Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be interested to hear what one of the other colleagues might have to say about preparation of the operations budgets. But I'm happy to answer it.
And Mr. Speaker, before I do, let me just note that this process of doing the budget dialogues, or what's become budget dialogues, did come originally from other MLAs. So, you know, I do want to acknowledge that that idea came from them and it's been a helpful experience every year. We are doing it again. I had hoped to have it out a little earlier but with all the work that's happening with the impacts of the floods, it didn't get out yet.
I can say, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to say this here, is that we are looking at public engagement on July the 8th and the 19th. Again, as a virtual town hall. Likely to keep it virtual for now, Mr. Speaker, so that we can be accessible to all residents across the Northwest Territories. Then, as in keeping with prior years, we will be doing some targeted sessions in Indigenous governments, Indigenous government organizations, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, the nonprofit sector, and business and chamber organizations. And those will be taking place over July 4th to 8th.
And Mr. Speaker, I take note of the comments around having information out early. The target for getting the materials out is June 20th. So definitely looking to be a few weeks ahead of the engagements.
There was a second question in there, Mr. Speaker, I think with respect to around discussion of the need for revenues.
Mr. Speaker, the budget dialogues presents and outlines how the budget is created, what's in the budget, tries to give a sense of where revenues come from, makes note of the fact that roughly 80 percent come from the federal government, but certainly with respect to that remaining portion, there's materials within the discussion papers that will allow some discussion around what other options there are. Thank you.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I love when I get announcements in the House. It is good news, and I thank the Minister for that. But, however, I have been disappointed over the last six years at the lack of analysis and serious consideration of new revenues for the NWT.
Can the Minister tell us whether she will revise the revenue options paper with more recent numbers, especially in light of inflation and some of the factors that I had discussed in my Member's statement, and ensure it has a more balanced approach for these budget 20232024 consultations. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the revenue options paper does get looked at and reviewed every year. I'm not sure that we'll ever get to a point perhaps about bringing all of us as to what should be in there or what it should say. But we do look back at it every year. And there's been changes made, thanks to the feedback that I've received specifically from the MLAs before it goes out.
With respect to this year in terms of revenue forecasts, again, certainly the point is to take into account what's happening in the world at any particular time, including this year where although we may be through the pandemic, there are quite a number of factors impacting on economics and economic circumstances not only for our government, for other governments, and for the business community.
So we'll be doing our best. Obviously that is to literally in the midst of happening in the moment, but we're doing our best to reflect that in the materials. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for those comments to look at the revenue options paper. I hope to get a new one. And of course the Minister's no doubt well aware of the devastating impacts of the Hay River flooding. And I'm hearing that there could be as many as 350 or 400 applications under our Disaster Assistance Policy. Government infrastructures going to require serious remediation. And, you know, we may even need to relocate folks or West Point First Nation.
So can the Minister tell us whether there is a preliminary estimate for the Hay River flood recovery costs and what impact is expected on budget 20232024? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance and Municipal and Community Affairs are working together along with other impacted departments to look at the numbers, to have numbers tabulated. Registrations are still coming in, and the impacts of each of those registrations are still coming in. Not everyone is seeking the maximum. There's still parties who are inquiring as to their insurance circumstances. The pathfinders are in the communities working through those questions.
So, you know, I don't want to say that we don't have preliminary numbers because we do have certainly numbers that are being collated and tabulated along the way. But until we're in a position where there's some certainty around those numbers at least to the point of being able to give an estimate that is somewhat meaningful, then, Mr. Speaker, we're not going to be putting those out at this point. They're not helpful. They are not helpful numbers for the purpose of communicating the circumstance. But I just don't want to give the impression that we aren't already running numbers and looking at what the impacts will be because we certainly are.
And, you know, I will say we have over the last year been communicating on a monthly basis with MLAs providing some updates on what was happening in response to last year's floods. Mr. Speaker, it's my expectation we certainly will continue to do the same for the next year with respect to the recovery from the current year's floods. 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 mentioned in my statement that inflation is expected to continue at record levels probably for the foreseeable future. I'm starting to get concerns from constituents about the impact of inflation on their quality of life, particularly those on fixed incomes.
Can the Minister tell us whether there will be increases to any NWT tax credits, increases to income support programs, or other measures to assist those NWT residents on fixed incomes as part of the budget 20232024? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the concerns around inflation are not limited to only those on fixed incomes. I'm certainly also hearing from all residents, from the business sector, from the nonprofits concerns around inflation, rising costs, cost of fuel. They are live considerations. I'm well aware. The department's well aware. The government is well aware that these are concerns and that people are worried, and that's quite fair.
At the moment and in light of that, Mr. Speaker, there's certainly not any expectation for tax increases. With respect to tax credits, that's not under consideration at this time. I would note for folks that may be on income support or other fixed measures, other subsidies, when there's increased demand on those programs, that does come to the Financial Management Board, and in general, that would be considered more forced growth.
So, you know, there certainly is still the ability there to continue to support the people who are already receiving support type programs or support type subsidies.
With respect to whether there needs to be an entirely new type of relief, I'll continue to say what I've said in the recent days which is that when we say we're monitoring a situation, it doesn't literally mean just reading the newspapers. It does mean, in fact, monitoring the situation actively to determine at what point some other sort of additional or new relief does get to be introduced. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, before we continue, I'd like to recognize our Languages Commissioner, Ms. Brenda Gauthier. Welcome to the Chamber.
Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to continue the conversation the Member of Kam Lake was having about what housing authorities and LHOs do. I think, you know, a fair characterization of our LHOs is that they are property management companies; they are responsible for the maintenance of the units, and they are responsible for the intake. But they have no control over policies. That is directed to them by the Housing Corp. They are agents of the policies of the Housing Corp. They're not capable of doing anything that the Housing Corp does not want.
So it kind of seems to me that an odd thing to prioritize at the local level of control housing maintenance was what we really wanted.
I'm just wondering as part of the review whether we are conducting a review that would look at what the proper function or perhaps some alternative models of local control would be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I could read off of my notes, but, you know, coming from a smaller community and looking at the actions of the local housing authorities and the boards, the chairpersons that are active at the ground level, they do provide a significant service. But it is identified there needs to be huge improvement. We need to look at those service agreements. We need to update them. We need to have more collaboration and more communication with them as well. And since having the portfolio, I recognize the gaps that are there as well.
Looking at the policies that are there and that they operate under, this is what I would like to do as a Minister: I brought the policies to the Council of Leaders. Myself and the Premier have identified that there is a need to have the Council of Leaders throughout the Northwest Territories look and review our policies, and also that I recognize that we need to give a lot more understanding and a lot more power back to the LHOs so they can challenge us with those policies and challenge us with those changes that are required. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear that answer from the Minister that we're looking at this. One of the issues that I've heard from Yellowknife's LHO is that they would like a little bit more autonomy to apply for federal funding, and they've been approached by Indigenous governments who have asked if they would maintain and operate their buildings, something that, you know, would be doing work outside of the purview of their agency agreement with the NWT Housing Corporation.
So I think we're kind of in the worst possible situation where the LHOs do not have autonomy to go out and get money, but they are also not centralized so we are not having any of those economies of scale.
So I think we have to go one way or the other. And I'm wondering if we were reviewing areas to increase their autonomy such as applying for funding.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The local housing authorities are a contracted arm of Housing NWT. And looking at those authorities and, I guess, organizations that are wanting to apply for funding, we apply for funding on their behalf. This year we have a 90unit housing delivery throughout the Northwest Territories. And not only that, we are looking at increasing the increasing the education and training as well too for our maintenance as well. I've recognized that the units that we are building are not I want to say they don't they don't compare with the amount of the type of training we have at the ground level with the type of furnaces, the type of boilers that we are putting in. So there is a lot of changes that are happening. I am recognizing that we need to support them in many different ways. So I'm bringing that back to the department. But I want to reassure the Member that that work is taking place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think we have to be conscientious here that there is a cost to the local housing organizations. Each one has its own buildings, its own board, its own executive directors, which means that they are not providing housing; they're providing administration.
And, you know, I know in Yellowknife, there's a great maintenance staff, but they're not allowed to go do work in Behchoko. They just do work for the Yellowknife local housing authority. There's no territorial coordination of maintenance contracts.
And so I'm wondering if any analysis has been done that could be shared that speaks to some of the efficiency or centralization that could happen or what is the cost of having LHOs, you know, all be operating independently from each other. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now I'm looking at opportunities for the LHOs as well too. I recognize throughout the Northwest Territories that we do have Indigenous governments that are entering into selfgovernment as well. I'm looking at those opportunities, whether they would be able to operate on our behalf, but also looking going back to looking at the maintenance, that what the Member had expressed as well too. This is something this is an area that strongly needs to be recognized, and we need to work within this area differently.
And I hear the Member where we do have maintenance staff in Yellowknife, and we need work done in Behchoko. Right now the Housing Corporation is operating and maintaining 2,600 units in the Northwest Territories. But when you're in a smaller community and you're a homeowner, the LHOs are expected to come, and they're expected to provide that service as well too.
So I hear where the Member is coming from. I will bring that back to my department. And like I have said, it's encouraging to hear these questions come forward because it really drives change within how we do business within Housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the former Premier Bob McLeod and his wife Melody McLeod, also Brenda Gauthier and everybody else in the gallery.
Mr. Speaker, in recent years both the courts and political leaders have recognized the need for reconciliation between Indigenous people and the Crown. Generally in the First Nations Treaty 8s and Treaty 11s, it says that their aboriginal rights and titles were not affected by making those treaties. Unfinished treaty business has yet remained a cloud over much of our territory while the treaty First Nations are deprived of the benefits and recognition they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, is the Premier prepared to commit the resources and mandate necessary to complete the outstanding business with our treaty partners in the Deh Cho, Akaitcho, and Indigenous governments? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The finalization of selfgovernment agreements and land claim agreements are a trilateral agreement. It's done with the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Indigenous governments. We are dedicated, though, Mr. Speaker, to doing our best to make sure that the agreements are finalized; however, I'm respectful of the Indigenous governments, and the work shall be done on time on their time as well as so that everyone feels that they got a fair shake of it.
So it's not about rushing the agreements. It's about doing them right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you Mr. Premier I mean Madam Premier. Does the Premier recognize the treaties as the reconciliation of preexisting sovereignty of Indigenous people on this territory and the Crown. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, within the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People, which is a priority of this government, there is a recognition of Modern Treaties and selfgovernment agreements, and so I will continue to uphold that agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Premier agree that our laws and policies need to respect the inherent sovereignty of the treaty First Nations and to reconcile our authority with that of First Nations and Indigenous governments. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We wouldn't call them selfgovernment agreements if we didn't believe in the concept of them being able to selfgovern. Within all selfgovernment agreements, there is clauses within each chapter that identify the paramountcy of laws. And many of those chapters, Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous government has paramountcy over the territorial government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you Premier. Does the Premier support the initiative to periodically review and update all treaties and modern land claim agreements in this ongoing spirit of sharing, reconciliation, and mutual respect. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually I do believe that within the agreements, there is a clause that states that they can be reviewed and updated as necessary. There is a commitment to that. Again, Mr. Speaker, though, in recognizing that I am willing to work with Indigenous governments, but really, the priority, Mr. Speaker, is to try to get all Indigenous governments into a place where they have land claims that are settled and selfagreement selfgoverning agreements that are settled so that they do take their rightful place at the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Yesterday the Minister of Lands made a Minister's statement in the House enhancing transparency and client experience. This was about the administration of lands in the Northwest Territories in something called ATLAS, which is a pretty cool computer based information system about land here in the Northwest Territories.
So I commend the Minister for this effort in bringing more transparency to ourselves as a, you know, manager of lands. But I want to ask some specific questions about whether this new information available through ATLAS includes information about financial security that our government might hold. So if I could get the Minister to answer that, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands recently expanded the information and data related to land administration and is available to the public and as part of our efforts to increase transparency. The Department of lands currently tracks the form, the amount, and expiry dates for security and is working on how to make this information transparent through the public lands regulation.
At this point, lands has not included financial information related to the leases on the ATLAS system. We are looking to do this into the future.
I agree that accountability of land manages; we should be open and transparent. The Department of lands is currently reviewing the on land platform online platform to make to best make this information publicly available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that information. And of course the reason why I raise this is our government, when we had the surface lease for the Giant Mine, we had zero dollars in financial security, zero dollars, which we actually we ended up on the hook for $26 million in an agreement with the federal government as our contribution because we had zero dollars for financial security on that property. Ptarmigan Mine, zero dollars for financial security for the surface. It's going to probably cost us more millions of dollars.
So can the Minister tell us when this information this kind of information is going to be publicly available. I know he's looking at it, but is there a date by which this information on financial security can be made available to the public. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish I could give the Member and the public a confirmed date, but presently, we don't have that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course I might be back here in October asking when it's going to be done. But can the Minister confirm that this information is actually tracked already by the department. So it's not a question of having to go and comb files to find this information. We already have it. It would be just adding additional attribute data to ATLAS. Can the Minister confirm we have this information already. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that the annual security reporting requirement is a part of the Public Land Act, and we do have that information. 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. Of course the difficulty with the annual reporting requirements of the Public Land Act is that that act is not actually in force yet. So we're waiting for regulations. So is there a way in which this information on financial security held by our government can be made available even on an annual basis in advance of the Public Land Act coming into effect. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department participates in the GNWT open data initiative to increase government transparency and accountability while maintaining the government's responsibility towards privacy, security, and legal obligations.
So we are working on it. The Public Land Act, as the Member said, isn't in force because we're doing the public land regulations on that. So until that is done, we're not able to provide that information publicly. We are working on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for Housing. About 18 months ago, her and the Minister of Health opened the Fort Good Hope Seniors Centre, but then it didn't open. And the Minister said she would open it in the summer, and then it didn't open. And then in the fall, the Minister said it would open in the new year, and then it didn't open. And in the last session, the Minister didn't give a date when it would open next, but it was clear the lawyers were getting involved.
So my question for the Minister of Housing is when will the Fort Good Hope Seniors Home, centre, open.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question as well too. We did end up with technical issues with the final build of this, of the construction of the nineplex in Fort Good Hope. We're looking at hopefully a date of December of this year for the nineplex to be open. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, that's approaching about two years since it officially opened. Perhaps the Minister could just provide a bit more of an understanding of what the technical issues are or whether this will cost us more money. Is there a new tender going out. You know, and if this can be provided at a later date, that's fine. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once the nineplex was completed, we did end up finding some issues when reviewing those plans and those final statements.
But I want to also say that, you know, we had just finished with our COVID19 pandemic, and we did have a delay in responding and looking at the repairs for this, for the nineplex. And it was at that time, we weren't able to get contractors in as soon as we should have been able to.
So I'm hopefully I'm hopeful for December of this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
