Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is celebrating the official launch of the Our Languages curriculum. This launch marks an important milestone for Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories.
Our Languages is a competency-based curriculum that provides Indigenous language instructors with curricular outcomes, instructional strategies, and assessment tools to foster language growth in classrooms. It promotes a whole-school approach to language learning to ensure that Indigenous languages are heard and spoken throughout schools, at assemblies, and during routines in all Northwest Territories classrooms. Our Languages was made in the Northwest Territories in collaboration with Indigenous elders, teachers, language champions, neurolinguistic experts, curriculum coordinators, and community advocates and was informed by national and international curricular documents. Our Northern language experts helped to ensure that Our Languages aligns with the two foundational curricula of the Northwest Territories' education system, Dene Kede and Inuuqatigiit, which ground teaching and learning in Indigenous traditions, culture, and place.
In order to achieve this long-awaited milestone, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment worked with regional Indigenous language coordinators from the participating regional Indigenous governments to ensure that promising community practices and cultural connections were included in the Our Languages curriculum.
The department also worked with education bodies to advise and support Indigenous language instructors through each of their unique situations during COVID-19, including offering online and video-based professional development. All Indigenous language instructors have been trained and continue to have follow-up in-servicing in the Our Languages curriculum and associated supporting resources.
Additionally, a revised version of the Indigenous Languages and Education Handbook was recently released to support schools in using the curriculum effectively. This handbook outlines actions and promising practices that principals, teachers, Indigenous language instructors, and educational assistants can undertake to deliver quality education that promotes and enhances Indigenous languages and culture-based education in our schools, homes, and communities.
As of the current school year, 42 out of the 49 schools now offer Indigenous language programming as a second language. In addition, four schools now offer Indigenous immersion programming in the primary grades.
Mr. Speaker, it has been an incredible year for Indigenous language revitalization initiatives in the Northwest Territories, and there is more excitement to come. The new Our Languages curriculum, supplemented by the Indigenous Languages and Education Handbook, provides an opportunity to carry on the legacy of our Indigenous languages and traditions. This ground-breaking initiative, made in collaboration with our Indigenous language revitalization partners across the territory, is something that we should all be very proud of. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a strong and effective regulatory system in the Northwest Territories that relies on Indigenous, territorial, and federal governments working together to make wise decisions about the use of our land and water. This system is always evolving to serve the people of this territory better.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has a mandate to support the sustainable use of natural resources. Every five years, an independent auditor is appointed to conduct an environmental audit, as required under legislation and land claim agreements. The 2020 Northwest Territories Environmental Audit is the second audit commissioned by the Government of the Northwest Territories since devolution. It was conducted by a team of independent consultants and guided by a steering committee of Indigenous, territorial, and federal government representatives. The auditors focused on how environmental trends were used to make decisions, the effectiveness of cumulative impact monitoring, how the regulatory system is working, and the response to recommendations from the previous audit.
The 2020 audit found the environmental regulatory system in the Northwest Territories has continued to improve since the last audit in 2015. There were no new significant issues identified in the 2020 audit, and there was progress across most regulatory components. Certain recommendations of the audit were already recognized as priorities of this government, supported by the mandate priorities to settle and implement treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements and increase regional decision-making authority and employment in small communities. The audit recognized the Government of the Northwest Territories for making progress on climate change policy and action planning, as well as working with Indigenous governments and organizations to make new laws and improve existing laws related to land, water, and resource management since devolution.
While there has been progress over the last five years, there is still work to do. The audit found that there are improvements to be made in the areas of community wellness, land use planning, finalizing land claims, and engaging communities. In total, the 2020 Environmental Audit provided 40 recommendations directed at decision-makers. All responses to those recommendations are included in the 2020 Audit Technical Report. The Government of the Northwest Territories has committed to implementing our responses to the audit recommendations and continuing to improve our environmental management in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, the 2020 Environmental Audit is an important tool the government and its partners can use to improve our resource management systems, while meeting our obligations under land claim agreements and devolution. Later today, I will be tabling the audit and look forward to working with all responsible parties over the next five years to follow through on the recommendations in the audit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, in February, during the delivery of the budget speech, I said it was time to use creativity and innovation to find internal efficiencies. Since then, our government has had to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in my last two fiscal updates since the onset of COVID-19, I have again said that now is the time to use creativity and use this moment of heightened awareness around our fiscal situation to consider how we want to emerge from the pandemic as a government and as a territory.
The Department of Finance's mandate is to "obtain, manage, and control the financial resources required to implement the Government of the Northwest Territories' policies and programs." Those responsibilities are not new; neither are our many fiscal challenges. We are going to use the current climate of recovery and renewal as an opportunity to reimagine how we obtain, manage, and control those financial resources.
Mr. Speaker, over multiple Legislative Assemblies, the data shows patterns of budgeting and spending that have impaired the long-term sustainability of the GNWT. Our expenditures and the public service continue to grow; our planning is often reactive instead of proactive; and the significant capital investments which the territory absolutely needs have driven up our short-term debt. The COVID-19 pandemic has added to these fiscal pressures, and the GNWT needs a stable fiscal footing to support the territory's recovery. We are far from alone in these challenges. Other governments have similar challenges, and fortunately, new ways of budgeting government finances have emerged to respond.
The Department of Finance is planning to shift the way our budget is developed. The Government Renewal Initiative will rely on value-driven budgeting principles to review GNWT programs and services department by department and allocate resources to areas that are most critical and valuable to residents. Value-based budgeting, also known as priority-based budgeting, is both the idea that underlies the building of the budget as well as the method. It is founded on the common-sense idea that government financial resources should be allocated based on how effectively programs and services give value to residents.
This is a fundamental shift from how budgets are currently developed, where a large focus is on incremental increases and decreases from the year before. Using incremental budgeting, most of the budget is not actually subject to the same level of scrutiny as new spending, and it can be difficult to respond to new or changing priorities. Incremental budgeting is more about where we have been; but now, we want to shift to define our fiscal foundation by where we want to go.
Some of the key principles of this approach are to:
Provide better transparency to territorial priorities and how services and programs contribute to those priorities;
Prioritize and allocate budgets at the program and service level;
More directly question our past spending habits;
Evaluate the true cost and benefit of programs and services as part of budget development, rather than only looking at incremental changes; and
Build more accountability for results into funding decisions.
This is a significant undertaking. Over the next few months, the Department of Finance will finalize the framework for how government renewal will be implemented early in the new year. We have already established the strategic priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and are actively working on additional priority needs resulting from COVID-19 in our Emerge Stronger work. With those priorities in mind, we will undertake an evidence-based evaluation of where government resources are spent.
For a budget development process that is based on the values of our residents to be meaningful, engagement with my fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly is critical. The work will be difficult. Defining and ranking often competing priorities is challenging, but that is the work of governing. Applying the work of priority and value balancing to government budgeting is an opportunity to better reflect the diversity of the values and needs of all residents of the NWT. This is an opportunity to work together to ensure the government continues to have the resources required to deliver the programs and services that are important to the residents of the NWT.
I stated in June and it holds true: "If ever we needed creative problem solving to achieve responsive and effective results, it is now." I am confident that the Government Renewal Initiative will bring out this creative problem solving and help us maximize effectiveness, support the territory's pandemic recovery, and build a sustainable foundation for the future of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in September, the federal government launched the Rapid Housing Initiative, a $1-billion program to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians through the rapid construction of affordable housing in partnership with municipal and territorial governments, Indigenous governments, and non-profit organizations. Unfortunately, Cabinet has not updated this House about this new funding opportunity, so I will.
The initiative will support up to 3,000 new permanent, affordable housing units across Canada and cover the construction of modular housing, the acquisition of land, and the conversion or rehabilitation of existing buildings to affordable housing. The housing must be either standard rental, transitional, permanent, or supportive housing, single-occupancy, or seniors' housing, with a minimum of five units or beds. Each application must be a minimum contribution request of $1 million. The Rapid Housing Initiative will support both the construction of modular, multi-unit rental projects and conversions or rehabilitations of existing buildings that are in a state of disrepair or have been abandoned.
This grant program has core mandatory minimum requirements that include expediency and affordability. Affordable housing projects are meant to happen as quickly as possible, using modular-type construction to provide affordable housing to Northerners as quickly as possible. Affordability means that the rent is less than 30 percent of the gross income of targeted tenants and that affordability is maintained for a minimum of 20 years. In addition to meeting speed and affordability requirements, the initiative prioritizes northern housing applications with subsidies or supports from municipalities; territorial or Indigenous governments; favourable land status; energy efficiency; and accessibility.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has entrepreneurs that manufacture modular housing and tradespeople ready to work on projects like this. What is the Housing Corporation doing to connect them with this funding opportunity? CMHC has started accepting applications for the Rapid Housing Initiative this week and will accept applications until December 31st. This means there is no time to waste. The federal government aims to commit all funds before March 31, 2021, perfectly ahead of our construction season. The lack of progress by the Housing Corporation on the co-investment fund has me worried, Mr. Speaker. I am concerned that they do not have the resources to act quickly on this new federal initiative to ensure that the NWT gets its fair share of the funding. I want to remind the Minister that access to affordable housing and reducing core need is the key priority of this assembly. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. October 31st. Halloween. All Hallow's Eve. A day and night of magic and mystery when ghouls and goblins walk the streets and astronauts roam the earth. Growing up, Halloween was always one of my favourite times of the year. I can still remember the smell and feel of the pumpkin guts as my siblings and I carved jack o'lanterns, roasting seeds and burning our fingers playing with candle wax after our mom clearly told us not to.
This year the children of the Northwest Territories will experience a different kind of Halloween, one filled with numerous doses of hand sanitizers, masks that have nothing to do with their costumes, and innovative ways of candy delivery, such as chutes or honour system bowls where our youngest citizens will have their ethics tested. Do they take more than what they're allowed to, or do they follow the rules?
In my neighbourhood, I don't generally get a lot of children come my way on Halloween. Preference is given to the areas with higher density housing, efficient and smart thinking on the part of the kids. This speaks to my engineering heart, so I don't take the lack of interest in my neighbourhood personally.
Mr. Speaker, on this day before what is arguably one of the most popular holidays of the year, I wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a safe and fun celebration. I am so pleased that, despite the strange, new world that we find ourselves in these days, we continue to live our lives and allow our children to build their own memories, like those I remember fondly from my own childhood. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hay River, as with other communities, is in a housing crisis, more so with the closure of the Mackenzie Place high-rise due to the fire over one-and-a-half years ago. Fingers were pointed, and blame was placed. Now, the person responsible for causing the fire has been long forgotten. The real losers have been those that were displaced overnight, some of whom moved away from the NWT, while others were lucky enough to find accommodation. Some continue to couch-surf, and others find themselves homeless. Although the finger-pointing is ongoing today, my concern is not who is at fault but, more importantly, how we can open this building and have apartments available to those in desperate need of housing.
There are individuals, some in tears, who contact me daily, voicing their need for accommodation. These apartments were much needed in the 70s when the building was constructed and are needed even more so now. I have been working on moving this file forward since I was first elected. At this point, if the owner, who also has responsibilities to address the orders placed against the building, is not provided approval to reopen some of the apartments fairly soon, then the integrity of the building may be compromised due to the absence of heat and electricity. The loss of electricity will eliminate the aircraft warning beacon atop the building thus impacting air traffic and passenger safety. Our local radio and TV stations have stopped broadcasting and, along with other service providers, have removed their equipment from the building because of uncertainty with the electricity.
There were numerous safety orders placed against the building which have been satisfied, my understanding is that the final outstanding order right now is that issued by the department of health. I know that the department of health has the best interest of our residents in mind as they review the detailed abatement report submitted by the owner. I do appreciate the fact that the department and owner's representatives are working together to satisfy the order in a timely manner.
It is obvious that the NWT Housing Corporation has no plans to construct any significant number of public housing units in Hay River anytime soon. Therefore, re-opening of the high-rise is important. It will alleviate some of Hay River's immediate housing issues and take some pressure off the NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Addressing Nunakput's housing crisis, Mr. Speaker, young families have no place to go. We have not enough units in the community. Housing is not adequate for my elders, such as no backdoors in some of the units that are built now. Overcrowding, causing illness, which is a ticking timebomb for COVID-19 and for not enough water for the people inside the unit for water delivery. Houses are in despair. When the wind blows in a certain way, you've got snow coming in through the windows, and you've got snow coming through the doors, Mr. Speaker. Heating costs go through the roof. People can't pay their bills or make them when they're living in poverty. Don't forget that.
We have no units coming into the communities. I at least need 10 units for Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, and Tuktoyaktuk, and I need at least five for Sachs Harbour. That's how short we are with the young families that we've got coming up. We have LGOs doing the best they can with what they got, Mr. Speaker. The resources they have, the staff, the maintenance staff that go tirelessly day after day, fixing up all the units that are in despair. The first thing this government has done is the Arnica Inn project, the 42 beds for the territories here in Yellowknife, which I'm very happy for Yellowknife, and I supported that.
At the time, the Member for Monfwi asked the Minister when is the Housing Corporation going to wake up, Mr. Speaker. We have a $60 million fund sitting there that we have to tap into. I feel the Housing Corporation has to start doing more in taking this sense of urgency. Where is the planning? It's been eight months since we tapped into that money. The project officer delayed the application process, and the co-investment fund may not get done until Christmas. At a level position not going to cut that they won't have the authority to ensure the $60 million funding gets approved. Someone has to have the authority to rally the Indigenous governments and NGOs to get them application processes, working with our community corporations and IRC in my riding, Mr. Speaker. This House is encouraged to see the Minister seek more funding. We're going to support that Minister in getting more funding. I'm here to help her. We're all here to help her to help our people. The people need housing, and in my riding, Mr. Speaker, it's an urgent matter. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, the last year, I spent more time than I would have liked attending various medical appointments for my personal health. I'm happy to report that, on this journey, I had a lot of time to think about people, about priorities in life, and about positive changes on how our government can make a difference. After spending considerable time in and out of health systems over the last year, it only renewed how much I care for the front-line healthcare workers and every person who works within these systems, from the doctors to the administration staff, right down to the janitors.
Anywhere that I went, whether it was the Fort Smith healthcare system, the Stanton Territorial Hospital, the Cross Cancer Institute of Edmonton, or the Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, I was always treated with respect, dignity, and empathy. For that, I am very thankful. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank my colleagues in this House for their understanding and their steadfast support for my health throughout all of this. Thank you, as well, to the staff within the Legislative Assembly for all the extra support you gave me along the way.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the constituents of Thebacha for their concerns and understanding regarding my health. I truly appreciate their patience and support throughout this journey. I represent an awesome community with amazing people, and I can't imagine having it any other way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I want to weigh in on the debacle of the COVID secretariat that I'm facing as an MLA. I'm here to represent the constituents of my riding but, most of all, for the people of the Northwest Territories. I see the way decisions are made by this government, and for the most part, they certainly do not favour giving anything to the small communities. I would like to mention that the COVID secretariat will create an extra 150 positions and cost this government approximately $87 million over four years.
Mr. Speaker, this is quite concerning. Perhaps, this government had blinders on during the pandemic and did not approach the creation of the secretariat with a clear mind. Perhaps, if they were to call the group COVID task force, maybe they would have had a different outcome had they looked at various options as to the formation of the group. The GNWT has a workforce of over 4,000 employees, perhaps closer to 5,000.
Mr. Speaker, we have to understand that, at the outset of the pandemic, the government declared a state of emergency and a public health emergency. It was at this time a task force should have been created from within the workforce with positions re-profiled to handle the various duties of the task force. I'm certain many employees would have stepped up to the plate to perform these duties and be able to tell their grandchildren about their exploits one day. This could have possibly saved some headaches for the budget bottom line since we're not looking too good in that department.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of the small communities where a majority are Indigenous, could use programming and buildings to assist the residents to combat addictions, depression, mental health issues, housing, healthcare, family violence centres, child and family centres, and long-term care beds, to name a few. I also note that the elders of our communities are facing challenges, accessing housing programs like never before. Many have lost faith in the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Who is responsible to fix that? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. The Northwest Territories is gifted with abundant and generally clean fresh water, and we want to keep it that way. There is increasing upstream activity that is causing adverse effects on water from tar sands development and pulp mills. This is why GNWT negotiated a Transboundary Water Agreement with Alberta in March 2015. The agreement is a commitment to cooperate and provides for information sharing, joint management planning, notification of changes to monitoring, reporting, and dispute resolution.
It certainly came as a surprise when the Alberta government and its Alberta energy regulator announced reductions in water quality monitoring as early as April 9, 2020. The monitoring reductions were described as "industry relief" from burdensome regulation during the COVID pandemic. Even the federal government reduced upstream water quality monitoring including sites in Wood Buffalo National Park. GNWT was apparently not consulted or informed beforehand which would appear to be contrary to the Transboundary Water Agreement.
Credit goes to GNWT staff and the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources for responding to these reductions and even taking on some of the monitoring themselves. Much of this work was done behind the scenes to gather more information and recommend that priority be given to reopening monitoring at important sites. GNWT has also requested that it be added to coordinating committees related to oil sands monitoring to ensure better communications. Much of the Alberta upstream monitoring has been restored while the federal monitoring has also apparently restarted.
I support the GNWT efforts to date, but I suggest that political action is necessary to protect our waters. Water quality should not be optional according to the whims of the day. This episode does throw some doubt on the effectiveness of the Transboundary Water Agreements. I will have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Democracy is not a stationary institution. We must remember that innovation is a cornerstone to truly democratic politics, and as such, we cannot allow our institutions to become stagnant or irrelevant. When we stand here in this House and we're happy with 50, 60 percent voter turnout, I believe we have allowed this institution to become stagnant. I believe this House must champion electoral reform, Mr. Speaker. This is not just our elections. We must also remember we control school board elections and municipal elections in this House.
Mr. Speaker, one of the first ways I believe we must do this is ranked ballot voting. Ranked ballot voting gives more choice for voters. It discourages negative campaigns in that you are acting for second place votes. It eliminates vote splitting, and it ensures candidates actually can get a majority of support.
Mr. Speaker, 64 percent of my constituents didn't vote for me, and when you factor in that almost half didn't vote, it's more like 80 percent of my constituents never voted for me. I would like to stand here one day and know that a majority of my constituents voted me here, even if it was on their second pick, Mr. Speaker. I believe we need to end "first past the post" in the Northwest Territories for both our school boards, municipalities, and this House, Mr. Speaker.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, our last election was the first using online voting. I am very happy to see that, but we need to extend that to our school boards and municipalities. The Northwest Territories Association of Communities has asked us for this. They have passed a resolution, and we have failed to allow them to use the same online voting software that we use.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, and perhaps most controversial, I believe we need to lower our voting age from 18 to 16. This isn't to say that 16-year-olds will know everything they'll ever know in life. I was 16 once. I remember how dumb I was, but the reality is: the younger people vote, they create a lifelong voting turnout. It is proven, when you lower the voting age, you increase overall voter turnout throughout life. Right now, sometimes an 18-year-old doesn't see their first election until 22, and if they don't vote in that, they don't vote for the first time until they're 26. Then, that pattern is not ingrained. Especially at the education authority, Mr. Speaker, I do not see why we do not let older high school students vote for who is on their school boards and who is running their schools. I believe this Assembly must champion electoral reform. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, today, we have Highway No. 3 from Behchoko to Yellowknife, and we also cannot use cell service between these two locations. Sometimes, there's an accident that may happen on the highway. Even though these things are happening, we are losing a lot of people because there is no cell service between these two locations. I will also ask questions when it's time. [Translation ends]
I want to talk about the riskiest highway safety issue in the Northwest Territories. I refer to Highway No. 3, that 100-kilometre stretch from Yellowknife to Behchoko junction. It is the biggest road in the territory, Mr. Speaker, carrying more people daily than the entire population of Norman Wells. It's a treacherous road, like a rollercoaster on a highway, challenging the road-handling skills of even the most cautious drivers.
Mr. Speaker, this dangerous mix of traffic volume, road conditions, is compounded by a third factor, the lack of cell services, including 911 service that doesn't work most of the times on the road, along the road's entire length. When an accident happened, Mr. Speaker, the injured are on their own, unable to call for help because their cell phones won't work.
Mr. Speaker, I was once a hero on Highway No. 3. I happened to come across a road vehicle, a young individual who was seriously injured, couldn't get up on his own. Almost 50 vehicles passed by. Nobody stopped. I was fortunate to see the vehicle, and I was fortunate to have my satellite phone and called in an ambulance to the community of Behchoko and also Yellowknife. Cell service is very important along the highway for the safety factor. We do not have that opportunity right now, Mr. Speaker. Not everybody carries satellite phones when they travel Highway No. 3 or other major highways.
The cell service is not going to make Highway No. 3 easier to drive, but it would make ambulances to dispatch before accident victims die of their injuries. This is a huge safety factor. This cellphone problem is a simple solution, but it requires government action. It requires government action now, or human lives will surely be lost. I intend to question the Minister responsible on this matter at the earliest time. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Colleagues, we will return after a short recess.
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Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available] [Translation] ...how important the cellphone service is important on this road, so that is my question towards the Minister of Finance. [Translation ends]. Five months ago, the chief of Behchoko wrote Cabinet with an urgent problem. The problem is cellphone coverage on the road to Yellowknife and Rae junction. The chief wanted help getting Northwestel to extend coverage to the busy section of the road, including 911 coverage. Minister Wawzonek promised this House in June that she would contact Northwestel regarding the lack of cell services on Highway No. 3 between Behchoko and Yellowknife. Would the Minister kindly describe the progress that her department has made with Northwestel to date? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have done a number of things since the time of June. We have already responded back. This same enquiry was made by some of the chiefs from the Member's communities, as well as from the Yellowknife mayor. We have responded back to them to let them know the work that we have undertaken. We have some initial costing that would demonstrate the costs of either partial or full coverage between the Whati junction to Yellowknife, so we have that initial costing done. That was done in conjunction with Northwestel and the Department of Finance, and we have communicated that over to the Members of the Legislative Assembly. What stage we are at now, Mr. Speaker, is to actually flesh that costing out more so that it's more determined and more specific. Having done that, Mr. Speaker, we would be in a position to actually evaluate whether or not this is something that can be put forward for infrastructure either by the GNWT or if it's something that we may want to approach the federal government with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It has been a few months now, and we are still talking about this cell coverage between the junction and Yellowknife. I have spoken to the Minister, as well, about this particular area. We are investing in our people's lives, and lives matter. On Highway No. 3, we are contemplating identifying the dollars in this area. It needs to be an urgent matter. We need to take actions today. Any day, people could die for lack of cell service between Rae junction and Yellowknife, waiting for life-giving help to arrive. Why hasn't this department or the Minister given this matter priority over the urgent needs, the issue that is at hand on Highway No. 3 between the junction and Yellowknife? When are we going to get serious about the safety issue of Highway No. 3 travellers?
We went out and did exactly what we said we would do, which is to get in touch with Northwestel, who are, in fact, the largest provider of cell coverage and cell services in the Northwest Territories and would be in the best place to actually be the provider of cell coverage and cell services on this stretch of highway. Having done that, we have an initial costing, and now we are at the stage of doing an evaluation on final costing. The infrastructure acquisition plan that is in front of all of us this week, if the Member is suggesting that this would make its way into that, that was not ever going to be feasible between June and today, but the idea is to have the information and the data available to evaluate whether or not it should form part of a future infrastructure acquisition plan.
At times, we wait on whether it be the federal government or a company such as Northwestel. Sometimes, there is procrastination or dragging their heels. Sometimes, it takes time. If Northwestel can't justify the cost, then what is the territorial government, our government, doing to make it worth the company's while to initiate this action that is badly needed, the cell service between Rae junction and Yellowknife, for the safety of those Highway No. 3 commuters and travellers?
What the government can do and what the government is doing is assessing the feasibility of this project so that we can actually determine what the actual costs will be and then be able to make an informed choice about whether or not the government can find a way to fill a gap, if there is, in fact, a gap in the market. By doing that, we can also go out and see if there may be potential partners. This may be an opportunity where the Indigenous governments of that region may want to become involved, but it's difficult to go and have that conversation in a meaningful and honest way without really understanding what the costs are. Having done the initial feasibility, having gotten some initial estimates, we are now analyzing those costs so that we can have exactly the kinds of conversations that I think the MLA, quite rightly, is asking about.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. My final question is: this area has been addressed to my attention almost on a constant basis as so many travellers from my community of Behchoko, when the winter road is open, and from my three outlying communities. Again, I have to emphasize that it's a huge safety factor for my people. The people of Behchoko need to know when 911 emergency cell service will be available on this dangerous, overcrowded highway. They need to know, in an accident, if emergency is on their way immediately. When will this government take action on this very dangerous situation? I want to get more specific with this Minister. Since it's an urgent matter, during the life of this Assembly, is it possible to initiate -- the discussions are taking place, but the actions to make this happen? Mr. Speaker, masi.
I certainly want to acknowledge that I appreciate these questions in the House. It brings attention to the matter. It certainly demonstrates the urgency of the issue. There are always asks and always needs, and so many of them relate to the well-being of the people of the Northwest Territories. Just to give some context, it would be $90 million in estimate to cover only 65 percent of all of our roadways in the Northwest Territories. Now, that is not the section that I recognize that the MLA is asking about. That section would be, initially, for a full coverage, about $10 million, but then there are annual costs.
There are options being looked at. I know MACA is looking at options in order to provide 911 coverage. The Department of Finance wants to analyze these numbers, see what we can do, see how accurate they are, and then look for ways to potentially, as I've said, partner with perhaps the Indigenous governments, who would stand to hopefully benefit most from this, and partner and/or seek funding from the federal government. I can't give a specific timeline on a solution to this. What I can do is say that we're going to keep moving this forward as quickly as we can, so that we can ensure that the people of the Northwest Territories have safety and protection across all roadways. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
