Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the health Minister in regards to medical travel. And I'm wondering if the Minister would work with me in regards to having a dedicated person in our region as a travel advocate. We asked for that in our last budget, but it was not in the line item.
So I'm wondering if the Minister would commit to working with us Regular Members to get a line item in there for a travel advocate for the Beaufort Delta so that people will not miss their appointments, and there will be no more mixups, and people will be seen when needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I recognize that medical travel can be a stressful time for the patients themselves and for their family members as well. What we did agree to in the budget negotiations is a patient navigator for each region of the NWT.
And so it's my expectation that when we're creating the job description for this new position, that it will include travel navigation and have special attention on people who are doing medical travel. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, that's better than a "yes". So I'm just wondering now, with our patient navigators now, what time will they be hired and staffed in the communities or in Inuvik, I guess, where it would be, and what time would that take effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Member would like to hear "tomorrow", but the fact is this is a brand new program with brand new positions, and so the department is developing that program and job descriptions and so on. And those will be part of the next business planning process, although the money is already dedicated to the positions. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. The department, if they're starting to do that, I guess that would be September. Before September, I hope. We have a lot of issues in my riding. Everything. Like, my riding, you have to travel. Sachs Harbour, you have to fly in from Sachs, Ulu, Paulatuk, or close to communities that people are really affected. When you go for one appointment, it takes four or five days to get there.
I really want to make sure this is done and done as soon as possible, like the Minister said, and working together with us regular Members and trying to get it done sooner than later.
But this is a question I do have, is that with all the appointments that are, you know, being missed and stuff like that, what are the time lines in getting them rebooked and rebooked either from travel or booking with the doctors in Edmonton. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't imagine really what it would be like to come in from Ulukhaktok and have to go through to Edmonton for an appointment. The culture change would be very extreme.
I'm not aware of the issue that the Member is speaking of, a number of cancelled appointments and the need to rebook them. So I will commit to finding out more about that and responding to him. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll forward her my text messages I got 3 o'clock in the morning in regards to booking their missed travel. It's not only that one person. I think I got four or five people, four or five individuals in that one complaint that I do have. I'm working towards it with them because they're not wanting to sign yet. So the biggest thing is getting this patient navigator done, and sooner the better. And I look forward to having that in our riding over Delta and the Delta itself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to having this program in place for the benefit of people throughout the NWT but particularly those who are travelling from remote locations. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if she is aware of the unspoken practice in culture within human resources wherein hiring staff will brand and blacklist potential applicants and existing employees from advancing within the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is not a practice within human resources of branding or blacklisting applicants on mass. That is not how the Human Resources process works. GNWT hiring must comply with various pieces of legislation, including the Public Service Act, The Human Resources Manual, Staffing Appeal Regulations, and The Collective Agreement. And it is certainly the responsibility of everyone who is tasked from the Department of Human Resources to do those things.
Department of Finance does have to work, of course, with all GNWT departments with all of the hiring managers across all of the across departments in order to ensure that they understand all of those laws, all of those rules, and all of those processes. And it's my belief that, indeed, the human resources is making every effort to ensure that those processes are, in fact, applied across the board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize that hiring staff have sometimes retaliated against certain individuals based on the applicant and employee's association with certain people whom hiring staff doesn't know or like personally? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, human resources have representatives who act as facilitators on hiring committees with whatever department they might be working with. The point of doing that, the point of having human resources present, is, in fact, to ensure, again, that the hiring process remains fair, follows all of the regulations, rules, The Collective Agreement, policy, et cetera. Selection committee members then, of course, if they are in a conflict, are to remove themselves. If there's any relationship to a candidate or any potential for bias, they are not to take part in that committee.
Mr. Speaker, does that mean, of course, that there's not occasions that people come to my office and bring forward concerns related to hiring? Absolutely. Mr. Speaker, those concerns come to the Department or come through my office all the time and come through regularly. I look at every one of them. There are often occasions where we can go back and say, What more could we be doing to educate about the process, what more could we do to support different departments in the application of the process.
And we're going to continue to do that work so that, in fact, again, every department, as they employee, of the tools that are available to them and all of the rules and regulations that they must apply continue to do that at the front end at the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell whether staff incompetence or employee insubordination may be part of the problems related to broader human resource issues in the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have only myself been a public servant for not even about a year and a half now. I will say that it has been my experience that I am deeply impressed by the work, by the skill, and by the care that I've seen, in general, by public servants across the Northwest Territories and across different departments and divisions.
When concerns are brought forward through the Department of Finance, Human Resources headquarters does look at each and every one and does do their best to investigate them, to work to resolve personnel issues. And, indeed, there are interpersonal issues in departments, in divisions across the territories in different communities, and Human Resources undertakes the time and effort to investigate them, whether it's through a formal workplace assessment, a less formal internal assessment that's done, or simply working through the process with the support of Human Resources to ensure that all of the employees have access to a workplace that is harassment free and that is inclusive.
Last note, Mr. Speaker, every manager before they become a manager, when they become a supervisor, must enroll in human resources training, including in staffing, so that they, again, understand what that vision is of having a human resource or in having a public service that is inclusive and representative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final Supplementary. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, between 2016 and 2020, there was a total of 303 appeals to Human Resources hiring decisions; however, only 17 of those appeals were upheld, and all appeals all together were denied in 20192020. Does the Minister believe these statistics are fair and are not indicative of broader issues with the appeal process in Human Resources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the appeal process provides an opportunity for someone who's an unsuccessful candidate to review a procedural error. So, in other words, that there was something that was not applied correctly in terms of applying with certain rules, certain element of The Collective Agreement, the Affirmative Action Policy. It's not a doover on an application, and it's not an opportunity to question a job description or to question the qualifications or equivalencies, which, again, Mr. Speaker, those qualifications and equivalencies are set up before the screening gets done. So as far as those processes, the fact that the appeals aren't successful suggests that the processes are, in fact, being applied correctly.
I would also note, Mr. Speaker, that the appeal process is designed in a way as much as possible to be impartial, because when there is an appeal, it goes to a third party. It goes outside of the hiring committee that was involved and goes to a staffing review officer. That individual then reviews all of the information. And that is how the determination is made. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier as the Minister in charge of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Can the Premier commit to forming a special commission or committee to determine the location of any grave sites of residential school students in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Honourable Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the deaths of these children and the findings that was found has impacted a lot of us, especially Indigenous people throughout the world and throughout Canada and for other people as well. Any mother, parent, grandparent, I'm sure is feeling some of this. And I would love to say yes. I'd love to say yes. I'm going to do this right now and take control and be a leader and do it. But that is not the right way.
I've checked into it. That was my first thing, is we need to find these children in ours. But the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Mr. Speaker, under their section on missing children and burial information, which is the Action 72 to 76, it talks about the development of strategies and research projects that document and protect residential school cemeteries and unmarked burial locations.
But the big thing for me is 76(1): The Aboriginal community most affected shall lead the development of such strategies.
So in acknowledgement that I see myself as equal partners with Indigenous governments, my commitment will not be that I will take the horse and run and say this is what we shall do. My commitment is that I shall bring it forward at our multilateral table and take the guidance of the Indigenous governments of the NWT. That is my commitment, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's great. That's exactly what I was hoping for. I never anticipated that we would lead it as the Government of the Northwest Territories. So I look forward to hearing more about that.
Number two, then, sort of a little bit along line that same line is will the Premier commit to acquiring ground penetrating radar equipment and working with the I can't talk today. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. Working with the appropriate Indigenous organizations to identify those graves at the former residential school sites?
And this could be done through contracts with specialized businesses or through the creation of an Indigenous led NWT unit. So I think I'm just asking for the Premier to speak a little bit further to that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my earlier question, absolutely I want to. As soon as I seen the news and it was saying they found these children, I wanted to do the same, and I want to talk to our Prime Minister, and I am going to talk to our Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker. I am going to bring it up because I do think there is a Federal component in this as well.
But, Mr. Speaker, again, I have to be respectful of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and our Indigenous governments. The Truth and Reconciliation Act Action No. 76(3) says: Aboriginal protocols shall be respected before any potentially invasive technical inspection and investigation of a cemetery site.
So because of this action in the Truth and Reconciliation, again, Mr. Speaker, my commitment is I shall bring it forward to the Indigenous governments and shall take direction from them on how we shall move forward. This is not okay, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to slide one in here that the Premier's not aware of, then. Does the Premier commit to funding Indigenous organizations in order that they can start this work looking for grave sites of Aboriginal students. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. She's absolutely right. It wasn't a question I thought about, the funding. However, Mr. Speaker, I was already thinking the reason I am going to be talking to the Prime Minister of Canada is not so that the Prime Minister of Canada can take the lead. It's that the Prime Minister of Canada also has an obligation, in my opinion, because it was the Government of Canada and the Catholic churches that did this to our children, and they have an obligation, and I shall bring forward my opinion of the obligation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final Supplementary. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Premier will have a lot of support on this side for pushing Canada to make what's right. It's my understanding the cost was $1.5 million, and it was denied at the time that Canada made the decision. So I think she would have a lot of support from this side of the House.
My last question is can the Premier provide a quick update on the implementation of UNDRIP in the Northwest Territories and what she is doing to ensure that true engagement is occurring.
How has she been thinking of side box to the speak, as we all heard during our campaigns, that this was an area that needed a lot of improvement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Member knows me, and so she kind of put a trick question and said, Will you make it quick. That might be a little bit harder. What I can say is that we are meeting with the Indigenous governments in the multilateral forum which will be happening on June 11th. With the United Nations declaration, we've already formed officials groups with all the Indigenous governments. They've been working in the background. This meeting on June 11th, we'll be bringing forward topics. I believe in our agenda, there's eight topics at the moment.
So once we decide what we're doing with the United Nations declaration, where they feel about it, we need to talk about a consensus on an approach for the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, I've recognized in the year and a half that if you want to do things right with Indigenous governments, it's not appropriate to set our timeline; it's appropriate to work with them on their timeline.
So I don't know how long it will take, Mr. Speaker. But my commitment has been, since the beginning, I've said it over and over at every meeting: I see us as equals at the table, not the GNWT on top. So I will be taking the lead from them on how we move forward with this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Lands about the slow progress outlining these planning outside areas covered by land rights agreements. Land use planning has been taking place in the Deh Cho for more than 20 years now. The last raised issue almost a year ago with the Premier in this House.
I'm not looking for excuses anymore but solutions and timelines. Can the Minister tell us the current status of the Deh Cho land use plan and why our government is holding it up. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, the Government of the Northwest Territories is not holding it up. I want to make that very clear. Deh Cho First Nations, the GNWT, and the Federal government are part of a working group for the Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee. In talking to the Committee and being advised that to complete their plan is we're looking at 20222023. And, again, like I said, the GNWT is very supportive of this and working as an active member on it.
So the House is aware, the committee has a revised plan based on reviews of all parties, and the next step is to complete public review of this plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Monsieur le President. I have a funny feeling I'm going to be here one year again in the future asking the same questions.
Let's move on to land use planning in the Wek'eezhii management area under the Tlicho Agreement. Can the Minister give us an update on the status of this work and how much GNWT and the federal government have contributed in costs of the process so far. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's kind of a twoset question there. So I'm going to try to do the first one and maybe answer the second one there.
So the first part is the Department of Lands is working with the Tlicho Government and the Government of Canada to establish a land use planning process for Wek'èezhìi. Terms of reference for the planning process is completed but is not yet approved due to issues related that were raised through the government as part of our Section 35 process.
The Department of Lands is working with the Government of Canada, Indigenous governments to determine a path forward. The Government of Canada has proposed to support a facilitator to nationtonation discussions that resolve this issue.
In regards to the funding question, the GNWT has provided 52,000 in 201920, 69,000 in 2221 to support multi or multiparty work to be prepared for the establishment of shared Tlicho Government and GNWT Land Use Planning Office. The Government of Canada has indicated a funding for the Wek'èezhìi Land Use Plan is a federal responsibility and is committed to work on this matter.
The Government of Canada is expected to provide funding for the overall costs of the planning process, including funds for the participation of the Tlicho Governments. Senior officials from the Department of Lands have engaged counterparts in the Government of Canada regarding the amount and timing of the Federal funds for Wek'eezhii Land Use Plan, and these details will be shared when available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral Questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. But it's kind of like watching an old movie again and again and again. I've heard all of this before about why we're paying for land use planning up front and that I'll be here a year from now, Mr. Speaker, as I said, asking the same questions.
It's not clear to me why GNWT is fronting this funding for land use planning this large area that includes a traditional territory, of others including Tlicho First Nations and Metis. Are we doing this to try to expedite mining? I have no idea, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain why the Federal government is not fully funding land use planning in the Wek'èezhìi management area? Because this is clearly implementation of the Tlicho Agreement. So what efforts are underway to make sure the federal government pays? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Member's commitment in looking at the same movie over and over again. But if it's a good movie, you want to watch it again and again. And so we want to get you know, see new things, moving on, and we can do that.
So we are moving forward. I have to say that. It's government, and we're looking at three different levels of government, and it takes a long time to get all three parties working together here.
To date, there has been a productive dialog with the GNWT, the Government of Canada, and the Indigenous government. And so we're working with them to resolve this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Finance. I'm wondering if the Minister of Finance can tell us how many summer students are currently working for the GNWT this year. Thank you.
