Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to rise and talk about some of the COVID-19 responses in the Nahendeh region.
Northerners throughout the area support local events and groups however they can. Things like the Lights On Program and the elementary school lunch program received donations monthly pre-COVID-19. That includes monthly donations. The North West Company Healthy Horizons Foundation donated $20,000 to the Lights On Program so that they could begin to build a snowboard park in Fort Simpson, and I'm happy to say it's been built. Since the pandemic started, they donated $1,000 to the local foodbank and soup kitchen. This was greatly appreciated by the staff and residents. As one person said recently, every little bit helps in our time of need.
There have been also private donations from the North West Company by the Sprout Foundation and Second Harvest. The North West Company contributed an additional $600,000, bringing their total donation of $3.6 million. This donation will be spread throughout the stores within the North West Company to divide among communities in the form of vouchers. These vouchers can be used in store to buy food items. The company is working with the community to decide which families would benefit most from this. They are also looking for new ways to support the community. We are especially grateful for the support that they have shown us throughout the difficult times.
There are a couple of other stores that I'd like to recognize here, as well: the Unity Store and the Fort Liard General Store. They are big supporters of community events, corporate citizens, and employers in both the communities. They also reach out to people in time of need.
I would like to also recognize Dene First Nation, who contributed a whole pot of their money, including dividends as they move forward. This has allowed people, not just in the community, but also outside membership, to get food in this time of need. The local band has also developed small gardens for kids under six. This is allowing them to get the material and seeds, and I would like to thank them for that.
In closing, I would like to thank all of the businesses and stores which I didn't mention today for all their help and commitment to the residents of the Northwest Territories and for their wellness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of housing in her role as the housing Minister and also the Minister responsible for Homelessness.
Last weekend, when I was home, I was driving home after work and I noticed someone lying in the ditch. It was one of my constituents. He was not under the influence; he was just tired, had a medical issue and no home to go to. He was lucky that a couple of young ladies were kind-hearted enough stop and call an ambulance for him.
When I arrived, he was alone. I stayed with him until the ambulance showed up, and at that time, he informed me that the night before he was in the same position, and he went to hospital there, or the health centre, they wouldn't let him stay overnight. I told him, I said, "Well, go and take the ambulance, and they're pretty well going to have to keep you there." I said, "If they don't, just tell them to call me. As an MLA or as a lawyer, I will look after you, one or the other." I never heard from him so hopefully he's okay.
Anyway, the first question I have is: I would ask the Minister if her departments have taken any action to establish a permanent shelter for men in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for his question. Right now, the Housing Corporation is involved in a vulnerable persons working group in the community of Hay River. Right now, we are in agreement with an established business in Hay River as well, too, that we have opened up 18 additional rooms for Hay River. I know this is a temporary solution for the community, but we are hoping to work in conjunction with the community membership and the non-profit organizations in the community of Hay River to find a solution to address the homelessness need in the Member's riding.
I think that the people appreciate the beds that are made available to the homeless right now. Problem is that some of them are removed every once in a while, and they have nowhere to go. They had a shelter in the old part of Hay River, and it was closed. This morning there was somebody peeking out the window, so they moved back in. I told the guy, "Just keep the door open. Let them use it until something else comes up."
The next question I have for the Minister: it's not only the homeless that we need shelter for in Hay River. We need living accommodation for singles, couples, and families. There is a big shortage. What is the department doing to address this immediate issue that is in Hay River?
Thank you to the Member for his questions. Last week, the Housing Corporation had rolled out $43 million in infrastructure projects through the Northwest Territories. With that is an initiative, as well, to try to work and address the housing needs and the homelessness issue throughout the territory. We also have carry-over projects as well, too, that that weren't complete in 2019-2020, so those projects are soon to be coming to completion.
I also made an announcement that approximately 130 units would be available to the people of the Northwest Territories due to the COVID response from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and that emergency measure is no longer required those units. Right now, I can let the Member know that the Housing Corporation, we do have 60 units throughout the Northwest Territories that we are looking for immediate occupancy. The additional 70 are needing minor to major repairs. I could follow up with the Member to address how many units identified are going to be allocated in his riding.
The Hay River high-rise has been a sore point for many, but it has 122 apartments sitting empty right now. It is time to put our differences aside and seriously look at it as a viable place to reduce housing requirements in Hay River. This government did it with the Arnica Inn project here in Yellowknife. Why not the Hay River high-rise?
I do see the need for utilizing the high-rise in Hay River for the additional 122 units. The Housing Corporation hasn't been approached, to my knowledge. It does lie in the Office of the Fire Marshal. We haven't had any approach from the business owner or the owner of the high-rise that would have expressed interest in looking at renovations or a possibility of accessing our co-investment fund for the Northwest Territories. I am open to furthering this conversation with the Member, should the Member and his riding be interested in looking at additional solutions for the high-rise. The business owner would have to contact the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation individually.
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I'd be hoping that the Housing Corporation, knowing that there is a shortage in Hay River, would be kind of proactive, so I'm just wondering: when was the last time that anybody from the department has actually talked to the owner of the high-rise? I talk to him probably weekly, so I'm just wondering if your department has talked to him, or when was the last time anybody talked to him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Like I said, this is a private business, a private owner and, to my knowledge, as of today, we haven't been contacted by the Hay River high-rise. I do have open dialogue to be working with the owner for the high-rise in Hay River, but I do know that there were some concerns with the Fire Marshal, so I'm not too sure; I couldn't comment on what status that building may be in and what the requirements would be to have the high-rise up and running again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Throughout the course of COVID-19, I have made multiple requests to see some data regarding COVID-19. I have made requests to see modelling, and I have still have not seen those. The type of data I am looking for is really not the kind of thing that I think should be asked on the floor of the House, but I will ask.
We have consistently heard that one of the risks of the Northwest Territories is we have a lot of immunocompromised people and respiratory illness, so my question to the Minister of health is: how many people in the NWT are projected to be at high risk or immunocompromised? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now, we are looking at about a third of the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
I find that a truly terrifying statistic, and I am a little concerned that it took this long for me to hear that one third of our residents are in that category, because I really do think it shows the significant risk we are at. One of my other concerns is that there is a lot of different data out there showing how deadly COVID-19 is and what actually its effect on a population are. I'm not looking for specific modelling. I'm looking to get a sense of, given there is one third of our population at risk, and based on the number of people in the Northwest Territories, if COVID-19 is spreading across the Northwest Territories, how many people would we expect to be hospitalized and/or die?
I don't have that level of detail right now, but I will get back to the Member.
Yes, I would appreciate if that level of information could be made public. During one of our briefings, I asked the Chief Public Health Officer, and she started to lay out a formula of how you could take a set of the population, and what we know about COVID-19, and then project hospitalizations. It's that kind of information I'm looking for. It's certainly not information I am capable of understanding or providing, so I would really appreciate if the Minister could follow through with that commitment.
Another one of the main concerns I have had is that I still don't have a full understanding of the risk. If we have community spread of COVID-19, there is going to be a set number of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19, but there is also the risk of a surge on our healthcare system. Can the Minister try to give me a sense of what the risk of deaths due to unrelated-to-COVID illnesses that would not be treated due to a surge?
Yes, we will look into that and provide that detail to the Member.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that the questions I'm asking are highly technical, and I have resorted to asking them on the floor of the House because, after numerous requests, I have not got that data, so I'm really looking for some concrete numbers.
I don't believe it is a fair comparison to compare COVID-19 to the flu, based on everything I know. I also know that flus have flu shots, which significantly reduce the number of people who get the flu, but I have made this request previously, and I am looking to get a sense from the Minister of how many people require hospitalization in the average flu season in the NWT or how many die from it. I think that would be a fair comparison to COVID-19, and ultimately, I would like data that shows that, but if I could get a sense of what a flu season looks like in the Northwest Territories, as compared to the worst cases of COVID. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We do have those numbers prepared, and I can get back to the Member with those. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask some questions today of the Minister responsible for Seniors. My first question is: what tasks or responsibilities has the Minister responsible for Seniors been charged with to achieve during the life of this Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for Seniors.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the roles is being an advocate for the seniors within the Cabinet, working with the various departments, but also the second part of it is to work with the seniors' societies. Groups in the Northwest Territories that have seniors' issues that need to come forward and talk to me, as well. I attend federal meetings, as well, on behalf of the government in regard to seniors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I understand that the Minister is very dedicated to his job, but he is one person, so I'm wondering: what kind of fiscal and human resources have been allocated to the Minister to achieve the tasks and responsibilities that he would like to achieve as Minister responsible for Seniors through the life of this Assembly?
Presently, the Minister responsible for Seniors doesn't have any fiscal or staff time allocated to me specifically; however, I do have a working relationship with various Ministers, in particular the Minister of health, and we are able to work together on various tasks and we are able to get work done that way. Also, in regard to resources, one of the things is that we are looking at our mandate letters and some of the challenges that we see facing us. We have reached out to AOC, and to my understanding, it has gone to the committees, and they are coming back and commenting on our ability with the mandates and what they would like to see, as well.
I'm wondering if the Minister has considered developing a plan for aging in the Northwest Territories that identifies things like policies, programs, and services that are currently in place to support seniors; that identifies gaps in those supports; and that also sets out a course of action or a plan for how to improve territorial supports of seniors going forward.
I recognize the importance of supporting seniors to ensure that they are safe, supported, and are able to age with dignity within their communities and their own homes. There are a number of initiatives across departments that provide support for seniors. These programs are listed in the Seniors' Handbook, which is a valuable resource for seniors looking to access government and community supports in the NWT.
Departments are constantly looking at gaps in programs to be responsive in a timely manner to issues affecting seniors; however, developing an NWT seniors' strategy may not be achievable at this time. However, we are committed to supporting seniors by advancing the mandate priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories. The most important other part of it is that we are willing to work with committee and what they can help bring forward.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I had a teacher in high school who still lives in town, and he used to always say to us, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." I am wondering if the Minister responsible for Seniors would be willing to commit to creating a plan, somewhat of a strategy, one would say, around seniors. Thank you.
Unfortunately, I can't make that commitment. I am becoming the Minister of "No." However, we do have a number of activities, things that various departments are doing. We are also working with NGOs to identify concerns and issues that we can help work with them. At the end of the day, as the Member says, you plan to fail or whatever the statement was. I get that one mixed up. If you fail to plan, you fail, but at the end of the day, we are working with the government departments to make sure that the issues are brought forth, that we can work to be able to achieve that. We have a variety of activities that are happening within various departments that help seniors move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I would like to follow up on a letter that I tabled in the House a couple of days ago regarding support for childcare. Has the Minister had an opportunity to review the letter from the Children First Society in Inuvik and the Yellowknife Daycare Association? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.
That is the kind of answer I am looking for. Thank you to the Minister. There has been almost $5 million designated to support early childhood care and education during the COVID-19 pandemic by GNWT. Supports include a subsidy to lower childcare costs for essential service workers, wage top-ups, funding for cleaning supplies, and money available to assist with reopening. Of course, we don't want to take steps backwards. The child carers would like to maintain this positive momentum. Will the Minister commit to continuing these additional supports for childcare beyond the COVID-19 pandemic?
ECE gives out a lot of money. The Members are always asking me to give out more money. I have to let them know there is a process. There is a process in the government whereby I have to go to the Financial Management Board and present this. That being said, these funds were put out there for a reason. It's because COVID-19, we were afraid it was coming to the territory, and we needed to be prepared. As such, we put a lot of time into it in a short period of time. We put a lot of hours each day into this.
We are in a different place now. What we have to do is go back, look at what we have in place, look at these supports. Maybe they are not the right supports. Maybe we need different supports. There are some things in there, for example, helping ensure that childcare centres that have closed can keep paying their bills so they don't disappear. Why would we do that if we are just going to now let them disappear? It would make sense that we have to look at what ongoing supports we can provide. Once we figure that out, then I will come back to the Financial Management Board with a plan if that is what is needed, and we will go from there.
I was hoping for a "yes." Look, I take the Minister's points, but what I would like to hear him say is that he is actually prepared to take that proposal to FMB. During COVID-19, there has been a global recognition of how childcare workers provide an essential service. Early in this sitting, the Premier reiterated her support for universal childcare. I agree with it, too. We also have an early childhood development framework and an action plan in place that will start to help us get there. Can the Minister commit that he'll get his senior staff to discuss with early childcare providers, and they are ready and eager to enter discussions about looking at making some of these changes during COVID-19 more permanent, to increase the availability and affordability of childcare?
I know that every time we talk about universal childcare for the next four years, it's going to come back to the quote from the Premier saying, "I am all about universal childcare." I thank her for that. In the government's mandate, there is a commitment to develop a 2030 early learning and childcare strategy in consultation with stakeholders that considers the availability of childcare spaces and reduction of childcare costs. This is under the commitment to advance universal childcare. What the Member's asking is what is in the mandate.
This is what we plan to do, how can we move towards a universal childcare and early learning education system, essentially, across the Northwest Territories. I can't commit to the date when those talks will happen. The department is in constant contact with early learning and childcare providers. There are ongoing conversations, and there are a lot of good ideas that we already know about. Given the situation right now where a lot of employees are working from home, some have gone to other departments to help with the COVID-19 efforts, I can't commit to making this happen today. That is exactly the type of work that ECE is planning on doing.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that fabulous display of Cabinet solidarity. More seriously, I do appreciate his commitment on this file. He has done a lot of work in the department, as well. I commend him for his commitment to work with childcare providers moving forward. Of course, we are still in a pandemic. I have raised the issue of lessons learned several times in this House, Mr. Speaker. One of those lessons learned is that we need to continue to improve access to affordable childcare. Can the Minister tell us how he and his department intend to approach lessons learned about childcare during this pandemic and make permanent changes that bring us closer to universal childcare? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't say there are necessarily a lot of lessons learned. It's highlighted a lot of the things that we already knew: that there are a limited number of qualified early childhood educators; the pay scale is not quite comparable to other fields. In the letter the Member referenced, it talks about the pay scale for early childhood educators and people who work at childcare centres. It's much lower than, say, teachers, for example. A lot of times, people who have those qualifications move on to the JK to 12 system. It's tough to hold onto them.
The department has been trying to respond to these types of things over the past number of years. We have grants for people who want to further their education in this field. There are dual credit courses that students can take in high school so that they can get an early start into this. There are a couple programs at Aurora College. We are doing a lot of the work that needs to get done here. We already know about that work. If this helps us get there faster, then I will take advantage of that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
