The Member did give me a heads-up on this, so I'm going to read from my notes so I can give him exact information. The Giant Mine Remediation Project has developed a socio-economic strategy, which is currently in place to maximize benefits for Indigenous and Northern businesses. An implementation plan is currently being finalized for the strategy. ENR, ITI, ECE participates on the senior socio-economic advisory body at the senior deputy minister's level with CIRNAC, the City of Yellowknife, the DFN, North Slave Metis Association, and Alternatives North. In 2018-2019, total dollars spent by the main construction management, Parsons Canada, totalled $28.77 million. Of this amount, 91 percent went to Indigenous suppliers and northern businesses. For Indigenous governments, it's $22.69 million or 79 percent, and for northern business it's $3.45 million or 12 percent.
I want to thank the Minister for that. I'm just going to get a little more personal here. Can the Minister tell us what he has done personally and whether he has raised the issue of northern benefits with the federal Minister of Northern Affairs and if not, why?
The GNWT, through the Department of ENR, is a co-component of the Giant Mine Remediation Project. I have and will continue to advocate and promote northern benefits for this project.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. The federal Minister of Northern Affairs was here several months ago. I had asked whether you had a chance to meet with him, but I can take that offline. The remediation of Giant Mine has the potential to allow the NWT to develop and expand remediation economy, given the number and scale of contaminated sites across the NWT. This should also be one area of focus for the polytechnic university. I suggest in this House, Mr. Speaker, that the GNWT should seek an accelerated federal investment in NWT contaminated sites to help with economic recovery. Can the Minister tell us what he has personally committed to do on the Giant Mine remediation file over the next year? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
We continue to work with the Giant Mine Remediation Project to find ways to develop new skills and provide access to jobs related to the cleanup of Giant Mine. Conversations between Giant Mine Remediation Project and contaminated sites staff are taking place this week to continue to explore linkages and promote economic opportunity for Northerners. In addition, the department continues to work with other GNWT departments to secure federal funding to support remediation of contaminated sites to support economic recovery efforts in the NWT. The department is continuing to work in partnership with CIRNAC and Public Services and Procurement Canada to ensure Northerners, Indigenous communities benefit from federal procurement process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no doubt that almost every Member in this House would say they are committed to a more open and transparent government. However, I think there is a bit of disconnect in that open and transparent government doesn't happen without clear intention in changing the systems we operate in. Every single jurisdiction in Canada, except ours and Nunavut, has an open data portal, a place where you go to get all of the departments' data in one place. Right now, this is scattered across various GNWT websites in various different forms. My question for the Minister of Finance is: will she commit to creating an open data portal? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Finance.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Well, that was easy.
---Laughter
When can we expect to see that open data portal operational?
That's a slightly more difficult question to answer. I took note yesterday when the Member gave a very impassioned speech about the importance of being quick, sometimes, with what government does. Certainly, in our COVID-19 response this government has been nimble and quick and responsive, in my view. Taking action with government data that includes personal information, private information, health information, information with all sorts of privacy concerns, privilege concerns, labour relations concerns, that is not something that we're going to be able to rush through quickly. The information shared services unit was created in April of 2019. Yes, we are behind, but we are now taking steps. ISSS resides in Finance. I am very much tuned into the fact that we are behind, and I don't like being behind. While I don't have a timeline now, I intend to have a timeline and not perhaps in this sitting, in the next six days, but I will have a timeline by the time we are back in the fall as to how exactly this is going unfold.
I look forward to hearing that timeline. I think, to me, there are two steps. One is getting the portal, and the second is populating it. I recognize it will take some time to get certain data in there. Right now, there is a simple matter of collection and putting it in one place. I believe we could start that work immediately, and then you will get this user feedback from departments and other people looking for this data. Step one, get the portal to exist. Step two, let's populate it. One of my concerns is the GNWT really loves its PDFs. The problem with that: most recently, we published our budget. It's a 400-page PDF, and I don't know a single accountant who doesn't operate in spreadsheets. What I'm looking for from the Minister of Finance is a commitment that, whenever we publish reports, we will include the open data with them.
There is a steering committee that has been formed, as well, which has led to the ISSS being developed. It is co-chaired by the chief information officer, whose position resides within Finance, as well as executive, the EIA department deputy secretary. While I appreciate that there are a variety of possible views on what the correct process or best process might be, what I would commit to is to bringing forward some reports through to the Member and, if interested, then to a relevant committee about what process is underway, what process has been chosen, and why, and certainly, to take back what information and what response we then get from that.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate there is a steering committee and there is a process. My concern here is that, if you go look at the budget right now, there are published graphs and reports that no doubt someone created with underlying data. Every time I see one of those, I have to request, "Can I get that underlying data that actually make up this chart?" I'm not asking for information that's not already public. The way that this would be done, in my opinion, is: we have an information management and technological policy manual. It requires all sorts of things: translation, same look and feel. Every single report we have has numerous requests. It would simply have a policy in there that, when data is published in a final format, the underlying data is included. Will the Minister include a policy like that? I know there are some details to it, but I'm looking for a commitment that such a policy will be developed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would love to give another really quick answer. Let me go so far as to say "yes, probably." However, what I'm concerned about is: the example being given is the budget, which is certainly numerical, very quantitative, and in that regard, probably much easier to simply turn around into excel spreadsheets. In speaking about whenever the government puts out information, that opens up a door that I'm not prepared to make that commitment to. In some regard, yes, there should be a policy to make government information more accessible, easier. When it's quantified like a budget, that's not a problem. I'm not going to extend that quite entirely to being every single time there is a report made. Certainly, to a certain degree, I do agree with the position that some of this information needs to be made more accessible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. In the fall, I questioned the Minister and the Premier on an action plan for the NWT. Yesterday, it was confirmed that they are waiting for a national action plan. Last night, Crown Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett was questioned in the House of Commons about the inaction of a national action plan. I quote her, "All the provinces and territories are working on their plans that will be lifted up into a national action plan." My question is: I ask again, will the government begin work on an MMIWG NWT action plan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have read the report and saw the article. We have a special advisor who reports under the EIA, the Office of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. We are working closely to ensure that we get on the calls for justice. We have a plan that is called doing our part. This is something that our government needs to take seriously. This is something that, as Minister responsible for the Status of Women, is something that I will bring to Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
With the Northwest Territories being a leader in a lot of areas, will the Northwest Territories lead this, and will the GNWT prioritize the calls for justice by finding staff, even within, to accomplish this work?
This is something that I will bring to Cabinet. It's something that, if the Member would like to have a discussion on how we, as a government, can go about supporting this, there is a working group. The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Social Services, housing, EIA, we have a working group that continues to acknowledge the action plan. It is something that we will look at.
Yesterday, the question was asked, and there was commitment on an annual report. We're going to need staff. We're going to need someone to put this report together. Will you be able to have these staff in place to present an annual report of progress on this file for at least our October sitting?
This is something that we can work with the department of EIA. I agree that we do need supports. It will take a lot of work to pull together the report. This is something that, if we need to go back to EIA and request additional support, that is something I will do.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question will be: as a working group, who is going to lead this working group, and will you, as a Minister, lead this working group so that we can commit to ensure that we have an NWT action plan before we are done our four years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have a special advisor, and I will work closely with her. I am also the Minister of Health and Social Services going through a pandemic. That's no excuse. I will put a lot more effort into the status of women. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, monsieur le President. Early in this sitting, I raised the issue of a pan-territorial travel zone with the Premier. Today, on CBC, it was reported that the Nunavut Health Minister, along with the Chief Public Health Officer in Nunavut, announced that there is going to be a travel bubble between the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We had the Minister of Health on the floor of this House today say that there is not going to be a bubble with the Yukon, because they're going to open up with BC. I would like to ask the Premier: what's going on with all of this, and why are we finding out about this in the media and on the floor of the House, instead of being informed as Regular MLAs, about this pan-territorial travel zone? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were negotiations going on. There weren't negotiations; there were talks going on. That is the problem with having different tables, Mr. Speaker. I was talking. I brought it forth to the Premiers at our northern Premier meeting. In reality, I hadn't yet spoken to our Chief Public Health Officer. The Chief Public Health Officer has the whole authority over the borders. I'm clear with that; it can't be fettered. I thought we'd start this discussion just by bringing to the Premiers, and then I would bring it to the Chief Public Health Officer. At the same time, though, unknown to me, Mr. Speaker, the Chief Public Health Officers were also meeting with the three territories because someone else, I guess, had put it in their head. The decisions had been made through the Chief Public Health Officers, but in honesty, Mr. Speaker, Premiers have just found out today. I just found out, as well. My staff are working on an emergency call with the northern Premiers right now to discuss it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am sorry that I had to put the Premier on the hot spot, but when I am finding out these things on the floor of the House and in the media, there is a lot of public interest in this. Can the Premier, then, explain what is going on? Is there a travel bubble now with Nunavut, and what is the situation with Yukon?
Again, I am just actually finding out myself what's going on with it. The Chief Public Health Officers have been working closely together. It is the Premiers who have to have those discussions. We only meet once a week, and sometimes, that doesn't work with the Chief Public Health Officers' meetings. We had negotiations or talks at the table to see if there was interest. There was interest in all three. Since we had that first discussion, though, Mr. Speaker, there was a new revelation that Yukon -- as we were talking about three territories, all three territories had locked down borders, and then the Yukon actually announced that they are now having to deal with the BC government, which put a different spin on it. Those are discussions we still have to have as Premiers, although recognizing it is the Chief Public Health Officer's authority. I can't remember the rest of the question, so I will sit down.
I want to thank the Premier for that. It sounded a lot like her response to the first question I had. I guess what I want to know clearly from the Premier is: is there a travel bubble through the public health order process between Nunavut and Northwest Territories, and what is the situation with Yukon?
My understanding from the Chief Public Health Officer report is that it will be with Nunavut. It's not with the Yukon at this time. There will be an announcement next week on it. However, the opening of the borders actually will take a little bit more work. It's not something that you can just do in one day. There will be background work that needs to be done to open up those borders.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, monsieur le President. I want to thank the Premier for that. What I would like to seek now is a commitment from the Premier that she is going to provide us with an update following her emergency meeting with the other two Premiers that she says she is going to have this evening. Look, I understand that the Chief Public Health Officers are independent. That is what we want; we want them independent of everybody, including Cabinet, quite frankly, during a pandemic and an emergency. I would like to seek a commitment from the Premier that she will provide an update to us as Regular MLAs, perhaps later this evening after she has had a chance to chat with her colleagues on either side of our border. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
There are a couple of issues. I will provide the MLAs an update, but I can't commit to it being this evening. Two issues, Mr. Speaker: one is that my staff are still trying to arrange that emergency meeting. I'm not sure if the Premiers are just finding out because of this meeting here. The other thing, Mr. Speaker, I'm going through some family stuff, serious family stuff at this point, so I will not commit. I need to have a day off after I have this meeting to deal with my family issues, and I will deal with you tomorrow. Serious family issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The questions I have are for the Minister of health. Employees continue to find Protect NWT forms to be inconsistent. When Protect NWT is questioned about the forms, they do not always have the answer. The answers provided create additional confusion. NWT employees are trying to follow the process but find it easier to operate from the south due to less paperwork and less issues entering and exiting the NWT. I know of NWT employers who are laying off northern workers and operating out of Alberta. Can the Minister commit to having Protect NWT forms reviewed for consistency and relevance related to travel, isolation, and monitoring for all categories of employees entering the NWT and come up with something that is acceptable to workers and businesses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've identified the need for consistent resourcing and training materials for Protect NWT staff, as well as border officers and compliance and enforcement officers. We are aware of some of the issues that we have been having working with our partner agencies and northern companies. We need to improve some of our processes to address the Member's concerns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the NWT, our curve is flat. Our neighbour to the south has flattened its curve. At this time, it's important that, as we are relaxing restrictions, we take into consideration the need to support the economic recovery as soon as possible. The departments appear to be working in isolation of the Chief Public Health Officer. I would ask the Minister: what input did the Department of Infrastructure, ITI, education, and housing have in developing the Emerging Wisely plan? If they had none, does it not make sense to include them in planning as we re-establish the economy?
Absolutely. That is something that our department needs to do. We sit in Cabinet, and we talk about some of the ways. We have specific COVID-19 discussions around what can our departments do to pull together and to improve some of the programs and resources that we offer.
