Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said before, squeaky wheel gets the grease so I'm going to keep up this until I hear some good answers, if it takes me, I don't know, how long. If I have to keep running.
What is the Minister doing to raise the issue of such a rough terrible I guess I could say horrible Yukon section of the Dempster Highway to the Yukon government? I did raise this in May, and I know she mentioned that she was going to have talks with them. So I'm just wondering where we are with those talks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, squeaky wheels. I want to reassure the Member from Twin Lakes that both of us are advocating for this. We also have some of the Indigenous groups that are also advocating for this as well, and I know some of them have reached out to the Yukon government to be able to have further discussions on the border side to the Yukon.
And since the Member brought this up in last session, I've met with the Minister. We've had discussions on a path going forward, and I'm actually going back down to meet with the Minister in December. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister I think it's Vandal came up or was supposed to come up. I told the Premier I'd make the drive to Inuvik with up the Dempster Highway with him. But I'm just wondering with the Minister have they had these any of these discussions on this section just because it affects us as residents of the Northwest Territories but it doesn't really impact whether or not that road is upkept in the Yukon for their residents. So I'm just wondering where this Minister has had those talks with the federal minister. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to note that this summer, the Minister Vandal was in Inuvik, and I had an opportunity to travel with him up Tuktoyaktuk and we had a meeting there with the hamlet, the community corp, and it was a really good meeting and during that time, I also stressed concern about the Dempster Highway. You know, we are looking at investing into the InuvikTuk Highway, and that we need to engage collaboratively with everybody involved to be able to have those discussions for the rest of the highway too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to pushing the federal government to fund in full the Mackenzie Valley, and I think this is not just for this Minister, I think it's for the Premier, we need to fund the Mackenzie Valley Highway, especially if the Yukon will not keep up their end. So if the Minister meets with the Yukon and they're not going to commit to anything tangible while we are in the 19th Assembly, then I suggest we move on and we start to work on our own highway. Mr. Speaker, the residents of the Beaufort Delta can no longer be ignored by this government, the Yukon government, the federal government. We cannot be stranded in the Beaufort Delta with this type of a highway just because it doesn't impact their residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to mention that the Mackenzie Valley Highway is one of my mandate items to be able to advance that project. And Mr. Speaker, we are advancing. We are looking at ways to be able to get this project going. For example, the developer's report is due in the next couple months. That kind of indicates what we need to do to be able to look at advancing the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, advancing on paper or advancing on the ground; that's what I would like to see. I would like to see if the Minister will commit to pushing hard on this because I'd like to see it just like the Tuk Highway. I'd like to see it coming from you know, from the North and the South and let's meet in the middle, and let's get this highway done. Let's quit talking about it. I don't want to be dead and, like, you know, this is something that I know our previous leader from Sahtu talked about the Mackenzie Valley, and, you know, I think this government and the future the next government owe it to complete this highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to stress the developer's report and some of the work that kind of advises us on a path going forward. So this is something that we are looking at and working with Indigenous groups up along the valley as well, looking at a number of things. Northern, local businesses, and the list goes on. So, yes, this is something that and the Member knows that, I mean, we want the Mackenzie Valley Highway so bad. So that is something we're advancing. Thank you. So bad.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 201923 GNWT mandate, in that mandate, they promised to build 25 new units each year from 20 to 23. Can the Minister update the House on the status of this work, and where are we are we on track to achieve this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister to Housing.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question as well too. And, yes, we are on track for the 25 units annually. We actually do have a 90unit delivery. We will also Housing has also submitted an application to the federal government for an additional 12 seniors duplexes. That would be submitted hopefully on the ground with construction starting in 20232024.
I also just want to, just for the Member for the 90unit delivery, for his riding, he would be receiving two units in Dettah, four units in Lutselk'e, two in N'dilo, and six in Fort Resolution. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mandate document promises to implement a new policy to allow seniors and disabled individuals to access housing repairs by the summer of 2021. Can the Minister update the House on how many people have been helped with home repairs due to this policy change? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question as well too. And we are wanting to increase our programming and the dollars as well too. Within this government, we had increased our homeownership repair of $3 million for the Northwest Territories. I don't have the exact number on hand but we do see a significant increase. Also we did receive an additional $60 million over two years from the federal government. And a portion of that funding will be going towards public housing repair and homeownership repair throughout the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mandate promises a leasetoown policy for the winter of 2020 with an average of 25 leases to own homeownership agreements signed per year for 2020 and 2023. Can the Minister update this House on how many leases have been signed to date? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Homeownership is a priority of this government. As of to date, I want to say approximately 42 of those leases have been signed over. And I also just wanted to also reflect on our mission and our values as well too is that we did have a document that was tabled this year. And the values that I just want to identify is we are committed to be clientfocused, working in collaboration, coming up with innovative programming, and looking at how we are going to be more accountable, looking at reconciliation, and looking at more of a stability for programs throughout the Northwest Territories. And I appreciate the questions coming forward because it really contributes to the changes of the way we are going to be doing business within Housing for the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned earlier that I was in the community of Lutselk'e for a constituency meeting and I had mothers came up to me that were crying and with a baby and couch surfing in the community. And it's really disturbing and hard to hear that from the community when you go there, and it's right throughout the whole Northwest Territories. You know, I'm just thinking, you know, this year we got $30 million from Ottawa, and next year as well. I'm assuming this money that has been already allocated, and probably even next year, but I'm just thinking in the spirit in the spirit of the document that I mentioned, the mandate letter, if there is a way that we could work with Indigenous governments to build new relationships. So given the difficulties of housing the NWT is having delivering these results, would the Minister commit to reallocating the recent $30 million of federal housing monies for this fiscal year and next fiscal year to no with no strings attached through a contribution agreement to support Indigenous governments leading housing strategies and programs in their own governments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I also want to highlight that with our work with the federal government, and I specifically want to mention Minister Vandal, Minister Hussen, and MP McLeod, together we were able to work very strongly in collaboration, recognizing the housing needs in the Northwest Territories, also highlighting that we have not had a replenishment of new public housing stock within the last four decades. We were successful in receiving to the Indigenous governments throughout the Northwest Territories $500 million. Housing NWT continues to work in collaboration with the Indigenous groups.
The other that I'm very interested in accomplishing is we've just signed an MOU with the Tlicho government on housing issues for their region. Also just recently with the Sahtu. And also we are in talks with the Gwich’in as well too and hopefully we're able to come to a common understanding on how we could further work together in addressing those housing issues in the Northwest Territories.
But I also want to take this time that Housing is trying to work very strongly in such a short time, also recognizing that we did work through COVID and we were still able to accomplish these successes for the people of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the Northwest Territories Association of Communities AGM, it was announced that the territory had an intent to sign an MOU with the Canadian Red Cross. Can the Premier please give us an update on where this MOU is at? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that when we met with the Association of Communities, it was brought up. I do want to say a shout out to the Red Cross; their work has been phenomenal. I know that I've made a commitment to meet with them, and I do believe that the departments are in discussions with them. But I will need to take notice on where exactly we are at with that discussion, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the Premier's update on the territorial MOU, and it is my hope that it will be a territorial MOU and not a health and social services MOU or a MACA MOU.
Given that the flooding occurred the Red Cross first got involved with us here this time around during the 20202021 flooding, can the Premier explain why she's taken so long to meet with the Red Cross given that I believe they made that request through the Minister of MACA about a year ago. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I'll take that question on notice so I can get the information that the MLA requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Lands.
The Tlicho government asked for a regional study of the socalled Slave Geological Province Corridor over a year ago, and a large workshop was held in June of this year. Can the Minister of Lands give us an update on the current status of proposed regional study? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this going to be a little bit longer answer because it's that much important question the Member asked.
As mentioned in my August 2022 update with SCEDI, the Mackenzie Valley Impact Review Board hosted a workshop introducing participants the concept of regional studies and started a conversation on potential regional studies and how it should look. The GNWT responded to CIRNAC requesting for feedback on the July 29th or sorry, responded to the July 29th. The response did not articulate a GNWT position but outlined some of the GNWT's key interests and consideration. As previously communicated, GNWT's position on a potential regional study will not be confirmed until after the GNWT has heard the views of Nunavut, Indigenous governments, and sought input from MLAs.
CIRNAC has not yet communicated its process, next steps, or the time of the federal decision. Under the MVRMA, the Minister of Northern Affairs makes decisions on whether to conduct a regional study. Lands staff will continue to engage CIRNAC on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. But surely to goodness we have some sort of sense of whether this is a good thing or not before we have to go and consult with everybody. But I know that the time decision's up to the Minister of Northern Affairs. You know, geographic scope and name for this initiative are probably still up for grabs but hopefully we can avoid the colonial and racist term "slave."
Can the Minister tell us whether GNWT's taken a position on the name and geographic scope of a regional study? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT has not taken a position on the name or geographical scope or the regional strategic environmental assessment. CrownIndigenous relationships in Northern Affairs Canada has authorized authority for regional studies under the MVRMA, and they have been gathering perspectives and views regarding potential regional strategic environmental assessment. Our message to the federal government has been that if the federal government moves ahead on this, it is important that they hear the views of governments, Indigenous governments, and other stakeholders in the NWT and Nunavut before decisions are made, and that they provide adequate funding for participants. If a regional study does proceed, the GNWT would like to see it completed in a timely manner and provide guidance to how future development in the region has responsibility of that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Look, our government just can't hide in the weeds forever on this. As several Indigenous governments and the Chamber of Mines have already written to the federal minister, I've written to the federal minister with views on the regional study, and I think it's fair to say that all the parties actually support this in one way or another. So, you know, and the Minister said that our government supports participant funding; that's great. But in the letter that was submitted, it also said that no ongoing projects should be affected while a regional study is in process.
So can the Minister explain why our government continues to steamroll ahead with a Lockhart allseason road while the Bathurst caribou herd is still in decline and a regional study is being discussed. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're not steamrolling ahead. We're advancing the Geological Slave Corridor Project as it is a mandate commitment of the current Legislative Assembly. All 19 of us agreed to our mandate. Some of them may not agree with every one, and I didn't agree with all the mandates on there, but we collectively all agreed with it, that we would have a mandate and that was one of them.
So, Mr. Speaker, with the federal government federal funding secured to advance Lockhart allseason road to a shovelready state, along with planning, engineering, and environmental baseline collection of remaining proposed alignment to the Nunavut border. So that's going on right now.
As the Geological Province Corridor Project is likely to undergo environmental assessment, concerns related to Bathurst caribou will be assessed through that process. So, again, we are going through it that environmental study will be in there, and that will be about the Bathurst caribou. Trust me. Caribou are on my radar every day. I see it. I look at it. I'm dealing with it. And I'm working with Indigenous governments on this.
So the GNWT believes that planning and environmental baseline work relates to the corridor project will benefit not only the project but the information should also support a regional study if one proceeds. 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. It's a very interesting position. It's okay to plan and build roads into the range of the Bathurst caribou herd while the herd is in a precarious state but it's not okay to pause this work while we look at the future of the entire region. You know, I'm worried, Mr. Speaker, that this government is going to go ahead and file this project for regulatory approvals, land use permit, water licence, no matter what. We're heading straight for another Mackenzie Valley Highway Environmental Assessment that is now over nine years long, full of project splitting, delays and, quite frankly, wasting public resources.
So can the Minister tell us how this government is going to avoid such a mess while saying it supports a regional study? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Environmental assessments, in general, are specific to a project. While a regional strategic environmental assessment is much broader than looking at a single project and, in this case, a proposed much larger geographical scale. A regional strategic environmental assessment is designed to assist with the potential environment, social and economic effects, including cumulative effects are alternating strategies initiatives, policies, planning or programs for a particular region. Environmental assessments and regional studies processes do not compete with each other. They can be seen as working handinhand. The GNWT continues its work to advance environmental baseline planning and ensuring work to advance the corridor project. This information's also benefits a regional study if one proceeds. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I spoke to in my Member's statement, the Department of Finance has come forward with a number of recommendations, changes to the Liquor Act. One of the ones I was specifically happy to see was four changes to special occasion permits. These are the permits that, you know, festivals often have to get and special events such as weddings. One was to streamline the process. Another one was to perhaps allow an annual special occasion permit for those events that happen every single year. And another one was to allow, in certain cases, whole site consumption. So not necessarily to have a beer garden but to be able to just sell alcohol on the site of the festival or event. My question for the Minister of Finance is when will these recommendations be done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process of getting a significant piece of legislation like this together requires, firstly, that there be a legislative proposal. I can certainly commit that that is going to happen in the life of this Assembly. It then does go over to committee and then would back and then go out for drafting. So it's a more complex and lengthy process than what perhaps a lot of folks realize. I would say, though, some good news, Mr. Speaker, out of the four items that are listed as four recommendations, the first of the four, to streamline processes, streamlining a process should always be a priority and while, you know, the other recommendations should form part of a cohesive legislative proposal, I can say that certainly looking at ways to streamline that process now doesn't need to wait for that, and I will certainly look at doing that in an expedited fashion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy to hear that we will be streamlining the process. I know it has been quite difficult for many and, you know, it's not fun to have a special occasion and then not be able to sell alcohol. And in many cases, the nonprofits running them is it's how they actually fund the entire festival.
My question, I guess I'm still a bit confused about whether this is actually going to happen. I heard we're going to get a legislative proposal. And another one of the examples in the recommendation report was that the recommendation to remove the requirement for retail outlets to be closed on Sundays, holidays, and election days. So I guess my question to the Minister is, is this actually going to happen; are we going to see that requirement removed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the actual question is whether we're going to see requirements removed or not, it's really not a final decision that rests with me to pass the legislation all on my own. I am going to bring forward the legislative proposal. As I've said, it then goes to committee, and upon committee's recommendation is when the drafting instructions do go out. But I think really what we're getting at here is the time that it does take to craft, firstly, complex legislative proposals; and secondly, to do the drafting instructions for complex pieces of legislation. I mean, the Liquor Act itself is almost 70 pages. The regulations are well over 70 pages. And they have been modified piecemeal over the years. We don't want to do that again. We want this to be modernized. We want it to be cohesive. So, again, the LP's going to come forward sorry, the legislative proposal will come forward, and I certainly will, and am now, do whatever I can to ensure that we have processes in place to see that it does get where it needs to go in the life of this Assembly but some of those timelines will be out of my hands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, and, you know what, I've read through all of these recommendations and sometimes they're identified as legislative; sometimes clearly we can just do them. Specifically one that caught my eye was the recommendation to allow hospitality rooms in manufacturing facilities. That is if a brewery decides to open, they could be able to sell beer there. I'm just wondering if the Minister could give me a timeline on when this is going to happen, or is this also tied to a legislative proposal? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, Mr. Speaker, the ideal here is to not wind up piecemealing the act or the regulations any further than what they have been already historically. And so the intention was to take all of the recommendations as a cohesive unit, put them together, and to develop a new piece of legislation and regulations that would support it. So now that said, there's really only the one brewery that I'm aware of and so perhaps they should be, you know, looking to work with the current licensing board if there are existing pathways by which they could achieve their goals now while we are getting to the place where the new legislation, hopefully in whatever format it finds, is ready to be passed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
