Colleagues, this is a special day for a number of reasons. Obviously, it's the last day of the First Session of the 19th Legislative Assembly, and we will take some time to celebrate that later this afternoon. Before that, I'd like to take, first, a few minutes to shed light on the career of the Legislative Assembly's longest-serving and most deeply respected official, Mr. Darrin Ouellette. Early next year, Darrin will retire from a career of over 25 years with the NWT public service and the Legislative Assembly.
Prior to joining our team for the first time as operations assistant clerk during the 15th Legislative Assembly, Darrin served what was then known as the Department of Transportation. He also served in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, as it was then known. In these roles he had the opportunity to travel throughout the Northwest Territories and develop lasting connections with Indigenous and community leaders.
Darrin very quickly developed a reputation as someone who genuinely believed in the inherent right to self-government and the potential of northern families, communities, and governments to build capacity from within and find homegrown solutions to the challenges they faced. He is well known to have little time for fluff or for solutions that were made to gloss over root problems rather than tackle them head-on. Darrin is known as a proponent of real action, actions that actually helped communities to improve the lives of our residents.
In 2011, Darrin came back to the Assembly after a brief hiatus. He joined the senior management team as director of Corporate Services, and later as deputy clerk of Member and Precinct Services. On many occasions he served as acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. Darrin had many successes in these senior roles; too many to mention here today, but one that comes immediately to mind is the leadership he demonstrated following the shooting on Parliament Hill in 2014. While many legislatures went into lock-down mode, Darrin was able to step back and recommend improvements to our security systems that were both effective and responsive, but also consistent with the idea of our Assembly as the place of the people.
Darrin has been involved in the security and upkeep of this building since its inception. In his time as a director and deputy clerk, he has worked tirelessly to ensure this place reflects the culture and unique form of democracy of the Northwest Territories and that it is accessible to all residents and visitors from abroad.
Darrin, on behalf of the Members of the Legislative Assembly, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your many years of outstanding service to both the government and Legislature of the NWT. You have provided calm leadership through some rocky times and you will be very much missed; by myself, by the Clerk, and by all the current and former Members and staff you have worked with. We will miss your leadership and your wisdom, but most of all we'll just miss you, the great team-building events you organized, your laughter and humble sense of humour, your homemade bannock, golf tournaments on sand and snow, and your always calm and reassuring demeanour.
On behalf of the Members and staff of the Assembly, I wish you and Donna Marie all the happiness and adventures you so richly deserve in the next stage of your lives. I hope you will always consider this place a home away from home and know that you are most welcome to come visit us, early and often. Thank you, Members.
---Applause
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hunting has a long and honourable history in the Northwest Territories. At the heart of this tradition is a deep respect for the wildlife, the environment and the people of this land. Residents of the Northwest Territories have told us they want to make sure these values and practices are passed on to the next generation of harvesters.
During the 18th Legislative Assembly, this government made a commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories to develop a Hunter Education program for youth and new hunters. This new program promotes best practices for safe and responsible hunting. It also highlights how the Department of Environment and Natural Resources works with partners across the territory to manage and protect our wildlife.
Mr. Speaker, as we begin the 19th Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to announce Hunter Education is now available across the Northwest Territories. You can find it online, free of charge, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources website. For those who prefer to learn in a classroom setting, the course can be offered in communities, by request.
This program has been years in the making, and reflects a true partnership between:
Local and Indigenous governments and organizations;
Co-management boards and agencies;
Communities, elders, hunters; and
The Government of the Northwest Territories.
Hunter Education respects the treaty and harvesting rights of Indigenous hunters, and has been carefully designed to reflect input from Indigenous governments and communities.
Mr. Speaker, as of January 1st, Hunter Education will be mandatory for new hunters before they can get their hunting licences. This includes resident hunters, and non-resident hunters without a guide. Hunters who have been convicted of violations under the Wildlife Act may also be required to take the course.
Hunter Education is not a requirement for General Hunting Licence holders or for harvesters asserting their Aboriginal rights. Hunters who have had a hunting licence in the last five years, or have taken a similar course in other jurisdictions, also don't have to take the course. That being said, we recommend all harvesters take Hunter Education, regardless of experience. Even the most seasoned hunters can benefit from the wisdom of elders and long-time hunters that is reflected in this program.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources remains committed to working with Indigenous governments and organizations, renewable resources boards, and other partners to ensure the wise use and protection of wildlife in the Northwest Territories.
Our hope is that the knowledge shared through hunter education can help keep our wildlife populations healthy and sustainable so the people of the Northwest Territories can harvest now and into the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to announce that female inmates have moved into the new women's unit at the Fort Smith Correctional Complex. I had the pleasure of touring the new unit last week. I was impressed by the care and attention that has gone into designing a facility that is tailored to meeting the needs of female inmates in our care and specifically in the Northwest Territories.
The new unit, which has beds for 23 women, is the first correctional facility designed from the outset to meet the needs of women in the Northwest Territories. It offers dedicated areas where women can receive education, training, counselling, and have better access to northern-developed and northern-specific programming.
More importantly, Mr. Speaker, by keeping female inmates in the Northwest Territories, they will have the opportunity to stay closer to their family supports, which we know is invaluable to their overall rehabilitation.
Functional program space was central to the design philosophy, to provide inmates with access to social and educational programs that give them an opportunity to turn their lives around. For example, inmates continue to help prepare daily meals, but they can do so now in the new teaching kitchen, where they can work with elders to prepare traditional food together.
Female inmates also now have access to spiritual and cultural spaces in the unit. The new ceremonial room is available for cultural activities like traditional crafts and to hold sharing circles. It is the only correctional facility in the Northwest Territories with a functional air-venting system to allow for on-site smudging. Elders have expressed their appreciation to having dedicated spaces inside and outside the facility where their valuable services can be more respectfully shared and received within a natural landscape that was considered during the building of the facility.
The new women's unit also has a resident nurse who is now on site and makes it possible for female inmates to come into the facility with infant children. This allows a mother to bond with her child and have appropriate facilities to care for her infant while serving her sentence.
Mr. Speaker, while I was touring the facility, I had the opportunity to meet and talk directly with staff. As someone with extensive background within the legal system, I was pleased to hear the positive response from inmates and staff to the new communal spaces, program rooms, and more natural grounds.
Before the new unit officially received inmates, Department of Justice staff held a public opening in late August, which included tours inside and out. I know that my colleague, the Member from Thebacha, attended those ceremonies along with over 100 other people who took advantage of that opportunity to see inside the facility in their own home community.
This correctional complex has a long history in Fort Smith and has had the benefit of great community support over the years. I would like to thank the residents of Fort Smith for their continued support. This new unit, built with local C.A.B. Construction, will help women with their rehabilitation for years to come.
I would also like to acknowledge the very hard work of the correctional service. They provide an essential public service in our communities. We know that many people who come into our correctional facilities may themselves be hurt, traumatized, or vulnerable. Yet, each day, our dedicated corrections staff work to help inmates in their care become stronger, with the life skills needed on their path of recovery. They are a critical part of helping those who are ready to make positive changes in their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise today to provide an update to the House on the launch of the territorial-wide 911 system. On November 4th of this year, the new NWT 911 service will enhance our ability to connect residents and visitors with emergency services such as police, fire, and ambulance.
NWT residents and visitors are now able to use the universally recognized number, 911, to access the existing emergency numbers in 33 communities of the Northwest Territories. NWT 911 is fully bilingual in French and English, and callers can be connected with interpretation services for NWT Indigenous and other languages. For callers who have hearing or speech communication impairments, technologies are available to ensure the service is accessible.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT 911 program service includes over-the-phone pre-arrival emergency medical instructions such as basic first aid. I can confirm NWT 911 has already provided life-saving medical care over the phone on a number of calls, including:
instructions on what to do for a heart attack;
how to address CPR;
how to stop the bleeding from a serious wound; and
telling callers how to administer Narcan for drugs and overdoses.
Mr. Speaker, since the previous government committed to implement 911, a great deal of work and collaboration has gone into making NWT 911 a reality. In 2019 alone, there have been several important milestones, including:
the establishment of new legislation and regulations;
the creation of an emergency communications centre;
meeting with all community governments on emergency response plans;
the recruitment and training of 911 staff; and
the launch of a public awareness campaign to inform residents and visitors that 911 is now available in the NWT.
I want to thank all those involved in putting the program in place, especially the community governments, for their commitment to improving public safety and security across the NWT. Now that we have launched 911, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will continue to monitor this initiative. The Northwest Territories 911 program includes ongoing quality control procedures, such as improvement and program evaluation to ensure the program continues to meet national standards and accreditation.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that NWT 911 is part of an integrated system that includes community dispatch services, first responders, organizations in communities, and volunteers across the territory. I wish to commend all officials and first responders for their work in keeping our residents and visitors safe.
Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to speaking to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight to provide a full briefing and update on the implementation of the NWT 911 program. I will be inviting all Members of the House to the 911 call centre for a tour of the facility.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture & Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our greatest northern resource is our people, and it is our responsibility to invest in and take steps to ensure their health and well-being.
On January 1, 2020, Northwest Territories residents will be able to access new and enhanced types of employment leave to protect their jobs when faced with important or challenging moments in life.
These challenges align with the Government of Canada's amendments to the Employment Insurance program and the Canada Labour Code and allow the Northwest Territories to remain competitive with other jurisdictions by offering employees the flexibility to balance personal responsibilities while maintaining their employment status.
Mr. Speaker, employers understand the complex needs of their employees and are increasingly looking for ways to support them and their responsibilities outside of work.
The birth or adoption of a child into a family is an exciting event and one that should be cherished. To better support parents and provide them with more flexibility, we have extended the length of time an eligible employee can take parental leave from 37 weeks of unpaid leave to up to 61 weeks. Two-parent families, including adoptive couples, will also be able to access an additional eight weeks of unpaid leave for the second parent.
Families sometimes face challenging circumstances, and one of the most difficult times in life is when a loved one is critically ill or injured. When faced with the added responsibilities of providing support for a family member, residents should be able to both care for their family and protect their job. A new family caregiver leave will provide up to 17 weeks of unpaid leave for eligible employees to provide care or support for an adult family member who is critically ill or injured, and up to 37 weeks for a child family member.
Compassionate care leave will also extend from eight to 27 weeks of unpaid leave each year, to allow employees time to provide end-of-life care for a family member who is gravely ill or at risk of death.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has a domestic violence rate approximately eight times higher than the national average. Family violence is a serious issue that affects too many of our residents.
In addition to the work by other departments and partner organizations, this legislation is also introducing new family-violence leave to protect employees and allow them time to seek help. This new leave will provide five days of paid and five days of unpaid annual emergency leave for employees experiencing domestic violence. Up to 15 additional unpaid weeks will also be available with prior written notice. This leave could be taken to seek medical attention, attend counselling or legal appointments, access victim services, and for a variety of other purposes.
Introducing family violence leave is an important part of protecting and supporting workers in times of need.
Mr. Speaker, the changes to the Employment Standards Act also include new definitions to recognize family-like relationships and to clarify and better protect youth, those in the construction industry, and domestic workers. Domestic workers, such as nannies or housekeepers, will now be included in the scope of the Employment Standards Act, providing them with an employment-standards minimum and ensuring job protection.
Mr. Speaker, we know many employers are already supporting and encouraging their employees during important life events. It is our intention that these new and enhanced types of leave will provide recognized and consistent guidelines for employers to achieve their goals as they invest in their employees and the Northwest Territories. As well, we want to ensure that employers have the information they need to apply this new legislation to their workplace. We will be conducting an advertising blitz in the new year to inform and update employers throughout the Northwest Territories and ensure a successful transition.
By introducing and strengthening types of leave, the Government of the Northwest Territories is reinforcing worker protection, making it easier for northern residents to take time off work to care for themselves and their families. At the same time, we recognize the work that employers are already doing, and will continue to do with the support of this legislation, to make the Northwest Territories a competitive and attractive place to work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go to item number 4 on the orders of the day. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Michele Thoms, vice-principal of Ecole St. Patrick High School, teacher advisor to Students Against Destructive Driving, formerly Students Against Drinking and Driving, and the person who started our NWT chapter of SADD 25 years ago. With Ms. Thoms today are a number of her SADD students, including Kam Lake residents and youth activists Victoria Hamm and Jaslynn Menton. I would also like to recognize in the gallery today Kam Lake residents Sara Minogue and Sarah Kalnay-Watson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my niece, Alexis McLeod, who actually is a resident of Yellowknife, and one of my relatives, Jennifer Mager. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize the students who are here today from Ecole St. Patrick High School who are with the SADD group and who live in Yellowknife Centre, including Evan Round and Delina Berhe. I would also like to recognize my constituent and the leader of this group and congratulate her for all her hard work. That is Ms. Michele Thoms. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I would like to recognize one of my constituents, Brianna Hardisty. She is with the SADD group today. Earlier, we had another Frame Lake Page, Monika Kunderlik. I want to recognize her work. She is a repeat Page, so very pleased to have her here earlier in the sitting. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.
Thank you for allowing me to jump the queue, Mr. Speaker. I do have some members of Yellowknife South, residents, who are also in the gallery here with the SADD group from Yellowknife South. While I don't see her, I know she is a member, and she happens to be my neighbour, Kailyn Unka. I think she is up there somewhere. Julia Leonardis, Anna Lalonde, Jennifer Mager, and Cullen Snyder, welcome.
Thank you, Member. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize some of my constituents with the SADD group. That would be Jaedenz White, I am sorry if I said your name wrong; Hannah Patzer; and Ellie Taylor. There was one on the list who didn't have a riding. I will recognize James Rose, as well, because I am not sure which riding he is in, so thought I would mention him, too. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three people who I would like to recognize from the SADD group, students from the Range Lake riding, even though one of them is a niece for the MLA of Inuvik Twin Lakes, still lives in my riding, Alexis McLeod, Makayla Lane, and Abigail Beck. Thank you for what you do, and thank you for being here.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to have an audience with us today. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, an average of four Canadians will be killed and 175 injured in motor vehicle crashes caused by impaired driving. With the holiday season upon us, I want to remind everyone of the devastating consequences of impaired driving and to acknowledge the efforts of those working hard to eliminate the needless devastation it causes.
Impaired driving ruins lives and tears families apart. Unfortunately, I know this all too well because it has left an irrevocable impact on my own family. Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimate that almost 1,500 people are killed and more than 63,000 are injured every year in Canada in impairment-related motor vehicle crashes.
Families are left to deal with the devastating loss of loved ones, and those who survive often find their lives permanently altered by the lasting, disabling effects of physical and emotional injury. First responders must deal with the carnage on our roads, and communities must come to terms with the loss of valuable contributors to community life.
This year, the NWT chapter of Students Against Destructive Driving achieved a milestone 25 years of advocacy in Northwest Territories. I want to pay tribute to Michele Thoms, vice-principal of Ecole St. Patrick School and the teacher advisor to SADD, for her 25-year commitment to the cause, the safety of her students, and the safety of all Northerners.
As an intern with the Department of Transportation, one of the first projects I was able to work on was the strategy to reduce impaired driving, under the leadership of Minister Michael McLeod.
The project was a testament to the power of consistent and effective youth activism as the St. Pat's SADD group contributed directly to this legislation. For this reason, I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the many youth advocates who have participated in SADD since its inception.
Mr. Speaker, impaired driving is not only caused by alcohol but also by drugs. We have just passed the one-year mark since the legalization of cannabis. I want to ask every Northerner to make the choice not to drive when impaired. Take a taxi, be the designated diver, stay the night at a friend's, or leave your car behind because, even though your car might not be there in the morning, thankfully, you will be.
While impaired driving rates across Canada have continued to decline over the last 25 years, impaired driving rates in the NWT are still five times the national average. As citizens and as a government, we must do more to make impaired driving a thing of the past. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to remind everyone: 'tis the season to be jolly. Many amongst us may have teenaged children, nephews, and nieces, and we all know what they will want for Christmas.
There are many hunters and trappers eking out a living out on the traplines. This is tough and, most times, dangerous work setting Conibear traps.
There are commercial fishermen out on the frozen lakes, whether by snowmobiles or Bombardiers, to provide fish to the people or restaurants.
We have infrastructure highways employees out on the highways on a daily basis, keeping the roads cleared and safe for the travelling public.
We can't forget about the main person, good, old, jolly St. Nick, better known as Santa Claus, riding with his reindeer and sleigh full of gifts, going from one community to the next and on. Even Santa has company in the skies if the airplanes may be circling his sleigh to have a better look.
This past October, the GNWT rolled out 911 service for our vast territory. This stemmed from the diligent work of the past Assemblies, and for this, the territory is forever grateful.
The range of coverage for cellphone service is limited to the immediate area of the municipalities. When you travel out of the municipal cellphone range, one may get lucky and find a hot spot and may get one bar for a signal on their cellphone, but those are few and far between.
We have to be mindful of the many people who are out on the land, highways, or, in Santa's case, up in the air. They all face dangers related to their profession and do require an avenue to call for help.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Ho-Ho-Ho related to the cellphone range outside of the municipal boundaries. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to end the first session of this new Assembly by thanking the public service. In this House, part of our job is to be critical of government, but I want to assure everyone who works in our public service that we are grateful for the work they do, and being a government worker can often be a thankless job.
We elected officials must remember that the GNWT is not some amorphous, impersonal machine, but it is made up of hard-working people who take pride in their jobs. It is our nurses who heal the sick. It is our teachers who are raising the next generation of strong minds. It is social workers, policy wonks, scientists, firefighters, road maintenance workers, and so much more.
To all of the members of the public service, I know, at times, that the demands of this House can be difficult. Sometimes you just get that program finally implemented and working, and some MLA tells you to change it, but I ask you to be patient. This leads me to my next point.
We in this House are not the experts. We are elected to lead, but we can only do so if provided advice from those in government who are the experts. We can only make truly informed decisions if we are provided all of the facts and options for solving our territory's problems.
To our public service, I encourage you to know that this is a new Assembly, an Assembly willing to do things differently, and know that we want new ideas. In fact, we want old ideas, too. Perhaps that program that was denied by the last administration, perhaps this is the time to push it through.
I am reminded, when we met our new ombud, that a Member wanted to thank Wendy Bisaro, who served as a Member two Assemblies ago. This is a recognition that progress is often slow, and all of our progress is built on the Members who served before us.
To our new Ministers, I encourage you to get into your regions, talk with your front-line workers, hear their concerns, and let's give them a few early wins. You must trust your senior management, but you must also remember that a department is so much more than its headquarters. It is more than its senior bureaucrats, who often have a lens that may be risk-adverse and not exactly a reflection of what is happening on the ground.
I ask all of us, and mostly, I thank the public service, and I encourage them to feel bold, feel empowered, and let's deliver programs and services that our Northerners need. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you are aware, housing is a basic necessity that everyone needs, especially here in the North, where temperatures swing dramatically. Recently, we received the NWT Bureau of Statistics 2019 Housing Indicators Community Survey. Shortly after that, CBC released a new story in which it was outlined, and some have called housing here in the North a crisis. This is not the first time in recent memory that this term has been used or hinted at to describe our housing situation. Last year, a housing summit was held in Inuvik where similar issues were raised.
Housing in every community throughout the Northwest Territories is getting worse, Mr. Speaker. The 2019 NWT Community Survey says that 42 percent of all houses in the territory have at least one major problem, and this is up from 20 percent in the 2016 federal census.
CBC compared the results of the 2019 NWT Community Survey with the 2016 census results and found a dramatic change in the number of households with core housing needs, a term used by national housing authorities to determine the number of households that are too expensive for residents and are not suitable in other ways, like overcrowding or the need for major repairs.
In Inuvik, we have had some new additions to housing that was done in partnership with the Inuvialuit, but this was just replacements. It was done with the Inuvialuit, but this is a far cry from what the actual need is in my community. This is a great example of GNWT working with Indigenous governments to bring more housing online in the communities. More of this type of collaboration needs to occur.
We have had people waiting for housing and have been on housing lists for years because the demand for housing is simply too much for our current allocations. We also have prices of homes in Inuvik that simply put owning a home out of the reach of many of my constituents. We need to find creative ways to help address this issue and help our residents have adequate affordable housing.
We need to fix this, Mr. Speaker. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for housing as to what this government is going to do to address this issue, because it is clearly getting worse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I live downtown in my constituency, and the operation of the combined day shelter and sobering centre is a focus for many of my constituents and, indeed, for Yellowknifers in general. I am committed to making downtown a safer place for everyone to be.
I have spoken in this House about the gains made downtown by having both GNWT and the City of Yellowknife invest in programs for people who are intoxicated and/or homeless. These programs have produced good outcomes for clients, including keeping them safe and connecting them to housing and treatment services, but, as a recently completed evaluation shows, the day shelter's mandate is unclear.
Mr. Speaker, the operator of the combined centre, along the territorial health authority, has attempted to answer this question by banning people with homes from the day shelter. This change was poorly communicated, with a sign on the door a couple of days before the new rule was to come into force last month.
Clients and other service providers responded negatively to what they perceived as a surprise change, and one that may be dangerous to clients, especially in the winter. In the latest attempt to get the messaging right, the operator paid for two full-page ads in the newspaper to make its case.
Mr. Speaker, there are some simple lessons to learn here. The first is to share and discuss the evaluation findings and proposed changes with other service providers. I am unclear of why that didn't happen, but it obviously should have.
Second, service providers need some kind of forum to discuss services for clients because, in many cases, there is an overlapping client group who access a number of different agencies. Other communities have interagency committees. Why doesn't Yellowknife? Is this work that the Health and Social Services authority could facilitate?
Third, people who have housing shouldn't be treated as if shelter is their only need.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. I have met people at the day shelter who go there to socialize, to take a break from escalating violence at home, or to get something to eat. I am unclear how these needs are going to be met now. Having made this change at the day shelter, the department needs to come up with a plan along with the new interagency committee about how to meet the complex needs of people who do have housing.
Mr. Speaker, this change comes at a time when the weather is a serious risk to those without homes. I appreciate they can go to the day shelter for warmth and safety. Now, we have to turn our attention to the population who are no longer welcome there. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Members. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to focus on how we should empower our communities and our people. This is part of the discussion we had on our priorities and mandates of the Northwest Territories. We need to allow communities to build capacities and start making their own decisions.
Mr. Speaker, I represent the largest Indigenous community in the NWT. The population of Behchoko is around 2,500. Over 90 percent are Tlicho citizens. Behchoko is a fast-growing community, with highly educated community members. More than 200 individuals have post-secondary education. These statistics show that Tlicho people have the education and ability to take on positions within the GNWT. We have the ability to assess our own community needs and manage programs based on those needs.
Twenty years ago, Mr. Speaker, I was a community empowerment coordinator in Behchoko for MACA. At that time, all the MACA positions were housed in Behchoko, including the superintendent. This department was working at full capacity, with all positions situated in Behchoko. Twenty years later, there are seven positions serving the North Slave region. North Slave includes all Tlicho communities. Four of these positions, three of the most senior positions, are based out of Yellowknife. Headquarters is making all of our decisions about our communities, from Yellowknife.
How is this decentralization? How is this community empowerment?
Not only this, Mr. Speaker; I have been told that, in the past, the North Slave superintendent rarely came to Behchoko and local staff were required to accommodate him in Yellowknife for meetings. It is my understanding that there is a new superintendent also working in Yellowknife today. Perhaps she will be able to spend more time in the community.
Mr. Speaker, if we are serious about communities taking ownership and being their own decision-making authorities, we have to start empowering them. GNWT positions need to be in a community or regions to serve the needs of our communities. We have to move away from a top-down approach and allow grassroots people to make their own decisions. This will be a true reconciliation. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
