Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin today by commending the courage and resolve of our front-line staff responding to this unprecedented public health emergency. From medical personnel, to the folks stocking shelves and keeping the grocery stores open, to the water and fuel delivery staff and the officers in our communities and at the borders, I am grateful to you all for this selfless work. It is because you are at work that others, in fact, much of the Government of the Northwest Territories workforce, have been able to work remotely through this crisis.
Mr. Speaker, it has indeed been a challenge with so many people working from home, many with added responsibilities, to ensure each department can continue to fulfill its critical functions. From processing applications for land leases, to issuing permits for wildlife and forestry, and to keep the lights on across the Northwest Territories, has required extra time and attention. For the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, this includes new protocols for entering communities and performing emergency work or required maintenance. Importantly, this also means working with the Emergency Measures Office to acquire personal protective equipment to keep those essential workers safe.
COVID-19 has changed the way we work, but the work to protect our land, water, and air must continue. Staff at the Departments of Lands and Environment and Natural Resources have worked diligently to develop new protocols to ensure the important work of protecting our environment and managing land use can continue in a way that is safe for our employees and residents. This includes new ways of carrying out inspections, research, and environmental monitoring while maintaining physical distance and respecting the public health orders that are in place.
Environmental assessments are a critical part of our regulatory system in the Northwest Territories and involve a high level of coordination between departments, agencies, and Indigenous governments. Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, I am proud to say that we are on track to meet the legislated timeline of June 6, 2020, to complete our response to the Review Board on the Diavik Environmental Assessment.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, many Northerners are going out on the land in response to COVID-19. As a result, Environment and Natural Resources and Lands officers have increased wildlife monitoring, enforcement activities, and inspections.
Of course, the way that we fight fires this summer will be unlike any other season before. Environment and Natural Resources has been preparing for months, reviewing best practices in other jurisdictions, and adapting our operations to reduce the risks to our staff and our communities.
On top of their regular duties, many of our Environment and Natural Resources and Lands officers have also stepped up to support the larger Government of the Northwest Territories-wide effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. These efforts are critical to keeping our families and communities safe and healthy.
Between Environment and Natural Resources and Lands, well over 70 staff have taken on extra duties or lent their expertise to other departments over the last couple of months, notably the Emergency Management Organization, the COVID Compliance and Enforcement Taskforce, and at border crossing check stations.
The level of collaboration and cooperation throughout the Government of the Northwest Territories has been incredible. At Lands alone, a full 25 percent of the department's employees are on redeployment or reassignment as part of the COVID-19 efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to give a special shout out to Environment and Natural Resources' Taiga Environmental Laboratory. The lab has been hard at work in recent weeks producing hand sanitizer for our frontline workers, including the officers I just mentioned.
Getting the supplies and the okay from Health Canada to produce took a lot of time and effort, but it is truly paying off. At last count, the lab has produced more than 4,000 litres of hand sanitizer.
Mr. Speaker, the physical distancing and isolation measures put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19 have created new and very real economic stressors on Northwest Territories residents, families, businesses, Indigenous governments, and communities. That's why the Department of Lands is helping to ease some of the burden by waiving rent for leaseholders on public land for the fiscal year 2020-2021. Looking forward, we hope to be able to open our regional and local offices to the public very soon under appropriate health order protocols.
That's not all. To help customers impacted by the crisis, Northwest Territories Power Corporation removed all load limiters and suspended disconnections and collection activity. At the same time, Northwest Territories Power Corporation is coordinating their response with its counterparts across the country and with the territorial Emergency Management Organization. Through it all, Northwest Territories Power Corporation is keeping its workers safe while maintaining optimum service levels for Northwest Territories residents.
I am grateful to the many individuals across my departments who have taken on extra duties to ensure we continue to protect our land, air, and water and to ensure the wise use of our natural resources. I appreciate your commitment to the important work that we do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When students at Aurora College left for March break, they were unaware of the uncertainty that the pandemic would bring to so many aspects of their lives, including if they would remain on track to achieving their education and career goals. I would like to share with you today some of the challenges and innovative solutions that the team at Aurora College implemented to support their students and their communities.
When the pandemic hit the Northwest Territories, all Aurora College programming was temporarily suspended while the college team planned and executed a fundamental shift in how they would teach. In a two-week period, Aurora College transitioned from classroom-based learning to a distance-learning format for all of its full-time certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Through innovation and determination on the part of instructors, the majority of students remained on track to complete their semester.
Mr. Speaker, students who previously relied on access to a shared computer lab faced the challenge of not having the technology typically required to learn from a distance. In response to this challenge, Aurora College collaborated with Computers for Schools to provide computers to students who identified that they needed one to continue their studies.
All throughout these changes to the program delivery, the college continued to consider how suspended and cancelled programs might restart, and the Aurora College team stayed in touch and followed up with affected students to support their continued educational journey, ensuring continued relationships between the students and staff during this difficult time of transition.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to a monumental shift in their teaching method, Aurora College was also able to assist with the broader Government of the Northwest Territories' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Student housing in Fort Smith was repurposed to accommodate travellers returning to the Northwest Territories who needed to isolate for 14 days. In addition, the Aurora College Centre for Mine and Industry Training facility became the solution to address the need for a drive-through COVID-19 testing site for the Department of Health and Social Services.
At the Yellowknife-North Slave campus, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing staff stepped up to inventory medical equipment and supplies used in that program and designated for use by health authorities if required. Aurora College engaged with the Department of Health and Social Services to determine how current students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing Diploma, and Personal Support Worker programs could play a role in the emergency response at healthcare facilities. These students also participated in the emergency response either through casual employment or through their scheduled practicum.
There have also been engagements with Education, Culture and Employment to determine how students in the Early Childhood Development program could support the re-opening of daycare facilities under emergency conditions.
Mr. Speaker, at the Inuvik Campus, the Arts, Crafts and Technology Micro-Manufacturing Centre has been using 3D printers to make mask tension relievers for hospital workers and developing prototypes for door openers that allow you to open a door with your arm instead of hand. In addition, it has all the supplies and is on standby to produce face shields should they be required. As well, the single-student housing facility is being provided as a temporary solution to address the emergency isolation needs of the town's vulnerable population.
Mr. Speaker, as the college plans for how to deliver programming in the fall of 2020, their primary responsibility remains the health and safety of students, staff, and residents. In response to the Government of the Northwest Territories' Emerging Wisely reopening plan and to its ongoing commitment to student success, the majority of Aurora College programs and courses offered in the 2020 fall semester will be delivered entirely by distance learning. Acknowledging the importance of hands-on and face-to-face learning, Aurora College continues to determine how and when critical in-person programming can happen, based on advice from Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.
Mr. Speaker, all of the challenges faced and changes made have strengthened the college and shown that the institution is ready and capable of making the changes necessary to transform into a polytechnic university. The transformation remains on target and is more important than ever for the Northwest Territories.
There are wide-ranging benefits to establishing a polytechnic university in the Northwest Territories, many of which could contribute to the social and economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The combined short- and long-term benefits could make the transformation a focal point for drawing post-COVID-related investment, primarily from the Government of Canada, but it may also draw attention from wide-ranging sources.
Mr. Speaker, Aurora College currently serves a student population that is 75 percent Indigenous and oversees several academic and research programs in partnership with Indigenous governments. Engaging our Indigenous partners in a meaningful way in transformation is critical to its success. That is why I have written to Indigenous leaders to collaborate on an approach to how and when they are engaged in the transformation, based on the principles of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
It is also important to highlight that what we are building is a post-secondary institution that reflects the values and interests of our residents. Beyond the simple mechanics of economic stimulus, residents must be inspired by new short- and long-term opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to say that, despite the additional challenges Aurora College students have faced, it has been heartening to see their continued dedication to advancing their education. I also have to congratulate all of the Aurora College graduates of 2020 who, in the face of adversity, successfully completed their programs. They should be very proud of their achievement. Their commitment to success will serve them well throughout their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to discuss the issue of racism, as the death of George Floyd has placed it front and centre in the news. When I look at what is happening, not just around the world but in Canada and the Northwest Territories, I am deeply disturbed at what people of colour are being subjected to. It is easy to think of this as an American problem, that Canada is somehow better or that we don't have this problem in the North. The truth is that, if you were to ask any person of colour in the territory, or even this room, whether they have been subjected to racism, the answer would almost certainly be, "Yes."
Mr. Speaker, racism takes many forms. It is not always outright or violent. It is often quiet and whispered, but what all forms have in common is that they are specifically directed at people because of the colour of their skin, their culture, or their nationality.
If we truly believe racism is wrong, then we must speak up against it: challenge people; speak up when we hear those so-called jokes and people laughing at them; speak up when we see these things being done at our workplace or in our departments that perpetuate it. It is not enough to see these things as wrong but then sit and stay silent. If we do nothing, then those with racist attitudes feel validated in their thinking and beliefs. This feeling of validation is what leads to some police officers knowing that they can, in broad daylight, with people watching, kill an innocent man or shoot an innocent woman and not face repercussions. It leads to ordinary citizens feeling they have the right to hunt a man down while he is out for a jog, shoot him multiple times, and it being a defensible action.
Mr. Speaker, my only grandchild is of mixed race. I do not want her or any other person of colour to face violence or prejudice because of the colour of their skin. I do not want people of colour to have to continue to fight for respect and equal treatment. Our responsibility is to be the stimulus of change so that fighting and protesting is no longer necessary. I know that, as long as I am alive, I will protect my granddaughter and those of colour against racism and the hatred it breeds. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Policing across our territory: in the wake of Mr. George Floyd's death weeks ago, people across North America are taking a stand that black lives matter. Of course, police brutality cannot be condoned in any way. It is unacceptable under any circumstance. It's not acceptable that people of colour, including, in Canada, Indigenous people, are frequently victims of this brutality.
High-profile incidents like George Floyd's case also put a spotlight on the RCMP. Today, Nunavut is calling for a systemic review of the RCMP services provided to their territory. Understandably, anti-police sentiment is spotlighted in the media right now. Listening to the radio this morning, I really feel for them. I wonder how much this is being influenced by the fears of COVID-19 on the lockdown, Mr. Speaker. People are anxious about new powers and authorities that have dictated how we should be living in these times.
I want to take a moment to remember all the hard-working RCMP officers out there who put their lives on the line daily to keep our communities safe. With a group in any profession, there are unfortunately some bad apples who cast a shadow on the good work being done by others. Police in the North are hard-working members in dangerous situations, including that they work by themselves half the time. Our correctional officers, our highway patrol officers, our territorial park officers, our municipal enforcement officers, our police, our peace officers, regularly work in difficult environments, dangerous situations, times of crisis. They respond quickly with personal danger. Many RCMP officers work alone, with little or no backup. They put their lives on the line every single day and they pay the ultimate cost. Let us not forget the sacrifices of Constable Christopher Worden, who was killed on duty in Hay River in 2007, or parole officer Louise Pargeter, killed in the line of duty here in Yellowknife in 2004.
So, while condemning police brutality, let's also remember that not all police officers are the same. Many are caring, giving members of our communities. I want to encourage all northern leaders to reach out to detachment commanders, sergeants. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I encourage all our leadership across our territory, all 33 communities, to reach out to detachment commanders and dialogue on policing, how can it be improved in our communities. I also want to thank all those who serve and keep our communities safe, the RCMP officers, the persons who stay on call 24 hours a day. In our small communities, they also have to be the ambulance drivers. I want to thank them for their sacrifices and appreciate their services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Each year, we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students with best wishes for the future in their chosen field of study. This is no small feat, but a monumental task for the graduating students, as they endured many years of homework and studying to prepare them for the next steps in their journey, postsecondary education.
Today, on behalf of the community of Fort Providence, we congratulate and recognize the graduating class of 2020 from Deh Gah School: Rainla Bonnetrouge, Nyssa McKenzie, Anthony Betsaka, Kelly Leischman, Julia Gargan, Jacob Gargin, Shannan Bonnetrouge, Grace Allison, and Alex Canadian. We support you as you follow your dreams.
Mr. Speaker, further to this, I would also like to acknowledge the accomplishments of a postsecondary graduate of 2020, Ms. Caroline Minakosh of Fort Providence. Caroline completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts program with a major in Political Science and a minor in Indigenous Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa. We wish Caroline all the success in finding work within her field of study.
The community of Fort Providence would like to provide encouragement to the following students in postsecondary institutions: Brandon Thom, Bachelor of Sport and Fitness; Elainie Bandel, Nursing Program; Mikaila Bandel, Bachelor of Arts; Nanette Saffron, Hospitality Management; Patricia Bouvier, Indigenous Teacher Education Degree; Lindsay Landry, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Design; Edmund Gargan, Motorcycle Mechanic Program; Nonda Canadian, International Baccalaureate; Derek Vandel, Parts and Materials Technician Program.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of Fort Providence, we wish them all the best for what the future may hold for them. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I had a chance to get my hands really dirty on the weekend. We drove down to the Northern Farm Training Institute, or NFTI, near Hay River to volunteer. On the first morning, we built trellises for pumpkins and squash, but in the afternoon we each bagged about 1,000 pounds of potatoes.
The Great Potato Collaboration is now under way. NFTI put out a call for potatoes for the NWT during the pandemic to help build food security. The Potato Growers of Alberta helped identify one of its members, Sunnycrest Farms, that could help. John and Marlene Ekkel own Sunnycrest Farm in Lacombe, and answered the call by agreeing to give 50,000 pounds of seed potatoes to NFTI. That's more than a pound of seed potatoes for each person in the Northwest Territories. What a tremendous gift, thank you.
When we were at NFTI, we bagged potatoes for Aklavik and brought some back to Yellowknife for the Inuvik Greenhouse. Virtually every community will get some of the seed potatoes, and several transport companies have agreed to carry them for free. Our staycation at NFTI included a comfortable yurt and some meals with volunteers from France, Germany and Canada. NFTI is doing a fantastic job of building food security and deserves greater investment from this government.
While we were in Hay River, we christened the brand new Porritt's Landing picnic area and fire pits with some whitefish provided by the Honourable Member for Hay River South. He was right as the lake shore proved to be too cold for us with ice near shore, but we still had an excellent dinner.
During our travels, we visited Fort Providence where huge candling ice slabs flowed down the Dehcho, tinkling along the way. We would like to thank Russell Chase who showed us his rabbit farm near Enterprise. We also had a chance to discuss how GNWT could better support food security. We had a quick tour of Kakisa, which I had not visited in over a decade. Black bears, bison, sandhill cranes, and other birds were spotted along the way.
More seriously, Mr. Speaker, our trip reminded me of what a great place we live in and the tremendous tourism opportunities we should better promote this summer. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to congratulate the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation for being selected to win a United Nations award known as the Equator Prize. Mr. Speaker, for those who don't know, the Equator Prize is an award which recognizes outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Lutsel K'e won this award for their tireless work on the establishment of Thaidene Nene, or Land of the Ancestors, National Park Reserve. The area of the park reserve is 26,000 square kilometres, encompassing areas of Boreal forest and Arctic tundra and dozens of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife.
Mr. Speaker, Lutsel K'e is one of 10 global winners of this prestigious award, selected among 600 nominations spanning 120 countries, and this is the first time a Canadian group has won this award. The award also carries a $10,000 cash prize, and the winners will be honoured in New York City later this year as part of Climate Week and Nature Summit at the UN.
There are a number of people whom the LKDFN would like to thank for their long efforts and their hard work that was put into making Thaidene Nene into a reality. First, we want to thank Chief Marlowe and the entire council; as well as Steve Nitah, the lead negotiator for Thaidene Nene; along with all the elders and other community members who contributed to this massive project, which spanned decades to produce.
Mr. Speaker, Thaidene Nene has a website called Land of the Ancestors. I encourage the public to check it out and see the wonderful work that was put into making this park a reality. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last two weeks, people across North America and the world have been taking to the streets to protest against the excessive use of force by law enforcement and police brutality towards black, Indigenous, and all peoples of colour.
These protests began in Minnesota after footage was released of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of an unarmed black man named George Floyd, who later died because of this brutal police interaction. Why did the police use excessive force on George Floyd? A cashier alleged he had a counterfeit $20 bill.
George Floyd's death might have been the catalyst triggering these protests; however, his death symbolizes a much larger issue within our society, which is institutional racism against black, Indigenous, and all peoples of colour.
Mr. Speaker, as a Dene woman and a former Chief, I have heard of hundreds of cases of police brutality towards unarmed Indigenous people and other people of colour, both in the NWT and across Canada. Even this past weekend, my friend, Alan Adam, Chief of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, publicly discussed an incident of police brutality that he experienced with the RCMP in March of this year. In fact, Chief Adam has shared images of his beaten and battered face from this brutal police interaction. Why did the RCMP use excessive force on Chief Adam? Expired vehicle registration.
Systemic racism is a fact of life, and if these two stories aren't enough to show the over-policing of black and brown bodies, here are some statistics. According to a CBC analysis of data from fatal police encounters from 2000-2017, while Indigenous people make up only 4.8 percent of the general population, they account for 15 percent of all police fatality victims. Conversely, black Canadians account for only 3.4 percent of the general population, yet account for 9 percent of all police fatality victims. These stats show that racialized people experience disproportionate levels of police violence than others.
Mr. Speaker, structural racism has persisted in our government and legal systems for far too long in this country. Canada and the RCMP have a deep colonial history that cannot be ignored, and we must call out and root out the learned behaviours of racism at all levels of government. We have had dozens of reports, national inquiries, and royal commissions, and they all share this same conclusion. I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
We have had dozens of reports, national inquiries, and royal commissions, and they all share this same conclusion, so we must continue to actively improve these systems wherever possible. Mr. Speaker, black lives matter, and Indigenous lives matter. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since March, we have been following the rules. A lot of my constituents have been doing what they need to do, but now it's June. In May, it got nice and warm towards the end, and now it's beautiful at home. Although I agree with the fact that the ITI department needed time to get their staff and campgrounds ready, I wanted the Minister to know that, at home, our camping season starts May long weekend. It usually runs until July, as these are our warm weather months. We still have people who like to go in August and September to the campgrounds, but this is when it's full. Yes, I am aware that our campground in my region doesn't open until June 1st, but that's another issue that we can also work on.
While we prepare for summer, and we, as a territory, prepare to enter into phase 2 of opening our territory to what will hopefully be a smooth and easy transition, the NWT has not had a case, I mention this again, for over two months. People in my region and, I imagine, in other regions are eager to enjoy what this territory offers, including the use of our territorial parks for overnight camping. As I learned this morning, all campgrounds in the NWT will be open this Friday for overnight camping.
Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in Territorial Park and Caribou Creek campgrounds are examples of important destinations for the residents of my community and region during the summer months. These locations not only offer a place where residents can get out of the house but to enjoy the outdoors after a long, dark, cold winter. For those who don't have on-the-land camps, they are very popular for picnics and overnight camping.
NWT residents have been recommended to avoid all non-essential travel out of the NWT, but yet we can't even overnight camp in our campgrounds. Mr. Speaker, I believe now is the time where we can open up our parks to our residents for overnight camping and do it safely. I am glad that the Department of ITI agrees with me. I will have questions for the Minister of ITI. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to talk about the poverty trap today. I have talked about this concept before, but, as a reminder, a poverty trap is a self-reinforcing cycle that allows poverty to persist. In particular, it's a situation in which an increase in income results in a decrease in benefits so that, in the end, you are no further ahead.
Mr. Speaker, this pandemic has been difficult for all of us but particular for people with low or no income. The federal and territorial governments have provided additional benefits to low-income residents. To its credit, the territorial government has permitted income assistance recipients to keep this extra money without reducing its financial support to them. As you will hear later today when the Standing Committee on Social Development tables its pandemic response report, we would like this exemption to stay in place and to increase the limit on keeping unearned income over the year.
Mr. Speaker, a particular problem within the poverty trap is finding affordable housing. I have a constituent who is a single dad with two children who is currently living with family. It's a chaotic and overcrowded situation where it's difficult to get the rest they all need. He has a skill, but he hasn't been able to work because of the pandemic lockdown. What he would like to do is get a job and get a place of his own, but he's running into barriers. The first barrier is that he doesn't have a job right now; he's on income assistance. That more or less rules out renting from the private market as he doesn't have a steady income. Income Assistance will provide a three-month income guarantee, but most landlords want a year, especially during the pandemic. Landlords no longer have the opportunity to evict tenants for non-payment, so they are taking fewer risks. A possible solution is to get into public housing. We all know that the waiting list in Yellowknife and many places throughout the territory is very long. He's been told he's number 20-something on the list. In other words, he's not going to get into public housing anytime soon.
Mr. Speaker, my constituent has a skill, and he wants to work. He wants his own place for his children. It seems like a simple ask but it's not. That's a poverty trap. If we want people to not only survive but thrive, we need to identify these poverty traps.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need to identify these poverty traps and eliminate them. One solution is to introduce a guaranteed basic income. I will have questions on that point for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Mr. Speaker, today is 15 days after the last breath was pressed out of George Floyd while a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes. In empathy for his family and all who are suffering, I ask this House to show compassion and join me in nine seconds of silence.
Mr. Speaker, as I speak, Yellowknifers march down our main streets to declare unequivocally that Black lives matter. I struggle with my absence, and I struggle that it will be mistaken as silence, the silence of complicity. This world suffers two pandemics simultaneously: COVID-19 and racism. Black people have suffered from both disproportionately. COVID arrived on this continent 101 days ago and racism centuries ago. Both persist, both are insidious, both are a disease, and both require our ears and our action. Racism uses the colour of someone's skin to strip them of their unique individuality and to herd them into a group of stereotypes where personhood is extinguished. This lack of understand and personal relationship breeds fear and mutual isolation. Racism is woven tightly into the fabric of our society with the threads of white privilege.
Thirty-two years ago, Peggy McIntosh wrote an article unpacking the invisible knapsack of privileges that white people have learned to take for granted, not because they don't know poverty or haven't struggled but because they have unquestioned access to power and resources systemically denied to people of colour. Last year, Cory Collins wrote about the power unconsciously enjoyed and consciously perpetuated by white society, both as a weightless knapsack full of opportunity and a weapon brandished to preserve it. He mentioned three exclusive powers: the power of normalcy, that white is the normal against what everyone else is judged; the power of benefit of the doubt, where white people are granted individual potential, the ability to survive mistakes and given compassion when struck by hardship; and three, the power of accumulated power, this is the inheritance of law, policy, and wealth that continue to compound to the advantage of white people.
Mr. Speaker, while people of colour have spent lifetimes enduring racism, privilege has afforded white people the choice to stand up. The anger fear resentment, and frustration we see stems from a lifetime of standing up out of survival. People of colour have run lifetimes of marathons while the rest of us show up wondering why everyone else seems to tired when we have barely begun to run and some don't even have their shoes on yet. Fifteen days ago, as he died, George Floyd begged for his mama. Today, he is being buried next to her. Yellowknife's Inemesit Graham said, "As long as we're the only ones screaming, our voices will be drowned out. We need the majority to be just as angry, to be just as aware and to stand up for us."
Mr. Speaker, today, as George Floyd is laid to rest, I call on all those who have benefited from white privilege to reflect on that privilege, to imagine what your life would be like if you weren't considered normal, given the benefit of the doubt, and able to enjoy accumulated power, then make a vow to stand up for the change we need so that we can live in a society where all people are valued equally for their unique attributes and their humanity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. I rise to express my solemn gratitude and solemn gratitude for those Northerners who risked their health and well-being to save Northwest Territories against the ravages of COVID-19. First on everyone's mind are the front-line healthcare professions who stood guard, ever vigilant and caring. The NWT is blessed with the best, most dedicated doctors, nurses, healthcare professions, the technicians, and support staff in the world. Mr. Speaker, the gratitude doesn't stop there. We cannot forget the unsung heroes who maintain our critical northern chain of supplies from the truck drivers, postal workers, to the store clerks who stuck by their cash registers and stocked the shelves in spite of the real threat of personal infections.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I also want to thank the essential public service workers, teachers, school administrators, and public utility workers who answer duty's calls. These stalwart people keep the territory running smoothly in spite of the heightened tension and increased demand of their time. Our gratitude is also extended to all those municipal and also band employees who put their communities first as always. Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 has been a moral threat to all of us, but it has been a reminder to Northerners of their interconnectedness and their mutual reliance on each other. It has highlighted the generosity, the courage, the resourcefulness of our citizens, NWT citizens. The actions of our people, the actions of our governments at all levels, our labour unions, as well, make them extremely proud to be a Northerner. I cannot think of a better, safe, more blessed place anywhere to wait for the passing of this difficult, world-wide health crisis. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, it saddens me that I spill hear people downplay the reality of racism in Canadian. Yet, I ask anyone who wishes to downplay the pain of those protesting as we speak, I ask a white person to ask themselves if their child was Black whether life would be easier or harder for that child. We should not have to use such analogies to show the importance, but maybe the fact that we do is commentary of where we are as a nation. There is no doubt that a person of colour has a harder time and the game is rigged against them from the moment they are born. That is what is meant by systemic racism. It is not just the hatred that rots people's souls. It is a series of subtle and somewhat invisible cultural norms that make life harder for anyone whose skin is not white. A culture which makes is a young Indigenous boy or girl search for self-esteem unnecessarily harder.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot let those voices go unheard. We in this House have a job to break the cycle. There is no shortage of systemic issues we can face in this House. When we pass a budget that gives $47 million to the RCMP and only $400,000 to First Nations policing, that's institutional racism. When we negotiate self-government agreements, but the entire criminal justice system and the criminal code is off the table, that is institutional racism, Mr. Speaker. When the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls go out and conduct interviews across this country and then the federal government and our government fails to get an action plan in place, that is systemic racism, Mr. Speaker. These are not overt acts of hatred. These are a misalignment of priorities and a shying away from the very difficult work we are tasked to do.
Mr. Speaker, when the RCMP uses the entire North as a place to hide officers who have been convicted of sexual assault, that's institutional racism. When some new rookie officer shows up and decides that integrating themselves into the community and building an understanding of the culture is not their priority, that is institutional racism.
There is an inherent privilege awarded to whiteness in this country, Mr. Speaker. That is a fact, and it is a fact we all need to change. If we are truly committed to ending racism, it requires a serious reconfiguration of all our systems. It requires societal and cultural change where people give up their privilege, where people recognize the systems they operate in and work to change them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee of Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide the "Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT" and commends it to the House.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Please proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uncertainty of the global pandemic -- sorry, Mr. Speaker, one page ahead of myself.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment (SCEDE) has witnessed the acute and severe decline in the NWT's private sector from COVID-19. The decline in business activity continues to affect NWT businesses today. While the path through the pandemic may be short term, for some businesses and others it will take much longer to recover.
Businesses across the NWT were ordered to reduce or completely shut down their operations. A handful of businesses were able to innovate and provide altered services to remain open. Many small and medium businesses, however, have quickly depleted their financial reserves and are struggling to survive.
Total employment in the NWT fell by 400 persons in April, while the employment rate dropped to 62.3, the lowest for that month in the past 10 years. Compared to last year at the same time, unemployment rates rose among major worker groups, the highest among those who live outside the territory or outside the capital of Yellowknife are female, aged from 25 and older.
The NWT economy relies heavily on the extractive, non-renewable resource sector, especially the diamond mining industry, representing 21 percent of the overall economy. Although mining, oil, and gas have declined drastically since 2007, it still remains the NWT's most dominant economic sector. Next to mining, oil, and gas, the services industry comprises the vast majority of the remaining economy, at 68 percent, and is dominated by public administration at 32 percent.
The private sector, which is narrowly comprised of non-renewable exports, is volatile as it is subject to global commodity prices. The NWT has witnessed Dominion Diamond Mines ULC, the controlling owner of Ekati Diamond Mine and 40 percent owner of Diavik Diamond Mine, suspend operations at the Ekati mine site and file for a creditor protection order, leaving over $13 million hung up in unpaid expenses to NWT businesses during COVID-19. The NWT resource sector support services, arguably the most important economic linkage in the NWT economy, continues to wait out the uncertainty of the global pandemic as diamonds remain volatile, which furthers the NWT's private sector uncertainty at this time.
The GNWT is heavily reliant on federal financial support as its primary revenue source, accounting for slightly more than 80 percent of the GNWT's total revenues of $2.186 billion. While the GNWT's total operational expenditures, pre-pandemic, is estimated at $1.983 billion, the GNWT can largely run on federal government transfer alone. Government administration can act as a stabilizing force to the NWT economy through this recession. The NWT economy will remain much more stable through the recovery of COVID-19 than other Canadian jurisdictions dependent on private sector activity to fund government services. The medium- and long-term outlook for the NWT was concerning before COVID-19 and is even more concerning now, as we emerge out of this, post-pandemic. The NWT economy is stable but stagnant.
Due to the NWT's small population, there are limitations for the GNWT to increase own-source revenues. Since 2015, during the construction of the Gahcho Kue diamond mine, private investment has trended downward, while public investment has trended upward.
The government walks a fine balance of moving forward with large public infrastructure projects that reduce the cost of living for residents and make the NWT more attractive for investment, while minimizing borrowing debt and stimulating local business development.
The GNWT across all departments needs to train and instill client-service skills that support and promote small businesses across the NWT. The value of well-trained front line GNWT staff knowledgeable and familiar with the potential capabilities of NWT businesses cannot be underestimated at this time in our economic recession.
Small businesses need to risk start-up and be supported through small government contracts over time to enable a diversified and healthy private sector that contributes to the GNWT's own-source revenue through tax regimes. The larger businesses are pillars of the economy and need to be engaged and supported to expand into larger territorial, domestic, and even international markets.
Although the GNWT may be in a healthy credit position today, the long-term plan for the economy has to increase own-source revenues through the acceleration of a vibrant private sector in order to maintain a positive credit rating.
Mr. Speaker, I pass on to the MLA for Deh Cho. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Committee recognizes the swift action of the NWT Business Development Investment Corporation (BDIC) to implement two new support programs in response to COVID-19.
Committee had concerns that the loan programs available to businesses are not sufficient without being guaranteed or forgiven by the government. Businesses in the NWT incur high operating costs and in many cases have already have taken on loans or debts and cannot further extend themselves to take on additional loans through COVID-19 without any certainty for when their businesses might recover. Many businesses do not have the equity or liquidity to be sure they can pay back the loan.
Until Canada withstands the potential second and third wave of COVID-19 and the NWT lifts all public health orders, many businesses in the NWT will be under extreme pressure. BDIC programs delivered in response to COVID-19 should extend support measures until the economy recovers.
Further, committee is concerned the application process may be too onerous for small businesses. As such, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment encourages the government to: simplify and shorten the application process; provide loan forgiveness options; flexible repayment options; as well as deferral payment options (without accumulating interest) for businesses until the economic depression caused by the public health crisis has subsided.
Additionally, committee wants to see the BDIC prioritize developmental lending opportunities in small communities. Programs such as the Venture Investment Program hold great potential to expand the private sector by providing equity investment into businesses. Equity investment opportunities should be pursued and actively promoted by the BDIC especially at this time.
SCEDE recommends that the GNWT, through amendment of BDIC programs, increase business relief efforts through measures not limited to extending loan payment remission and providing loan forgiveness options. SCEDE also recommends the BDIC expand investment programs to stimulate economic development. SCEDE recommends the amendments to the loan program, and a plan to expand the investment program be completed and reported back to committee as per Recommendation 5.
Mr. Speaker, I pass this on to the MLA for Yellowknife North. Mahsi.
