Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I'd also like to recognize the page from Great Slave, Carys Lyall, who is here. One of my favorite things about being a Member is to have the pages here and getting to interact with them. So I'd like to say welcome to them all. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is a special day and a milestone birthday for a constituent who I also consider a good friend.
Mr. Speaker, today I wish Mrs. Julia Pokiak Trennert a happy milestone birthday, and hopefully all her birthday wishes comes true. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, today I brought up my Member's statement in regards to the discussions on offshore drilling moratorium. I'm just wondering where's the with the Premier, where does it stand right now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the moratorium on the Western Offshore Ocean was actually called unilaterally by Canada in 2016. At that time, the Premier of the day called a red alert, which caused a lot of contention in the NWT. Since then, we were promised that they would do that Western Arctic Offshore Accord. We've had 24 meetings since April 2019 to May 2022. We were also promised that we'd be able to take part in the fiveyear sciencebased review of the moratorium. So we're looking forward to the results of that and hoping that the federal government will sit down with us and talk about their findings in that sciencebased review. That work is still to be finished, and now we're in the process of signing an accord.
I do want to say, Mr. Speaker, it's important that Canada work with us on this. It's right in our devolution agreement, section 3.2 of the devolution agreement has a commitment for Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, with the participation of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, to commence negotiations for the management of oil and gas resources in the Beaufort Sea and other northern offshore areas. So it's important that Canada work with us on this work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Government of the Northwest Territories and IRC cooperating and collaborating to strengthen their position with the federal government, and where does the GNWT stand on the offshore drilling and when will the people in my riding see the moratorium lifted? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, yes, we're working very closely with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. The moratorium, the discussions, the offshore accord, the sciencebased review, were to be done in partnership with the Yukon government, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the governments of the Northwest Territories, with Canada of course. Since that time, though, we've also got engagement from the premier of Nunavut who is also interested in the work that's happening. So we are working together, all of us, to make sure that the interests of the North will be protected because when the moratorium was first enacted in the NWT, we lost jobs, we lost potential, and I am concerned that the Beaufort Delta needs to have an economy. So I will continue that work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm really happy for that. I'd like to thank our government for that work that they're doing with the federal government to lift this get this moratorium lifted but making sure it's done right in regards to on a goforward before it's lifted and letting our people advance notice, because we do want jobs in our riding and we do need that and we do need to take care of our own.
So, Mr. Speaker, my last question, how did, with the GNWT working with Canada and the Inuvialuit, support and advance the opportunities in the Arctic Ocean? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, I think it's important that the GNWT work with all Indigenous governments and specifically around the moratorium the oil and gas reserves that are and the LNR that's in the Beaufort Delta. We need to be supporting that work as we go through.
I'd like to say, Mr. Speaker, that the most critical thing that I've been saying to Canada all along is the importance to work with us, nothing about us without us. It's important as the Member has said that the people of the Beaufort Delta have a say in what's happening with the offshore drilling. And although I recognize that Canada does have the power to make a unilateral decision, Mr. Speaker, as I've said to the prime minister it's not about who has the power, it's how we decide to use that power. And I will continue to carry that message. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Housing has not yet responded to any of the three constituency files I referenced in my Member's statement. Can the Minister tell us when I can expect some answers for my constituents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. Within these files, there are very complex issues that we are dealing with. They are very sensitive. And according to what we've established with our renewal and with the documents that we have presented earlier this year that I'm trying to exercise our commitment throughout the Northwest Territories in making sure that the Housing NWT does make fair decisions throughout the territory and improve their working relationships with our tenants as well.
I will have a response prepared for the Member. But as of right now, I would like to bring that back to the department as this is a very sensitive issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain why it has taken up to three weeks for her office to respond to my emails about constituents' urgent housing concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and also thank you to the Member that, you know, like I had said that these are very complex issues. I would like to deal with these three clients very sensitively as well and making sure that we do provide adequate housing. But not only that, Mr. Speaker, we've got to make sure that we are fair and consistent throughout the Northwest Territories and exercising our policies fairly, working with the LHOs fairly as well. I will be following up though with the Member. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, hearing about a nonexistent homeless strategy, while there's no homeless shelter in Fort Smith, is not okay. Will the Minister ensure that these three constituent files will be provided with positive solutions to their situations so they are not out on the street? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be following up with the Member, like I had said, and I will make sure that Housing is making fair, consistent decisions when dealing with sensitive issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I guess I'm a little bit puzzled with some of the answers. Will the Minister support a pilot project for tiny homes in Fort Smith, because that would be a real solution to fighting homelessness, rather than just renting a building, as it would give homeless people some dignity and confidence back into their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Member is correct, you know, the community had reached out and they were looking at constructing tiny homes. But at that time, Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous governments weren't ready for the submission. Housing continues to work with the Indigenous groups to further that commitment that we do have. I am open up to being transparent and looking at alternative solutions for housing in the Member's riding as well and also throughout the Northwest Territories. As of right now, Housing has met with the Indigenous governments, but they have not submitted a proposal for tiny homes. But that does not stop our conversation. We will still continue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.
Traditional sources of public financing alone won't be enough to meet the infrastructure or future infrastructure needs of the NWT, which are large and continue to climb. So my question for the Minister is what efforts are underway to find new sources of finance; for example, increasing the number of power users, tapping private sector funding and expertise through investments or P3s, accessing federal dollars, improving efficiency of existing infrastructure and making smart investments in new infrastructure, or regulatory changes. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Industry is changing. Electrification will add new revenue streams to Northwest Territories Power Corporation as customers demand cleaner energy. The federal government and the GNWT have set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the increased use of clean hydro, renewable energy for home heating and vehicle use will also assist the GNWT to meet these targets and maximize Northwest Territories Power Corporation hydro and renewable infrastructure investment. Northwest Territories Power Corporation is working with Indigenous governments and communities on ownership and investment opportunities. Communityowned renewable generation guidelines were developed as part of the energy strategy and have been adopted by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. These partnerships reduce the dependence on diesel and provides new source of financing for required capital investments. The Power Corporation's strategy looks to leverage our partnership to maximize our ability to fund asset renewals with the lowest cost to customers. As well, the GNWT continues to advance the development of foundational infrastructure which will make the territories more appealing to future investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend the person who wrote that because there's a lot of fluff in there, and there's a good job at putting a lot of fluff in there, but what I hear is a lot of targets but without viable solutions that we're sharing with the Northwest Territories that don't simply hinge on one mega infrastructure project that, quite frankly, we don't have the dollars for today. And that really might not end up, in the long run, achieving our energy goals in the Northwest Territories. And I hear what the Minister is saying that we're working on it but we can't say we're working on it without having the clear path to getting there.
Mr. Speaker, if new resource development if a new resource development project in the exploration or mine phase was to purchase NTPC power, that could have significant impact on NWT resident power bills. So can the Minister explain how the GNWT or NTPC is attracting new exploration or resource development projects to purchase NTPC power? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member giving me some questions here because there's a lot of good answers that are in here, so thank you for that.
So advancing projects such as the Taltson expansion project, Whati transmission line, Fort Providence transmission line will increase our ability to offer clean energy to industrial users. In particular, grid connections between our two hydro systems with hydro power from Taltson will open up clean growth opportunities north and south of the Great Slave Lake. As well, by consolidating community, industry, and transportation demand into one hydro grid will also spread the costs and attract new customers so that we can stabilize energy and have clean cost of energy here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister simply tell us how many agreements NTPC has entered into with resource development projects in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Absolutely. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation has signed an MOU with Osisko Metals that outlines the process of negotiating the power connection of clean hydro to the Pine Point mine. Northwest Territories Energy, which is the sister company of Northwest Territories Power Corporation, is also engaged in discussions to be able to provide power to the Prairie Creek mine that is located close to Nahanni Butte. We're also working with Department of ITI to provide power opportunities to other potential mines such as TerraX Minerals, Nechalacho Rare Earth Projects, and Fortune Minerals. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will also be in active participation in the geoscience forum that's happening in November to be able to build these engagements with other potential mining customers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, improving NTPC's institutional framework and governance model are key pieces to meeting its infrastructure challenges. And I know that this has been a core focus of Regular Members on this side of the House since we literally walked into this House. So by what date will NTPC have a diversified board of folks with expertise in electricity utility rather than deputy ministers, and will the GNWT explore new institutional arrangements for NTPC to provide more effective and efficient financing, funding, and infrastructure delivery? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have a date but I want to note that our current board do have the competencies that are a benefit to the organization, and I want to recognize that they have their own areas of knowledge and expertise. That said, one of our rationale for making a change would be able to include more members with direct electrical utility experience. I anticipate that any change like that will require transition time, and perhaps even some training for future board members. I believe we all want to have experience on the board. We also want to have northern experience brought to the table by Northerners. I do not want to suggest that all future board members are going to have direct experience with regulated utility companies.
And to the second part of the question there, Mr. Speaker, the governance review is not broadly looking at institutional changes beyond the current model in great detail. The reality is, is that our existing institutional model has features set in legislation, and we have not directed any changes that would dramatically change that. At some point, Mr. Speaker, we may consider changes but only if it's a benefit to the ratepayers.
I would be happy to speak to the Member on more detail. I've got lots of notes here. I'm not going to take up too much time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement spoke of the lack of a preventative maintenance program at the LHO level. This could be for all LHOs in the Northwest Territories. Can the Housing Minister advise if there is such a program at the LHO level and who conducts these checks? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for their question.
As of today, the Housing NWT does fund $13 million annually for preventative maintenance and also $250,000 is offered to the local housing authorities for training. Housing does conduct the preventative maintenance program in place for all local housing organizations, and the checks are done annually. And we are also having a preventative maintenance managers meeting in the coming weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi to the Minister for that answer. But where I live I know for a fact that no servicing of heating appliances were done this year.
Mr. Speaker, I've been apprised that the Housing NWT headquarters in Yellowknife controls the purse strings of all LHOs. What is the relationship between headquarters and their LHOs in terms of budgets and surpluses? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for the budgets that are established and that are worked on through the Northwest Territories, we do have a funding formula. But with the policy review that we are currently doing right now, that is under review as well, on how we do fund the local housing authorities as well, but we do also work very closely with the LHOs to determine whether they have a surplus. If they do have a surplus, we do identify operation and maintenance deficits and also surplus units and also further units that may have to be renovated. And also if there is a deficit as well too, headquarters work very closely with the local housing authorities to try to help them to get back on track as well. There is a lot of support provided from headquarters to the local housing authorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that. It would have been interesting to ask for financial statements as to the surpluses that go back to headquarters because it may show a lack of a preventative maintenance program.
Mr. Speaker, I'm certain headquarters can determine if and when a preventative maintenance program is not being adhered to. Is there a reporting mechanism that is available to headquarters to determine if a preventative maintenance program is being followed at the LHO levels? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. And I just wanted to just emphasize that when there is a surplus at the local housing authority level that headquarters does work with the local housing authority to spend that money that is there. Some LHOs do carry over a certain amount of funding but that does also provide them with a financial security should they be dealing with any floods, any freezups, or whatever that may happen over the coming months. But also headquarters does work very closely and monitors the preventative maintenance of our units as well too.
I just also wanted to just speak about the budget that we do have. We did get allocation of $60 million over two years from the federal government, and $30 million of that funding is going to be allocated and put towards home repair programs for or I mean, sorry, public housing repair programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that.
Mr. Speaker, many of the heating units, whether they be furnace or boiler units, have ceramic firepots within to prevent burning a hole through the metal heating chamber from the burner. The state and condition of the firepot is extremely important as this will prevent carbon monoxide poisoning to residents. Tenants are not aware of how they can get carbon monoxide poisoning as there is no education material afforded to them. Tenants usually are alarmed when they spell diesel fumes which may not be related to the carbon monoxide. Will the Minister ensure tenants are made aware of how carbon monoxide occurs and if LHOs will install carbon monoxide detectors in the homes? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member as well too. And I just want to appreciate his work as well, that he did work with the local housing authority and also in his community and also with the technical questions as well. I'm not too familiar with the metal heating chamber and terms such as those. But I can assure you that we will be looking at the monitoring of carbon monoxide detectors within those public housing units, and I will follow up with the department to making sure that we do have them installed in our public housing units. Safety and health is a priority of mine as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.
