Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure of any ranking structure within our capital plan, but I could definitely look to see if there is one. The department fully acknowledges that the Frank Channel Bridge does need to be replaced. In fact, we have been applying for funding, federal funding, to replace the bridge, and instead have actually been turned down the last times that we have tried. We have not been successful; however, we do feel that the next application has a good shot of being approved by the Canadian government, so that is our next step.
We have had early engagement with industry about the planned rehabilitation, and industry representatives at the time told us that they did want the replacement of the bridge and the elimination of the overhead structure. That would allow for the strangely shaped and oversized loads to get on the bridge. We are currently engaging with the community of Behchoko and the Tlicho Government on the replacement of the bridge, the pre-engineering and environmental baseline work to prepare for its replacement. We will have a request for proposals out for the bridge design this year, and the department is continuing to do internal work to advance the project and secure the funding for the construction of the bridge. Thank you.
I understand a proposal was submitted in the 18th Assembly to replace the Frank Channel Bridge, but unfortunately, it failed to secure funding. I understand there is a federal counterpart to this. Is there a new plan to seek federal assistance on the Frank Channel Bridge? What kind of schedule are we looking at?
I am just looking through my notes here to see when the next application will go in for the federal funding. My understanding is it will happen after the federal budget is passed in the House, so the intent is to move this project forward as quickly as possible. There have definitely been issues with the bridge, we do understand. However, I should point out that the bridge is safe. It is currently inspected by engineers. There was an interim measure to preserve the bridge until the project funding could be secured, and concrete deck repairs were carried out in September of 2018 and June of 2019.
This is a very important project, and my understanding is that a proposal has not really been submitted yet, unfortunately. I want to ask the Minister: what discussion has this Minister of Infrastructure had with her federal counterparts regarding the funding for this very important project, the Frank Channel Bridge?
As I am currently new to this role, I have not yet had a chance to address my federal counterparts on this specific project. I believe the Government of the Northwest Territories is doing a good job, and we are trying very much to get in front of the federal government to impress upon them our infrastructure deficit. When you asked me about ranking, I believe all of the deficits we have in our infrastructure are all critical pieces that need to be funded and we need to get them going, so there is a process. We plan to resubmit the plan as soon as we can. We have been applying actively for funding for this project. This is a critical piece of infrastructure that allows our mining industry to go forward, our resupply of goods and services and things to Yellowknife and to communities beyond, so this piece of infrastructure is very, very important and high on the department's radar.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to see more action-oriented, instead of talking about this particular project. Our MP also asked me where the proposal was and has it been submitted. At that point in time, that was a few months ago, I said, "I imagine it has been, with a new government." Unfortunately, it is not there at this point. I am afraid we are going to miss the opportunity again, because we still had the funding criteria last time. This is through the National Trade Corridors Fund, I believe, and I would highly encourage the Minister to get hold of our MP and also their federal counterpart. When could that happen? I would assume, I hope, it will be immediately after we have our session here, Mr. Speaker. Masi.
As mentioned, there is a process that needs to be followed. The federal government also just recently had an election. Therefore, we were waiting for that to happen as well as their budgets to go through, and then we would be making the application again. As stated, we have consistently been trying to get this funding, so this is not falling off my department's radar. In fact, it is one of the things that we are moving forward on. I have met with MP McLeod, and we have started to have discussions about the infrastructure deficit that the Northwest Territories is facing. I sat down and had a specific meeting with the MP on this issue; not at the moment, however. That has been more of a schedule issue, and we have been talking about getting our offices together to have the more infrastructure-focused conversation rather than the larger conversation we have been having with the MP as a Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to my statement. Knowing that we have a lot of hard drugs that have been reported, will the Minister of Health and Social Services ensure that we are not working in silos in our community and make sure that her department, the mental health and addiction counsellors, public health, are working in partnership with education, RCMP, Victim Services, and Indigenous governments to provide education on drugs, especially the drugs that are circulating in our communities, to all our youth in our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. This is something that our department will continue doing, but not only that, if you look at the mandate, Mr. Speaker, a lot of the different priorities talk about working in partnership. It is important that we continue to work within all of the different departments rather than working in silos. I think that is important. All key stakeholders in the communities, we need to work together and continue to do better for the youth and all of the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Would the Minister agree that power is knowledge, and by empowering our youth with education on drugs and alcohol more than once a year in their school class, that this should be provided?
Yes. The Health and Social Services staff works closely with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and we support opportunities to work with youth on drugs and alcohol education. One example I want to bring up is we sponsored The Dope Experience, which is a multimedia workshop that engages youth in art and discussion on substance abuse. Staff are also partnering with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and Western Arctic Moving Pictures to deliver these workshops.
I thank the Minister for that. I want the Minister to commit to work with the other Ministers, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Education, to ensure that they are all working together to make sure that this happens more frequently, given the amount of hard drugs. I understand that The Dope Experience is for marijuana, and that is because of the legalization. We wanted to educate our youth on how marijuana affects us, but what I want is these hard drugs. In the community, I am hearing from young kids, under 19, who are starting into these hard drugs, crack cocaine and things like this. We need to be doing this education before. We need prevention before we go to reaction.
I hear the Member's concern. We both live in the same community, and it is a big issue for us, but not only just us, for a lot of communities in the Northwest Territories. I am going to commit to that. That, for me, is a third yes today.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the Minister may not have this detailed information on hand, but can the Minister advise me if there is a wait time for treatment should someone choose to go for drug addiction, and where can our youths, under 19 or under 18, if they find themselves with this type of addiction, where can we get help for them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The wait times vary per facility. They usually average between one to six weeks for the wait time, but there have also been situations where we have had to have patients wait for up to two months. That is the one answer I know, and I can get back to the Member on what the process is. I just want to make sure that I give the Member the right answer, so I will get back to the Member with the process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 1-19(2), asked by the Member for Frame Lake on February 5, 2020, related to the Government of the Northwest Territories' participation in the Association for Mineral Exploration Roundup from January 18 to 23, 2020, in Vancouver.
This year's Roundup presented a timely opportunity for the GNWT to confirm and action the 19 Legislative Assembly's stated priority to increase resource exploration and development.
Cabinet Members, Indigenous governments, and government officials represented and promoted the Northwest Territories and used this opportunity to highlight that the GNWT recognizes the critical economic importance of realizing new mining projects.
The NWT delegation to this year's Roundup was led by myself in my role as Premier and Ministers Nokleby and Thompson. Senior officials, geoscientists with the Northwest Territories Geological Survey, marketing professionals, and support staff rounded out the delegation of 22 GNWT representatives. The total cost of air travel, accommodations, meals, incidentals, and transportation for the GNWT delegation was $70,753. No allowances were paid. All travel was economy class except in two flight segments where business class flight prices were lower by $130 and $277 respectively than available economy class seats.
Additionally, the GNWT supported the participation of 16 NWT regional Indigenous government representatives at a cost of $99,611 that includes $65,000 in air travel, accommodations, meals, incidentals, and transportation. Ensuring that Indigenous governments are represented at Roundup supports the NWT Mineral Development Strategy goal of enhancing Indigenous engagement and capacity and provides Indigenous governments with an opportunity to demonstrate their support for responsible resource development alongside the GNWT.
Roundup offered an opportunity to showcase to industry that support exists in the NWT for mineral exploration and mining, particularly within Indigenous governments and jurisdictions.
It also provided an opportunity to highlight that key infrastructure and mining projects are advancing and succeeding in our jurisdiction.
The NWT's trade show presence is an important component of GNWT participation at this event. Three booths showcasing the NWT's geology and geoscience, exploration and investment potential, and public infrastructure initiatives, along with four adjacent booths showcasing Indigenous governments and organizations, were part of the NWT trade show presence. The strategic location and positioning of these booths created a 'gathering place' which acted as a venue for networking opportunities, meetings and media events.
GNWT exhibition costs and affiliated registration fees totaled approximately $37,157. No consultant fees were paid. Registration costs totaling $1,124 were also paid for affiliated professional development opportunities that staff attended at the conference.
The GNWT supported and took part in a number of media and networking events to increase industry awareness of the NWT's investment environment and to promote the potential of NWT mineral resources. These included:
The annual NWT Night reception at which the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Indigenous leaders had an opportunity to address and network with 334 registered attendees, including industry representatives and other stakeholders.
The launch of regional mineral development strategies completed by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council.
The signing of a commercial agreement for Det'on Cho Corporation to become the contracted miner for the Cheetah Resources Ltd. Nechalacho rare earth elements project.
An Indigenous business panel discussion focused on capacity building and participation in the exploration and mining sectors.
A coffee gathering with NWT leaders.
A lunch for NWT students enrolled in post-secondary education programs in the British Columbia lower mainland area.
The launch of the Invest Canada North Campaign (a partnered three-year marketing and promotion initiative in collaboration with Canada, Yukon, Nunavut, and companies investing in the North).
The costs associated with hosting or supporting these events totaled $52,842.
The total GNWT cost, including supporting Indigenous participation at Roundup, was $261,488. This is a decrease compared to the previous years' expenditures of approximately $286,389 in 2019, and $277,530 in 2018.
Roundup is regarded as Canada's premier gathering event for individuals, companies, and jurisdictions interested in advancing exploration and mineral development projects. It is well attended by the mining sector's junior exploration companies and their financiers and is heavily leveraged by competing mining jurisdictions.
Roundup continues to be a core event for the GNWT to convene valuable face-to-face meetings with key industry representatives, Indigenous governments, and leaders and officials from other jurisdictions. The event helps to advance a key pillar of the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, "Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the following report card, "Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms and Costs in Northwest Territories: A Policy Review." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Tabling of documents. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I was going to do this tomorrow, but I will do this now. I would like to table the medical travel expense claim form for the record. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2019-2020, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. The motion is on the floor and is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2019-2020, be read for the second time. This bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 2 has had second reading. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 12-19(2), 2019-2023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories; Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021; and Tabled Document 43-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021.
I will call the committee to order. We will take a short recess. What is the wish of the committee? Sorry. Mr. Norn.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 12-19(2), 2019-2023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.
Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Okay. We will take a short recess.
---SHORT RECESS
All right, I will now call Committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 12-19(2), 2019-2023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Now we will return to page 30. Does Madam Premier wish to bring any witnesses into the House?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to bring in a witness.
