Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 15-18(3), asked by the Member for Frame Lake on February 5, 2019, to the honourable Premier, related to the Government of the Northwest Territories' participation in the Association for Mineral Exploration Roundup, in January 2019.
I would like to advise you that six Ministers and 30 staff, including Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), traveled to Vancouver to attend the Roundup on January 28-31, 2019. Additionally, the GNWT supported the participation of 15 individual representatives from Indigenous governments to attend the Roundup, which reflects the GNWT's continued effort to ensure that Indigenous governments are positioned to effectively participate in all stages of mineral development, including facilitating relationship building between Indigenous governments and mining industry players.
The GNWT participated in various mining and exploration events and engaged with stakeholders regarding the government's commitment to responsible mineral development within the Northwest Territories (NWT), and promoting our leading approach to Indigenous partnership and reconciliation. In addition, the Social-Economic Agreement between the GNWT and Fortune Minerals was signed. This formal agreement marks an important milestone for the NICO mine project, which will provide local employment and contribute to increased economic activity in the NWT.
The total cost of air travel for the 36 GNWT participants was $41,823. All travel was economy class, except for six one-way business class flights where prices were lower than available economy seats.
Participants' accommodations costs varied by lengths of stay, but have been calculated at a total of $37,270. Other expenses for the 36 GNWT participants, such as meals, incidentals, and transportation, totalled $25,411. No allowances were paid.
The GNWT paid $2,363 in Roundup registration fees, and exhibition costs charged to the GNWT totalled $54,031. No consultant fees were paid.
In addition, the GNWT paid $2,097 for registration costs for professional development courses offered as a component of the conference. Northwest Territories Geological Survey geologists are both research scientists and members of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, the latter being required by NWT legislation. For both of these roles, ongoing professional development is a requirement.
The GNWT supported the participation of 15 individuals representing NWT Indigenous governments at this year's Roundup. The associated costs for the participation of these individuals totalled $65,000.
The hospitality events hosted by the GNWT were a Premier's Indigenous Partners Luncheon attended by 72 people, an NWT Open House attended by 320 people, an Indigenous Development Corporation Panel Session attended by 70 people, and a meeting with the Governments of Yukon and British Columbia. The cost associated with hosting these three events was a total of $53,294.
Each of these events provided NWT Cabinet members, members of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, and Indigenous leaders with opportunities to address and network with industry representatives and those interested in the mineral exploration industry.
Other costs related to the GNWT's participation in the Association for Mineral Exploration Roundup included the hiring of a videographer and photographer for the event, which totalled $5,100.
The GNWT's direct costs and contributions associated with the participation at the Roundup in 2016 totalled approximately $137,000, approximately $196,359 in 2017, approximately $277,530 in 2018, and $286,389 in 2019. The approximate $8,000 increase in annual costs from prior years to attend Roundups can mainly be attributed to the NTGS professional development costs, as well as the additional cost of hiring a videographer and photographer for the event.
The total costs included provide detail related to Roundup 2019 calculated as of March 26, 2019. Should any additional costs be identified, I expect they will be minor.
The investment in GNWT participation at Roundup is more critical that it has ever been. At a time when commodity markets are showing strong signs of recovery and the level of interest in the NWT mining sector potential is notably growing, it is paramount that the NWT profile and presence at such resource conferences not only remain high, but expands. Globally, encouraging signs and forecasts point to an upward trend in exploration activity and investment.
The NWT competes in this global environment and must be present and increasingly active at such important resource conferences as Roundup in order to take advantage of a positive outlook for the mining sector and attract more investment to NWT projects. The territory's existing mines are moving towards or have passed maturity, so strong action must be taken to find and develop new mineral deposits and advance those projects already established.
Roundup was an opportunity for Indigenous delegates to learn more about the opportunities within the mining sector, how the mining sector operates, promote the resource and business partnership potential of their respective regions and, most importantly, establish relationships and connections that may lead to future development opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 16-18(3) asked by the Member for Kam Lake on February 26, 2019, to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, regarding the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission rates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The classes and subclasses of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission rates which could be applied to the Government of the Northwest Territories, based on the type of work performed by the Government of the Northwest Territories departments similar to that performed by private industry;
The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission presently classifies employers into 17 different subclasses.
Subclass 10 / Renewable Resources and Outdoor Recreation
Subclass 22 / Mining Operation
Subclass 27 / Mining Services
Subclass 37 / Oil & Gas Servicing, Development, Refining and Pipeline Operations
Subclass 41 / General Construction
Subclass 43 / Mobile Equipment Operations, Logging and Marine Construction
Subclass 46 / Mechanical Installation & Servicing
Subclass 51 / Air Transportation
Subclass 53 / Ground Transportation
Subclass 54 / Trucking, General and Long Distance and Water Transportation
Subclass 62 / Retail, Wholesale and Light Manufacturing
Subclass 66 / Automotive Sales and Services and Metal Fabrication
Subclass 71 / Business, Communication and Amusement Services
Subclass 74 / Health, Welfare and Emergency Services
Subclass 76 / Accommodation, Catering, Food & Beverage Services
Subclass 81 / Government of the NWT and Nunavut & Public Utilities
Subclass 82 / Authorities and D.E.W. Line
The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission does not have the required information to ascertain into which of the existing subclasses employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories may best align. Such an exercise would have to be undertaken in consultation with the Government of the Northwest Territories as the existing employer of record.
The total amount of fees in dollar amount paid to the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission by the Government of the Northwest Territories in fiscal year 2017-18;
The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission fiscal year is the calendar year. For 2018 the Government of the Northwest Territories paid $4,565,629 in total assessment fees.
The four-year average of fees in dollar amount paid to the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission by the Government of the Northwest Territories;
The four-year average of assessment fees paid to the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission by the Government of the Northwest Territories for the period 2015-2018 is $4,393,537.
The dollar amount of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission compensation paid out to the Government of the Northwest Territories employees in fiscal year 2017-2018; and
Costs associated with workplace injuries include the following:
Direct costs for compensation and pension payments;
Costs for medical treatment and ongoing care;
Costs for vocational rehabilitation;
Travel associated with provision of care and rehabilitation; and
The administrative costs of case management.
The above costs can and are paid out over the lifetime of a claim, which can vary in length from very short-term to decades. Actuarial estimates are used with models consistently updated to best capture the costs for an individual calendar year. Those costs are captured and reflected on the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission's financial statements. The liability associated with all claims as at the end of 2017 was $362 million.
Specific to the Government of the Northwest Territories amounts paid out for all claims years to the Government of the Northwest Territories employees totalled $4,768,567.
The four year average in dollar amount of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission compensation paid out to the Government of the Northwest Territories employees?
The four year average of amounts paid for all claim years to the Government of the Northwest Territories employees for the period 2015-2018 is $3,735,777. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and that Bill 29 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 502-18(3), Avalon Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Project"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 567-18(3), Ice Bridges and Roadside Assistance"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 650-18(3), Sachs Harbour Power Generation"; and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 670-18(3), Significant Discovery Licences."
On behalf of the Minister of Health and Social Services, I wish to table the following eight documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 574-18(3): Mental Health Services Wait Times"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 588-18(3): Dental Services in Small Communities"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 600-18(3): Regional Wellness Councils"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 612-18(3): Yellowknife Adult Day Programming"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 628-18(3): Stanton Hospital Transition"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 636-18(3): Measles Vaccine"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 661-18(3): Caring for Elders in Communities"; and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 681-18(3): Medical Travel Boarding Home Concerns." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Lands.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 570-18(3): Supreme Court of Canada Redwater Decision" and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 651-18(3): Equity Leases." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following five documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 511-18(3): Consultations on the Bathurst Caribou Herd"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 520-18(3): Consultation on Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 524-18(3): Indigenous Training Programs"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 625-18(3) Tlicho All Season Road Costs"; and, "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 647-18(3): Developing a Knowledge Economy." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Tabling of documents. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following four documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 547-18(3): Sexual Abuse in Amateur Sport"; "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 629-18(3): Heating Issues at Joe Greenland Centre"; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 686-18(3): Northwest Territories Consumer Rights and Protections"; and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 697-18(3): Northwest Territories and Nunavut Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 562-18(3): Recruitment Process for Associate Deputy Minister of Postsecondary Education Renewal." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following document. It's a letter dated April 25, 2019, from the Giant Mine Oversight Board to Crown Indigenous Relations, Northern Affairs Canada, regarding Observations on Measure 6: Evaluation of Long-Term Funding Options. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, committee. I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee wishes to consider Minister's Statement 131-18(3): Sessional Statement.
Thank you. Committee, we have agreed to consider Minister's Statement 131-18(3): Sessional Statement. I will now open the floor to comments on Minister's Statement 131-18(3): Sessional Statement.
Seeing no comments, does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of Minister's Statement 131-18(3): Sessional Statement?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Minister's Statement 131-18(3): Sessional Statement. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
