Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A follow-up to my questions on red alert that was made by our Premier last November. My first question: the people of my region agree that Northerners should have the ability to make their own decisions, but federal policies and decisions like the Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Moratorium affect the kinds of decisions that we are able to make. Can the Premier tell me how his efforts to lobby the federal government and raise awareness on Northwest Territories priorities through the red alert will help support economic development in the Northwest Territories, and more specifically, the Sahtu region? Thank you.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the red alert was about standing up for northern priorities and making the point that Northerners need to be making their decisions about what happens in the North. Also, it points out that, if the Government of Canada shuts down an economic sector in the Northwest Territories, for example, there should be an accompanying economic strategy.
As you recall, when the fishing industry was shut down in Newfoundland, there was a $9 billion compensation package that was announced at the same time as the moratorium. People throughout the Northwest Territories want to be sure that their children and grandchildren can look forward to a strong future with good jobs. Canada still has the power to make a lot of decisions that will affect the economy and the future of the North. We need to make sure they understand northern priorities when they make those decisions, particularly around their desire to have a strong economy.
The Northwest Territories' interests and priorities are not well-known or understood within the federal government or within southern Canada, which can lead to decisions that lead economic development and program and service delivery that has often been designed pursuant to settle self-government and land claims agreements.
The red alert is about bringing awareness and starting a conversation with the federal government, and making our interests and priorities heard and understood. Northerners need a plan for the long-term social and economic development of the Northwest Territories, and Canada needs to be a part of that, including making concrete commitments to strategically invest in areas that would create the greatest benefits for Northerners including new and existing sectors of the economy.
Thanks to the Premier for the reply. I understand the conditional challenges facing our territory, which leads me to my second question. The Sahtu, Dene, and Metis land claim confirms the rights of Indigenous people in my region to participate in decision-making about the land and resources and the benefit from the economic development. Can the Premier tell me how red alert helps support the rights of Sahtu, Dene, and Metis?
Partnerships with Indigenous governments is part of how we do business in the Northwest Territories. The land claim and self-governed agreements that have been negotiated in the North are an important way to achieve the kind of reconciliation that Ottawa is making a priority right now.
The Sahtu land claim confirmed and clarified some very important rights for Dene and Metis people of the regions, including management of renewable resources within the settlement area, land use planning within the settlement area, environmental impact assessment and review within the Mackenzie Valley, and regulation of land and water use within the settlement area.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to the implementation of the land claim agreement and wants to ensure that Sahtu, Dene, and Metis continue to be able to exercise their rights. We are also committed to ensure Northwest Territories Indigenous people's share in the benefits of development in the Northwest Territories is reflected in an agreement our government signed with its Indigenous governments. We have provided for resource revenue sharing, and we will work with the Sahtu people to develop and contribute to the Arctic policy framework that will help guide federal investment and develop their vision for the Arctic up until 2030.
Thanks to the Premier for that reply. On the issue of resiliency, my third question: we know that the federal government is working on an Arctic policy framework to guide its decisions in the North. Can the Premier tell me how the GNWT is going to make sure that NWT priorities and economic interests are reflected in the Arctic policy framework?
The Arctic policy framework is still under development, and the structure of the framework is still being negotiated and confirmed, but the federal government has committed to a chapter for each territory to set out their priorities. It is also expected there will be a chapter on Indigenous priorities.
The government of the Northwest Territories will have the lead for developing the Northwest Territories chapter, and has been engaging Indigenous governments and other stakeholders to ensure Northwest Territories use and priorities from federal polices and plans. Also, Mr. Speaker, the three territories have developed a Pan-Territorial Vision on Sustainable Development to help inform territorial interests, including the need for economic opportunities for people in the North to build self-reliance; live in healthy, vibrant, prosperous communities; and build capacities to reach their full potential.
I want to see this vision clearly reflected in Canada's framework, and we will continue to do our best to support and be involved in this process.
Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Premier for that reply. Being a supporter of devolution, the devolution agreement included a commitment to negotiate management of offshore oil and gas between Canada, the GNWT, and the IRC. Can the Premier tell me what progress has been made with Canada on keeping this? Mahsi.
Our government has been engaging with the Government of Canada to try to make some progress on a specific commitment in the devolution agreement to begin negotiations of a co-management of the Beaufort Sea. As the Member knows, we have just passed the one-year anniversary of Canada implementing a moratorium on offshore exploration in the Beaufort Sea. Specifically, they have said they are definitely off-limits to new offshore oil and gas licences, to be tested every five years by a science-based review.
Also, as well, federal officials have been approaching and asking oil and gas companies with licences in the Beaufort Sea what it would take to give up their leases and licences. Obviously, there's a different intention there. Canada negotiated specific commitments to negotiate co-management of offshore oil and gas resources with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Inuvialuit Regional Council, and those negotiations are not taking place in spite of several requests. The Government of the Northwest Territories' position is that it has a right to be involved in management of offshore oil and gas resources, and this was recognized in the devolution agreement, and the unilateral imposition of a moratorium was contradictory to that.
Along with IRC, we continue to communicate to Canada our interest in getting started on negotiations and fulfillment of this commitment of the devolution agreement. Northerners need a plan for the long-term social and economic development of the Northwest Territories, and Canada needs to be a part of that. We are waiting for the federal government to give us a response as to whether we will proceed with negotiation of co-management. There is provisions for dispute resolution in a devolution agreement, and we are awaiting some feedback from the federal government before we look at our various options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my statement I talked about the situation with heart disease in the Northwest Territories, and Canada as well. Trying to address that, this government has a wide and varied approach. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Chronic disease, including heart disease, contributes to sudden deaths in the Northwest Territories. The Department of Health and Social Services has identified tackling chronic disease as one of their major policy and program goals. How will the department take on heart disease in 2018-2019?
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to chronic diseases, which obviously includes heart disease, we're trying to take a prevention approach, which means we are really focusing on trying to encourage healthy lifestyles for residents of the Northwest Territories, but also put in place mechanisms to help educate people on how to prevent some of these things from occurring. We also need to make sure that we're enhancing screening. We are providing quality screening so that individuals can get screened early so that, if treatment is required, we can provide it.
There are a number of things that are happening currently. We have healthy living fairs that are travelling throughout the Northwest Territories providing information to residents on a number of chronic conditions and the types of things we need to do. There has been a lot of work done on identifying healthy foods. We would work with the NWT Sports and Recreation Council to promote healthy exercise, exercise on a regular basis. There are lot of things happening, but recognizing that science is continually evolving, we're learning new things. We're also working on a chronic disease and prevention management framework, building upon past work but moving forward with a new framework that's really going to be focused. It's going to be a patient-centred approach, and this will build upon some of the existing things we are doing at communities, the good partnerships that we have out there to encourage more healthy living and wellness. That's on top of the existing things that we're doing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. The Minister has to be commended, and indeed in his department, in terms of undertaking education initiatives to ensure that people do live a healthy lifestyle. One of the challenges, of course, is language. My question is, once again, did the department recently work with communities in the Sahtu region to develop a Sahtu glossary for cancer terminology with entries in multiple dialects? This is some incredibly valuable work, and I congratulate all those who made is possible. With heart disease matching cancer for health impacts in the NWT, can the department work toward a similar glossary in other Indigenous languages? For example, Deh Cho Slavey?
Obviously, I'd love to take credit for that work, but it was really work that was led by the communities. It was incredibly valuable. I think the people of the Sahtu really need a pat on the back for the incredible work they've done to create this glossary and get it out to residents of the region. The department did play a role; we did provide some support in the form of some human resources and some other supports. It was a great tool. The department is absolutely open to working with other regions, other language groups, to create similar documents, recognizing that, really, it needs to be community-led, and we're there to, certainly, partner and help as best we can. We think it's a great idea. We would love to see more.
The Minister stated that steps were being taken, apart from education initiatives, in terms of prevention. I'm a member of the Standing Committee on Social Development, and that committee has pushed for the department to take targeted action towards smoking prevention and cessation programs in our small communities. How has the department taken action on anti-smoking work in our small communities?
Over the years, there have been many different approaches to encourage people not to smoke here in the Northwest Territories.
One of the things that has been done is we've obviously been working with communities. We feel that communities are really one of the appropriate places to be leading some of this work, and many of the communities have included this type of initiative under their community wellness plans, but the Member is right and committee is right. We need to continue push as a department as well. The department, to that end, has recently launched the Let's Clear the Air campaign, which focuses on the importance of lung health. This campaign has launched in January of this year, and promotional materials have been shared across the entire Northwest Territories.
Last May we brought youth from across the Northwest Territories together as part of our commitment to healthy living and wellness. This gathering was a great opportunity to hear from youth and share information about healthy living. Workshops on lung health and smoking cessation were an incredibly important part of this event.
Our Healthy Living fairs, that the Member I'm sure is aware of, that travel around the Northwest Territories also provide an opportunity for residents in our small communities to learn directly about lung health and smoking cessation, through presentation and interactive learning opportunities. So if the Member hasn't has an opportunity, when one of these fairs comes to his community or region, I encourage you to go. I encourage everybody from your region to go and look at some of the interactive displays and other information that is available to show how important it is not to smoke for the residents of the Northwest Territories.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, recently I did find myself in the community hall in Fort Providence and it was packed, and it wasn't because of the bingo; it was the health fair that was happening. So I just wanted to follow up with the Minister in terms of what are the plans in terms of maybe building upon the success of the health fairs that are happening throughout the NWT communities? Mahsi.
I'm glad the Member had an opportunity to attend one of the healthy living fairs; and I hope the Member had an opportunity to stroll through the giant colon and see the impacts of colon health and cancer.
For the rest of the Northwest Territories, it's certainly an interesting adventure. The health living fairs are an incredibly important tool. I think it's great that they're getting out to residents of the Northwest Territories, and I'm thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to hear that the event was packed. I think as MLAs, as Ministers, we all need to encourage our residents to go to these fairs and learn about prevention techniques and other things that can be done. We need to take care of ourselves. We all have some personal responsibility to live healthy, and the more people who can be educated, the better. So yes, these fairs are going to continue, they're important, and I encourage you to encourage your residents to attend and take a stroll through the giant colon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the last couple of days I've been talking about the road to the Slave Geological Province with regard to my Member's statements. This is obviously a very significant project that could provide many important benefits to the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, it's a major piece of our mandate, but it still remains a little bit unclear as what to our vision and commitment for this critical piece of infrastructure really is. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. Last year the Minister advised the Assembly that the government was conducting a P3 business case assessment of this critical piece of infrastructure. I wonder if the Minister can provide the House with an update with regard to this assessment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Infrastructure.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The P3 business case, we continue to work on it and it should be done shortly, if it isn't done already. I'd have to check on that. We have submitted our comprehensive proposal to the National Trades Corridor Fund with the federal government; we did that last November. We're hopefully going to hear about this funding in the coming months from federal government on what the uptake on that is going to be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for his update. I'm hopeful that we're going to see a positive reply here from the federal government. So I guess the next question, then, would be: if the funding and the P3 is approved, can the Minister inform us what the actual next steps would be?
That's going to depend on the level of funding. This is a significant project that's been submitted, like I said, with the National Trades Corridor Fund, which is application-based with all of Canada. That's where it's sitting presently. There's $2 billion for the whole country. Depending on the level of funding we're getting, it could done in various stages. We'd have to conduct some environmental studies and some engineering studies before we can move to an environmental phase. Depending, of course, on the amount of funding we get, we're going to have to involve consultation in engaging people Indigenous groups and people in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you to the Minister for his reply. The Minister touched on the idea that we would have to undertake an environmental assessment. We know that recently a major concern is the potential impact that this corridor might have on the Bathurst caribou. We've seen roadways built in other areas that, you know, have had some effect on wildlife: our Highway 3 going south, we see bison along the road all the time; the Porcupine caribou have been crossing the Dempster for many years, and they are a thriving herd. We know the Bathurst is a fairly sensitive herd. They are, or are near being considered, an at-risk species. I just wonder: can the Minister advise what the Department of Infrastructure is doing or who they are working with to understand the impacts this road might have on the Bathurst herd?
As I said, this is early days of this project, but we are very mindful of the caribou, moving this whole project forward. Infrastructure has been working very closely with the Department of ENR to identify gaps, particularly around knowledge and opportunities around the caribou. We realize that, as this project advances, this type of work with ENR and others to explore the migration route options and to reduce the impacts of caribou on our proposed route would have to take place, and we will continue to do that.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the perimeter fence at NSCC. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the incident of August 2016, once we recognized that there were some improvements that needed to be conducted at the facility, early attempts were not as successful, as the bids came in at way above what we were expecting. However, we are still working on this, and hopefully this situation will be resolved in the near future. Thank you.
I'm going to quote from Hansard here from September 27. I quote the Minister saying, "I understand this project is now under construction and that it will be completed by mid-October. It is on course to be completed, as I say, by October, so the project, which I know has been long awaited by residents in the area, should be completed within the next couple of weeks."
Residents are still waiting, Mr. Speaker. What kind of timelines can the Minister give us? These are unacceptable delays.
There were really two projects here. I understand the work on the fence. There's the outer fence that work has been done on, and I'll have to check on that. The improvements that were considered necessary after the escape that took place in 2016 have not yet been completed. I'm hoping to bring good news about that shortly.
I won't read from Hansard more, but if you want to look at it, I say I criticize the Minister for hoping a lot and not promising firm results back then. I'll do the same now. Why are we only hoping for results on this fence? What is the hold-up? When can we get it done?
Again, I'm not certain whether the Member opposite is talking about the exterior fence or changes that are needed on top of the building. We are working on both of these projects. I understand that one had been completed. I'll have to get back on the Member on that.
The other one, I expect, will be completely shortly. I think we've gone out for proposals on that, but I will certainly keep the Member informed.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister has completed the work on the fence, it will be good of him to be able to tell me that today on the floor of the House. I understand he can't, and that's a concern for me. He knows I'm concerned about this issue. The security work that's been going on, the building that he mentioned, that money has been appropriated for that. It still hasn't been spent. We still can't find a contractor. Why? What is the hold-up? Why can't we spend this money? Why can't we get this work done? Thank you.
As mentioned previously, the problem was that, although money was allocated for the project, the bids came in at very, very high amounts and we know we couldn't proceed with those very large bids. I will advise the Member opposite or the House as to the status on both of these projects. I am, again, hoping that the improvements to the building, the interior part, will be completed shortly. As I said, we went out for bids, I believe a couple of times, and the bids came in at much too high. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided.] Marsi.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is right. A true diagnosis of FASD does require the mother to acknowledge that she has been drinking. Sometime, that is not forthcoming, but we will work with pregnant mothers to educate them on the harms and the risks of drinking while intoxicated. We're certainly going to be expanding this conversation to include the risks of smoking cannabis while pregnant, because both alcohol and cannabis do have detrimental impact on the developing brain.
Our nurses and our doctors who are providing pre-natal care are aware of the information. They have information from national sources but also local sources to help educate these mothers to encourage them not to drink. It's obviously, Mr. Speaker, easier said than done. We do have situations where we may have pregnant mothers who are chronically addicted to alcohol, which is why we've expedited the referral process to get these mothers down to treatment so that we can help them get off alcohol.
Between education in the clinics and the supports we're providing, we're trying to make sure that mothers are educated and mothers are not drinking or smoking cannabis while pregnant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
