Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Ms. Dale Loutitt, who is here, vice-president of the Mackenzie Recreation Association as well as the recreation programmer at the town of Hay River. I would also like to recognize, I believe, a former constituent, Ms. Erin Porter, who is the South Slave director of the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Finally, I would like to recognize my mother for once again joining us in the gallery, Ms. Betty Lyons. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night, I had the opportunity of attending the 25-year anniversary with the Mackenzie Recreation Association. They have done a lot of work over the years, not only for the Mackenzie recreation area but throughout the Northwest Territories. They have been trailblazers as well as role models for our residents of the Northwest Territories. I know we have some executive up there. We have some recreation coordinators up there. I just want to say thank you for doing all the work that you do for our youth as well as residents of the Northwest Territories. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Very honoured to be here to recognize you. Mahsi. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize Erin Porter from Enterprise, who is also a director from the South Slave for the Mackenzie Recreation Association. As well, I would like to recognize Lyla Pierre of Sambaa Ke and also just to congratulate the Mackenzie Recreation Association for their 25th year anniversary. Welcome and mahsi. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Thebacha resident and former mayor of Fort Smith, Janie Hobart, who remains very active in sport and recreation in the Northwest Territories, in particular her work with the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Thank you.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being with us. It is always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, looking at social media recently around the new Cannabis Commission and cannabis sales in the Northwest Territories, I saw an image yesterday posted on the commission's website saying, "Unfortunately, we are sold out. Product will not be available until further notice." I have received some complaints that online orders haven't shipped, and no notices have been provided to residents.
After six days, it seems like we are having issues with the operation of our Cannabis Commission. Can the Minister of Finance provide some clarity on whether or not there is product left in the Northwest Territories, and what the hold-up is on sales? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because this is new, I mean, there were going to be some hiccups, and, unfortunately, we have run into a few of them. As far as the product goes, this is an issue that is facing the whole country, actually. They are having supply issues across the country.
We had three major suppliers who we were dealing with. We are actually looking to identify any more federally approved suppliers who might be able to supply the Northwest Territories with some product.
Can the Minister advise the House on what the total cannabis sales or cannabis product sales-to-date are? Can he provide an update?
In the first four days of operation of legal cannabis, there was about $129,600 worth of sales. $10,900 of this was online sales, and sales took part in all regions of the Northwest Territories.
It seems like a popular product, and it seems to be flying off the shelves. Can the Minister confirm if the supply notice that was provided, at the Yellowknife store at least, if that is in fact true, that they have no more supply to offer folks in Yellowknife?
My understanding is that they have run out of product. As I said earlier, they are looking at trying to bring more product in from the three suppliers that we have.
I have been reading the news, as well. I read the news every morning to see what is going to be raised in the Chamber today, and I know that this is an issue that is facing the country. They are having supply issues all across the country. Once the initial rush is off, we think things will probably stabilize a bit. I am not sure that we anticipated the level that was going to be needed, as far as cannabis goes, across the country.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's 30 kilos of cannabis in four days or six days. Again, it seems that the demand is quite strong in the Northwest Territories, and we don't know, at this point, if it is an initial rush or if this is a market thing.
Does this new market data give confidence to the Minister that there is a viable market for cannabis in the Northwest Territories, and how does that reflect on our current regulations for private sales? Thank you.
It is an indication of the use of cannabis across the Northwest Territories. I did expect that there was going to be a bit of a rush, and I thought that, once the rush was over, it would stabilize a bit, but early indicators are that it seems to be a product that is in high demand.
As far as the vendors go, it seems to be that there is a market for vendors. They may run into the same issues that we have. However, having said that, the regulations are out, so anybody who wants to be a vendor can put their application in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the Arctic Policy Framework and the NWT chapter. I have questions for the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, my first question is: how has the GNWT engaged with the federal government in the development of the Arctic Policy Framework to date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework will be a federal document with the federal government making the financial decision on what is in it. With that said, Government of Northwest Territories officials have been actively engaged in the development of the framework document, working to ensure that territorial priorities are included.
We have also been sharing drafts with our partners on the intergovernmental council to seek their views. Their feedback has been very helpful, and, as agreed to by the IGC, GNWT officials have provided these views to Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the response from the Premier. Mr. Speaker, have the GNWT's concerns been addressed in the NWT chapter of the Arctic Policy Framework? If not, what are some of the outstanding issues?
I guess the biggest outstanding issue is the fact that the original timelines proposed by Canada would have had the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework completed by now. However, there have been a number of delays in the process.
The current schedule presented by Canada has the overarching part of the framework being released first, and then provincial, territorial, and Indigenous chapters will be developed following the initial release. Canada is also proposing that a governance framework and investment strategy will be released at the same time as these chapters.
I appreciate the response from the Premier. Mr. Speaker, does the Premier know when a draft policy will be released?
The federal government has used a co-development approach to develop the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. It has not been without challenges, but the Government of the Northwest Territories appreciates the opportunity to work collaboratively with the federal government and the Members of the intergovernmental secretariat to develop the federal document.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased with the progress that has been achieved by the new federal Minister of Northern Affairs on our priority files to date. We will continue to work with the federal government to advance these. As this is a federal framework, final decisions on timing will be Canada's. Based on current discussions, it is our hope that the substantial work that has gone into the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework will result in meaningful investments in the Northwest Territories starting with the federal 2019 budget.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response and, as well, the timelines. Mr. Speaker, next year is an election year, and I hope, during the development and the final stages of this policy framework, that the Government of the Northwest Territories makes a big push to ensure that our sovereignty and our needs for infrastructure in the Northwest Territories are looked after.
Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if the Premier would give us an update on any movements any time soon, in the near future, and down within the next 365 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As we have committed previously, we are committed to providing a Northwest Territories chapter once it is in a suitable format that can be shared. At this time, we are still yet to achieve that because the chapter keeps changing almost on a weekly basis. We are still committed to sharing that information as soon as we reach that point.
Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. Has the Minister met with the RCMP to discuss the police response to the woman who was taken to the cells after being sexually assaulted? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that, several weeks ago, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women and I had met with the commanding officer and shared our concerns about these matters with him. I believe he shared our concerns.
I'm glad to hear that meeting happened. Can you tell me whether there was any commitment to change on the part of the RCMP and how they handled women in this situation?
Yes. The Member opposite referenced the RCMP report which came out in December 2017, which advocated change on both a national level. I understand that the RCMP has increased training specific to sexual assault investigations, both locally and nationally.
Mr. Speaker, in order to encourage women to report sexual assault, the Family Violence Shelter in Whitehorse provides for third-party reporting. Kaushee's Place has staff trained to take statements from women about what happened to them and to collect medical evidence. Is the Minister familiar with third-party reporting of sexual assault in Whitehorse, and is he interested in having it here?
[Microphone turned off] …aware of the specific program in Whitehorse, but I do know that the RCMP will continue to explore alternate options for victims to report sexual assault, such as third party reporting.
I would like to remind Members to wait before you speak. The light usually goes on, and then you can speak after. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to Article 6 of the Territorial Police Agreement, the Minister will set priorities, objectives, and goals for the police. Will the Minister commit to developing a more robust relationship with women, with tools such as third-party reporting with the police rather than just leaving it up to them? Mahsi.
I know that regular members are completing a consent law on common sexual assault myths course that was specifically set up to address issues identified in the RCMP Sexual Assault Review and Victim Support Action Plan. Regular members will be required to have completed this course by the end of the fiscal year.
The police are moving ahead as a result of the report that was prepared, that came out in December 2017, but I will continue to explore with the RCMP the possibilities of third-party reporting. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, I talked about ferry operation and the problems that were happening in Fort Simpson. I have to commend the Department of Infrastructure again and their staff from Fort Simpson. They have been able to get the ferry operating from 9:00 to 6:00, and I greatly appreciate that. However, with water levels, that is a big concern. Has the department done any analysis of possible solutions to alleviate this type of problem in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member. Yes, we have worked with industry to extend the hours there, in Simpson, for an extra couple of hours during the summer. I think that has worked out great.
The department is always looking at ways to improve partnership and innovation or efficiencies on our ferries. These are challenging times these days, with the climate change and water levels that are happening.
The department has this coming capital plan on his specific ferry for his region. In the capital acquisition plan that was tabled earlier in this session, we are going to have new engines there that are going to increase the horsepower and lower fuel consumption on that ferry.
We are continuing to monitor the water levels on a regular basis. We continue to communicate with the communities, all communities, residents in the Northwest Territories, and the travelling public as early as possible to get the message out there of these conditions changing on a daily basis.
The Liard ferry normally closes on November 3rd, and I think, with the adjustments that we have made and operate on a daylight hours, we are going to continue to operate as long as possible. It's looking very positive that we might meet that same date.
I greatly appreciate that answer from the Minister. Yes, they are doing some really good work, trying to get the ferry operational and extending as possible.
In my previous conversations with the Minister, I spoke about the idea of moving the ferry landing to the Enbridge road and having the other landing relocated to the town dock. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and have they done a cost analysis?
