Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker
[Translation] Mr. Speaker, I made a statement earlier regarding the elections in my region. It will happen on June 14. But I want to ask the Minister, before the elections, whenever there's election, there's a lot of complaints that comes out regarding the regulations. I'm hoping for a smooth election and encourage the communities to work with each other and respect the final decision. But as in the past four years, we witness election and the commotion we had in the communities. [Translation ends].
The election in my region for communities, Tlicho region, are slated for June 14th. With every election, not just my communities but other communities as well, there's always criticism, whether it be breaking bylaws, nepotism, whether it be all these different accusations. That happens every election.
And I have a question for Minister of MACA. It could be just one question, depending on her answer, if it's "yes" or "no". But if there could be a dedicated MACA representative that's involved with elections on an annual basis or on the election basis. So I'd like to get a confirmation from Minister if she's willing and also dedicating, I guess, MACA representative to be at the final count June 14th in all four communities, Mr. Speaker. That's my first question. Masi.
Thank you Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At our last sitting, I did make an announcement and I did acknowledge that all the elections that were happening throughout the territory, we have quite a bit that are happening within our municipalities, but I do hear the Member's concern about, you know, when the election is happening and the situations that may occur from that as well. I will follow up with the Member in looking at how can we further accommodate those elections, and should we need a person in there to help support those communities, I will continue the conversation with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. I didn't get a commitment there, yes or no. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important matter. It's hundredth year anniversary of Treaty 11, and this is a milestone, and everybody's watching us, not just Tlicho region but surrounding communities. And it's very important that we have somebody that can oversee the election, a nonbiased person from outside the community to just oversee the count and to witness it and to sign off that it was a fair process. That's all I'm asking for. And I think if Minister can commit to potentially committing to that, I think it will be more concise and clear election process, smoother process. That's what we want to see. And we try avoid from last four years of criticism that happened, and I think it can be avoided, Mr. Speaker. Those are some of the questions that I have for Minister. Masi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wanting to follow up with the Member just on further details on the election and looking at the whole environment, I guess that, and the dynamic of how this plays out in his riding. But, yes, I will commit to having a person work with the who will work with the member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The emergency warming shelter in Inuvik is vital to our home residents. You know, in my opinion, it saved many lives over the years. This government has put millions into COVID restrictions to save lives. When are we going to do that, the same for addictions and homelessness?
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, in Inuvik, is her department continuing to help to ensure that the homeless in Inuvik are being looked after, if there's things for them in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Homelessness.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This was brought to my attention in the spring I mean, in the I want to say March February or March that the Inuvik warming shelter, we were experiencing some inhouse challenges, I guess, with the management and with the board. The housing corporation did come into the community to try to alleviate that. The housing corporation did hire a manager to work with the board members in trying to alleviate the conflict that was happening amongst the board and looking at the status of the Inuvik warming shelter.
I'm committed as a Minister to visit that again as well, and, you know, I do understand that, you know, homelessness is a huge issue in our territory. But looking at where we actually do stand, if we do have an active NGO that is able to come and work with us as a corporation and carry out the responsibility, I will have to follow up with the Member on the current status. But as we speak right now, that there is still conflicts amongst that NGO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This challenge isn't from March or February. This challenge has been ongoing. I raised it in the fall session. They've been struggling. This is volunteer board of caring people that just keep trying to keep this open. Will the Minister can she commit that this manager or person is somebody who's in Inuvik and maybe where all of our shelters are to have somebody directly working in that community from her department in the community of Inuvik to ensure that this board has support. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, like, you know, as a Minister and as a department, like, we're willing to work with the community. But the last information that I did receive, that there was a decision that was made by the board to temporarily close the homelessness shelter. And the housing corporation does fund the Inuvik warming shelter $264,000 annually. But we're looking at the overnight operations and the conflict that is happening there. I will reach out to the manager that we do have there and see I want to get a further update on what has the progression been since we have stepped in and tried to work with the nonprofit organization and trying to offer them further supports. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When you live in a small community, when we live outside of Yellowknife, there's not a lot of people that can do the job as ED. The job is a difficult job in the homeless shelter, and if the person is qualified to do it, a government job comes up, they're gone. This is a position that is vital for ensuring funding is coming in, ensuring that staffing is being taken of.
This manager position, you know, this is where these kind of positions should be put in. We should start looking at this homelessness strategy and having a good plan to have if we have to start running it as a government. Will the Minister continue to make sure that this person is on the ground so that this volunteer board, if we even have a board left, will be there and be supported. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, the manager was created because there was conflict in Inuvik with the warming shelter and looking at the financial situation that they were getting themselves into, I guess, that the purpose of this position that was created was to try to work with the board to alleviate those challenges.
But we will be working well, we will be working with the community as well, because we did end up working with the Indigenous groups in the community. But it's really difficult, and it's challenging when we have NGOs that are facing these difficult situations and trying to alleviate them. But also we are there to support them as well too. So we could come together and look at the Inuvik warming shelter and reestablish the board members and also staff as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my final supplementary, I just want to know will the Minister commit to making sure that there's something in place for our homeless in Inuvik right now so that they have a place to wash, so they have a place to use the washroom, where they can try and get a meal. Like, we need to have something for our homeless right now. With this board, we don't even know if they're meeting right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the housing corporation is in full support. But we don't have the established board members that are there. We had issues with the staff as well. So, you know, we do fund this program annually. So if we have shut the doors and we are looking at challenges like that and looking at further training and the support of this manager to help the Inuvik warming shelter to get back and working again, that, you know, the position is housed in Inuvik. So I will follow up with the position to see where we are at with the board of directors, where are we at with staff, have they come to a conclusion. We need to start working with the homelessness. But we can provide the budget that is there for the homelessness, but we need people to run the programming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I'm sure he's already been briefed up on the excellent research by Messieurs Palmer and Jamison that proved the overestimation of natural background levels for arsenic in the Yellowknife area and the persistence of mining related arsenic after more than 60 years. We have an outdated 2003 arsenic remediation guideline that is based on this overestimation of background arsenic. Can the Minister tell us what the plans are now to review and update the drastically outdated arsenic remediation guideline. Merci, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for that question. I'm happy to tell the House the department is currently reviewing the 2003 environmental guidelines for contaminated sites remediation. This work is being done with new information on remediation criteria from the Canada Council of Ministers of the Environment as well a new data that has come on arsenic in the Yellowknife area.
ENR recognizes that the 2003 guidelines is dated, and the updating environmental guidance is standard practice as new data and scientific research is available. This work is nearly completed and will be finalized in the fall of 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le Président. I want to thank the Minister for that. Yeah, I raised this in the context of even the Giant Mine environmental assessment where I wanted the board to look at the remediation guideline, but they declined to do that.
This old work that was done leading to the 2003 arsenic remediation guideline, it overestimated background levels by 5 to 10 times. Of course there's a lot of other research, even the Minister mentioned some, that has been done on the toxicology of arsenic since 2003, and much of that points to the need for lower exposure for humans. Will the Minister commit to having the human health risk assessment work associated with the GNWT 2003 arsenic remediation guideline reviewed and updated to be truly protective of human health. .
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines are being developed using the Canada Council Ministers of Environment framework, which is specific to both health, human health, and the environmental health.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Minister for that. I don't think I got a response. I wanted some work done on the human health assessment work that was done back on the 2003 guideline, but I'll pursue that separately with the Minister. Clearly, there's a need to review this arsenic remediation guideline which currently only includes two land uses for residential and industrial use.
So in reviewing this guideline, is the Minister committing to expand the land uses that are considered, and then what, of course, are the implications for the Giant Mine remediation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Multiple land users are being considered for the GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines, and this work is in the process of being finalized. The Giant Mine remediation project has approved a closure and remediation plans by the MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board.
The criteria used by the projects were not solely based on the GNWT guidelines; they are site specific criteria for the Giant Mine that are confirmed through the human health and ecology risk assessment.
ENR has also led the development of the human health risk assessment for legacy offsite arsenic in the area surrounding Giant Mine. This work is near completion, and the public engagement is planned to begin in June of 2021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I think he answered most of my last question.
I don't want to sound alarmist, but in my statement today, I expressed that back in 2003, I had doubts about these remediation standards that were developed by this government. I don't think that it was just a coincidence that residential guideline for arsenic was set marginally above the known measurements of arsenic in soils in the residential builtup areas of Yellowknife. So what assurance can the Minister provide to Yellowknifers that this is still a healthy, great place to live, and that our property values are protected. Merci, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, I thank the Member for these questions. They're very important, and they have an impact on residents of Yellowknife. Updating environmental guidance is a standard practice as new data and increased scientific research is available.
I can assure residents of Yellowknife that the previous guidelines completed in 2003 was protective of human health and the environment. ENR will ensure our guidelines continue to be protective of the human health and the environment while incorporating new science and data that becomes available to us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Department of Finance has just recently begun a new government renewal initiative, would the Minister consider expanding the scope of that initiative to incorporate a renewal within the structure and processes of human resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Finance is one of the first two departments that will be going through the government renewal process. That process is already underway. It's begun. And as such, a human resources branch, being part of the Department of Finance, of course is going to be going through that as well.
But, Mr. Speaker, that's not the end of that, the work that's happening with human resources. We also are well underway in having the Indigenous recruitment retention framework actioned and developed, and that will also be providing a further human resources tool to all of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier, the department of human resources continues to put up roadblocks for people applying to government jobs. Does the Minister acknowledge that there are some existing questionable hiring practices within her department which adversely affects applicants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Finance, human resources has quite a wide range of programs that are meant to actually avoid roadblocks and overcome roadblocks.
I'd point, for example, to the Indigenous recruitment well, sorry. Not to the framework but to the Gateway Program, to the Internship Program, to the Regional Recruitment Program. There's quite a number of opportunities for people from across the Northwest Territories to become involved.
The department of human resources offers counselling in terms of preparing one's resume, of how to prepare for interviews. So quite the opposite, Mr. Speaker. I would say the Department of Finance is trying to take roadblocks down. You know, and of course there's always more that can be done department by department to ensure that when the hiring managers are out there that they are using those tools, that they're aware of those tools. And there is work that happens regularly already with them, and we're going to continue to do that so that they're aware of those tools and using them to their best availability. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize that more widespread issues other than that of the affirmative action exists within the department of human resources in relation to hiring practices. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Affirmative Action Policy is obviously one aspect of what goes on during the course of a hiring practice. It's a very important one. But with respect to more widespread issues, again, Mr. Speaker, the department of human resources supports all of the departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories. All of the departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories have a role to play here.
And, indeed, earlier in the Member's statement, I heard describing of a hiring culture and of a hiring structure. Well, again, we've already put out the Living Well Together training module to help improve the hiring culture. It's mandatory for all staff across the GNWT. And as far as a hiring structure, again, as I've mentioned, there's quite a number of programs, and the Recruitment and Retention Framework Program is underway in its development right now.
So as far as making ourselves even better, that is certainly our goal, and I believe we are going to be attaining it on both the culture front and as well as on the structure front. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister commit to creating departmental changes to ensure that deputy Ministers, assistant eeputy Ministers are provided ministerial direction to follow policies that are neutral, professional, and that all competitions are open to equivalencies, and the job competitions are not arbitrarily closed for no reason, and ensure that the best candidate for the job is hired. No friends of friends or family friends or acquaintances hiring each other anymore. Does the Minister agree with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am also on the special committee. I also heard the recommendations that were put to us just last week with respect to the fact that governments have to ensure that direction comes from the very top.
So I appreciate the fact that the Member routinely gives the opportunity for us, all of us in this room as elected leadership, but particularly for me as the Minister have the opportunity to speak here in the House and speak to the public service to say that this is the vision of what we have for an inclusive public service, to have a diverse public service, and that none of us should be reaching in and hiring friends and acting in a way anything other than transparent and open and in a process that is fair.
So that, Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate that routine opportunity. Specifically, education and experience equivalencies, I would note come before a competition actually goes out, before candidates are screened. And so, in fact, that is a process that while I can look at it, it is already a process that's not meant to happen at the back end; it happens at the front end. And, Mr. Speaker, we're going to continue to refine those processes through all the tools that I've mentioned already today.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions, Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to first thank the NWT Housing Corporation for the units that are going into my community this year. It's very much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement expressed concerns with the lack of consultations with the communities by the housing corporation.
My question to the Minister is why is there no consultations with the communities, especially the local housing organizations' board of directors.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, the commitment for the housing corporation is to making sure that, you know, we do work with the Indigenous groups in the specific communities. But acknowledgement letters were sent out to the First Nations I'm not too sure how to pronounce it Deh Gah Gotie First Nations. Yeah. And the Fort Providence Metis Council and the mayor. They were sent letters April 28th just acknowledging what type of units are going into their community and having an opportunity for them to respond to us. But as of today, we haven't received a response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. Specifically, I was asking about the local housings organizations board of directors, because in speaking with them and even the staff, nobody's ever approached them. They never heard of anything.
I'm aware the original plan was for two single duplexes for my community. Now I understand this has changed and now will be constructing a fourplex. That change in plans could delay construction, as new plans have to be drawn up.
Is the Minister aware of these changes and the need for new design plans. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just also want to go back to the original question of the information provided to the local housing authorities. I will follow up on that, and I will follow up with the Member, that should have they been consulted, that they should have been working very closely with the district office.
But the community is going to be receiving a stickbuilt fourplex. And looking at the design, the design has already been completed. But constructing a stickbuilt in the smaller communities creates employment, and I'm really big on employment. And that was the opportunity for the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker and mahsi to the Minister for that and her willingness to follow up with the LHO. She mentioned stickbuilt, but I was hearing otherwise. There was talk that these units will be sandwich panel construction with the panels being built by a Yellowknife company.
Has there been a cost benefit analysis or cost comparison to determine if this method has significant savings versus stickbuilt construction?
