Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order under Rule 24 (h), making allegations against another Member, a House Officer, a witness, or a member of the public; (i) imputes false or hidden motives to another Member; (j) charges another Member with uttering a deliberate falsehood; and/or (k) uses abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder. I have waited until today to raise this point of order because I wanted to review Hansard.
Yesterday, during Members' Statements, the Member for Monfwi said while speaking of the Honourable Premier, and I quote from page 14 of the unedited Hansard from Wednesday, February 26, 2020:
"Mr. Speaker, the Premier has confused her powers under the Public Service Act with the Minister of Education's powers under the Aurora College Act. In her confusion, I believe she has misled this House and overstepped her authority, in fact breaking the law."
On the same page, the Member also said, and I quote:
"If these statutory realities aren't enough to convince the Premier of the errors of her ways, the Aurora College Act offers one other bit of guidance that should have told her she was exceeding her powers. For added clarity, section 19(3) of the Aurora College Act states that, for greater certainty, the Minister's authority to appoint the president "operates notwithstanding the Public Service Act."
And finally, on the same page, the Member stated, and I quote:
"It should be troubling to this House that the Premier would play so free and easy with something as sanctified as the duly enacted statutes of this House. It makes one wonder where else she might choose to exceed her authority as a Premier. I believe her misconduct warrants an apology to this House and a pledge to us that this will never happen again. Masi, Mr. Speaker."
Additionally, during Question Period, the Member for Monfwi stated at page 31:
"Section 19(3) of the Aurora College Act, which is a law that we follow, "for greater certainty," the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment's authority to appoint and hence terminate the president of Aurora College "operates notwithstanding the Public Service Act."
The Member further stated, and I quote:
"Will Premier Cochrane apologize to this House for overstepping her authority in terminating the Aurora College president?"
And finally, and I quote:
"Masi, Mr. Speaker. Since I am not getting the answer the public is expecting, at a later time, I am tabling a document that is legal advice that I received and let the public decide on this. Masi, Mr. Speaker."
Mr. Speaker, the Member then tabled document 42-19(2): A Legal Opinion from the Deputy Law Clerk regarding the "Legal Authority to terminate the appointment of the Aurora College President."
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Member's words and actions in this Chamber yesterday seriously violate the rules of order and decorum in this House in a variety of ways and I will attempt to separate them and express my concerns.
1. Accusations against another Member/Abusive or Insulting Language Likely to Create Disorder (Rule 24(h) and (k)):
Firstly, Mr. Speaker, the Member has made serious allegations against another Member of this House. The Member has alleged that the Honourable Premier overstepped her authority, misled the House and broke the law. These are very serious allegations Mr. Speaker. The effect of the Member's words create doubt about the integrity of the Premier and appear to reflect an intent to discredit the Premier in the minds of the public. The effect of this is that the Member has created disorder in this House.
Mr. Speaker, the Member has suggested that the Premier broke the law, and has further suggested that the public should consider that the Honourable Premier is capable of further abuses of authority. Such allegations and suggestions could easily contribute to the public perception that unlawful activities are actually, or at least likely, taking place.
These allegations are serious, Mr. Speaker. Public confidence in good governance is essential. We must take these allegations very seriously as a government.
The Premier, Members of the Executive Council, and, in fact, all Members of this Legislative Assembly are required to operate within the confines of the law.
In addition, our Members are bound by a Code of Ethics that they have agreed to follow.
Mr. Speaker, the remarks from the Member for Monfwi seem to suggest a deep mistrust of government and specifically the Premier that I don't believe are helpful in advancing the business of the Assembly or maintaining a positive working relationship in this House. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Member's remarks are so serious that they are likely to create disorder in the House.
Maintaining a positive working relationship in this House is critical to the success for the operation of a consensus government. In fact, Mr. Speaker, our own Guiding Principles of Consensus Government in the NWT state that:
"As with all parliamentary systems of government, a healthy level of tension must exist between Cabinet and Regular Members. While the ultimate goal of the Regular Members is not to defeat or discredit Cabinet, it is their job responsibility to review and monitor the leadership and direction of Cabinet and hold it to account."
Mr. Speaker, the Member's accusations against the Premier crossed the line. The Member for Monfwi went well beyond merely holding the Premier to account and instead, it appears as though the remarks were intended to discredit the Premier in the eyes of the public. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Member's remarks used unparliamentary language and violate the established rules and practices of this Assembly.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, in dealing with unparliamentary language, it is not just the words that matter. In the second edition of the House of Commons Procedure and Practice, 2009, it is noted at page 619 that the tone, manner, and intention of the Member speaking and whether the remarks create disorder in the Chamber also matter.
I believe that anyone listening to the Member's statement and questions yesterday would conclude that he was accusing the Premier of misleading the House and breaking the law. Such allegations create disorder, are un-parliamentary and a violation of the Rules of this Assembly.
2. Imputing False Motives (Rule 24(i))
Mr. Speaker, the Member for Monfwi also implied that there is a likely risk that the Premier would ignore the laws of this territory and intentionally exceed her authority in other circumstances as well. By stating that the Premier would "play free and easy with something as sanctified as the duly enacted statutes of this House" and that "it makes one wonder where else she might choose to exceed her authority as a Premier" implies that the Premier may have false or improper motives in executing her authority under the law.
Again, Mr. Speaker, this crossed a line. Such language is not in the spirit of holding the government to account. Rather, it is an attempt to discredit a fellow Member. It is against the rules of practice of this Assembly. It is unparliamentary and contravenes the guiding principles of consensus government.
3. Suggesting the existence of legal support proving the Premier broke the law (Rule 24(h))
Mr. Speaker, during Question Period the Member for Monfwi stated that "Section 19(3) of the Aurora College Act states that, 'for greater certainty,' the Minister's authority to appoint the president 'operates notwithstanding the Public Service Act.'" The Member also continued, stating "Section 19(3) of the Aurora College Act, which is a law that we follow, 'for greater certainty,' the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment's authority to appoint and hence terminate the president of Aurora College 'operates notwithstanding the Public Service Act.'"
Further, the Member for Monfwi stated that, "Since I am not getting the answer the public is expecting, at a later time, I am be tabling a document that is legal advice that I received and let the public decide on this."
Mr. Speaker, I believe the Member's comments in this regard suggest a likelihood that the Member had legal authority holding that the Premier broke the law. Mr. Speaker, this is inaccurate. The document tabled by the Member is a legal opinion. It is not legal authority. The tabling of legal opinions are exceptionally rare. The document tabled offers consideration of who has the authority to terminate an appointment. It does not fully consider who has the authority to terminate an employment relationship, which is a critical distinction.
I believe the Member for Monfwi's comments in this regard were inappropriate and unparliamentary.
Therefore, based on all of the evidence above, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully suggest that the Member be directed to withdraw his remarks made during Members' Statements and question period and apologize to this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Government House Leader. I will now allow comments on this point of order. Member for Monfwi. To the point of order, first, and then we will deal with the point of privilege. We will allow debate on the point of order, and then once we conclude that will be the point of privilege. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, we are talking about something very important regarding these regulations. We have a big issue in front of us. When we talk about legislation, it is the law that we follow by. This is the law we follow, but when we take a look at this, when we say Aurora College Act, it looks like we did not follow the rules. Section 19(1), it states that the Minister is supposed to speak to the board first, and they were supposed to make that decision. That was the process, although I don't know all the evidence of this, but that is the question I questioned.
I had a legal opinion regarding the Legislative Assembly. That is what was given to me. When I received this statement, that is what I made a statement on regarding Aurora College president: who was the one to make that decision? In my opinion, it is supposed to be the Minister's right, and the associate deputy minister is a separate issue. It may be up to the Premier regarding that position, but the president has its own regulation. It is the 19 Members here that we make a statement on that. We want everyone to know. I understand this is a big issue now. It is something very important in front of us, and now we have to make a decision on this to take a look at all the whole process of what happened. I want to get to the bottom of it.
There are a lot of people in the Northwest Territories, 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. There are approximately 40,000 members. We like to hear what people think. We know. We want to be accountable and transparent to all of the membership. That is how this government is supposed to work. We are supposed to be accountable to each, the people of the Northwest Territories. If we have an issue, we try to resolve it as soon as possible. We talk about transparency, as well. We want everything to be open. Sometimes, it is not like that.
Mr. Speaker, my statement is recorded here, and also it is the questions that are coming from the communities. The people are the ones who elect us to be here, to be their representative, to speak on their behalf. We have a Premier and their Cabinet. I am not trying to say that they are not doing their job, but there is a process that is not quite accurate. I feel that something is not quite right. For me, if everything went the way it is supposed to go, following all these regulations, I would have no problem, but the way I see it, there are some things that are not quite right.
Mr. Speaker, it will be up to you now to make a decision on this point of order. We make big decisions here in this House to represent our membership, and we want to make sure that we represent them properly and to make a good decision for our people. We are trying to make the best decision and make it right. This is not the only thing that happened. There are other things that happens, as well, but when I take a look at this, I don't want anything like this to happen again. It is the reason why I am saying this, to prevent it for the future.
Mr. Speaker, there is a lot has been said. I speak for my people. I cannot sit back and say nothing about it. I want the truth to come out. I also will table a document, and I will make a statement on it, but today, I was not expecting this point of order. They did not tell us this was going to happen. I was going to table a document, and I did let the Premier know, notify her that I was going to do this. Sometimes, things are done without our knowledge, and we were not notified. I don't agree with that. We need to have respect for each other, and it seems like it is not happening now.
Mr. Speaker, that will be my statement. I have said a lot of things. My words are recorded, as well. People are concerned about this. There are a lot of people who don't agree with this. I don't know this president personally; maybe I met him once or twice. I am not really supporting what they have done to him, but what I am trying to make a point of is the whole process of hiring and firing. These are the laws that we are supposed to follow. That is what I am speaking on, on this. This is the opinion of the lawyer. I have said previously, I did make a statement on this, and I would like to tell you again that there are a lot of people out there who are worried about this. In this House, when we make decisions, we need to follow process, so it will be up to you to make a final decision. Masi, Mr. Speaker. [End of translation]
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. I will open up the floor to debate on the point of order. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The laws in the Northwest Territories aren't one above another. They are meant to work as a whole. They are meant to work as a unit. They are meant to be read together, Mr. Speaker, and they are meant to work together, which is not to say that they don't necessarily sometimes come into conflict one with another and that we are asked to interpret them in order to then back away to read them in concert one with another. Laws about jurisdiction, any jurisdiction in Canada, are meant to be interpreted in a way that they are consistent one with another. Rules of statutory interpretation help guide that exercise. They help provide us the ground rules around which we can interpret what sometimes seem like conflicting pieces of legislation, sometimes conflicting parts within legislation. Lawyers are often called upon to apply those rules and to try to provide opinions that, in fact, can help us understand what conflicting provisions mean, what specific provisions mean, and can help understand how to apply those different provisions depending on the circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, a legal opinion is just that. It is an opinion, at the end of the day, based on one's professional judgment and best efforts, but it is still just an opinion. The final authority on any legal interpretation is done by the judiciary; it is done by the judicial branch of government, not by the executive or the legislative, and not by any lawyer. That is part of the division of responsibilities that we have. One of the examples of a piece of legislation, or parts within a legislation, that has perhaps led to quite a bit of challenge within the House, Mr. Speaker, in fact, is, of course, the Public Service Act and the Aurora College Act, and specific provisions around the hiring of the president.
These two acts deal with two very different things. The Public Service Act, at its core, of course deals with the provisions around hiring and governance of the public service. More specifically, Section 16.1 of the Public Service Act confers an exclusive authority on the Premier to make a recommendation for the appointment of all deputy minister roles. In other words, Mr. Speaker, it is only the Premier who can hire or terminate someone within a role of a deputy minister.
Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, the Aurora College Act, under Section 19, confers on the Minister of Education an authority, with consultation of the board, to appoint a president of the Aurora College. Section 2 makes the president of the Aurora College a public servant. That is important, Mr. Speaker, because most employees of the Aurora College are not public servants. Then Section 19(3) says that this happens notwithstanding what is in the Public Service Act, which makes some sense, Mr. Speaker, because, of course, as I have said earlier, it is the Public Service Act generally that would govern creating any kind of employment relationship within the public service. Whereas, in this case, someone who is the president becomes a public servant.
However, Mr. Speaker, someone who becomes a public servant by appointment as president does not become a deputy minister. The deputy minister authority, again, that lies exclusively on the recommendation of the Premier. So, unfortunately -- "unfortunately" is maybe a bit too strong. The reality is that you have sort of two different things happening, Mr. Speaker. You have deputy ministers being appointed under the exclusive recommendation of the Premier, and meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, you have the president of the Aurora College being appointed under the Aurora College Act. The president becomes a member of the public service, but not every public servant is a deputy minister, and certainly not every deputy minister becomes the president of Aurora College.
Unfortunately in this case, Mr. Speaker, this has certainly given rise to a fair bit of confusion, perhaps, and uncertainty, and led to a lot of attempts to explain in this House what has occurred when someone who was holding those two dual roles has ultimately been terminated, and whether, in fact, the Premier had the authority to terminate someone in the role of a deputy minister.
Mr. Speaker, in my view, someone who is in the role of a deputy minister can only be terminated by the Premier, which is separate and apart from the fact that someone who happens to hold a statutory appointment as president of Aurora College, that statutory appointment would be terminated by the Minister responsible; but it doesn't change or impede or take away from the authority of the Premier to terminate a deputy minister, or to make the recommendation, rather, to terminate a deputy minister. Because, again, that is the only role that has that authority to make that judgment to do that thing, and that is exactly what the Premier had done in this case and has described having done in this case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Colleagues, we are dealing with a point of order raised by the Government House Leader. We are not debating who had the authority to dismiss whom. Did the Member for Monfwi breach our rules in his comments yesterday? That is what we are debating at the moment, so it is still open. There are no further comments? Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we come and represent our people on the floor of the House, we are passionate about what we are doing here. We want to be here to help. On the point of order, I think that the "working together" part of the House, I mean, we could bring up anything we want on the floor, anything. It is up to the Member who wanted to bring something forward who is passionate about it and wanting to seek clarity. That is all that I think that was. Working together, it is in black and white, Mr. Speaker. I really think that this House, all the Members, have to reflect why we are here and make sure that we are here for the right reason. For myself, I really think that my colleague Mr. Lafferty has compassion for doing his job and he is good at what he does. I think that we have to take a step back and try to get through this, because we have another four weeks, and try to make the best of what we have while we are sitting here and not wasting House time. It is in black and white on what happened, and I leave that up to your discretion, Mr. Speaker. This is your House. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Any other debate? Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I hadn't actually thought I would get up and say anything. I know this is the way that the rules work, but I just feel that I am at a distinct disadvantage, not having had notice of the point of order before we got into the House today or just very shortly before we got into the House.
My honourable friends on the other side have cited a number of legal sections of the acts and so on, so I really feel at a disadvantage in terms of being able to examine the record here and, perhaps, offer some advice to you.
I would ask, Mr. Speaker, that you do go back and carefully review what was said in the House over this sitting to see what the Premier said about the removal of the individual, and in what capacity she was acting, what capacity the Minister was acting, and so on. I do think that there is a point of public interest in this, and I have every confidence that you will review the record very carefully, but I would prefer that we have more notice on this side of the House on these sort of matters so that we can actually offer some informed advice to you in carrying our your role. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Any other debate? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My thoughts on this: I am echoing what Member from Frame Lake said about getting notice for the point of order. I think we as Members, when we first got to the House, we are going to work together. I think we have got to continue to do that and not to surprise each other because we give that courtesy across the other side, and we expect the same thing in return. We did not get that today. That is not right.
On that note, about this whole issue, for me, personally, it wasn't too much on my radar, but the more I thought about it, I have four tenets, and I kind of have a couple of other things that I go by when something comes across my desk. One, is it legal? Two, is it practical? Three, is it ethical? Four, is it affordable? Anytime I see a document come across my desk, I look at that, and I think we should all look at that in the same light. Another thing I like to look at is: one, is it beneficial for my constituents? Most importantly, is it beneficial for the territories? We should think about that when we go about looking at this issue. That is what I would like to say about this, and I think we should try to be as objective as possible and, again, work with each other and remember who we are serving. Mahsi cho.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I have a point of privilege. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on my point of privilege. When we look at the position of the Premier, it is a big position. It is a huge job, and also the president of Aurora College has its own rules and regulations in place. The decision the Premier has made, we want to know exactly what happened. The way we have these recorded information, I will read it in English because I want it properly recorded. We do have a really good interpreter, but I will say this one in English. [Translation ends]
Mr. Speaker, I have a point of privilege affecting this Assembly. The Premier has acted outside her statutory authority by terminating the appointment of the president of Aurora College without the statutory authority to do so. The Premier's action are in direct contravention of Section 19 of the Aurora College Act. In doing so, she has breached the collective privileges of this House done against the dignity and authority of this Assembly as per Rule 20 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I bring this question to the Assembly, to the attention of this
Assembly at the earliest opportunity to do so after receiving legal advice from independent counsel that was laid before the House yesterday when I tabled the document 40-19(2) and upon review of the Premier's response to my questions in Hansard from yesterday's proceedings.
Mr. Speaker, the rule of law as commonly defined as the principles whereby all Members of a society, including those in government, are considered equally subject to publicly disclosed legal codes and processes. In brief, Mr. Speaker, it means that no one, absolutely no one, is above the law, especially the elected lawmakers, even more, so Ministers of the Crown.
When the Premier decided to take a statutory role of the Minister of Education on the administration of the Aurora College Act, she violated this fundamental principle of our society, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this is a gravely serious matter in that an act in contempt of our laws is to act in contempt of the Assembly that makes them. The authority of this Assembly has been overridden by the actions of this Premier with the consequences that she has obstructed the ability of legislature in carrying out the lawmaking functions.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier has repeatedly refused to accept that she erred in impeding the statutory authority of one of her Ministers. Appropriate sanctions must be sought to curb this behaviour, to restore the integrity of the rule of law, and to ensure that we continue to live up to the highest standards, probity, integrity, accountability of our actions as elected officials.
Mr. Speaker, clearly, like all Members across this floor here, I was hoping for real positive changes within our government, an accountable government, a transparent government, but not this, Mr. Speaker. We cannot continue operating this way for our people. There are so many questions from myself and from the public, as well. They hold us in high regards when we make decisions for them across the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I await your decision on this very important matter, and I will respect your decision. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Thank you. I will now allow the Honourable Premier to speak to the point raised.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by raising the point that points of privilege should be raised at the earliest possible time. This issue has been raised now for a number of weeks. This point could have been raised earlier. If there was an issue related to the timing of the legal opinion, I note it was dated February 12th, more than two weeks ago. Mr. Speaker, nothing in the present circumstances have prevented the Assembly from being able to fulfill its duties. The hiring and firing of associate deputy ministers and their statutory appointments of officials are not matters that relate to functions and duties of the Assembly. I have responded to questions in this Assembly related to a sensitive human resources matter to the extent that is appropriate.
Mr. Speaker, I have even offered briefings to help the Member better understand the steps and processes involved in ending an employment relationship. I continue to disagree that anything done in relation to this matter lacked the proper authority, did not follow any required steps, or broke the law.
I terminated an employment relationship of an associate deputy minister who also had a statutory appointment as the president of Aurora College under the Aurora College Act. The steps required to terminate that employment relationship were followed. The steps to terminate the statutory appointment have also been followed with the revocation of that appointment by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The termination of that appointment instrument will appear in the Gazette shortly. MLAs should be aware of the nature of statutory appointments.
I know that the Member of Monfwi made hundreds of statutory appointments during his time as Minister. This did not mean he had the authority to terminate any employment relationship for such appointment holders. The revocations of such appointments always follow the termination of the employment agreement.
The confusion over this matter is both frustrating and unfortunate, but it should not affect the proper functioning of this House. I regret that we are again taking up valuable time over what appears to be confusion over the paperwork required to affect the termination of an appointment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Sorry, my apologies. Which one to start with, here. Airport improvements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Making strategic investments in our transportation system is one of the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Investing in airport improvements will keep our communities connected while reducing the cost of living and supporting economic opportunities. Given our vast territory and dispersed communities, air travel is essential for northern residents, businesses, and tourists.
The Government of the Northwest Territories manages 27 public airports that support vital services, including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, forest fire response, and much more. Investing in our airports not only improves the delivery of safe and efficient transportation, but also provides jobs, skills, training, and beneficial economic opportunities for communities and residents. In fact, a total of 158 Northerners are directly employed through our airports. This does not include jobs created through special projects, such as capital construction projects.
Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to provide an update on airport improvement projects throughout the Northwest Territories. Beginning in Inuvik, there are three major projects planned for the Mike Zubko Airport. These include:
a new air terminal building;
improvements to help protect permafrost and improve runway drainage; and
the design of an extension to the existing runway.
When the new air terminal building is completed, travellers will notice an improved passenger experience and an airport that better fits their needs. This includes upgraded public spaces, baggage systems, food concessions, airline operations, and improved accessibility. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working to keep the public informed and to provide opportunities for dialogue with residents and businesses. This month the Department of Infrastructure held two public meetings and one contractor meeting in Inuvik to discuss the new air terminal building. The project is already providing a boost to local employment, as a local business was contracted to demolish the pre-existing hangar on the build site. Construction of the new air terminal building is expected to be complete as soon as 2023.
The second project at the Inuvik Airport will result in airfield upgrades to protect permafrost and improve drainage. A total of $22 million in federal and territorial funding was announced last year for this project under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. This project will make the airport more resilient to the effects of climate change, one of the priorities of this Legislative Assembly. The runway and taxiway embankments will be reconstructed to better protect the permafrost under the airport. Surface drainage improvements will also help direct water away from vulnerable areas. Design work for the airfield improvement projects is currently underway and is expected to be completed this fall. Once the design has been finalized, construction is expected to take approximately two years.
Mr. Speaker, design work begins this summer on the Inuvik Airport runway extension project. Last year, the federal government announced funding of up to $150 million for the project. This funding will be spread out over five years and will deliver major upgrades, including extending the length of the runway from 6,000 to 9,000 feet long. The project includes modernizing the lighting, navigational, and military aircraft landing arrestor systems. This investment will support a greater variety of military aircraft while reducing the strain on aircraft that already serve the airport. The runway extension will help increase Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and benefit local travelers and businesses that rely on this airport.
Mr. Speaker, for many communities across the North, air travel is an essential service. For this reason, airport maintenance and improvement activities are particularly important to ensure safe and efficient travel. With this in mind, the Department of Infrastructure is also completing work at some of our smaller airports. For example, we are undertaking drainage improvements at Sachs Harbour, Aklavik, Hay River, and Sambaa K'e airports. This work will increase the resiliency of these airports to the effects of climate change.
Mr. Speaker, improvements are also ongoing at the Yellowknife Airport. As the largest and busiest aviation gateway to the North, Yellowknife Airport continues to focus on improvements for travellers as well as new economic opportunities. The airport recently transitioned to common-use terminals, which will allow airlines to share counter space based on flight schedules, creating increased flexibility and better use of the check-in area. Upgrades were also recently completed to the baggage system and security screening areas of the airport, underscoring our commitment to a safe and secure facility.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to improvements to the passenger experience, the airport has been busy making operational improvements. While not always visible to the public, these investments are crucial to the safe and efficient operation of airports. To help define long-term goals at the Yellowknife Airport, a 20-year master plan will be finalized in the coming months.
In addition to these improvements at the Yellowknife Airport, our government is also pursuing economic opportunities related to cold-weather testing. Most recently, Airbus chose the Yellowknife Airport to test their newest aircraft: the Airbus A220. Our frigid temperatures make us the perfect destination for this type of testing. The A220 is already certified to minus 35 Celsius, but Airbus wants to certify the jet for minus 40 Celsius, which is why they brought it to Yellowknife. Airbus officials indicated the weather was ideal during their visit, and I thank the many northern businesses and support groups who worked to make this opportunity possible.
Going forward, the airport is focused on attracting more cold-weather testing opportunities. To support this, a dedicated working group has been established at the airport to provide resources and assist aeronautical decision-makers. Through this group's work, the NWT can provide a wealth of knowledge for companies looking to test their equipment in the North.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to invest in all of our airports. By working closely with communities and the federal government to secure funding, we will keep our communities connected while supporting opportunities for Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Culture.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because I didn't talk enough already, here is my presentation here.
The 19th Legislative Assembly has identified increasing resource exploration and development for the benefit of the people of the Northwest Territories, as a priority for this government. In January, I attended the Association for Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver with Premier Cochrane, Minister Thompson, and staff from the departments of Infrastructure, Industry, Tourism and Investment, Environment and Natural Resources, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, and Lands in an effort to advance the interests of the NWT and work towards attaining this goal. We often talk about the benefits mines bring to a territory. Our mines are huge operations requiring numerous products and services and large, diverse workforces. This means economic opportunities and benefits that begin to flow to NWT residents, long before mines even open, in exploration activity and geoscience research spurred by the search for precious stones and minerals.
This is the focus of Roundup. It is one of Canada's largest mining conferences that draws delegates from around the world, including Government of the Northwest Territories staff representing a number of departments and representatives from Northwest Territories Indigenous governments and development corporations. It is an event that I first attended as an engineering student at the University of British Columbia, and it was then and continues to be today an important opportunity to promote our resource potential and strong partnership model to those who want to work with us to sustain and enhance our economy.
Mr. Speaker, exploration spending in our territory is projected to have decreased again last year to around $78 million. In past years, it has been as high as $150 to $200 million. It is a critical investment that is missing in our economy. This is something that we have already said needs to be a priority for our government. It is money that is spent on helicopters, equipment, camps, and supplies. If exploration companies need it, they buy it, and Northwest Territories companies are the benefactors. Just like the mines that they precede, exploration crews and logistics companies also hire locally, not just geologists and geophysicists, but expediters, line cutters, stakers, cooks, technicians, camp attendants, ramp hands, cleaners, and labourers.
Mr. Speaker, our government's approach for this year's Roundup was to highlight the enormous potential that exists for those willing to be a part of responsible development in our territory and to demonstrate, in tangible terms, the partnerships that we believe will realize new exploration opportunities. We set the stage for our attendance this year by introducing an updated bedrock geology map and database for the mineral-rich Slave Geological Province, which is well known for its excellent mineral potential and the long, prosperous history of mining.
On the Sunday preceding Roundup, Premier Cochrane helped to launch an exciting new partnership for our North. Backed by the Government of Canada and supported by Canada's three territorial governments, the Invest Canada North initiative will see a robust presence from northern Canada at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention, taking place in Toronto next week, that will focus exclusively on promoting investment opportunities in Canada's North to national and international audiences.
As the business of Roundup got under way, two important media events showcased our territory's innovation and leadership in partnered, Indigenous-led resource development. I want to recognize the leadership of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Det'on Cho Corporation, and Cheetah Resources. Their agreement to begin Canada's first rare earth mining project, with the first Indigenous-led mine site, could be a game-changer, not just for our territory, but for our country. I also want to congratulate the Gwich'in Tribal Council and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation again for the release of their regional mineral development strategies. These strategies will serve both as roadmaps for mineral explorers and action plans for Indigenous governments as they seek to attract investment on their terms.
There were also a number of formal meetings and informal networking events during Roundup where the Premier, Minister Thompson, and I spoke to the priority that our government will be giving to revitalizing exploration and development in our territory. We highlighted our continuing work to implement new mineral legislation, updated industry representatives on transformative infrastructure projects that are taking shape, and listened proactively to concerns that were raised by our partners. At every step, Mr. Speaker, we were able to point to economic reconciliation in action. Our ongoing work with Indigenous governments was alongside of us, clearly communicated as part of and in step with our own government's presence.
Mr. Speaker, it was a powerful message, and it served to solidify the purpose of coming out in force to events like Roundup. We need to take tangible steps to improve the investment landscape in our territory. It is going to take more than just one Minister, one department, or one government.
The annual Roundup conference remains an excellent opportunity to build relationships and seek out new partnerships which will build and benefit our territory. I am pleased with the work of the Government of the Northwest Territories at this year's event and confident that, in addition to highlighting our political support for this sector, we were also able to demonstrate that the 19th Legislative Assembly is committed to reaching goals and making decisions in a more transparent and collaborative manner. I look forward to our government building on these successes at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention and through the Invest Canada North initiative that begins this Sunday in Toronto, and will be happy to update the House and the public of those successes in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I want to talk about the Deh Cho bridge. I believe we are going to create a big bridge in the Tlicho Nation. Now, it has been almost 50 years since we have a winter road that a lot of people are using, and this is the statement I want to make today. [End of translation] Since the Deh Cho Bridge is now completed and well-used today, I would like to highlight and also talk about the Tlicho Bridge, also known as the Frank Channel Bridge.
Mr. Speaker, the Frank Channel Bridge is a vital part of the highway lifeline connecting Yellowknife and the North Slave region to the rest of the territory and to southern Canada. All car and truck traffic into the territorial capital must pass over this bridge that we have, the Frank Channel Bridge. In excess of 20,000 people depend on this bridge for groceries, fuel, building materials, and other essentials of life, not to mention the needs of industry, especially the diamond mines.
The Frank Channel Bridge is more than half a century old, well past its prime, Mr. Speaker. I suspect not a single bolt or girder of the original structure remains, so much of it has been replaced over the years, but there comes a time when band-aids on band-aids no longer work. For the Frank Channel Bridge, that time has come.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very important infrastructure for our territory; for my region, as well. It does connect us to the South and it is a main gateway, so this is a very important infrastructure, not only for my region, but for the whole territory. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Masi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Member's statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. In the last Assembly, the Minister of Justice agreed to carry out a comprehensive review of Victim Services. There are basically three programs; the Victims Assistance Fund, which receives the victims of crime surcharges, which are then used for application-based project. This program is working well, although there is an opening balance of $351,000 as of April 1, 2019, as shown in the most recent annual report tabled in this House.
The second program is the network of Victim Services coordinators that are funded through contribution agreements with the Department of Justice. This system has been in place since 1996 and there are currently eight community-based Victim Services coordinators with outreach positions in Hay River and Inuvik dedicated to serving communities without resident Victim Services providers. These coordinators, other service providers, and volunteers provide victims of crime in their communities with information, assistance, support, and referrals to community support services. Support is also supposed to be available to victims of crime in surrounding communities by phone.
It is my understanding that the number of service contacts with victims has more than doubled over the last five years. Given that this program is delivered through contribution agreements, there appears to be some issues with regard to consistency of support for the coordinators themselves, access to resources to support victims, and thus the need for a comprehensive review, along with more funding to complete the network and provide services to all of our communities.
The third program is the Victims of Crime Emergency Fund, which provides financial assistance to victims of serious violent crime. Although the program has eligibility criteria, there is apparently some discretion for justice officials. I understand that about $40,000 per year is available for the victims of serious violent crime.
I will have questions for the Minister of Justice on the status of the review of Victim Services and how this government intends to improve support for the victims of family violence and other crimes. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2015, the Aurora Research Institute did a study at the request of the NWT Seniors Society on Influences on the Quality of Life of the Older Adult in the Northwest Territories. This study found that Indigenous elders have a better quality of life when they feel connected and supported; active and independent; and safe and secure through a traditional lifestyle, which is bound in place at home. That is why it is so important that the government do everything it can to make sure that our elders have living places in their home communities and can access support and programs as their needs change with age.
The 19th Legislative Assembly identified enabling seniors to age in place with dignity as one of its key priorities. In the mandate, government is committing to have 10 percent more seniors with access to housing programs beginning in the summer of 2021. In the meantime, the mandate has set aside more than an entire year for the government to identify gaps. Mr. Speaker, I can help them do that before this summer comes, never mind next summer. I want to invite the Ministers of ECE, Health and Social Services, and the Housing Corporation to come to Nunakput to meet with the elders in some of my communities. It won't take long to figure out their needs.
Their needs are simple. They need access to safe, appropriate housing, where they can be near their families and friends, but where they can also feel safe from abuse when they have family troubles. They need access to affordable insurance, or they need the Housing Corporation to relax some of its policy requirements, so that simple repairs can be made without the need for insurance. They need to know that they can travel, hassle-free, with family members, when they need to travel outside their communities for medical care. They need access to palliative care and to die at home with dignity when the time comes.
I am ready and willing to work with the Ministers who have these responsibilities under this mandate item to make good things happen on the ground for the elders of Nunakput. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to speak about medical travel services with the Department of Health and Social Services. It seems that medical travel is quickly becoming one of the top issues that my constituents have to deal with. I am constantly, almost on a daily basis, hearing from constituents about various issues they have experienced in regard to medical travel. Among the issues I have seen, there seems to be confusion about the filing of paperwork; it is too complicated. The reimbursement of claims taking excessive amounts of time to be returned to residents; and, of course, there is the issue of medical escorts being denied.
I can understand the reasons for a minor waiting period between date of submission of a reimbursement claim and the date the reimbursement is received by the resident. However, there are several cases I have seen within my riding alone where this waiting period is simply too long for some people. I have many constituents who are on a very tight budget and income, as it is in a lot of our small communities, so even the slightest deviation from their regular spending habits can affect them for months on end. Simply put, the long waiting periods for residents to receive their medical travel reimbursements is too long, and in some cases, it is harmful.
I strongly and respectfully urge the Department of Health and Social Services to review this element of their medical travel program, the waiting period, because some of our vulnerable people are once again falling through the cracks.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, I am told by constituents that some of the forms associated with medical travel and medical escorts can be difficult to understand. In other words, the forms are not user-friendly enough and should be simplified a little more and be more accessible for people. It seems like sometimes you will have to sit with a CGA, a certified general accountant, just to get through some of these forms. It should not be that way.
There is one example here. When I was helping one constituent fill out her medical travel paperwork, there was one form that she needed which was not readily available online, and it took the Department of Health several hours to obtain a copy. I think that these types of barriers can be easy fixed by our government and can potentially save time and resources in the future by not having to walk through all the medical travel paperwork with residents as much as we do today. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today is regarding healthcare service in my community of Fort Providence and in the communities in my riding, which include Kakisa, K'atlodeeche, and Enterprise. This may also go for the other communities in the Northwest Territories, which may or may not have health centres. I believe the level of healthcare is concerning for the residents of the Northwest Territories. This issue most likely has been raised in every prior Assembly, with Members stating the problems with healthcare in our communities or lack thereof.
Everyone talks of fixing the healthcare system. I came to this Assembly with the mindset that I could make a difference in fixing the healthcare system. I want to have improved and simplified paperwork for medical travel right at the local health centre. I want to see better and improved diagnosis of patients at the local health centre. I want to see better health care service to the communities of Enterprise, K'atlodeeche, and Kakisa, and for the Northwest Territories as a whole.
I have had patients complain to me about being misdiagnosed for their ailment. They were seen by a nurse practitioner and sent home with a pill for the pain. Most have been back to the health centre four or five times, and only when their ailment was at a critical stage, they were shipped out. Most patients had to ship themselves out, with the assistance of a relative, for a serious misdiagnosis. People were afraid to go to a certain nurse practitioner for fear of not receiving the best healthcare that should be afforded to our people. This is very alarming to say the least.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the health Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I spoke about the analysis by Harold Johnson of the harm alcohol abuse is doing in his northern Saskatchewan community. I could have been talking about the Northwest Territories. The problems are similar of binge drinking with terrible consequences. Today, I am going to talk about another approach to alcohol harm reduction that is informed by academic research.
The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project, known as CAPE, has quantified the costs of alcohol harm in the Northwest Territories at $56 million a year. That is $30 million more than we take in from alcohol sales. On their 2017 report card, we scored a failing grade on alcohol policy, mostly because we don't have a full and effective set of alcohol policies. Clearly, we have some work to do.
Mr. Speaker, we can get started by creating an alcohol strategy that provides an independent and evidence-based approach to public health policy. CAPE has identified seven areas which provide the best direct results for harm reduction. Alcohol pricing is one promising area. CAPE recommends a minimum price per standard drink for both on and off-premises sales, adjusted annually to keep up with inflation. A second area is one I have talked about before, which is to persuade doctors to do a screening, brief intervention, and referral with their patients who may need help with alcohol abuse. A third area is to move responsibility for the liquor commission into the department of health so there is some consistency around health and safety messaging.
It is not all bad news. CAPE gives the NWT credit for the graduated licensing program for new drivers because of its zero tolerance for blood alcohol content during the first year they have a license, and it is worth noting the NWT is one of only two jurisdictions that have mandatory health warning labels on alcohol cans and bottles.
Mr. Speaker, as legislators, we could do nothing and watch as the harm continues, or we could be the leaders this issue needs by supporting the development of a strategy with dedicated funding, an identified leader with a public health focus, and robust implementation and monitoring. We need to bring to an end simply picking up the pieces leftover from the harms of alcohol, and focus on prevention. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to speak about the hours of service for the Yellowknife Department of Motor Vehicles.
Mr. Speaker, a number of my platform points that I campaigned on currently lie dead in the water. I won't walk out of here in four years having delivered universal basic income or universal daycare. However, in my platform, I had a number of smaller, very simple changes, and hopefully, after four years of persistence, I can get the Yellowknife Department of Motor Vehicles to be open evenings or weekends, Mr. Speaker.
Firstly, I would like to begin by acknowledging that the Yellowknife Department of Motor Vehicles office has put more and more services online, which has reduced wait times. They are accessible 24 hours a day, but there are a still a number of services you have to go into the office for. I have been trying to change the address on my driver's licence for years. In this town, which is a government town, if you work government hours but government services are only available those same hours, you find yourself having to take a day off simply to catch up on bureaucratic paperwork.
Now, Mr. Speaker, when I do a jurisdictional scan, it is clear: Edmonton, open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. You can go in after supper and renew your driver's licence. A number of jurisdictions; Ottawa, Thursday, they pick one night a week where they are open evenings and then a few hours on Saturday. Mr. Speaker, I believe we can accomplish this in the next four years.
One of the barriers to this is: we can't simply ask a GNWT employee to start two hours later, which would allow the DMV to be open two hours later, because we run into the collective agreement. I believe in the collective agreement, which serves the members who work in the public service, but in a government town where they have to then go access those services, it actually becomes a barrier. I have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure on whether we can add some flexibility into the collective agreement that allows our services to be open evenings and weekends. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about something that we hear about almost weekly in the news in the NWT, drug-related charges, offences. In Inuvik, at a recent town council meeting, it was reported 69 reports of possible drug trafficking in 2019 compared to 15 in 2018. This was according to the RCMP stats in January. In an article on February 13th, CBC quoted Constable Chris Main out of Inuvik: "In recent years, the Northwest Territories as a whole has seen a dramatic increase in the presence of drug trafficking, and Inuvik has been no exception to this," and reports to Inuvik RCMP of alleged drug trafficking shot up in 2019, more than quadrupling the number from the year before.
He also said the jump in this is the direct result of people choosing to alert the police about specific drug traffickers. Reports from the public work as a compass, he said. They help direct police toward certain locations or people.
Traffickers are coming up from provinces. Main has stated that criminal organizations, often from provinces, have set up operations in a number of NWT communities. "These groups rotate in and out of the communities, often with one drug trafficker replacing another," he said, adding they mostly deal in crack cocaine and powder cocaine.
"Particularly troubling for the police," said Main, "is that the traffickers are regularly using people's homes as bases for their operations, exploiting residents who are already living with addictions and poverty." Traffickers, he added, will seek out people who are isolated and who won't speak out against them. I would like to thank the RCMP in our community who are taking action on this, as well as the residents who are brave in reporting this to the RCMP.
Mr. Speaker, these drugs are coming in by road, by air. How can we, as a government, stop this? I don't know, but I do know that it is a problem. I see that the RCMP are doing their part, and the residents are doing their part. If we can provide local, culturally-relevant healing and focused aftercare in support for our residents who are struggling with addictions, we may see less and less of these news release headlines and do our part as government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' Statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For four years, the regular Members of the 18th Assembly made repeated calls for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs to develop a strategy to address the municipal funding gap. That report was quietly tabled on the final day of the final sitting of the 18th Assembly, which prevented any public discussion. This is not surprising, Mr. Speaker, given how dire the findings are. On page 12, it states, "In 2019, the full cost of basic infrastructure has increased to $2.9 billion with an investment of $69 million needed annually." It went on to say that, "The total annual funding deficit for community governments is approximately $24.5 million."
The funding MACA provides accounts for up to 90 percent of community government revenues. The extreme funding shortfall leaves community governments to choose between allowing assets to age into disrepair or pass the cost to residents. If the City of Yellowknife chose to address their $11.5-million funding gap by raising taxation revenues, the property taxes of every land owner would skyrocket, making the capital an unaffordable place for all but the wealthiest to live.
Mr. Speaker, the government's mandate commits to closing the community funding gap by $5 million over the life of this government. At that rate, we may never close the funding gap; that barely keeps up with inflation. The funding proposed in the mandate is equal to a little over $37,000 per year per community. This means communities will continue to be underfunded by this government to the tune of $20 million a year for the next four years.
Closing the funding gap would satisfy not one, but two of the priorities of our government. According to the Conference Board of Canada, closing the funding gap would create an additional 220 additional jobs per year in infrastructure construction, environmental services, municipal government services, and infrastructure repair. Direct and indirect multipliers of employment through millions of dollars of investments at the municipal level equate to 13 jobs, whereas $1 million of investments at the territorial government level equates to seven. By accomplishing one priority, we actual satisfy two: if we close the funding gap, we create jobs in small communities.
In MACA's report, the Minister states, "I want to acknowledge that we are unable to definitely answer when and how the funding gap will be closed." It took the department four years of study to reach this conclusion. This is not acceptable, and it is not sustainable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
