Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past week I witnessed and participated in a decision-making process where there appeared to be a misunderstanding with respect to a matter that would provide housing to approximately 42 people in Yellowknife; a misunderstanding that blew up in the press, and one that could have easily been avoided if this government gave serious thought to the benefit of the project, a project with many moving parts.
I give credit to the Yellowknife Women's Society, who identified a serious need in the community and have identified a potential solution to address and action this need. The solution, however, does require buy-in from Canada, this government, and all stakeholders, and this is where it gets cumbersome.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that there are multiple parties involved in the Arnica project. There is the owner of the building, the Yellowknife Women's Society, various GNWT departments, the Government of Canada, the City of Yellowknife, concerned residents, and the future tenants.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government would ultimately provide funding of approximately $4 million, which each territory could use. The NWT Housing Corporation would contribute approximately $650,000 to confirm its support of the project, to help it move forward. The federal government will want to know if the project is feasible. The GNWT will want to know if they are making a one-time contribution or if they will have to make further contributions or ultimately have to take the building over at some point.
However, it does not end there. There is the matter of the land and building. Is it suitable? What condition is it in? Is there contamination, and are there zoning issues? In addition to that, there are consulting fees, legal fees, purchase costs, ongoing maintenance costs, management costs, and tight deadlines. All this has to be addressed in what is now a condensed timeline.
Mr. Speaker, one area that will ultimately bog down the process is the red tape that both the federal and territorial governments have in place. It is in this area that non-profits require assistance, as they often lack the resources and time to navigate through it. It is assistance in this area that this government has to be proactive on and hands-on. In this day and age, we find it easy to send emails back and forth and try to address issues. Nothing, however, replaces initial face-to-face meeting with all parties present to clarify issues and come to a consensus on how to proceed and define responsibilities to meet deadlines and deliver projects. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. I want to end this on a positive note and say that I am pleased with the Minister of NWT Housing Corporation's commitment to meet with all parties at one table in order to expedite this project. I will look to her to offer the same courtesy and resources to the Hay River Family Support Centre for their shelter project as well as those communities looking at similar projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome and recognize Colette Langlois, the Ombud for the NWT, and I think she is a constituent of mine in Hay River South. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to recognize Denise MacDonald, who is a constituent of mine in Inuvik Boot Lake. Welcome, Denise. Thank you.
Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this moment to recognize two of the Pages with us today who are constituents of mine in Great Slave. I apologize for names, Gianne Mercado and Willem Jacobs. I thank them for their commitment and time to this work. I would also like to recognize my constituent James Tally in the gallery. Thank you.
Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Kieron Testart, who is a constituent of Range Lake riding, and was also a one-time MLA in the 18th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the mandate we are approving here, enabling our seniors to live at home with dignity. The three Ministers that are given responsibilities, the Minister of ECE, the Housing Corporation, Health and Social Services: are their responsibilities separate as Ministers, or are they going to be working together? Question is for the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. This government is actually working closer than, what I understand, from any other government before. All three Ministers will be working on this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Since they are working so fast and working together, could we move up the timeline in regards to getting into our communities, in collaboration, in a coordinated visit to move up for the Elders in our community?
My Ministers are willing to visit constituents as people invite them. Unfortunately, though, I can't make a commitment on what time, because they all have schedules that they will have to coordinate. Invite us and we will come.
April 4th.
---Laughter
This government is openly considering a pilot project in Nunakput to make the improvements to help my seniors age in place. If so, I would be happy to work with the appropriate Minister on the proposal as it goes forward. I think that is the Minister of Health.
Again, all Ministers are more than willing to work with our Members across the hall. Please contact our Minister, and I am sure that they will make arrangements to work with you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arnica project is a good project in that it brings in federal dollars. The other thing it does is: it will create employment and also provide some opportunities for contractors. Most importantly, it provides 42 extra beds for people who need housing. Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister of housing if she will commit her department to develop a policy setting a process that would ensure future proponents accessing federal housing programs are provided timely assistance with completing such applications. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With this new federal funding that is rolling out with the $60 million co-investment fund, it is a new set of money, and it does come with a unique approach. We are willing to work with people within the Northwest Territories to complete their applications and to assist them the best that we can.
In Hay River, the family support centre is trying to, over the past the couple of years, they have been trying to get a housing project off the ground, and again, non-profit limited resources and running into a bit of a problem. I know the Housing Corporation has been assisting, but will the Minister of housing structure the department to assist the Hay River Family Support Centre with their co-investment application, as well?
Yes. The Housing Corporation, we are there to help and assist with the application process. It is quite lengthy. I just want to explain to the Member, as well, that this is a federal program. It is offered through CMHC, and we don't even see the applications. It would be two different approaches, that the family support centre in Hay River would be working solely with CMHC and their representative, and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, we are here as a support system for people of the Northwest Territories to access this program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for Victim Services for this government. Can the Minister tell us about the comprehensive review of Victim Services, who carried out this work, and when it will be available to MLAs and the public? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The evaluation is currently underway. It is not complete yet. Right now, I am anticipating it will be received by the end of April to myself, and I will then endeavour to have it to the Members of this House as quickly as possible thereafter. Thank you.
I want to thank the Minister for that. I do not think I heard who is actually doing the study, but maybe she can throw that in with the next response. The exact duties and job descriptions of the Victim Services coordinators, they are not very clear. These are delivered through third parties in various communities. It is my understanding that some of these individuals perform many functions above and beyond the call of duty, including cleaning up crime scenes. Can the Minister explain exactly what type of supports are available for these coordinators and whether there has ever been a review of the effectiveness of these supports?
I apologize to the Member. I had missed that part. The review is being done by FWCO Management Consultants. Now, with respect, Mr. Speaker, to the work being done by Victim Services providers in the communities, I have had the opportunity of working directly, prior to being in this role, with some of the individuals who provide Victim Services. They do tremendous work. They do often go above and beyond.
As for cleaning up crime scenes, that is the very first time I have ever heard that, and I would certainly hope I can speak to the Member further if that is, in fact, the case. That said, with respect to generally their duties and the supports, I am assured that the current review that is underway will consider whether or not our Victim Services workers are being given adequate supports and what more might need to be done, if anything, to better support them.
I want to thank the Minister for that. I can assure her that is what I heard first-hand, directly from a constituent who had to serve in that capacity before. The community-based approach to Victim Services makes a lot of sense, of course. It has been in place since 1996, but clearly, the network of supports and coordinators has never been completed. As I understand it, there are 11 coordinators in eight communities. Can the Minister tell us if there are plans to expand these services to all of our communities, and when will that happen?
At this point, between now and April, we will be waiting on the review to determine whether or not there needs to be an expansion. In the meantime, Victim Services workers do provide assistance by phone, though certainly I have no illusions; that is not the same as being in person. Again, Mr. Speaker, I will be waiting on that review to determine whether or not some further action needs to be taken to expand or how else we might better support victims of crime across the territories.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Can the Minister tell us, though, whether there are any specific plans now to improve Victim Services here in the Northwest Territories, and what will those improvements look like, hint, hint, budget 2020-2021? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
I am alive to the fact that, in fact, there has been some increase to the budget of the Victim Services provision here in the Northwest Territories. In the most recently tabled main estimates, there has been an increase of $240,000 to Victim Services. That is the first increase to victim-services based funding in many, many years and will help better support the provision of those services. One other note is that we are also improving the supports that we give to our Victim Services workers, that there is a small pool of funding provided through federal funding. That helps provide enhanced health supports. Because these are partners in the communities, they are not necessarily given the opportunity or do not necessarily within their employment have enhanced or expanded health benefits. There is some funding available for these workers should they need additional, whether it is psychological supports, counselling, or otherwise. That is coordinated through the Department of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. My first question is: two weeks ago my colleague from Nunakput asked the Minister to read the report "Focus for the Future" tabled by MACA on the last day of the last Assembly; has the Minister read the report? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies to the Member. I have not read the report.
No. I appreciate the Minister's honesty on that one, and maybe we can do dinner and reading together. My next question is: what is the department planning to do moving forward to ensure that the figures reported on page 12 continue to be annually updated and provided to the NWT Association of Communities? Thank you.
We are meeting this weekend with the association of communities, and I will be meeting with the executive director to get a full briefing and to follow up and look for solutions and, going forward, to work with our municipal gap.
I am not sure if I understood if the figures would be updated on an annual basis. My next question is: what percentage of the annual $25-million funding gap does MACA anticipate will be covered by federal funding? The second part of that question is: how sustainable do we feel that relying on federal funding to cover the municipal funding gap is?
I don't have those answers right now. I will follow up with the Member, but I would like to also express that we are looking at initiatives at the community level and specifically looking at a land transfer for municipalities and working with them to try to work with the municipal gap that we currently have right now. Going forward with our priorities, we have set aside $5 million to work with that. Strategically, I will be working closely with my department, and I will have answers. I will follow up with the Member.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.
