Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to commemorate one of my predecessors, the Honourable Paul Delorey, who passed away on New Year's Day earlier this year. Paul served Hay River as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, he served the Northwest Territories as the Speaker of the House, and he served the community as a prolific volunteer and outstanding citizen.
Paul was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1999, defeating six other candidates and earning the privilege of representing the newly created constituency of Hay River North. He was elected again in 2003, that time by acclamation, and for a final time in 2007. In 2011, he announced that he would not seek office again, retiring with a perfect 3-0 record. To this day, constituents tell me stories about the effort that Paul put into assisting them, sometimes hinting, I think, that I had better live up to the standard that he set.
In addition to serving his constituents, Paul served the entire territory as Speaker of this House in the 15th and 16th Legislative Assemblies. My colleagues who had the pleasure of working with Speaker Delorey have always spoken highly of his performance in that position, citing his character, his professionalism, and the seriousness with which he approached the role.
Mr. Speaker, the level of civility displayed in this House differentiates our Legislative Assembly from virtually all legislatures in Canada and, frankly, around the world. We pride ourselves on our Members' ability to have frank discussions and hold the government to account while maintaining respect for each other and upholding the dignity of this institution. It is no accident that we have been able to maintain this delicate balance. Speaker Delorey was keenly aware that his job was to maintain this balance for the sake of our territory, and he did so masterfully. This afforded him the respect of his fellow legislators, as well as Speakers across Canada, among whom he was universally admired. During his tenure, Speaker Delorey modelled to his eventual successors the qualities that a Speaker should possess and, in that way, our Assembly has continued to benefit from his work all these years later.
Speaker Delorey was also responsible for bringing the Legislative Assembly closer to the people of the NWT in a number of ways. Thanks to his efforts, the Legislative Assembly's television channel is one of only 14 channels that the CRTC requires cable and satellite providers to carry and include in all basic packages. This has allowed us to broadcast our proceedings across Canada and rebroadcast in a number of Indigenous languages, which is something no other jurisdiction can lay claim to.
Speaker Delorey introduced the Mace Tour, which brings the Mace, the Speaker, the Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and more to schools across the territory, to teach youth and communities about consensus government and the work of the Assembly. He also reinforced and greatly expanded the Page program and is responsible for ensuring that youth from all regions of the territory have the opportunity to come and work and learn in the Legislative Assembly. All these efforts fundamentally changed how the public understands and interacts with the Legislative Assembly.
Paul's contributions were by no means confined to his work as MLA or Speaker; far from it. When he was named Hay River's Citizen of the Year in 2019, it was really a recognition of his five decades of tireless volunteerism. His knack for fundraising, his 40 years of coaching, and the sheer, incalculable number of hours he spent volunteering are the kinds of contributions that communities are built on. There is no doubt that he was a pillar of the community.
Mr. Speaker, there is so much more that could be said. I haven't even mentioned curling. Paul touched many people's lives, whether as a colleague, a friend, a teammate, a coach, a mentor. He will be missed by many, none more than his family. My condolences go out to his wife, Davida, his children, and his grandchildren. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Joyce Williams, a constituent of the community of Great Slave and a long-time Yellowknifer, who celebrated her 80th birthday on January 13th. We wish her many more happy and healthy birthdays to come. Thank you.
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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I alluded to the washboard situation on the stretch of highway from Junction No. 1 and 3 in my Member's statement. My question to the Infrastructure Minister related to that stretch is: Are there any immediate plans to repair that stretch of highway anytime soon? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member will be happy because the Department of Infrastructure is resurfacing Highway No. 3 from kilometre 0 to 23 this year, and double layer of chip seal next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi for that good news. I note the low employment in the community of Fort Providence, not to mention the number of Aurora College heavy equipment operators that have completed the program but are not given any opportunities for work in the field. My question to the Minister and a possible solution, their shortfalls in employment, unemployment: Is it possible to look into the benefits to providing training, employment program, and at the same time, providing the much-needed repairs?
We're always looking at innovative ways to get local Northerners to work because it forms an important part of our bid process, and this is something we have done in the past with the Tlicho All-Season Road. We were able to work with the contractors to be able to provide training and opportunities for some of the local citizens to give them some of the skills that they can move forward with their training.
That's very promising. I like that idea that we use as many northern contractors and northern labour as possible, especially if we can move forward on training programs. Many of these people that come out of heavy equipment operator programs, they are not hired by contractors because they lack experience. This type of work, and there's lots of work in the Northwest Territories highways, enables them to gain more experience on the highway systems operating equipment, flag persons, and whatnot. It's much needed. I realize that some contractors, northern contractors will need southern or other contractors that are experienced in road repair or chip sealing, but as long as a majority of the workers are northern content and for the contractors' sake, also. Mr. Speaker, it is more of a comment, and I don't have any more questions. That's good news that we're going to be moving on this project.
Thank you, Member. Taken as a comment. Minister's reply.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I enjoy the comment and some of the good news. However, I do want to speak a little bit more, and I should have answered this in his first question. I do want to elaborate a little bit more on some of the work that infrastructure has already invited a public tender, so we're doing a quarry at kilometre 188, which is Highway No. 1. The tender is closing February 25th to be able to produce some necessary work for the Highway No. 3 resurfacing.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, and I'm sure the Member will be happy, the survey contract will be awarded to Sub-Arctic Surveys this week to be able to survey Highway No. 3, which is at kilometre 0 to 23. Once the survey is complete, department staff will design the section. We are looking at a multi-year public tender for Highway No. 3 resurfacing, to be able to start this work this June-July 2021. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. BDIC loan payments to businesses are not being processed right now, but the interest rates are being charged on principal loans, therefore accumulating compound interest charges. Payments are being deferred for all BDIC business loans until April 1st, 2021. Can the Minister tell us if she believes the Government of the Northwest Territories should extend this time frame by six months or more and consider eliminating all interest being charged to BDIC loans during this pandemic? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The BDIC is right now in the midst of a strategic planning process. They are halfway through. They've had their first meeting just before Christmas and are having a second one shortly. I know that their board is made up of business owners and business persons from across the Northwest Territories. I am sure they are looking at this. I have had conversations with their CEO who also assures me that this is something that is under consideration, whether or not to defer their loan payments further or how long to do so.
As to the interest rates or forgiveness of debts expressly, Mr. Speaker, they do not have the legislative authority to do that. Only FNB can be forgiving loans, but really at this point, my understanding is that businesses are continuing to communicate with BDIC. They are happy with the work that is being done there to support them and that that work is going to be ongoing. I expect more to come, Mr. Speaker, well in advance of April 1st. Thank you.
Most of the financial aid to date given to the business community has come from the federal government. Can the Minister provide us with an exact amount that the Government of the Northwest Territories has contributed to the business community in relation to the pandemic aid?
This actually involves more than just one department. The funding to airlines alone has been into the $20 million range on behalf of the GNWT. As well, of course, there are a variety of other programs. There are projections of what we expect to spend, and then, there are also actuals. I want to commit to getting a more specific number back to the Member because, even as I'm sitting here, I imagine it comes as no surprise departments quickly try their best to do the math as I'm sitting and waiting for an answer to come in.
The simple fact is, we are into the millions of dollars in different programs. There's been money that's been spent in the tourism industry on GRIT. There's money that's now going to small businesses in terms of bookkeeping. There's money that is going out under Finance. Again, as I've said, to the airline industry. There is a variety of these different pots going, and some of them have the pots to which they are expecting to spend the full amount. Some haven't spent their full amount yet. I will certainly get a final number, but I do want to say that there are lot of pots of money. There are a lot of things happening, and yes, we are using resources of the federal government. That's the responsible way to do this is to fill the gaps that aren't filled by the federal government and to help support and enhance their programs.
More clarity on some of that second question would be great. I know that we have been using federal funds and nothing from the Northwest Territories' government funds. The NWT has a very small business community that is reliant on government economic activity to be sustained. Can the Minister tell us if she thinks, as Minister of ITI and Finance, if there should be a balanced public and private sector economy in the Northwest Territories?
My own opinions on the matter really are not the answer. We conducted the budget dialogues this summer to have that kind of conversation with the residents of the Northwest Territories. As ITI Minister, I have an opportunity to speak with business representatives from across different organizations as groups, as well as directly with members of the business community. We are a small economy, and it's not new that we remain an economy that is not particularly diversified. It is one that does have a large public sector reliance. I don't expect that to necessarily change in the near future, but yes, of course.
The simple answer is to say yes, it needs to be balanced. Supports need to be balanced and our efforts to grow our economy and diversify need to be balanced. There will continue to be anchor industries, just as there will be anchor industries in each community. It certainly is the intention of, I think, this government and the budget that's here today, to continue to support all of those things so that we can have growth in individual industries in smaller regions, as well as in the anchor industries, such as mining and the mineral resources sector, while also providing stability through the public service.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Minister is responsible for both ITI and Finance. Can the Minister tell us if she would consider providing a one-time direct financial aid package to all small- and medium-sized businesses that are majority-owned by residents who reside in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
These are really the kinds of questions that need to be asked, as we are right now engaging, as the Premier described yesterday, in putting together a COVID relief plan. These are exactly the kinds of questions to be asked. I am happy to answer them. That said, some of the materials put out today in conjunction with the budget recognize and reflect that the recovery already has been uneven. Some sectors and industries have recovered, and some sectors and industries simply have not experienced the impacts to the same degree as others. We want to be able to leverage the resources that we have, including those of the federal government, so that all sectors of the economy can continue to recover if they need to, all sectors can grow, and that means really a more nuanced response.
We have had already significant impacts on the airline industry and significant funding to the airline industry. Tourism has seen particular impacts and has also seen some specific funds directed in that regard. There is already the Northern Business Relief Fund, which helps with fixed costs. That is largely a CanNor fund, and it is one that seems to be working. Really, Mr. Speaker, what we need to do now is find where those gaps are so that everyone can continue to benefit from recovery and relief in a more even way and that growth continues to happen in an even way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I made a Member's statement on interpreters because those positions are very important, and we want more training. I'm going to ask the ECE Minister. [Translation ends]
My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and they relate to the government's commitment to training and certifying professional Dene language interpreters and translators. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's Indigenous Languages Action Plan set goals for the development of Dene interpreters and translators. Those goals include in-house training and also partnering with external organizations for further training and certification. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister describe the progress his department has made in pursuit of those goals? I would like to hear more of a timeline, Mr. Speaker. Masi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member for his continued advocacy on this topic. I agree that people need to be able to access the government, and they should be able to access it in their own language. The Member is correct that we do have an action plan, and it has some items related to this.
In a broad sense, there are a number of initiatives that the government is undertaking. There is a mentor-apprentice program whereby fluent speakers, such as the Member, would apprentice a younger -- it doesn't have to be younger, necessarily, but someone who doesn't speak the language. There is funding provided for this, and this is a way to help a new generation of speakers gain those skills.
We are working on developing a two-year diploma program in conjunction with the University of Victoria, which has a lot of experience in this, and that would be an adult immersion program to get speakers to the point where they could become interpreters. The long-term goal is to have that program be the predecessor of, perhaps, a third-year interpreter-translator program. It is on the horizon.
In terms of some of the other goals or projects happening, this March, actually, the department is putting together a virtual gathering of the 30-plus translators and interpreters that are currently in the territory. This is to identify specific needs for ongoing professional development so that we can better support those who are translating now, even if they don't have the professional certifications, and to get input into ways that we can attract new interpreter-translators and expand the field.
Those are some of the things that are happening. I have to commend the Member that it was his very friendly badgering that I think moved some of these things forward. This is an example of Members of this House working together to move things forward and make progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[Translation] Regarding the training, it's very important to us. I want to ask another question. [Translation ends] [Microphone turned off]... I am involved in that. I am teaching a non-language speaker, so basically, I am a teacher to this student. It's my daughter that I am teaching, and it is very rewarding to be a part of that. The Minister has indicated that in the committee's statement that I'm walking the talk. This needs to happen. I am encouraging a lot more people to get involved. Maro Sundberg is involved in that, as well, which is great.
Mr. Speaker, the second question I do have is based on partnership. Could the Minister tell us precisely what external partnerships he assigned for the training and certification of interpreters and translators? Could he update us on the partnerships that are currently involved in this process?
I don't have that level of detail with me right now, but, for example, the mentorship-apprenticeship program is in partnership with Indigenous governments, and I said we are partnering with the University of Victoria and, hopefully, with Aurora College, to develop a program that we can deliver throughout the North. I can get that information for the Member.
I am very interested in the in-house training, and I am glad that the Minister is gathering, over the video-teleconferencing, those experts at the community level in March. I would like to know, because this will be in-house training, more specifically, have there been any dedicated extra funds for in-house translator-interpreter training in pursuit of those goals that I mentioned earlier?
Again, I don't have those specific numbers. I am not sure how this is being funded. Perhaps it's out of the current budget that there have been some savings on travel, for example, so maybe that is what is funding this. I am not quite sure, but I can find that out and let the Member know.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, if the Minister can provide that detailed information, that will be very helpful. My last question obviously is: What would be the process? Okay, there is a gathering in March, and obviously, there is a process in place. Can the Minister describe, because I am very interested in in-house training that is going to be happening, but at the same time, there is Aurora College that is involved, as well. It has been involved in the past. Can the Minister describe how Aurora College has been enlisted to ensure that we have a sufficient number of professional interpreters and also translators in the system in the Northwest Territories? Could the Minister provide that if he has it now or provide that later, as well? Mr. Speaker, masi.
I can provide that information to the Member along with the other information I committed to. I just want to note that Aurora College will be becoming arm's length in the next couple of years, and we can no longer say, "This is what we are going to do at the college." In the future, the university I see has a very strong language aspect to it. To me, it would be one of the highlights, one of the selling points of the university, so I foresee very strong partnerships going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Mr. Speaker, today, my statement was in regard to the COVID pandemic and how it changed communities in Nunakput. I am wondering: I am asking the health Minister if she could possibly look and work with me in regard to putting a team together to go to my communities and across the territory if possible, a grief counsellor, a few counsellors, to go into the communities for four or five days to actually sit with the people and listen to the hardships that they are going through and try to work with them to help them. I am hoping the Minister and maybe even the MACA Minister team up to find the funds so that it is possible to do something like this across our territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for Nunakput for his question. Mr. Speaker, we have a Community Counselling Program available in every community, who would be able to provide this service to residents. They would not have to wait for a travelling team. They could connect with the Community Counselling Program and arrange to either have a socially distanced appointment or a virtual appointment so that they could get the kind of help that the Member is talking about. Thank you.
Our counsellor just left Tuktoyaktuk. He has gone to Behchoko, so they took our counsellor, but good for him. I am happy. He wanted a change, right. As MLA for Nunakput, I am obligated for the health and safety of my people that I represent. I am asking the Minister: Could we find, through the COVID secretariat, through MACA, is there a possible way? I used to take people, athletes, to go up and do hockey schools and talk about bullying and stuff like that in my communities, but this is different. This is more a thing we could work towards, of getting somebody professional into the communities instead of tel-emerg or telehealth or whatever you want to do. You have to see the whites of their eyes, I guess you could say, to actually try to help. I think something like this is going to be really good if it's possible to hit even the Beaufort-Delta, our communities in the Beaufort-Delta, where people in the small communities are really hurting with different types of grief and depression because there is nothing going on. Mr. Speaker, I am asking the Minister to try to work with me, with the MACA Minister, the Premier, to try to get something like this started for the region.
Again, I thank the Member for Nunakput for bringing this forward. It has been a very difficult time. We know that. There have been many deaths, not because of COVID necessarily but just in the natural course of doing things, and because of the limitation on funerals, the grieving has not taken place in the way we are accustomed to. This has left people feeling at a loose ends. I cannot promise to bring resources to his community, but what I can say is that we will endeavour to fill that counselling position as soon as possible and that, in the meantime, there are phone and video resources available. If anyone is able to drive into Inuvik, they might be able to make an appointment there and see a counsellor. We have instituted a new process for taking people into counselling, where there is no waiting list. There is no waiting time at all. You can be seen on the day that you make your appointment.
The only people who could drive in are from Tuktoyaktuk. I represent the most northerly riding in the territory. Our government gets $38,000 per year per person to provide services. Our government is obligated to provide service in regard to that and to our communities. I really want our government to take this recommendation seriously, to try to work with me. Just say yes. I will use some of my constituency budget when we fly into the communities to go and do it with them. I really want to know. The pandemic changed everything. To try to fly into Inuvik to see a counsellor would be, from Sachs Harbour, probably $700 to $800 one way, from Ulukhaktok, a thousand, so we can't do it. It's too expensive. We need help. Communities need help in the delta. Communities need help in my riding. My people need help, so take my recommendations and just say yes.
I do appreciate the Member's passion for helping his constituents, and I do appreciate that three of the four communities in his riding are not accessible by road. He started off by talking about his own community. I have to say that it's easier for his constituents to use the helpline to make a virtual appointment for counselling than to wait for Health and Social Services to fill empty positions in the community or to gather the resources together for a travelling team, so I really encourage him to contact me about the resources that are available right now that he can refer his constituents to.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
