Thank you, Mr. Speaker. COVID-19, 145 cases in Canada to date. I need to know if the Emergency Measures Act that was updated by the last Assembly to the GNWT overhauled its emergency plan, besides the planning that is underway right now to give the residents of the Northwest Territories, especially the small communities that we represent, direction on how the government is handling this outbreak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Deputy Premier.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Deputy Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared, as we are aware, a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and requires enhanced public health and emergency preparedness. The Member is asking: what is the government doing to prepare? The GNWT has a territorial planning committee which is leading a broader, all-of-government approach emergency response planning to address potential disruptions and essential community, regional, and territorial services and support.
The Health and Social Services emergency operations centre has been fully activated to permit the Health and Social Services system to coordinate rapid planning in advance of a Northwest Territories outbreak. The chief medical public health officer is leading the public health preparations and surveillance and providing subject matter expertise to the Health and Social Services system and the GNWT on pandemic planning requirements. The NWT COVID-19 pandemic planning guide and checklist is guiding the Health and Social Services system preparations. The Health and Social Services authorities are planning for a surge in cases that may affect regular delivery of health services. Decisions around deferring the delivery of non-essential health services may be made as necessary. Staff have received fresher training on infectious disease protocols. The Northwest Territories receives routine updates from the Canadian public health office officials on suspected and confirmed cases reported in other parts of Canada and the world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What are the plans to assist small communities for the pandemic?
The Departments of Health and Social Services and Municipal and Community Affairs are providing information, guidance, and support to community and Indigenous governments. The department will continue to share information necessary for their planning efforts. The local and regional authorities, governments, agencies, and businesses should be finalizing emergency readiness plans in light of the potential for a COVID-19 outbreak. An outbreak in the Northwest Territories could impact community services and may increase the need for basic supplies, as well as water delivery, sewage pump-out, and facilities to the homes. Organizers of these events and gatherings should assess their plans, recognizing that this is an evolving situation that may require rapid decisions to protect the health and well-being of our residents here in the Northwest Territories. We know that community members will band together and support each other in the event that COVID-19 reaches their community.
Is MACA doing outreach to the municipal and community governments in our 33 communities across the territory in regard to what is happening with COVID-19, and when are they able to start their emergency action plans?
Yes, the departments are working together, and there was a meeting yesterday, my colleagues here have just informed me. Plans are underway, and our departments and the Northwest Territories, we take this seriously. We are all working together as a department to ensure that messaging and information to our communities is done, and it's immediate.
Thank you, Deputy Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Deputy Premier: does the GNWT have plans to stop highway travel, or are we checking the drivers? Are we stopping any aircraft in regard to being checked in Edmonton or here in Yellowknife for pre-screening before they head North for the safety of our citizens? If this COVID-19 hits our communities, nursing stations are not going to be able to give aspirin and Tylenol and send them home. This has to be dealt with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am sincere with the Member's concerns. I am from a small community, as well, and in preparation for our week coming up, we will be going home. This is fairly new, and we have been planning and planning. There are measures being taken within our departments to ensure that we have safeguards in all of our communities, all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Deputy Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier about the Frank Channel Bridge earlier today. I also spoke about the federal government and the impossible road to the mines. We have a lot of Ministers. The Minister that is here, the Minister of Finance, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance. [End of translation]
[Microphone turned off] ...spending on the less critical Slave geological transportation corridor. Mr. Speaker, I guess we have to juggle the departments, but I will ask the Minister of Finance: could the Minister of Finance please explain how the Slave Geological Transportation Corridor took precedence over one simple bridge project on which the corridor usefulness is entirely based on? Mr. Speaker, I am referring, of course, to the replacement of the Frank Channel Bridge. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are any number of projects that are constantly being evaluated across the Northwest Territories, and it's not that one takes precedence over another. There are a number of factors that go into evaluating these projects and a number of factors that go into evaluating which projects are supported. Ultimately, this particular project, I understand that money was sought from the National Trade Corridors Fund, and that kind of funding would support and assist in moving this project forward. As far as any specific reason why that project might have been denied or put down on the list, I would have to get back on the Member on that, other than to say that there is a recognition that there is any number of projects that would all like to be advanced. We are going to simply have to distribute those resources to one project at a time sometimes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That leads to my next question about being transparent. I want to see for myself if this Minister's department has given sufficient weight to the Frank Channel Bridge replacement project. With this in mind, could the Minister of Finance, working with her colleague, the Minister of Infrastructure, please provide historical data comparing her department's submissions, milestones, application timelines, intergovernmental meetings, relating to the Frank Channel Bridge and the Slave Geological Transportation Corridor.
The Member raises quite an exhaustive list of items that are being requested, some of which, to the extent that they are involving other governments, may not be items that I can directly disclose. What I would suggest is that I certainly will arrange for a technical briefing in conference with the appropriate standing committee and ensure that I work with the Member so that as much information meets with the requests that are being made here in order to prepare for that briefing.
Obviously, I would like to see some sort of correspondence between the federal government and the territorial government. There has been a lot of discussion on this subject, even from previous governments until today. I am asking the Minister of Finance to table this in the House, her department's, and also the Minister of Infrastructure's department, most recent proposal for federal, national, trade corridor funding respecting the Frank Channel Bridge replacement project.
I anticipate that that application was made by Infrastructure, so I will certainly be in contact with the responsible Minister and ensure that we work together to put to the House what is disclosable and appropriate so that we can ensure that we are being transparent and that we continue to move forward in applying for whatever funding is available for all of the many infrastructure projects that are still necessary, including the Frank Channel Bridge that the Member is speaking to specifically.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. My final question, obviously, pertains to the process. When I spoke to our MP, Michael McLeod, a couple of months back, he was also asking about the proposal, the bridge, the Frank Channel Bridge, if it was submitted. I just want to ask the Minister of Finance if there was a submission made for the Frank Channel Bridge with the federal government, the corridor funding. If I can get some sort of correspondence pertaining to that, Mr. Speaker, I would greatly appreciate it. Masi.
I will personally look into this and see what the status of any applications are. I don't know offhand. Certainly, it's not a new project, and it is an important project. I will look into it, and see that I respond directly to the Member, and that any information that can be tabled in this House, that we do so this session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Just to do some follow-up questions from my colleague from Nunakput. Can the Minister comment if she has worked with our federal Minister of health on a plan to battle the virus, and if so, what resources are being committed to the territories? Marsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Health and Social Services.
The federal government announced $500 million, and I think what the Member is asking is: how much of this money will we receive here in the Northwest Territories and the provinces, and is this amount sufficient? We are pleased that the federal government has announced this funding. We have heard from the federal Minister of Health that this funding is just the beginning of support which is great because that is not a lot of money. We are currently working to identify areas where funding can support us and how much we will need to do this. Officials in my department are working to prepare a list of our needs and finalizing proposals, and we are expected to complete this by tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for her response. That's encouraging. It may fall to the Minister of Finance's purview, but hopefully, the Minister of health can answer this. Will the Minister be extending any additional sick-day benefits for residents who may need to take some time off work to self-isolate?
The Member is correct; it should go to Finance. However, we've been briefed in Cabinet, and there was an e-mail that was sent out to the employees yesterday, informing them of some of the questions and answers. One of the questions that was asked was: according to the GNWT policy, employees experiencing symptoms of cough, fever, difficulty breathing, experiencing those symptoms, and waiting for test results or have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 will have access to sick leave with pay.
Probably, the biggest question I think I have on here is: in terms of our public institutions, are there any plans in place to close schools, community halls, and other work places?
At this time, we are not considering closing any public institutions. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 here in the Northwest Territories as of a few minutes ago, and if there was, I'd be the second to know. There are no cases here. As a result of that, we are not planning on closing down any public institution. However, as a precautionary measure, our government is enhancing surveillance for the COVID-19 to include those individuals who present flu-like symptoms within 14 days, or have travelled outside the Northwest Territories. The best precautions, however, are what we've been communicating. If you are sick, stay home. If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home. Monitor yourself. Practice safe hygiene and respiratory practices.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I heard the Minister, as well, mentioning that there are some committees. There are some plans in place. My main concern, too, is as for some of the smaller communities. Will there be any sort of a compensation, if in the event it ever goes down as a lockdown, to help out with food and rationing and that sort of thing? Compensation, I guess, is where I'm going with that, emergency planning. Marsi cho.
We're not aware of compensation yet. I think we're still in the planning stage. The Northwest Territories COVID-19 pandemic planning guide and checklist is guiding our system preparations. The Health and Social Services authorities are planning for a surge in case this may affect regular delivery of health services. As we prepare to respond for a potential pandemic, there are certainly risks that we will face. We are planning to address these risks, even as the situation changes quickly. These areas are planned, is preparing to respond to, and what will be reflected in our proposal to the federal government to help support and provide us with funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions are for the Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation. Earlier, I spoke about suspension lists for contractors. I'd like to ask the Minister, does the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation have a suspension list for contractors in place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are very few suspensions in the Northwest Territories. We do have a list that we do keep, but we do also try to work with our contractors to get them back into good standing so we are able to further do more business with them. We try to educate them through the process, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister indicated that there were only a few on there. Can she tell me exactly how many is on that list?
I don't have that information in front of me as to how many contractors we have on suspension right now, but I really want to emphasize that we do try to work with our contractors so they do remain in good standing with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. I could request from my department to provide a list for the Member's riding of the contractors that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation does do business with.
I'd like to ask the Minister: how is it determined if a contractor should be placed on the suspension list?
It is determined by the service that is provided and if the contractor defaults in the projects that are put forward. We really try to work with the contractors in-depth to make sure that they are successful in receiving the contracts that they do receive from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every contractor deserves due process, and I'd like to ask the Minister: can the Minister supply me with a copy of the policy or legislation that sets out the process and criteria for determining whether a contractor is to be placed on the list? Thank you.
The Northwest Territories corporation administers through policies. I will direct my staff to find this policy that identifies the defaulting contractors, and I will provide that information to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral question. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, my first question for the Minister of Justice is: partnerships and relationships with the RCMP are important in small communities and regional centres. I am proud to say that I have a positive relationship with the commander of "G" Division and the local members of the RCMP at our local detachment. Enforcement in the drug trade is also important. Would the Minister relay the message to the commander of "G" Division of the concerns of the community of Fort Smith and the constituents of Thebacha?
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Justice.
