory as Aboriginal peoples seek to clarify their rights over land resources and governance. Completing these agreements will be the foundation for economic development and improved social conditions in the Northwest Territories. Confirming who has title to what land and eliminating uncertainty will increase opportunities for resource development in the Northwest Territories. Confirming self-government responsibilities will provide Aboriginal governments with greater ability to deliver programs and services in a manner that better serves their members.
Our government has long been committed to working effectively with our federal and Aboriginal partners to finalize Aboriginal rights agreements. With several sets of negotiations having reached significant milestones during the 17th Legislative Assembly, we have witnessed first-hand how partners working together can achieve significant results. Those milestones include passing the Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act, concluding an Agreement-in-Principle on Land and Resources with the Acho Dene Koe First Nation, the Inuvialuit Self-Government Agreement-in-Principle, as well as the Northwest Territories Metis Nation Agreement-in-Principle on Land and Resources.
As we start the 18th Legislative Assembly, we are focusing on building on these successes, including settling the four remaining land claims with the Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Akaitcho Dene First Nations, Dehcho First Nations, and the Northwest Territories Metis Nation. Settling these land claims will be an important factor in strengthening the Northwest Territories' economy.
I am pleased to report that discussions with Aboriginal leadership have been ongoing since the territorial election. Offers to meet were extended in the early days of the 18th Legislative Assembly, and these efforts are now beginning to take shape. Earlier this week I met with the Grand Chief of the Dehcho First Nations and this morning with the chiefs of the Akaitcho Territory Government, and I expect that meetings will be scheduled with the Northwest Territories Metis Nation and the Acho Dene Koe First Nation in the coming days. I look forward to collaborative discussions on outstanding negotiation matters. I am committed to listening to the priorities of the Aboriginal leadership and hearing their ideas on how to move negotiations forward. Informed by these discussions, I will be consulting with my cabinet colleagues on a joint committee that will include Members of this Assembly to help guide negotiations.
Finalizing these agreements will require flexibility from the Government of Northwest Territories and our partner governments, including the Government of Canada. Earlier this year I met with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and was encouraged by her willingness to work in a collaborative way to settle land claims and help bring certainty to these regions of the Northwest Territories. The Government of Northwest Territories is committed to doing its part to finalize these agreements as quickly as possible, in a manner that is fair, balanced, and continues to provide workable and affordable agreements that respect Aboriginal rights.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories leads the country in fostering partnerships between Aboriginal and public governments due, in part, to our commitment to settling and implementing claims. Finalizing outstanding negotiations will underscore that, and I encourage all parties to the negotiations to be flexible and commit to working constructively and collaboratively towards reaching agreement. I believe that we have a renewed commitment from all sides to do what we can to resolve these agreements during the life of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, supporting quality early childhood development in collaboration with other organizations is a priority for the 18th Legislative Assembly. We all want the children of the Northwest Territories to have the best possible start in life so that they can reach their full potential. To realize this goal, the Early Childhood Development Action Plan was developed to address gaps in services delivered to children aged zero to five, by creating new programs and improving existing ones. Today, I would like to update you on an exciting new approach to improve early childhood development through enhanced early intervention services, taking advantage of partnerships with regional organizations that are bringing local know-how and expertise to the table. A major challenge that we face in the NWT is providing consistent and equitable access to government services due to the remoteness of small communities.
This is why it is important that we develop a sustainable community-based model for early childhood screening, identification of developmental delays, and intervention. We must be able to provide consistent follow-up on recommendations and treatment plans between appointments for children who have an identified developmental delay. To address this challenge, the Department of Health and Social Services is working with regional health and social services authorities, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the Tlicho Community Services Agency to pilot three early childhood intervention projects. These three-year long pilot projects began last spring and are being conducted in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the Tłı̨chǫ region , and the Deh Cho region . Each pilot project will respond to the unique needs of children in the region, based on the results of the early development instrument and the one-time baseline assessment conducted in 2014. Resources will be targeted to children and families in small communities to support children's needs, build on existing community-based resources, and build capacity in the communities.
The pilot project in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region is being led by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, a partnership with the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority and will improve access to rehabilitation specialists in remote communities.
In its first year, the project has increased the number and length of speech language pathologist visits to Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok. The project has also provided language development training to daycare workers in those communities, and in Inuvik, so that they can provide preventative and educational support to family members and caregivers of the child. The pilot project in the Tlicho region is being led by the Tlicho Community Services Agency. This pilot project is designed to improve regional access to speech and language support, and cultural relevancy of speech and language activities. The Tlicho Community Services Agency has hired a regionally based speech and language pathologist who is providing services, skill building and group play activities at the daycare and preschool, and also training daycare and preschool operators so they are able to provide ongoing speech and language activities.
Lastly, the pilot project in the Deh Cho region is being led by the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority, and will offer coordination and case management to increase participation in programs and services. The Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority has hired an early childhood intervention coordinator to support intake, referral, and assessment, and to provide preventative and educational support for family members and caregivers of the child. These three pilot projects were regionally designed by the partners to meet the needs of their communities and support our priorities of fostering healthy families and improving how we do business as a government. The department is providing support and continuous improvement monitoring based on staff and client feedback. Early lessons from the pilot projects will be shared with all regional staff involved in early childhood development programming. An evaluation of the three projects will help us to identify the most effective best practices, and ensure that these approaches continue to improve early child well-being in the future.
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Mr. Speaker, this is Education Week. It is a time to focus on how our education system supports our students to gain the knowledge and skills required to live productive lives and recognize the teachers that help them achieve help them achieve their personal, academic, and career goals. We are mindful of the priorities set by the 18th Legislative Assembly and, in particular, the need to deliver effective education and training programs to improve opportunities for student success. Through the ten-year Education Renewal Framework: Directions for Change, we will target initiatives which will address the priorities of this Assembly. Initiatives already underway include mandatory residential schools teachers’ resource for northern studies, the Elders in Schools Program, resiliency pilots, and self-regulation in classrooms to name a few. These initiatives are improving learning for students and helping teachers.
Our education system needs to teach students in the way they learn. We must be mindful of our students' strengths and teach our young people the skills they need to know in order to enjoy meaningful and fulfilling careers. Education Renewal is reworking the education system with that value as one of our guiding principles. I would like to thank Members of the Assembly for wearing our pink boutonnieres today to support bullying prevention. Making our schools a safe and caring place for all students and staff is also a key priority for Education Renewal. Today, building on the work of the 17th Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to announce that new Safe and Caring Schools Regulations, including a Territorial School Code of Conduct, will come into force on September 1, 2016. These regulations set a standard of behaviour for NWT students, teachers, and the school community. All schools will be required to offer healthy relationship programming to teach students about bullying prevention and intervention strategies.
Integral to all this work are the school leaders, our principals. Mr. Speaker, every year, a principal in the Northwest Territories is recognized by The Learning Partnership as one of 40 educational leaders across Canada. This year I would like to congratulate Ms. Courteney Lizotte, principal of Range Lake School in Yellowknife, as the 2016 recipient of Canada's Outstanding Principal Award for the Northwest Territories. Ms. Lizotte has worked with school staff, students, and parents to create a safe and caring learning environment that is free of bullying, established an enhanced fine arts program, and promoted healthy lifestyles. Making healthy lifestyle choices is a vital part of being able to take advantage of learning opportunities both in school and in extracurricular activities. During Education Week, the Northwest Territories Teachers Association, in partnership with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, will announce the winner of the Thank You for Making a Difference initiative.
This initiative, now in its 18th year, has been a source of pride and affirmation to teachers and underscores the importance of the relationships formed between students and educators, which are foundational for student success. This contest encourages students to nominate the teachers that have encouraged, inspired, coached, and supported them and made a positive impact on their educational experience. No matter who is nominated, it is my belief that all teachers make a difference, and I thank them.
Mr. Speaker, education is a lifelong journey. It begins in early childhood ensuring our youngest learners have the best opportunity right from the start, and continues well into adulthood. As we continue to make improvements across the education system, we know we are not doing this work alone. We are seeing successes through the partnerships forged with the educational leaders and invested stakeholders across this territory. I am confident that all of us working together will transform our northern education system into one of the finest in the country, where we will provide the best opportunities for students to choose options for learning and employment now and into the future. I wish all educators across the NWT a great Education Week. I encourage you to please, say thank you to our educators today and every day throughout the year. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Honourable Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Caroline Cochrane will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Roundtable in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is International Pink Day, otherwise known as Pink Shirt Day. I'd like to share with this House some background information from the days' organizers. The International Day of Pink was started in Nova Scotia when two straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The two students intervened, but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying. They decided to purchase pink shirts, and a few days later got everyone at school to arrive wearing pink, standing in solidarity. The result was an entire school that took a stand and began working together to prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying. The campaign has continued to grow. It’s now an international campaign that thrives in schools, workplaces, communities, and in this Assembly. The Day of Pink, and the conversations, awareness, and acceptance that stems from it, are making a real difference in the lives of queer and trans youth. Canada has the ninth highest rate of bullying in the 13-year-old category on a scale of 35 countries. At least one in three adolescent students in Canada have reported being bullying recently. Most alarming is the fact that any participation in bullying increases the rate of suicide in youths, and we all know that is a significant challenge here in the Northwest Territories and in other northern jurisdictions.
Earlier today, students from across Yellowknife came to participate in an anti-bullying demonstration and spoke very passionately and clearly on the issues that they face in their schools. It was very endearing to witness that and to be a part of it, and I want to applause their presence in this House, doing their part to raise awareness on this issue, but taking a stand against bullying needs more than wearing a pink shirt. We need to be leaders in our community and we need to do our part to stop bullying. Celebrate diversity and take real action to make safer schools and safer communities a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I get into my Member’s statement, I would like to thank Minister Moses for giving us the opportunity to attend the presentation in the Great Hall this morning. It was a great experience and I would like to thank the organizers, students, and teachers for coming here to speak about bullying as part of the National Pink Shirt Day. It was fitting to say the least, as today I stand in front of you to speak about bullying. Have you ever been called names? Have you ever had someone make you feel bad about your looks, where you live, or how you live? I totally believe everybody in this room has probably been bullied or been a bully at least once in their life. It's not the best feeling, is it? It makes one feel apprehensive, demeaned, and very uncomfortable. It has the power to destroy lives, mentally, and physically. We all have witnessed it in our lives.
The scary thing is that bullying is not confined to adolescence. It happens in adulthood too. With modern technology, bullying becomes faceless assault, whether it is through texting, Internet, social networking, forums, et cetera. Through my experience, I have seen many types of bullying, whether it was physical, such as is being hit or tripping somebody; verbal, such as name calling, teasing, or putting them down through jokes, and we all have a good laugh about that, but it's not really good at the expense of that person; psychological, stalking or making threats; social, being ignored or spreading rumours; sexual, picking on somebody because of their sexual preferences -- my colleagues spoke about this previously; cyber-bullying, sending cruel or threatening emails.
These are just a few of examples; I know we could add more to the list for sure. I have been very fortunate to be part of a number of amazing programs such as the Canadian Red Cross Beyond the Hurt program. This program supports a school- or organization-based approach to preventing bullying and building empathy and respect. Beyond the Hurt is based on the belief that all youth, those targeted, those who bully, and bystanders, have a critical role in preventing bullying. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to ask for unanimous consent to finish my speech.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other one is the HIGH FIVE program, with the five principles of healthy child development, being offered by the NWT Recreation and Parks Association. It provides in-depth training in the five principles of healthy child development so front-line leaders understand what they need to do to ensure each child's social, emotional, and cognitive needs are met. There is a great section that deals with bullying. In closing I would like to leave us with this cool acronym I heard today to deal with bullying, WITS: Walk away, Ignore it, Talk about it, Seek help. Later on, I'll have some questions for the Minister of ECE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's Pink Shirt Day here and across Canada. Again this year, NWT MLAs and others are acknowledging the importance of this initiative to combat bullying. There was significant activity in the Great Hall today. Students from Yellowknife schools were here for an anti-bullying event sponsored by the Public Service Alliance of Canada North. Thank you to Jack Bourassa, Lorraine Hewlett, Steve Peterson, and other PSAC staff for once again organizing this event, and a huge thank you to the students and teachers for taking part in the event. I commend the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for his interest in the event and for speaking to the students. In the last few years, the anti-bullying campaign has gathered momentum across North America and across the Northwest Territories. NWT students, educators, and education authorities have developed and implemented strategies, awareness, and resources to deal with the issue of bullying in our schools. It has become a front of mind issue for both the students and educators. When we think of bullying, we must accept that bullying takes place in all kinds of environments and situations, not just schools. Bullying has to be considered in the larger context, the bigger picture. We cannot ignore the importance of addressing bullying in our society as a whole. Four out of 10 employees are affected by workplace bullying. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, “Many places of work, consciously or unconsciously, endorse, perhaps even encourage, bullying behaviour and in fact, workplace bullies frequently get promoted or they are often not dealt with directly as the workplace culture does not know how to address such behaviour.”
We've managed to bring bullying to the fore in the education system. We now have to do the same for the workplace and there are three key actions we can take: recognize bullying behaviour, speaking out at the time that any bullying takes place, and stand by those who are being bullied and support them. Our schools and students are laying bare the attitudes and wrongs of bullying, growing the next generation of students who won't stand for such abuse. In the workplace, the GNWT is taking a stand and promoting awareness among our workforce. I want to thank our Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, my fellow Members, students, and our workforce for working together today on the issue of bullying. Let's all move forward to a more tolerant and respectful space where there's no place for bullying in our schools, workplaces, and everywhere. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Northwest Territories will always remember the forest fire season of 2014. Drought conditions and hot, windy summer days sparked forest fires that burned over three million hectares of boreal forest, melted asphalt and road signs along highways, forced people to evacuate homes, and filled communities with dense smoke. When rain fell, it was black, and many people spent hours cleaning ash off their vehicles and other property. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the people of the Deh Cho, where there are usually the most fires, aren't taking any chances. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is in planning and preparation mode for the coming fire season. Conditions are difficult to predict right now, but it will probably take a significant amount of snow and rain this winter and summer to re-set Drought Codes to average numbers. An average summer with regular rainfall will reduce the number of fires, but we know it can't put them all out. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently planning its community FireSmart activities. FireSmart is a public education program that teaches communities and homeowners how to take a proactive approach to forest fire management. FireSmart communities know how to mitigate forest fire risk, reduce fire severity, and prepare homeowners and communities for forest fire occurrences.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is updating all Community Wildfire Protection Plans in the Deh Cho over the next few years. Forest fire protection requires the participation of community members, other government departments, Aboriginal governments, and other stakeholders. Wider participation should create a more active interest in FireSmart programming and greater participation in forest fire awareness and prevention. FireSmarting your home is easy. If you start with the basics like keeping a close eye on burn barrels and fire pits, clearing vegetation away from your roof and fuel supplies, keeping a water supply handy, and removing long grass, shrubs, and dead logs from your yard. Prevention activities make everyone's job easier when we do experience forest fires and reduce the risk of losing valuable property and worst of all, people's lives. Northerners should be prepared for the realities of continued drought and that includes working together as governments, communities, and individuals to get ready for forest fires now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As everyone is aware, it's Education Week in the NWT and today is National Pink Shirt Day, a day set aside to combat bullying. Thank you to Minister Moses for his Minister’s statement today. Bullying is a serious problem for some people. It can start at a very young age in schools, and it can have a hundred reasons, but there are no good reasons for bullying. Bullying is just a matter of meanness to someone who is perceived as being a little different or weak. As we heard, Pink Shirt Day started when two high school students in Nova Scotia witnessed a grade 9 boy being bullied in school for wearing a pink shirt. It gave them an idea to stand with the victim, so they went to a discount store and bought 50 pink T-shirts which they distributed to their classmates the next day. The bullies were never heard from again. That kind of kindness and inclusiveness to our peers and colleagues is an important message. The slogan of National Pink Shirt Day is “kindness is one size fits all.” We may think bullying takes place in only schools, but bullying can also take place in the workplace, in the home, or on the Internet. Bullying can affect people of different ages in all walks of life and can be based on personality traits, social awkwardness, sexual orientation, or any number of other factors.
Last year, the Department of Health and Social Services and the NWT Helpline put together the You Are Not Alone video in support of people who face challenges of mental illness often related to trauma, violence or bullying. There's also the It Gets Better Yellowknife project, which strives to make things better for queer youth, a demographic that suffers a shockingly high rate of suicide. All these initiatives are aimed at letting people know that we all have tough times, but that there's help available and that things do get better. While bullying is everywhere, some of our most vulnerable citizens are kids in schools. For that reason, school-based initiatives are especially important. During Education Week I believe it's important to emphasize that our schools must be inclusive places where each student feels safe and secure and where his or her value as a human being is recognized and upheld. Mr. Speaker, I will seek unanimous consent to continue my Member’s statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. We must recognize and support our teachers who dedicate their professional lives to the welfare and success of our young people, and we must always be vigilant and courageous in confronting bullying wherever and whenever it emerges. At the appropriate time I'll have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll make a few comments on the anti-bullying day, the Pink Shirt Day. I’ll share some thoughts with you on anti-bullying. Having survived the residential school system and growing up in Inuvik here, you only could imagine the bullying that went on going to school in a multicultural environment institution at that time, and the society levels at that time, on progression in all areas. The anti-bullying, for me, has progressed, and I can assure you, viewing our youth out in the Great Hall, and I also commend the Minister on his statements of assurances provided to the youth. I only could imagine in standing there viewing at that age at that time back in the residential school environment. I can guarantee you, we have come a long way as the society of the Northwest Territories. I end that now, and I have another statement later to get to my Member’s statement on the issue I want to bring forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as parents, the greatest gift we can give our children is a good education. Getting a good education sets our children up for success as adults. In the Northwest Territories, the 2014 employment rate for people with high school or post-secondary education is 76 per cent. For people who do not finish high school, that employment rate is cut exactly in half. If you successfully finish high school, you are twice as likely to find employment in the NWT than if you don't. Finishing high school is a bigger challenge for teens and young adults living in Tsiigehtchic than for many other students in the Northwest Territories. That's because Tsiigehtchic is only one of two communities left in the Beaufort-Delta where the schools do not offer an education beyond grade 9. For a young person, the prospect of leaving their home community to finish high school can be scary. Students in Tsiigehtchic who want to move on to grade 10 must be billeted to families in Fort McPherson or Inuvik, where the number of students attending their new school is greater than the entire population of the student's home community.
The prospect of being away from family and friends and having to live in unfamiliar surroundings is enough to discourage some students from finishing their high school education. I have spoken to concerned parents in Tsiigehtchic who are asking for help to provide grades 10 through 12 for their children without them having to leave home. In Tsiigehtchic, the employment rate for those who don't have high school is under 30 per cent, well below the territorial average. We must do everything we can to help our students succeed. Today I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about how we can help students in Tsiigehtchic finish their senior high school education without having to leave their homes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in September last year, Commissioner George Tuccaro inducted the first members of the Order of the Northwest Territories in a ceremony in this Chamber. Ruth Spence of Yellowknife was among the first five inductees. Since then, no recognition of this tremendous distinction has been given before this Assembly, so I rise here today to correct that omission.
Ruth Spence has been a community activist and organizer in the North since her arrival here, almost 50 years ago. In 1966, the YWCA opened at 12-bed facility in a house on Matonabee Street, specifically for girls who were travelling to Yellowknife from communities across the NWT. Ruth became the first executive director and was the driving force behind the move and expansion of the YWCA into the old RCMP barracks, which is now used as a daycare, where she could accommodate 20 women. In 1976, Ruth's tireless lobbying and deal making with the GNWT and the United Church enabled the Y to move into Northern United Place, with 84 bachelor and one-bedroom apartments. Through the Y, Ruth established the first summer day camps for children, the first daycare centres, and the first after-school programs. In addition to her service to the Y, Ruth was elected to multiple terms on Yellowknife City Council, was a member and chair of the Stanton Hospital Board, and president of Western Arctic Liberal Association.
On the national stage, Ruth represented northern interests on the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, a national council established on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, to advise the federal government and inform and educate the public about women's concerns. Not least of all, Ruth Spence is the proud mother of Matthew, Duff, Kit, John and Patricia, and granny to 13 grandchildren, and the loving wife of Robert, known as Bob, who died in 2003. Ruth Spence's life has been a tireless championship for the rights of women and children. She pioneered a number of institutions and programs that continue to provide services to Northerners today. Ruth Spence is richly deserving of this highest civilian award that we offer and I'd like to take this opportunity to mention that the nominations are open until the beginning of next month for the next round of the Order of the Northwest Territories, and I encourage people to think about who would be worthy recipients in their communities. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend Mr. Moses on the function today, on anti-bullying. Today I'll talk about the Northwest Territories fur industry. Furs marketed under the Government of Northwest Territories Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program fur label have shown strong returns to NWT trappers over the last three years. Northwest Territories wolverine, Arctic, cross and red fox furs have sold out at international auctions. At the most recent season opening sale of wild fur held in North Bay, Ontario, 93 and 96 per cent of Arctic fox and black bear furs were sold. Wolf pelts received the highest bids with an average of $353.90 per pelt, and a top price of $661.51. Wolverines averaged $311.35 per pelt, and a top price of $432.
The government's Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program provides one-window access to international markets for NWT trappers, and marketing and promotion of fur at international venues through the partnerships with other harvesting jurisdictions and private sector. More than $460,000 has been paid out in the form of advances to NWT trappers under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program this season. Access to the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program fur label, which guarantees buyers a single source of quality, authentic NWT-harvested fur, benefits hunters and trappers across the North. The government estimates that 10,000 pelts have been delivered to auction by NWT trappers since November 1, 2015. On top, overall prices continue to be realized at auction for NWT mink, lynx, wolf, Arctic fox and red fox.
The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program offers support under five sub-programs. The Fur Price Program provides production against sudden and unanticipated declines in market prices and pays all associated costs of selling furs at auction, including shipping and drumming. The Guaranteed Fur Advance provides trappers with fully-guaranteed interim funds to continue trapping while still awaiting the sale of furs at auction. The Trapper's Grubstake provides eligible trappers with funds to defray a portion of their start-up costs at the beginning of each trapping season. The Prime Fur Bonus Program provides funds based on…
Member for Nunakput, your time for Members’ statements has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to the Prime Fur Bonus Program, it provides funds based on successful market performance and provides an incentive to deliver high quality, well-handled fur pelts for sale. A Prime Fur Bonus is paid when the value of a fur sold at auction meets or exceeds the value of the advance. Lastly, the Hide and Fur Procurement Program supports traditional crafts, provides local artisans prime NWT harvested hides to produce high-quality traditional furs. The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program continues to provide an income for the world-renowned hunters and trappers across the Northwest Territories. At this time, I commend every hunter for their efforts displayed in our culture, which today is the best in the world. Today I'll have questions for the Minister of ITI. Thank you.
Marsi cho. Today I would like to talk about some unfortunate government spending which is 100 per cent preventable, but we are all humans and most likely, there will always be crime and incarcerations. Thank you. The cost of our corrections services is about $39.5 million per year. At any given time, the correction facilities are housing about 200 adult offenders. The daily cost of one person incarcerated in corrections is $252 per day, and that was a number from about six or seven years ago. My guess is that it has gone up considerably and it's around $100,000 per year per person. It is estimated that 85 per cent of the crimes in NWT are alcohol- and drug-related. In addition, Mr. Speaker, 90 per cent of inmates have additional issues. These issues include mental health problems, anger management issues, physical and behavioural limitations, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and other cognitive disorders, and low literacy and education levels.
According to the Auditor General in 2015, most of the inmate population in NWT is Aboriginal. Eighteen per cent of the federally incarcerated population is Aboriginal, but only 2.8 per cent of the population in Canada is Aboriginal. All this tells me that work must be done to change the numbers and to turn individuals that are repeat offenders into productive members of society, as opposed to people who do not have the tools to stay out of jail.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of the New Building Canada Fund, the GNWT and the federal government have committed $292 million to highway improvement projects in the NWT over the next eight years. As far as I can tell, none of that money has yet been allocated for any improvements to the Mackenzie Highway from the border to Kilometre 186. Almost every day, I stand up here and talk about a vital component that we need to build our economy. Today is no different. If we're serious about diversifying and growing our economy, we need to make improvements to our primary corridor to the south. Anyone who has driven that stretch of road, particularly from the border to Enterprise, knows that while the road is relatively well maintained, it is in most places as narrow as a highway can possibly be, ending at the white lines, literally having no shoulders.
Yesterday, the Premier talked about expanding our tourism industry. South of the lake, our tourists don't fly in from overseas. They generally drive in from down south, usually with large RVs or fifth wheels. When you cross the NWT–Alberta border, you immediately notice the difference in the quality of the highways. We want to give tourists a great first impression, and they need to feel as though they are safe on our highways. We must also improve the highway to accommodate and attract industry to the North. The road to Fort McMurray has wide shoulders and is a high-load corridor, making it easier and safer to transport large equipment.
We don't necessarily need to prepare for a McMurray-like boom, but we might was well dream big. Most equipment from mining, oil, and gas operations also comes up that highway, and there is a good chance we will see an increase in logging trucks as well. We need to be prepared for the increase of transport trucks on the highway and make sure it's safe for everyone, and we need to make sure we have the infrastructure to attract and accommodate industry. I’ll have questions for the Minister of Transportation during question time.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Can the Minister explain what is included in Community Wildfire Protection Plans, and why it is so important for community members to participate in updating these plans? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Environment and Natural Resources has a program called FireSmart adopted in the Northwest Territories with risk management strategies, and it includes in these mitigating wildfire threats according to the following seven disciplines: fuel management, education, legislation, development, planning, and training. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the Minister for his very terse and brief reply.
---Laughter
The people of Enterprise are particularly concerned about the forest fire protection for their community. I understand that communities forecasted to have the highest impact from wildfires are given the highest priority. When will the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Enterprise be updated?
ENR will be reviewing these plans coming beginning this April. Risk assessment and fieldwork will commence thereafter. The new plans will be redeveloped and based on existing plans and new data inputs. All plans will be completed by Environment and Natural Resources, and assistance of the affected communities and other departments will begin thereafter with the GNWT.
How does the Environment and Natural Resources department plan to engage the public in information and planning sessions for wildfire protection plans and other forest fire preparedness activities?
Environment and Natural Resources will assist in developing the project proposals for limited hazards and risk mitigation work for non-critical communities and areas, including the allocation of limited financial support depending on community priorities and available-to-ENR resources. We also do reach out to the general public and communities through our website and the nwtfire.com Facebook page.
Masi. Member for Deh Cho.
