Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services continues to be committed to improving the health and the lives of Northerners. To achieve this goal, Health and Social Services, along with the Tlicho Government and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, submitted a proposal to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to establish a Strategy for Patient Oriented Research SUPPORT unit in the Northwest Territories. In February 2016, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research approved funding over five years to the Tlicho Government to establish this unit. This funding is made available under Canadian Institutes of Health Research's strategy for patient-oriented research. While similar units have been established in all provinces, this is the first territorial unit. It is unique in Canada due to its shared governance structure and its focus on Indigenous health research.
The goal of the Strategic Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT Unit is to support health research that is relevant to improving outcomes and leads to innovation in the health system in Canada, which is responsive to the needs of patients, communities and governments, and creating a culturally competent health system. The unit is housed within the Tlicho Government, but staff will be embedded in other Indigenous government offices across the Northwest Territories. The unit has a facilitation role to bring together stakeholders and provide a platform to support researchers in the
Northwest Territories. It will accomplish its goals by identifying local research priorities and then identifying researchers that can help address those priorities. It will provide a critical mass of methodological expertise to support this research through partnerships and affiliations and will support the training of new researchers, which will build capacity in the Northwest Territories. It will also support the application of research findings through knowledge translation activities. Today the governing council of this unit hosts its first gathering of Indigenous, community, and regional caregivers, elders, and health professionals in Detah. This gathering of the Hotii ts'eeda, which means "working together for good health," will provide an opportunity to share best practices in Indigenous health research methodologies and to set priorities for the first year of operations.
Mr. Speaker, Aboriginal governments are important partners with the GNWT, and we continue to work with them to foster our government-to-government relationship and provide better services and supports to their people. Through our sponsorship of this innovative initiative, the Department of Health and Social Services hopes to promote greater understanding and improved health outcomes for NWT residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recognizes that legacy arsenic contamination in the Yellowknife region has many residents concerned. To this end, ENR continues to conduct monitoring, in collaboration with universities and the Government of Canada, on arsenic in water, sediments, soils, and fish in the Yellowknife region. Under-ice water sampling was done by Environment and Natural Resources at seven sites on Kam Lake and three sites on Grace Lake in April. Results from Kam Lake are consistent with recent Surveillance Network Program sampling done by Miramar Northern Mining Limited under its existing water licence. Another round of sampling at both lakes is being done this summer. The department, in collaboration with the University of Alberta, is also working to determine the concentration of metals, including arsenic, in fish from several lakes near Yellowknife and along the Ingraham Trail. A report on this three-year study will be prepared and made available to the public when it concludes in 2018. Three additional monitoring projects, funded through the Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program, are also examining arsenic contamination in water, sediments, soils, and fish in the Yellowknife region. This work is being done by Queen's University, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Carleton University.
Preliminary results of these projects will be publicly available. Mr. Speaker, the department recently met with the Department of Health and Social Services to identify ways to improve interdepartmental and external communications to ensure information is shared in a timely manner. This provided a good opportunity to share and confirm both existing and new sources of data. Based on the meeting, Health and Social Services will be updating the map of arsenic concentrations measured in Kam Lake, as well as other nearby lakes. Moving forward, both departments will be refining their information-sharing process to ensure future public health advisories are accurate and are released in a timely manner.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, additional work on the human health and ecological risk of contamination in the Yellowknife area is also being undertaken through the Giant Mine Remediation Project. I assure you and Members of this Legislative Assembly that the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources and Health and Social Services will continue to work collaboratively on this matter and ensure the public is kept informed with accurate and timely information on legacy arsenic contamination in the Yellowknife area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Speaker, as residents considering their future, our economy is top of mind. As both a promoter and contributor to the NWT economy, our government is working to spark economic growth across all sectors and to foster an environment in which companies and individuals feel confident investing in northern opportunities and jobs. Our agenda for economic development is threefold: we are working to responsibly unlock the potential of our non-renewable resources in a way that will both power and sustain the economic future of our territory and its communities; we are supporting companies and residents who are enhancing and growing their communities and economies through their investments; and we are investing in the diversity of our economy overall, targeting sectors that will improve the cost of living and the quality of life for NWT residents while strengthening our economy at the grassroots.
Mr. Speaker, the foundation of our economy is and must continue to be a strong and stable resource sector. In addition to funding government programs and services through royalty payments and corporate income tax, mining contributes billions in exports, hundreds of millions in economic activity, and thousands of well-paid jobs for the NWT each year. The mineral potential of our territory remains strong and includes so-called "green metals" like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which will be needed to meet the demand for clean technology. If our territory is going to have producing mines in the future, we need to discover and develop new mineral deposits. Improving the investment climate for new exploration and development has to be a priority for the economic development.
We have committed to supporting mineral exploration and the mining sector through the implementation of the NWT Mineral Development Strategy. This means increased funding this year for the Mineral Incentive Program, as well as additional investments in geoscience, marketing, and Aboriginal capacity. We have also initiated work on a standalone, made-in-the-NWT Mineral Resources Act that will establish clear and modern rules for mining in our territory and fulfill our commitment to match our legislative and policy framework to our vision of land and resource management. Similarly, we are working to realize the potential of our oil and gas resources. We have committed to advancing an Oil and Gas Strategy to attract oil and gas development back to our territory, and will be engaging NWT residents and stakeholders this summer on its implementation and proposed evaluation framework. We know that these are challenging times for this sector. We must confirm our right to negotiate on the potential that exists off our Arctic coastline, and to ensure the future of economic development in the petroleum-rich regions of our territory. Of course, Mr. Speaker, the economy of the Northwest Territories extends beyond resource development. Our approach to economic development also includes attracting and retaining a healthy, vibrant population.
The government has committed in its mandate to increase the number of immigrants working in the Northwest Territories, and increase investment by immigrants. Together with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, we have completed work on a formal immigration strategy for the NWT, and are now developing a marketing plan aimed specifically at increasing the number of immigrant entrepreneurs living and investing in our territory. We know that as investment and residency in the NWT grow, so too will opportunities to expand and diversify the NWT economy in other sectors. Mr. Speaker, the challenge of converting economic opportunity into tangible development is one best met by NWT entrepreneurs and small businesses. We are working to support and strengthen this important backbone of our economy. Our role is to establish a competitive business environment in which economic opportunities can be identified, pursued, and realized by NWT residents willing to invest, take risks, and prosper. We were successful in protecting the interests of our small businesses sector in the negotiation of the new Canadian Free Trade Agreement and in retaining recognition for the unique economic conditions that exist in the North, even as we are maximizing the benefits that trade agreements offer to expand our small domestic market.
We have increased the amount of funding available to individual applicants under the SEED policy, and introduced a new stream of strategic economic support that will advance economic development and diversification. We have invested in our new tourism markets: training; skill development; and infrastructure. As visitors increase, so does the demand for service products. In response, our industry has grown in size and capacity, and the value of our tourism sector has climbed to new heights. Meanwhile, we are also setting the stage for investment and growth in our territory's manufacturing and film sectors, with targeted approaches to help residents capitalize and benefit from their own ingenuity, hard work, and investment. Working with the NWT Manufacturer's Association, we have developed marketing and promotional materials for the NWT manufacturers and their products, and are now addressing the commitment to develop a manufacturing strategy. Meanwhile, thanks to renewed investment, our film sector is thriving, and the increased competencies that we have committed to realizing are being increasingly recognized. NWT films are garnering awards and recognition for their creators, our industry, and our territory. Four major film projects have now received funding support under the NWT Film Rebate Program, and over $200,000 was invested in 2015-2016 in individual film initiatives and projects. Mr. Speaker, the winning formula for economic development in our economy is to replace imported products with made-in-the-NWT alternatives. It reduces costs, promotes entrepreneurialism, and enhances economic diversity. The development of our territory's first-ever Agriculture Strategy and our planned revitalization of commercial fishing on Great Slave Lake both fit this model of regional economic development, to improve the quality of life and reduce the cost of living for our residents. We have committed to expanding the agricultural sector by developing and implementing an Agriculture Strategy. First, we must put processes and regulatory frameworks in place to guide and protect it, and we need to develop food safety and inspection guidelines and regulations. We are now taking these important first steps. Likewise, we have committed to finalizing and implementing the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy. Changes in our fishers' support program have seen increases to catch volumes on Great Slave Lake. We are advancing work on marketing strategies for the NWT's Great Slave Lake fish, and a training program in Hay River is developing the first of a new generation of fishers that we hope will invigorate our industry. Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs and private business operators engaged in traditional harvesting bridge the gap between the wage and subsistence economies in our most isolated communities, where costs are highest and conventional cash incomes are the lowest. We are committed to supporting this sector by promoting NWT products to international markets.
In April, the fur industry's biggest auction drew nearly half a million in sales for NWT wild furs sold under the government's Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur brand. That is nearly double the sales total from 2016. The results can be credited to new buyers from Asian and European markets, engaged by our presentation of NWT furs at the China Fur and Leather Products Fair in Beijing in January. Meanwhile, following a long and concentrated lobby effort by our government, the immense purchasing potential of the European Union is now open to Inuvialuit-harvested sealskins and sealskin products, just in time for the cruise ship season, which we are also supporting with training, event infrastructure, and funding. Mr. Speaker, there is no single way to address the economic well-being of our territory but, as we work to build our future, we know that a balanced and stable economic foundation is paramount. The economic agenda defined by our mandate is one based on the direct and indirect contributions of the non-renewable resource sector, the diversity offered by investments in renewable resources, and most importantly, our support for the men and women who own and operate the many small and medium-sized businesses that make up our economy and empower our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if there was one thing we heard loud and clear during the election, it was that people of the Northwest Territories want the government to be more open. The Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency is currently in the process of holding a series of public engagement meetings. At one of these recent meetings, the Minister was challenged on the transparency of Cabinet and its deliberations. His response was that, basically, everything was okay. Clearly, based on the input he received at that meeting and what I am hearing from constituents, everything is not okay. In taking a look at the Minister's accomplishments thus far, it is my view that he should be further along the process than he is at this point. The government has succeeded in launching its online mandate tracker. As well, the government has been successful in improving gender parity in board appointments and in launching this searchable website for these appointments, commendable indeed. However, this positive progress has been overshadowed by a lack of progress on other key initiatives. I am reassured that the government is taking steps to bring forward ombudsman legislation, but I remain concerned that the Minister has fallen behind on the commitment to have the legislation in place within two years.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories offers many natural wonders, a rich and vibrant culture, and a completely unique experience that draws in tourists from Canada and the entire world. It is appropriate that we give special mention to our spectacular Northwest Territories on the occasion of National Tourism Week. Tourism Week in Canada is a grassroots initiative that brings attention to the economic opportunity created through travel and tourism. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the public policy challenges preventing the sector from capitalizing on those opportunities and challenging governments on their approach to supporting this vibrant sector of the economy. It is no secret that our territorial tourism sector is a growth industry, exponentially increasing year-on-year to become a $146.6-million industry, rising to our most promising path to future prosperity and a key sector as the government pursues greater economic diversification. More than 93,000 visitors come for northern adventures in our territories, and that's up from 64,000 only five years ago.
Mr. Speaker, National Tourism Week is also an opportunity to celebrate our communities, and I would like to take a moment to tell you a few of my favourite things to do in the City of Yellowknife, a place I am very proud to call home. Yellowknife has a vibrant local cultural scene with plenty to do for our residents and tourists alike. We have outstanding musical performances at the annual Folk on the Rocks festival and world-class filmmaking on display at the Dead North Film Festival. Why not enjoy a refreshing craft-brewed beverage at the NWT Brewing Company, recently recognized in Red Racer's Across the Nation Collaboration national celebration tour with their Miner's Refresh Grissette? In the winter months, there is no finer place to see the aurora than here in the capital, or how about watching The Canadian Championship Dog Derby on the side-lines or throw on some long-underwear and join in the festivities at the Long John Jamboree. These are a just a few of the reason I love my home town and why Yellowknife has become a premier destination for tourists the world over.
With so much on the go in Yellowknife, I often find it hard to keep up. I'm thankful that visitors to Yellowknife have access to a fantastic visitor's centre in the past to help them connect to these local events and to adventures all over the NWT; however, it is a sad day when that institution is forced to close. The Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre has delivered premium tourism information services for many years and, in its absence, it is sorely missed. I'll have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment on the long-term plans for tourism information services here, in the City of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Mr. Speaker, there are without any doubts impediments when it comes to accessing quality food for affordable prices in the North, especially for the economically disadvantaged. It is such a problem that even food banks are now charging a user fee for each flat of donated food that an individual or family will receive. It is understandable that being in remote communities causes higher freight and transportation costs for retailers and so they must mark up their products to compensate for the additional costs. Although these mark-ups are implemented to ensure the retailers maintain their profits, they cause inflated food costs to the public and do not correlate with better quality foods. Much of the produce and other perishables sold at retailers in the North have a very short shelf life. There is also a percentage of the population that is below or near the poverty line and, as a result, cannot afford much of their basic needs especially food due to these price mark-ups. Mr. Speaker, Nutrition North was implemented to ease the consequences of these overpriced, low-quality foods to consumers and was proven ineffective. This program was proven unsuccessful for many reasons, such as the lack of information the public received about the program and its implementation, and the regulation of the program, including which products were subsidized. Most residents noticed that some of their most essential food products, such as flour and baby formula, were not subsidized and, alternatively, many affluent food items were. There has been a lack of accountability on the retailers' part in terms of reporting of spoilage and actual costs prior to the application of the subsidy.
Mr. Speaker, another issue is the availability of the program in the Nahendeh riding. Only Nahanni Butte and Sambaa K'e were recognized for this subsidy, and it served neither community at all. This raises yet another issue with the program: there are limited vendors that retailers can purchase from. Mr. Speaker, this program must be fixed to ensure all residents are able to attain their basic necessities, nutritious food being of the most important, from the sources they want to deal with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 1966, a 23-year-old Russell King and his wife Mary King opened King's Service, a welding and mechanical repair shop, out of their home-based workshop at Mile 5. Earlier today, after five decades of hard work, Russell King was officially inducted into the Order of the NWT. I want to congratulate Mr. King, but I also want to express my regrets that this honour was not also bestowed on Mrs. King as well because, since King's Service opened in 1966, it has always been Russell and Mary.
Mr. King was inducted into the Order of the NWT for his contributions to business in the territories, so I am obliged to mention that, from King's Service, Russell and Mary built something of an empire, which included the Hay River Esso station, Kingland Ford, Tire North, Kingland Freightliner, King Manufacturing, and Klassic Autobody, and they expanded their operations to Yellowknife and the diamond mines. I apologize if I have left anything out. I grew up in Hay River, and I can attest that everyone knows the names Russell and Mary King. Those names are intertwined and inseparable from Hay River itself, and not just because of their business ventures. There have actually been quite a few successful businesses to come out of Hay River. There have even been other dealerships in town, but the reason Mr. King received the Order of the NWT today is the same reason that Hay River remains a Ford town. It is because of how Russell and Mary treated people. As a customer, you knew you would be treated right. Not only did customers know they were getting a fair deal, they were made to feel like a priority. That is just how business was done. Mr. King was also known to take chances on people if they were just starting out in life and did not quite have the credit needed to purchase a new vehicle.
As an employee, you felt equally appreciated. The Kings always made it a priority to hire locally and to develop that local talent. Their five decades of hard work and dedication to Hay River and the Northwest Territories have created hundreds of permanent, well-paying jobs in the territory and, I imagine, thousands of residents who have been happy to, at one time or another, work for Russell and Mary. It goes without saying that their contributions are not confined to just their customers and employees, as they have always been big contributors to any community event. Mr. Speaker, I would like this House to join me in both congratulating Mr. King for being awarded the Order of the NWT and in showing appreciation to both Russell and Mary King for their 50 years of contributions to Hay River and the entire Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Masi. I would also like to say congratulations to the King family for all their years of services. Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well said, and I totally agree with my previous colleague, Mr. Simpson, on those remarkable historic words. Mr. Speaker, education is the most valued possession one can have. This learning capitalization gives you lifelong abilities for creating a wide range of prosperity, life choices, independence, and above all, security. The education system, and more important, "delivery." Our indicators of engagement on measurable is in the hands of community, regional, and territorial leaders. Mr. Speaker, it has been said many a times, education starts at home.
In 2013, 79 per cent of students in the communities were operating below standards in math. Students in Yellowknife were operating at 43 per cent. Mr. Speaker, our NWT graduation rates are also below national averages. Mr. Speaker, as a first-term MLA, and I am still learning myself, but also glad our Sahtu schools began the 2016-2017 academic year with initiative courses in Math, English, Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2. As I understand, a minimum requirement for southern institutions. I think we can no longer ignore our system, but it is certainly questionable, and delivery principles need reviews on efficiencies. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of ECE on the progress of this new initiative in the Sahtu region. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, poverty is a national issue which requires national solutions. The federal government has acknowledged this fact by working on a Canada-wide poverty reduction strategy. Yellowknife is a focus of special attention in this effort because it is the location of one of six case studies on poverty across the country, and there have been several consultations here in the last month. Mr. Speaker, today I am going to talk about the public consultation hosted by the No Place for Poverty Coalition and Vibrant Communities Canada. About 30 people attended, including some of my colleagues here, as well as advocates, people who live in poverty, and those who work on the front lines. Participants were asked to identify priority areas for poverty reduction efforts. The top two are food and housing. People noted that, in the NWT, we have both a food availability problem and a food affordability problem. This is not news to Members who have seen increasing food insecurity firsthand and through media reports. There is a need for both a short-term solution and systemic solutions to hunger. There is also an urgent need to revamp the Nutrition North program, as my colleague said earlier today.
On housing, the waiting list is long and getting longer rather than shorter. The federal decision to reduce support for the operations and maintenance of social housing is an obvious problem, as is the scheduled end of the program in 2038. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has a leading role in addressing these two areas, but this government has a role to play as well. Our mandate commits this Assembly to increasing the availability of affordable housing and improving food security. These are areas that need urgent and sustained attention if people are going to get out of poverty, stay out of poverty, and give their kids hope for a different future. In order to make the most of federal interest in this area at this time, the territorial government must consider how to align its poverty reduction efforts with those in Ottawa. That may be self-evident, but there is not a word, not one word, about these issues in the territorial government's federal engagement strategy. Mr. Speaker, we can build roads to every community in this territory, as outlined in the engagement strategy, but you can't eat a road, and you cannot sleep in it, either. The need for more housing and more food is not going to go away. The GNWT and Ottawa have to work together to make a difference. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Poverty. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all over the country, we are seeing Canadians get ready to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in a little over one month. People are booking campsites, planning parades, and learning more about the country's history. Mr. Speaker, in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta, our Canada 150 celebrations will feature our own amazing race, the Race the Peel canoeing challenge. The Hamlet of Aklavik is organizing the race between that community and Fort McPherson, and the race will include cultural games and activities and games on the banks of the Peel. It's not only fun and games, Mr. Speaker, it is for a good cause, a very important cause. Race the Peel will also raise awareness for the Save the Peel Campaign that grew out of the Peel River Watershed legal case. It is also raising awareness of the urgent ongoing work to save the Porcupine caribou herd.
What better way to celebrate Canada 150 than to enjoy the Mackenzie Delta's beautiful lands and waters, and take action to protect them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Recently, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, and I had an opportunity to speak with teacher Rebecca Aylward and her senior high school students at Chief Sunrise Education Centre on the K'atlodeeche First Nation. The students' names are Edmond Bugghins, Selena Bugghins, Shawna Sabourin, and Trinity Cayen.
These bright students asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of MLAs and about issues and concerns facing their community. The students are approaching graduation and have some concerns about their community. They are concerned about limited employment opportunities on the reserve. Besides the store, daycare, or band office, there are really no opportunities to work, unless job seekers travel outside their home community. While there are jobs available in Hay River, finding a way into town is another issue. The commute is 17 kilometers. Many people do not have transportation. As a result, many KFN residents have perished while trying to make their way into Hay River. There have been traffic accidents, drownings, and dangerous encounters with wildlife.
Students have concluded that a pedestrian bridge is essential and critical. If a pedestrian bridge was established to link the KFN with the town of Hay River, many residents would benefit. It would provide a safe way for KFN residents to go to town to access recreational facilities, healthcare, employment, and other services. The students also have concerns about the environment. They would like to see many more recycling facilities in the community. They would like to be able to recycle paper, plastics, and metals. They are concerned about the dump and its location. They wonder if the dump is affecting the groundwater and river, since it is located so close to the river.
The students are also alarmed by global warming and want to make a difference. They would like to know if there are opportunities to help them establish a green roof on their school, or to help produce more food organically for the community. The students are also wondering why there are no treatment facilities in the North. They see firsthand how devastating addictions are in their community and wonder why the treatment centre located on their reserve is not a viable option for the North. Mr. Speaker, I was impressed with the thoughtfulness of these young people and I enjoyed hearing them talk about matters that are important to them. I would encourage all Members of the Legislative Assembly to listen to the concerns of our young people. They are our future. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, or NWTAC as it is commonly referred to, was established in 1966 when municipal leaders from Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, and lnuvik formed an association to represent community governments in the Northwest Territories. Since its beginning, the NWTAC has grown to represent all 33 communities of the Northwest Territories' incorporated communities. It is registered as a not-for-profit society and is governed in accordance with its own by-laws. Acting on its own democratically adopted resolutions, the association advocates for the interests of its member communities to the federal government and the GNWT, and through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The NWTAC provides support to community governments in a number of ways. As the municipal operating environment becomes even more complex, the NWTAC provides advisory services to its member communities in the areas of legal support services, human resources, and procedural and governance advice. The NWTAC provides insurance services to the member community governments through the Northern Communities Insurance Program. It also provides discounts on supplies needed by municipal governments through its NWTAC purchasing program.
Through its advocacy efforts, the NWTAC takes action on issues that are important to municipalities in the Northwest Territories, such as devolution, community funding, climate change adaptation, and emergency planning. As well, the NWTAC provides professional development and training opportunities for municipal staff and elected officials. Mr. Speaker, the NWTAC does invaluable work that is especially important in smaller communities, where the capacity is always an issue. The association held its most recent annual general meeting in Inuvik from May 11 to 14, 2017. At this meeting, Mr. Speaker, two of my constituents were voted in as members of the board of directors, Councillor Ryan Yakeleya from the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, and Ray Ruben, the mayor of Paulatuk, is the vice president. I want to congratulate both men on their appointments, and I also want to congratulate the NWTAC on another successful annual general meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Canadian Zinc's Prairie Creek project is now in its seventh environmental assessment, which makes that a new record for project splitting. The project has eaten up an enormous amount of public resources and time. The environmental assessment of Canadian Zinc's all-weather road began in May 2014, and it is now more than three years long. An interesting timeline on the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board's website shows that the company has been responsible for about 26 months of the ongoing review and has caused numerous delays. This process is drawing to a close and a report of environmental assessment is likely to fall on the desk of the Minister of Lands as early as September 1st.
Canadian Zinc is now in overhold tenancy in its surface lease. Our government assumed responsibility for this lease with devolution. There are clearly insufficient financial securities to cover current environmental liabilities under this lease and the operation's water licence. This shortfall of about $7 million or more places our government and all of our citizens at risk. The devolution agreement provides opportunities for our government to turn back properties to the federal government in the case of insolvencies, but the more our fingerprints are on decisions regarding any project, the more challenging it will be to make a successful case for Ottawa to pay for liabilities.
I am particularly concerned that, if the Minister of Lands makes decisions on the current surface lease and the upcoming Canadian Zinc all-weather road, this will increase our financial exposure on the Prairie Creek site. These costs could be huge. While Ottawa may have been in a position to assume such liabilities, our government cannot do so and must proceed with extreme caution. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act, and commends it to the House.
Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act, proposes to enshrine the Junior Kindergarten Program in the territorial "education program" and to regulate entitlements of access for junior kindergarten students, who could be as young as three and eight months. The bill also proposes to reduce the mandatory minimum for school instructional hours.
The Standing Committee on Social Development has heard from parents and guardians, educators, school boards and education authorities, and community-based child care and early childhood education providers on these matters. We regularly heard strong support for northern students and teachers, as well as the frustration with the government's delivery of the program services. The bill's progress has been unorthodox. Junior kindergarten remains controversial, with some stakeholders still opposed to implementation and others troubled by the potential impacts on existing providers. Respecting instructional hours, Northerners have struggled to access clear, accurate information. Indeed, the Government of the Northwest Territories entered into a memorandum of understanding attached to a collective agreement with the NWT Teachers' Association, without advising Regular Members of this MOU's implications. The department then directed education authorities to comply with the Strengthening Teacher Instructional Practices pilot project (STIP), a project requiring amendments to the Education Act that had not yet received the required standing committee review, the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, or the assent of the Commissioner.
Standing committees provide oversight to government activity. They do not rubber-stamp initiatives. Witnesses echoed this, expressing frustration that the government appeared to presume upon the committee's authority and to force a choice between teachers and students. Nevertheless, the committee believes it is possible, through exercise of its legitimate authority, to act in support of teachers as well as students and their families. We have striven to hear and explore each of the many, and sometimes conflicting, perspectives brought forth. This report is the outstanding outcome of that work. At this point in time, I wish to turn over the reading of the report to the Member for Yellowknife Centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
The committee held public meetings in Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Hay River, advertising these through newspaper, radio, and social media, and held its public clause-by-clause review in Yellowknife on May 25, 2017. Both Yellowknife meetings were also streamed live through the Legislative Assembly's Facebook page, receiving more than 1,000 views together. We have also received 237 written submissions and completed a media scan, and have published related correspondence with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. These are available on the committee's web page on the Assembly website.
Outside our review of Bill 16, we previously received public witness presentations and written submissions on junior kindergarten, and also held a public meeting in December of 2016. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment has made a number of commitments in response to collaboration between the committee and himself. We thank him for this and for his department's continuing work.
We are all stakeholders in education. Between 28,500 and 36,700 jobs will be opened over the next 15 years, with 78 per cent of those requiring post-secondary education and/or significant work experience. Yet we are currently ill-equipped to meet this demand. Although overall graduation rates have risen, low rates in small communities continue to decline, while school attendance, achievement, competitiveness, and resourcing weigh heavily on Northerners' minds. Mr. Mike Harlow, president of the Children First Society board in Inuvik, said, "The last thing this region needs is reduced spending on education. The reality is that we need jobs. We don't have jobs, so the best investment in this region is education."
Ms. Elizabeth-Ann McKay, chair of the Fort Resolution District Educational Authority and who travelled from Fort Resolution to Hay River to address the committee, said, "When new things are proposed, it never comes with a price tag. We're struggling. There's no new money. We're getting more reductions from the GNWT...education, being the key priority, needs to be really looked at and funded accordingly." Mr. Adrien Amirault, executive director of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, spoke in favour of the bill and advised the committee that, "The status quo is not an option." Other witnesses, although speaking against the bill, also argued that current practices do not suffice. Our role as legislators is to consider views brought forward by those "on the ground" in tandem with proven best practices to assess whether Bill 16 will ultimately bring the territory closer to the change we need.
With rare exception, bills creating or amending legislation cannot become law without referral to the appropriate standing committee for review. Several witnesses echoed the committee's own feeling that, with Bill 16, the department has presumed upon the committee. The bill's unorthodox progress has also made it difficult for interested parties to participate in consensus government. Witnesses in Yellowknife and Hay River questioned the purpose of the committee's review if, as the department has previously indicated, the proposed changes will proceed regardless. Either the department found tolerable the risk of being able to deliver only a fraction of the "up to 100 hours" committed to during negotiations with the NWTTA, or it presumed the committee would accommodate the legislative needs required to fulfill the government's bargaining promises. Neither is acceptable to the committee.
School Funding Formulas
We repeatedly heard that new programs like JK cannot be implemented without adequate funding. Although the GNWT has committed to "fully fund" the cost of JK implementation in the 13 communities that do not currently offer the program, the department acknowledges that its funding formulas are tools to determine funding allocations, not tools to determine the adequacy of those allocations. JK funding falls short.
To implement JK, schools are expected to stretch Inclusive Schooling and Aboriginal Language and Culture-based Education funding for 13 grades (K to 12) across 14 grades (JK to 12). Indeed, although the department funds inclusive schooling above the legislated minimum, territorial board chairs have already flagged this funding as insufficient and in continued decline. They have collectively called on the department to restore it to 2012 levels. Although the department previously suggested JK students following a play-based curriculum may require less support, ECE's data on resident children's school readiness contradicts this claim. Significant transportation costs are also anticipated. Mr. David Wasylciw, president of the Northwest Territories Montessori Society, also expressed concern that the department's intention to fund JK at a pupil-to-teacher ratio (PTR) of 12:1 is not enshrined in legislation and so lacks staying power. Because an amendment related to PTR would fall outside the scope of the bill and so be ruled out of order, the committee sought the Minister's commitment that JK be funded at a ratio of 12:1 or better for at least the life of the 18th Assembly. The Minister has made this commitment and pledged to share current school funding formulas with the committee. For this, we thank him.
The committee also sought the Minister's commitment to assess JK-specific inclusive schooling, Aboriginal language and culture-based education, and transportation costs and to bring forward a supplementary appropriation bill in the next sitting to ensure adequate funding for these services in in the 2017-2018 school year. Revision of current funding formulas would be required for surety beyond 2017-2018. In partial response, the Minister has committed to seek increases to inclusive schooling funding should current funding prove insufficient and that the department will cover transportation costs when those costs are determined. We thank him for these commitments and will continue to press for truly full funding in the outstanding items. I would now like to turn the report over to my colleague, the MLA for Mackenzie Delta.
Masi. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability
The committee assessed departmental documents, independent research, and public submissions, and is persuaded that the quality of instruction is generally more important than the number of instructional hours delivered, "quality over quantity." The committee is also persuaded that, to achieve quality instruction, schools must be adequately resourced and teachers assured of time to perform non-instructional duties such as class preparation, marking, report cards, the implementation of student support plans, and assessment, without the stressful expectation of unpaid overtime.
Nevertheless, it is apparent that the three-year STIP pilot project did not originate in the Education Renewal Initiative, which makes only general reference to teacher wellness. Instead, it came from collective bargaining and reflected the government's fiscal targets. We feel strongly that this should not detract from the concerns of educators seeking a healthier and more effective workplace, but also that a project so lacking clarity of purpose is at risk of failing to serve either teachers or students.
To address this, the committee sought the Minister's commitment to provide a detailed monitoring, evaluation, and accountability plan for STIP, addressing both student achievement and teacher wellness, by the end of the 2016-2017 school year. The Minister has made this commitment, and for this, we thank him. During the clause-by-clause review, an individual Member also proposed consideration of an amendment in keeping with STIP's pilot status and helping to address parents' concerns. The proposed amendment would require, at the end of STIP's three-year term, a formal review by a committee of the Legislative Assembly, which would then make recommendations to the department.
Communications
Departmental communications on the bill have been inadequate. Although an agreement-in-principle was first reached with the NWTTA in mid-2016, the committee and the general public learned of STIP in early 2017, when the project was launched. JK implementation policy changed from day to day during the last sitting of the Legislative Assembly. With instructional hours, students and parents were left in doubt of territorial diplomas until rigorous questioning on the floor of the House secured departmental commitment that our equivalency with Alberta would be protected. It is not surprising that confusion and apprehension has flourished in this environment. Ms. Denise Hurley of Yellowknife told the committee that she was, "Frustrated and frankly enraged at the level of misunderstanding surrounding Bill 16…The practicality and reasonableness of the implementation of Bill 16 has been lost in the communication debacle surrounding the legislation."
The committee itself has dedicated significant time and effort to interpreting and clarifying the bill and its potential impacts on our constituents. Although we heard relatively few submissions on JK during our review, we do not consider this evidence of a lack of interest. Several witnesses reported that they had previously raised various concerns but still felt that the government had not heard them. Ms. Lesa Semmler of Inuvik said, "I've spoken vocally and locally on the JK. There's not much more I can add to that." Mx. Jacq Brasseur of Yellowknife also highlighted a shortcoming in both the department's engagement and our own: a lack of direct engagement with students themselves. While the opportunity to present and to provide a written submission to standing committees is open to every Northerner regardless of age, and this opportunity was advertised in various mediums, we recognize that northern youth represent an often-untapped resource demanding particular attention.
The committee sought the Minister's commitment to regularly and publicly report on the outcomes of both JK and STIP, including reporting on identified performance measures. The Minister has made this commitment, and for that, we thank him. We look forward to the tabling of these reports in the Legislative Assembly.
Accommodation of Existing Programs
We heard concern from childcare and early childhood education providers that JK implementation would negatively impact their operations. In Yellowknife and in the regional centres, daycares and non-profit organizations such as the Yellowknife Playschool Society, the Northwest Territories Montessori Society, and the Children First Society were apprehensive of having to fundamentally alter their enrolment models, of lacking sufficient enrolment to continue operations, and/or of receiving critical government direction with little to no advance notice. The committee is also aware of apprehension among community-based providers of after-school care, who may not be prepared to accommodate JK-aged children. There is also the matter of the Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) program. The 2016 final technical report on JK recommended that, "A holistic strategy for early childhood learning and development (which includes JK, where appropriate) needs to be developed, in consultation with the community, to address diverse community needs and contexts (one size does not fit all)."
The department proposes to address this by proceeding with universal JK and encouraging combined half-day programs -- that is, half-day AHS and half-day JK, both optional for parents. Yet while some AHS programs are comfortable operating in tandem with JK, others are uneasy. We heard concerns that in communities with only a handful of three- and four-year-old children, competition between programs is inevitable, with worry that Aboriginal Head Start will emerge on the losing side. Aboriginal Head Start is also uncomfortable with the idea of altering their enrolment model to accept younger children. For combined half-day programs to succeed, close and sincere government collaboration with Aboriginal Head Start is required, including continued government support as well as advocacy to federal funding partners. Particularly given that departmental funding of Aboriginal language and cultural instruction does not currently include JK students, we feel that Aboriginal Head Start provides critical and commendable services to children, as its mission statement describes, "[living] proudly as Aboriginal people in the lands of their ancestors." Mr. Speaker, I now hand this over to the Member for Deh Cho. Thank you.
Masi. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Cost and Availability of Childcare
We heard that Bill 16 would negatively impact families by creating irregular childcare demands, e.g. professional development days throughout the year and after-school care for JK students. Although the government proposes that JK will fulfill its mandate commitment to explore options for free play-based care for four-year-olds, and that parents of JK students will be able to enter or re-enter the workforce sooner, costs, availability, and potential lost-work time remain stressors for families. Further, JK is not childcare. Childcare is outside the "education program" defined in the act, and so outside the scope of the bill, and though pre- and after-school care challenges many northern families, these fall to the government to address through its other mandate commitments, not to territorial schools.
Impacts on Teachers
We heard that Bill 16 would positively impact teachers. The NWTTA, as well as individual teachers, described significant challenges posed by excessive workload, limited resources, and the need for time within regular working hours to complete non-instructional duties, collaborate with other educators, and participate in professional development, all with the goal of enhancing their capacity to meet the challenges of 21st century classrooms.
Although many other witnesses felt Bill 16 was flawed, those same witnesses repeatedly emphasized their belief that territorial teachers play a vital role and must be supported. Where these witnesses presented alternatives, they largely suggested that the government must be held to its bargaining commitments, but that this should be done by hiring more teachers, not by reducing instructional hours. This appears consistent with Alberta's practices. In 2013, then-Premier Alison Redford capped teacher instructional time at 907 hours, stating in published correspondence that "Government is not willing to consider reducing the hours students spend learning to get a labour agreement."
Impacts on Students
We also heard that Bill 16 would negatively impact students, particularly that the proposed reduction in instructional hours would limit students' ability to complete Alberta's curriculum and reduce their post-secondary competitiveness. Given the territory's low attendance and graduation rates, some witnesses were also skeptical that reduced hours would serve students. On February 17, 2017, the department assured the House that no action on its part "would jeopardize the validity of a high school diploma." The committee takes the department at its word.
Comparisons with Alberta
Although the Northwest Territories and Alberta share a common curriculum, we know that a broad range of factors affect student participation and achievement. With more than 15 times as many students in the Alberta education system as there are people in the Northwest Territories, the scale of territorial operations alone is very different. Currently, in the Northwest Territories, students in grades 1 to 6 must receive at least 997 hours of instruction. Students in grades 7 to 12 must receive at least 1,045. Further, territorial schools vary in instructional hours actually delivered. Several witnesses described the importance of tailoring school calendars and practices to the unique needs of their communities. As with junior kindergarten, it is apparent that one size does not fit all.
In Alberta, students in grades 1 to 9 must receive at least 950 hours of instruction. Students in grades 10 to 12 must receive at least 1,000 hours. However, the province's "Moving Forward With High School Redesign" project has allowed roughly two thirds of Alberta high schools to spend more or less time on course material or instruction, as needed. Like our own schools, Alberta schools vary in hours actually delivered, and Alberta Education has not documented exact instructional hours in each one participating in the redesign. However, the province is tracking a suite of performance measures. These measures include high school completion, drop-out rates, diploma exam participation and performance, student/teacher/parent satisfaction, course completion, and intellectual engagement.
During the clause-by-clause review, an individual Member also proposed consideration of a potential compromise: to proceed with a 100-hour reduction to the statutory minimum for grades 1 to 9, but to set the minimum for grades 10 to 12 at 1,000 hours. This would match what is mandated in Alberta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will now turn it over to my colleague, the MLA for Nahendeh. Mahsi.
Masi. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleague from the Deh Cho.
Recommended Actions
That the Department of Education, Culture and Employment review and adjust its school funding formulae to ensure that additional funding accounts for new JK students in Inclusive Schooling, Aboriginal Language and Culture-based Education, and transportation funding from the 2017-2018 school year on;
That the Department of Education, Culture and Employment report annually on the implementation of the Strengthening Teacher Instructional Practices pilot project and the Junior Kindergarten Program, including an account of collaboration and engagement with existing childcare and early childhood development service providers, and that these reports be tabled in the Legislative Assembly; and
That the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, in its ongoing work toward an action plan for universal daycare by March 2018, account for community-by-community needs for after-school care, including care needed on an irregular basis, e.g. on professional development days.
Recommendation 1
The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report and its recommended actions within 120 days.
The committee has learned that, when similar changes to instructional hours were initiated in Alberta, they elicited many of the same questions we have heard from witnesses and from our constituents. How will students access the hours they are entitled to? How will students be empowered to succeed? How will boards distribute existing resources and/or obtain new resources to meet both the government's labour commitments and statutory requirements? Similarly, the committee observes that various jurisdictions in Canada and in the United States are grappling with the challenge of implementing effective, meaningful, and accommodating educational programming for three- and four-year-olds. Here at home the issue has been fraught. Certainly there is much at stake. As the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh said during the committee's clause-by-clause review of Bill 16, "No matter what the outcome, we recognize that there are two sides to this issue and both sides want the best for the children."
This concludes the committee's report on Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act. All committee reports are available online at the Legislative Assembly website: www.assembly.gov.nt.ca. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Committee Report 10-18(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
