Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering if the Minister will commit to investigating what can be done here a little bit farther. There are avenues and I think easy accessible avenues where more exit interviews can be done for GNWT employees. I think that there is more that can be done to give other residents who don't work for the government feedback on why they're leaving. And another interesting category that I find is people who are saying I've decided that I plan to leave within the next X number of years. One such example is someone who reach out to me and said we've decided we're leaving within the next five years; we're done. But we're giving ourselves a little bit of time. It would be interesting to know what is compelling these people to leave the territory. Is there something that would actually just change their mines and get them to stay, and if so, can we pull out those themes and address those things specifically. So is the Minister willing to look at territorial wide exit interviews. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as it is, there's actually a requirement or an expectation for the Department of Finance for GNWT employees to institute an exit interview process. That's part of the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework. We are expected to undertake that work and to have that ready to go in 20232024. So in that sense, that much of a commitment I can certainly make. And, Mr. Speaker, I know when there was some of these news articles came out the other day, I had an opportunity to speak with the other department, ITI that I'm responsible for. And looking there too alt whether we could perhaps work with the business community at why there may be changes, why people might be selling businesses, or looking to leave. So I don't disagree. I'm not sure how far of a commitment I can give to the Member here on the floor other than to say that there is some discussion happening right now with the departments, different departments at what we can be doing to reaching out to various parties and stakeholders in the community and certainly would be happy to hear those stories directly as we are figuring out what other routes and avenues we can take directly to reach out and to find out what more we can do to keep residents here and attract new ones. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pretty sure right about now it's 5:17 in Toronto and someone is driving home, wishing that they weren't spending an hour and a half on the road and wishing they knew where to go and be there was opportunities for them to get wherever they needed to be in five minutes. And so I'm wondering if the Minister of finance is interested in putting together a targeted marketic plan to let fellow Canadians know what wonderful things the Northwest Territories has to offer and what opportunities they can come up here and take advantage of right away. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a fairly intensive marketing campaign between 2010 and 2014 called come make our mark. It did have some successes. It certainly had a high number of inquiries. It had a high number of positive responses from business communities who said they were aware of the campaign that they had people coordinate coming to them because of that campaign. But it was a very expensive campaign to run, Mr. Speaker. And I don't necessarily know just how many more folks on the ground we actually have as a result of it. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly I'm not saying no, but I do think there's some more looking that needs to be done at what was done before, did it have the impacts we wanted it to before we necessarily commit to another marketing campaign. That said, Mr. Speaker, the days of social media certainly have evolved. So I do hope that there's some room here where we can give a better response, a more positive response to that question in the coming in the coming time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do remember that campaign. I remember it being based on different people in the territory who were from different regions across Canada, and their faces were plastered in their home town, and it was so and so moved to the Northwest Territories kind of thing. So can you is my memory of that campaign come make your mark in the territory just like your friend from our home community did. But I don't move somewhere or have an idea of moving somewhere. And I've been here a long time, I'll admit that. But it's because I love the North. And you don't generally decide to up root your entire family because Jim or Bob or so and so lives there. It's something else is attracting you there that talks to you and what that place has to offer for you. And so I think that there's room for us to really sell all of the Northwest Territories has to offer, especially with some of the changes that have happened in the territory and also some of the things that have been here for absolutely ever that we want to be able to share with the world. But my last question for the Minister, Mr. Speaker, is when people visit an NWT tourism booth and I believe that there was an NWT tourism event here in Yellowknife, but right before the pandemic that we all got to go to, and there was a three day experience; there was a beautiful massive I think 20foot booth that people could go and really experience the northern lights. It was a very interactive experience, and it's exciting. And then you'd walk up to a human resources booth, and it's generally an eight by eight booth sorry, Mr. Speaker. It doesn't really sell it. It's got two people standing there, and if you want to ask questions, you can. So will the GNWT really take after tourism NWT and create some exciting booths that actually sell the territory when they go to these events. Thank you.
I'm thrilled that NWT tourism is getting a great shout out, Mr. Speaker. They do have some pretty incredible materials. Mr. Speaker, ITI and ECE work together in terms of immigration. So as far as trying to attract people here and that certainly is being from an international for immigration perspective, but that, I think, can influence what we're doing nationally within Canada as well. So let me take that away. I again, I've also seen updated materials from NWT tourism. I think think are, in fact, award winning materials on a national scale of what they have. Let me take that away. Again, as I said, I think we have responded already last year to the motion that was there. There was no lack of awareness of the need to grow our population, the labour market shortages across the board have made that real, and if there's an opportunity to perhaps share some of the materials we already have in a better way, then I expect that they'll be some appetite to do that if that can be easily done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so we all know now that come April 1st we're going to have carbon tax, whether it's GNWT or the feds. So I guess my question is is, you know, knowing that we never know what's the outcome of anything, and so what would be the implications, you know, if we did not have that carbon tax for April 1st? Like, how would that impact our businesses? Like, the things that we asked for as Regular Members, you know, like we have in our carbon tax, how would that affects the Northwest Territories by having the federal back stop? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we don't have the opportunity to maintain the system we are proposing, what we're likely to lose is this: Firstly right now we're proposing a three tiered regional system. So the communities that are facing the highest costs will get the most rebate. And what we've calculated is that the average household will, in fact, arguably be get more back in a rebate through the carbon or the cost of living offset than what they will actually be paying. That includes with an indirect tax, and the indirect carbon tax is the amount that we've calculated based on statistics Canada's supply use to show us what it is that industries are paying, built that in so that consumers have that power to offset when businesses have to raise their prices. So the consumer retains the ability to offset that. We would also be losing what we propose is a ten percent cost sharing with communities, Mr. Speaker, which right now is not something that we would that we are that we expect would come in if the federal back stop comes in. The challenge here, Mr. Speaker, I don't know necessarily what the federal government would do. I had an opportunity to speak with Minister Guilbeault. They were asking when we would be passing our tax, not coming to sort of rescue and not certainly making any commitments to me, but expecting that we pass this tax. And I hope certainly hope we do again so that, again, residents in the most vulnerable communities have that high est COLO payment so that communities get 10 percent sharing of our revenue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I guess, again, like, to my Member's statement, you know, this is a hard decision, and it's something that we all have to sit here and make, what's best for the Northwest Territories. So I guess more of a comment, I thanks the Minister, and I'll just leave it at that.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Taken as a comment. Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's been a long session. We're coming to the end of the session here now, and through the next few days we're going to be really busy here. And through committee work, we've been busy as he will. Earlier, I had mentioned that we're having our, you know, annual carnival in our community of Dettah and N'dilo and Lutselk'e as well, and the invitation is basically for everybody. But I'm just thinking as well in Fort Resolution this coming weekend there are also the Fort Resolution Metis government is also hosting a dog racer, and they're going to be one dog, three dog, and there's going to be a rookie race of four dogs three miles, and trapper race, six dogs, one veteran, one rookie, and. So and if anybody that is in the neighbourhood, please join us in Fort Resolution this coming weekend, and watch out for these dogs on the road and have some good time. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. No questions for anyone. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I support MLA Cleveland's ongoing efforts to make sure we increase our population, but I don't want to do that on the backs of unplanned pregnancies, Mr. Speaker, and especially, I think, unplanned teen pregnancies are a reality in the North, and we all know that they have longterm consequences, and people, you know, may not have access to the contraception to make their own choices. And so my question seeing now that BC has provided universal contraception, is this something that the Minister of health supports. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly support BC doing this. However, the NWT has only less than one percent of BC's population, and so it would be difficult for us to roll out a universal contraception program right here right now. But there's an election coming up. So it could be an election issue.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I think what would be helpful in making it an election issue is just a few facts. And so whenever we talk about extended benefits in this territory, it's extremely complicated as the Minister's well aware. We've got Metis benefits, we got NIHB benefits, we got GNWT benefits, and we got a new extended benefits program rolling out as we speak. So I'm wondering if the Minister could take back and perhaps do an analysis of what this would actually cost and who presently do not have access to some sort of contraception coverage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I can tell now tell you now about the inventory is that adult and youth residents of the NWT who are eligible for noninsured health benefits as well as the people who are eligible for Metis health benefits have access to contraceptives at no cost. There may be other residents who receive employee benefits or other third party insurance who may also have access to no cost contraceptives. The Member may recall last fall that we because we were concerned about the proliferation of syphilis throughout the NWT, installed 200 free condom dispensers throughout the NWT. So those are also available to the public to meet their needs. Now, a person in a small community, a woman in a small community who wants an oral contraceptive could get that from the community health nurse as an interim measure until the doctor comes to visit. Thank you.
No further questions, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the housing Minister consider transferring ownership of all housing units in the Tlicho region and other regions as well that are owned by housing NWT to the longterm tenants? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for asking the question. This is an opportunity for our current tenants that are occupying our public housing units. We do have a homeownership program here in the Northwest Territories that recognizes our longterm tenants as well. And through that program, we have a three to five year forgivable loan program that we have established. To date, we had 40 interested applicants, and we've approved 20 of them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, many of these houses are old, like, they're from 60s, 70. I just want to ask the Minister what are they using to determine to sell to transfer those units. Is it assessed value, or fair market value. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the sale of these units, we do consider the age and condition of these units as well too. We do get into the communities and we complete housing assessment as well. Some of these units do require improvements, and we do provide that opportunity as well too the tenants that we would we would look at repairs and renovations prior to transfer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if housing NWT is afraid to let go of or sell any of its assets, such as its aging housing stock because the department is department is afraid to lose any operations and maintenance funding. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, this is not an issue within housing. This has not been brought up. We do have a hundred unit roll out that has that is now we see construction in the smaller communities right now. We have been working very strongly as well with the Indigenous governments throughout the Northwest Territories addressing the housing knees as well. My drive within the portfolio is to get rid of the communities that were built in the 1970s and look for clients that are able to maintain and operate their own units as well with whatever supports that we are able to provide. I welcome all those applications coming forward, and look forward to tenants that are wanting to have the units transferred and become homeowners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, there are a lot of housing from the 60s and 70s that are being that are being renovated at this time. Instead of doing that, what the Minister should be doing is focusing on building more houses. So with that, Mr. Speaker, it appears that housing NWT has some competing interest here. On the one hand, they claim they want to increase homeownership across the NWT, and they want to create partnership with Indigenous governments, but they are also afraid to receive a reduction in O and M funding and are therefore hesitant to sell, to sell off any of their existing aging housing stock. Can the Minister clarify what housing NWT priorities are. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing has been working very strongly with the Indigenous governments throughout the territory. We were able to acquire distinctionbased funding. We do have working tables with specific Indigenous groups and governments throughout the Northwest Territories that welcome us to be working with them handinhand. And also housing is not afraid of the declining CMHC funding is there. The opportunity oh out there for us to get new builds on the ground. We're looking for strategic new innovative ideas. We are working at the local housing authority level as well too with the smaller communities. And we do have strong representation at that level. We just finished our strategic renewal that invites all opinions, ideas that we have taken throughout the Northwest Territories to work more strongly with our tenant and is to work more strongly with our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Oh sorry, Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item four on the order paper, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item four. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we have a group of visitors from the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We have Vivian SilverioChua who is the president of the association; Denise Bowen, the executive director; Anna Tumchewics, who is one of my constituents and she's the lead on the Nursing Profession Act; and Jan Inman, director of professional conduct. Thank you for coming.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Cora Lenore who is a band member with Liidlii Kue in Fort Simpson. Thank you for being here.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Jan Inman and Denise Bowen. Both were my past nursing instructors, so they got to teach me all my good skills but now I'm fighting on this end. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions.
Colleagues, we will return after a short recess.
SHORT RECESS
