Thank you, Madam Chair. Member for Frame Lake.
I can hardly wait. Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, look forward to some good news on that front and getting more information.
So I guess the next topic is where are we at with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? You know, it was a mandate commitment to do some work on this and just can the Minister kind of describe where we're at, recognizing that there's also a special committee that tabled an interim report on this topic. So thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I feel like I've already briefed that Member on this item. But for the public, absolutely we are again, another exciting piece of work that we're looking. And this work was done with the Council of Leaders table. It wasn't easy. You know, it took a lot of work and not everybody's on board; the majority are on board. This work will be bringing forward a legislative bill in this session. I think we already did the proposal give me the right term there, Martin. Legislative proposal he says, because we recognize the committee has to, for 120 days take it on the road. We're at the end of the Assembly. We only have a short amount of time. So we're going to work as close as we can with committee. That is another commitment. I don't know if we've usually done that but I think it's important we work together to get this across the line if it's going to happen. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. So there's a big difference between a legislative proposal and a bill. Are we actually going to get a bill? Because the legislative proposals usually pretty high level shared with Regular MLAs so there can be some, you know, reaction, initial input. But are we going to get a bill? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for asking for the clarification; that's what I was hoping to get. We are going to have a draft bill before this session is finished. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. Well, that could be good news; we'll see. But I want to encourage the Premier, the department, I think there's going to need to be a lot of public education, communications work around this. I know that MLAs have been looking at this, how other jurisdictions have attempted to deal with this from some academics and so on, some, you know, Indigenous government leaders. That's all great stuff but I think there's a real big need for some public education and well-crafted education sorry, communications materials. Is that something that the department is working on right now as well? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Absolutely there is going to need to be a lot of communication and a lot of explaining to the public. I'm actually quite proud of the work that this Legislative Assembly has done on this work. Other jurisdictions have done it, the federal government's done it, and BC has done it, but my understanding I know the federal government didn't consult with us. These things weren't done the amount of consultation that we've actually done in the Northwest Territories. So the biggest thing that the proudest thing I am for this work is that it was codrafted with Indigenous governments. It wasn't for Indigenous governments; it is by Indigenous governments. So yes, Madam Chair, we have a lot of education to do and I'd really appreciate actually because I know the Member has experience if he wants to meet with me at any time after to talk about what he thinks we should do in communications I'd be more than willing to hear that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I'm going to take the Premier up on that offer. Thanks.
All right. So are there any further questions under Indigenous and Intergovernmental Affairs? Seeing none, Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous and intergovernmental affairs, operations expenditure summary, 20232024 Main Estimates, $7,515,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. There are additional information items on page 141 to 143. Are there any questions? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I want to ask about the budget, or the funding allocation for the Status of Women Council found on page 141. And I think we'd heard earlier that a number of NGOs have received forced growth increases in their funding, and that doesn't appear to be well, maybe it is the case for the Status of Women Council, but can the Premier speak to that, please. Thank you.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have it with me. Maybe you can find it if you have it. I do know that within the last year's budgets there was an increase to both the Status of Women Council and the Native Women's Association. I do know that we're also doing the work with the NGOs and so I'm assuming that some of that will be taken into consideration. Thank you, Madam Chair.
And if we can get that commitment to get that to the Members, that would be great. Member for Frame Lake.
Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Well, I'm just looking at, you know, page 141 and the contributions from the Government of the Northwest Territories in 20212022, the actuals were 582. Then it went down to 444 and it stayed there. So why was it higher in 20212022. Maybe there was some extra funding somewhere? But it doesn't look like they've actually received any kind of an increase, forced growth, you know, cost of living, inflation running at 6.3 percent. What's happening here? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to ask Lauren if she wants to expand on it but my understanding is that the contributions are from the whole of the GNWT. It's not just from the executive. So sometimes agencies like Justice, for example, with this one, will give money, and then but it might be for a shortterm contract so that's showing but it's not longer term. But, Madam Chair, if I could turn to Lauren.
Ms. Alexandra.
Thank you, Madam Chair. As far as some additional funding from the department, there was additional funding provided to the Status of Women Council to support their engagement on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls engagement. So that's some additional funding that the department provided.
Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks for that. So I take it then, though, that there is no increased funding for Status of Women Council for 20232024; that's what the numbers show. Why is there no forced growth increase for this NGO but there was for others? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Madam.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll have to get back to the Member. I do know that within the term of this government there was an increase to both of the organizations, so we'll get back to them and let them know what that was. But, again, we're just still at the process of doing the work with other organizations. So it's work that needs to be ongoing but we will commit to getting back to you when the last increase was and exactly what it was, how much it was.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. I guess, I don't think I can ask any more questions. I'm going to make a statement. I think the Status of Women should have had an increase of forced growth like the other NGOs. Maybe that's clear because that's not what the numbers here show on the page and I think we need to be more consistent in how we treat NGOs across the board in our forced growth increases. And that's all I have. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member. Are there any additional comments to the information items on page 141 and 143? Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I also agree that the work of the Status of Women is super important. And I'm just wondering if the Premier can speak to the process for hiring an executive director. It's my understanding that that position has been empty for quite a while and if the department could speak to what's happening there, that would be great. Thank you.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So the Status of Women Council is an arm's length. It's not the the GNWT does not oversee them and tell them what to do. They provide reports through them; there is an Act for them but they really govern their own. So, Madam Chair, I'm not sure I don't even know why the last executive director left. I do know that it's not for the GNWT to determine their executive director. That's a process that they do. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't think I said that the department was responsible for it. I asked what was happening with the fact that there hasn't been an executive director there. Given the importance of the work and that we are funding them from the GNWT to some degree, what does the department plan to do with the fact that there is nobody leading that organization? Thank you.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that we can send a letter asking them, an email asking them what their process where they are with the process and we'll provide an update to committee. Like I said, Madam Chair, it's not something that we take too much. I don't I don't even know like I said, I think it's only been a month or two that that position's been open but I could be incorrect. And those positions are often hard to get. Executive directors aren't a dime a dozen. But as soon as we reach out, we'll try to find out what's going on and then we'll submit an email or let all Members know what's going on with that position. Thank you.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would just comment that I find it quite concerning that nobody seems to be aware that this is happening in the Premier's office. This position has been empty for months now, not just one. I think almost at least since the fall.
My question then is given that NGOs are often underfunded for wages and benefits, etcetera. Given that we're only contributing $444,000 to this organization, how does the GNWT expect an NGO like this to attract any sort of good quality people to work for them if we're not going to be properly or they're not being properly compensated? Can the Premier speak to whether or not we're going to bump this money back up at least to the pandemic level? Thank you.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. My understanding is, yes, we give the 444 but the federal government also gives $1 million, Madam Chair. If the chair wants to do I do believe the Minister of Status of Women does know a little bit more on the executive director position if we wanted to turn it to her. If you're okay with that, Madam Chair.
I'll turn to Minister of Status of Women.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so there were some challenges I understand in terms of the staffing at the Status of Women over the last several months, and the gender equity unit was able to provide some supports during that period of time. It is the board of the Status of Women that does do their own hiring and does manage their own human resources process. So the role that I would have on behalf of the GNWT, as the Minister responsible for Status of Women, is to appoint the board and then they do their own hiring. So I certainly can reach out to them for an update as to where they're at. But they, as I said, to the extent that there were some challenges with staffing, we were able to support them but it is their role. And then with respect to, I think the Member was asking what the funding would be, and obviously the main estimates are before Members right now, and they are not well, not certainly at all taking away from the importance of the work that they do, they are an advocacybased organization and not one providing essential services. And so they may not then necessarily have been subject to the same forced growth process that NGOs that do provide essential government services for which the GNWT would have to step in would then be subject to it. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Could I have a clarification on where this million dollar from the federal government is? I only see $595,000 here. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Status of Women.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So that was funding that came through I believe it was announced by MP McLeod roughly a year ago now and it was I can't speak to the nature of exactly I believe it was it was probably some sort of project funding but, again, it was federal dollars. It is not the only external funding that Status of Women receives. They certainly receive other program dollars through other federal departments, and I can't speak to that entirely. I believe, however, I can commit to providing Members with a copy of their annual report which would then give a fuller picture of the entirety of the funds that they have from all sources. Thank you.
