Thank you, Madam Premier. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, unfortunately, this is an area where, you know, doing a lot doesn't really count until it's signed and the ink is dry. It's unfortunate. We've been doing a lot for 20 years. I know many negotiators who have poured their entire careers into this, and I'm not you know, I don't want to take away from their work. But it's tough work. I guess, you know, if this is the path we're on where we have three draft agreements, maybe one in the life of this Assembly. I'm wondering if the Premier has any kind of direction on how we can speed this up, or is it just the reality that we're every Assembly will maybe get one, and that's the pace we're on, in which case I think we have got another hundred years before we're done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As stated, right now all those agreements are in the final stage of them; they are in the consultation phase. I have sent letters to the Indigenous governments applicable saying here's the agreements. They are in confidence, let me know if you have concerns. I can't speed up I'm not willing to push them on that. But if the Member thinks that he should that we should, then I would invite the Member. I'll give the list of the Indigenous governments. He's more than willing to write a letter to them and say he wants it done by this Assembly. But, Mr. Speaker, I've been firm all through this Assembly, and I've stated that with the United Nations Declaration, if we respect Indigenous governments, then it cannot be on the timeline of this Assembly so that Members here can take glory. It has to be done right. And that means that the Indigenous governments have to be ready to sign on. I'm ready to sign today. But I respect them, and I will wait until they have done their process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up from my Member's statement, it appears that the Dehk'e Bridge is not a priority of this government. Will the Minister of Infrastructure commit to being firm and not accepting any further delays on the Dehk'e Bridge? It is it my hope to see it constructed within not the lifetime of this government but, you know, like any time soon. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Dehk'e Frank Channel Bridge is a priority of this government. It's a priority because I went to Ottawa asking for more money to get this bridge completed. So, I mean, if that doesn't show priority, I don't know what does.
Mr. Speaker, we are working with the Tlicho partnership to be able to look you know, I just want to say it takes about three years, Mr. Speaker, from award of the designbuild contract to obtaining permits, to carrying out some of the design work, complete the construction. Then that bridge will be ready for traffic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to giving an update every three months with specific details of action, sequencing, and project timelines so that we know the department is being diligent and that progress is being made.
Mr. Speaker, the inability to meet past projection makes the current projection suspect. It lacks credibility. Again, I ask that the Department of Infrastructure does all that it can to advance the critical infrastructure project. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can absolutely work with the Tlicho government and the Member to be able to give updates, you know, when there are updates available. I just want to note that, you know, we are expecting a proposal from the TlichoKiewit partnership by the end of June to be able to look at the design, and then we can start the aggregate production. So, I mean, that's where we're at right now, Mr. Speaker. And I'd be willing at any time there are updates to be able to share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I also asked the Department of Infrastructure ensure the safety of the current bridge seeing that a replacement is not around the corner. Can the Minister commit to reviewing inspection reports and updating the inspection frequency by bridge experts should the situation require it? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last Assembly, the or in the last sitting, the Member had asked to be a part of the bridge inspection. I'm now in the process of finalizing a letter that will go out to the leadership as well as the Member for Monfwi to be able to invite the membership the Member and the leadership to come to one of our bridge inspections. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure has claimed that the new bridge will be wider and higher than the current bridge that was built in 1960. Could the Minister tell this Assembly details of the new design? Will there be walkways, a viewing platform; how is traditional knowledge and signs being incorporated? Let us see the design. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I just mentioned, you know, it's going to take three years to award this contract and some of the things that we're still working on now is getting our permits, carrying out the design, so we're not there yet, Mr. Speaker, to be able to complete construction. So I mean, there is no design as of yet but, you know, our department would be willing to have a look at look at some of our work going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I referenced a news article which found that 71 percent of athletes were from Yellowknife alone. Does the Minister find that statistic concerning given that the NWT is home to 33 communities in total? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for MACA.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Canada Games are a unique multisport competition that brings together the very talented athletes in the country, and many of which go on to represent Canada at the national and international level. There is more to be developed where athletes and coaches in all 33 communities, and I agree with the Member on that. But this is more than just funding; it's also about developing coaches, officials, and organization, and it's about communities and schools keeping facilities open so that our athletes have a place to train and develop. With Canada Games, it is one opportunity for northern athletes.
I can confirm that Team NWT is attending the North American Indigenous Games this summer, and I can also confirm that 100 percent of these athletes from the NWT attending this event are Indigenous. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the Minister for that. In my statement, I also referenced another article. The executive director of Sport North was interviewed and stated that they didn't track the athletes' ethnicities so therefore, they did not know the number of Indigenous athletes. Does the Minister find that concerning given that the NWT is home to about 50 percent of Indigenous peoples? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year MACA undertook engagement with many stakeholders on a renewed sport and recreation and physical activity framework. Engagement included sessions with many partners, such as sport and recreation organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, diverse and inclusive organizations, community representatives including coaches and athletes in territorial sport organizations. But also we worked with the Aboriginal Sports Circle as part of their work with the national framework that they're working on. As part of this engagement, we also work on the development of an evaluation framework which may include both performance indicators, monitoring as well as potential for evaluation of different programs and services. MACA is interested in tracking different performance measures such as gender equity, community participation and Indigenous participation, and we will be tracking this data in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. That's twice now that the Minister had made reference that Indigenous athletes, you know, aren't very welcomed into the Canada games fold since he's deferred them over to NAG and the Aboriginal Sports Circle.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what the GNWT is doing to increase both the Indigenous participation in small community athlete participation when it comes to major sporting events, such as the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to correct the Member. I did not say our Indigenous athletes cannot go to the Canada games, Arctic Winter Games. I'm just telling you this is where our athletes go or where they're able to go. So I respectfully disagree with the Member.
In regards to his question, in the NWT we continue to see that smaller communities continue to face challenges and barriers with capacity building at the community level to have more sports development locally and the number of volunteers and sports leaders in every community needs to increase to young athletes to develop.
Municipal and Community Affairs is providing funding to the Sport North Federation to sport coaching development and to the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT for leadership development. All community governments are funded to support recreation programs and the sport and recreation infrastructure development. Municipal and Community Affairs and the sport rec partners continue to invest in training and development of local recreation leaders. Combine all of these investments support athletes and support development in the Northwest Territories, and government must continue to work with stakeholders so that we are using this investment as strategically as possible to support athletes in all our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that answer. Numerous times I've asked the department to send their expertise, their staff into the communities and, you know, to get out of Yellowknife, not just sitting on their thrones here. And you know, they really need to get out there because we get changeover in rec directors in our small communities and they've got limited training and everything. So they really need that extra assistance.
Mr. Speaker, the Yukon seems to host large events such as the Canada Winter Games, the world men's fastball and world junior men's fastball tournaments. Of course, they may have engaged many major sponsors, including the Yukon government. I understand it takes a lot of effort to host a major event, gather and organize the volunteer base. Hay River and Fort Smith cohosted in 2018 so it can be done by putting on the thinking caps.
Mr. Speaker, I understand Yellowknife turned down the offer to host the next Arctic Winter Games. Can the Minister provide some details as to why and what could the department have done to entice the offer? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, the 2026 Arctic Winter Games, because of the situation in Ukraine, Yamale wasn't going to be hosting the games. So the international committee came to the Northwest Territories to see if we could move up our request. We're supposed to be doing the 2028 games.
So, Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct that the NWT has considered hosting these games in Yellowknife, and I can confirm that the GNWT has communicated to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee that it's not proceeding with hosting the Arctic Winter Games in 2026. We're not moving up in the schedule. MACA has provided information to the city about the benefits of hosting, including the budget from previous host societies and economic and social benefit studies that the Arctic Winter Games International Committee has commissioned over the years. Ultimately, the decision was the City of Yellowknife's to make, and I respect their decision. While this is a difficult decision, no successful Arctic Winter Games has ever happened without enthusiastic and committed community governments. While we were not successful with the 2026 Arctic Winter Games, I remain supportive of these games, and I know that the Arctic Winter Games International Committee has continued to clarify the future hosting rotation of the Arctic Winter Games, including when the NWT next to be considered.
Again, Mr. Speaker, we're working together on it. They asked us to move it up. We worked with the City of Yellowknife to see if we can host it. They came back and said they couldn't with the parameters that we were asking for. So 2028 Arctic Winter Games is supposed to be scheduled for the Northwest Territories, and that's what we're looking forward to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure about her recent trip to the US Embassy. Can the Minister tell us the purpose of this meeting and who else was there? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, on May the 4th, I attended a meeting hosted by the US Commercial Service of the Embassy of the United States of America. I was joined by two officials from the Department of Infrastructure and one official from the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, who was already in Ottawa. The purpose of the meeting was a briefing by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association on the development of a road and a port in western Nunavut. While I don't recall seeing the final attendee list, in attendance there were representatives from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the government of Nunavut including the Premier, the Deputy Premier, and the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, MP Lori Idlout from Nunavut was also there, Senator Dennis Patterson from Nunavut, along with officials from a variety of Government of Canada departments, as well as the representatives from the US Embassy, US Coast Guard, as well as Price Waterhouse Coopers Limited Canada, Jacobs Engineering limited. Mr. Speaker, these are the list of attendees that I recall being at the meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Wow, that sounds like quite the meeting. These large boondoggle infrastructure projects with dubious northern benefits come and go but take away from what should be serious efforts to diversify our economy. So can the Minister tell us what the interest of the United States is in hosting such a meeting and was there any discussion of alternatives to large infrastructure development? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, this meeting was a briefing by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association specific to the development of a road and port in western Nunavut. The concept of a deep water port and allseason road project in western Nunavut, it's not new, has potential to help transform the economy from the North as well as connect to the national transportation system through Yellowknife, also help bridge the current infrastructure gap here in the Arctic. Such infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, would help advance interests of both Canada and the US, including the domestic supply of critical metals, Arctic sovereignty, Arctic security. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Of course, these projects also have the potential to destroy the Bathurst caribou herd. So I'm well on record as opposing any large infrastructure that will have irreversible effects on the Bathurst caribou herd, especially at a time when the numbers are critically low and without a balanced management response, and that's precisely where we are, Mr. Speaker, because there's been no efforts towards permanent protection of key habitat.
So can the Minister tell us whether there was any discussion of the impacts to caribou or other environmental matters during this recent meeting? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the presentations that was put on by KIA and the Nunavut representatives was more of a high overview of some of the local, regional, national, international, benefits of such a project like this. While there's no clear recognition on the importance of caribou in the environment and doing things right I'm sorry, there was a clear and let me just take that back, Mr. Speaker.
There was very clear recognition on the importance of caribou and the environment and doing things right. But this meeting didn't go into any of the level of detail regarding more of the impacts on caribou. It was more of the specific engineering and environmental considerations. 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, people on our side tend to be more concerned with caribou because where the people on this side of the boundary are the ones that actually tend to use them more often. But I mentioned in my statement that I love Cabin Radio because it so often scoops any effort by our Cabinet to communicate with the public and Regular MLAs, and this meeting at the US Embassy is just one more example. So can the Minister explain why there was no communication with Regular MLAs about this event before or after this meeting? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I note that my attendance at this meeting was through the publicly by the press secretary through our weekly ministerial activities notice. That's where I provided notice, Mr. Speaker, that I will be attending this meeting. The government has established the advancement of the Slave Geological Province Corridor project as one of our three major strategic initiatives in our mandate, as there are potential linkages to these Slave Geological Province Corridor Project, and any potential for an allseason road and a deep water port in the western Nunavut. So attendance at the meeting at a political level in this regard is nothing out of the ordinary, Mr. Speaker, within the scope of my mandate as the Minister of Infrastructure. That said, I hear a distinct interest from the Member on this meeting in particular. Mr. Speaker, I'd be happy to share a copy of the presentation, any of the materials that we have, to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider using the Trailcross building as a territorial aftercare and detox centre for the people of the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Trailcross home for teenagers closed in October of last year because there was a very low attendance rate, and it was no longer worth having an entire building. So the youth were accommodated in therapeutic foster homes and the building since has been evaluated as suitable for use. The system that the Department of Health and Social Services uses is that they go over their programming and decide whether there's programming for the building, and if there is no programming that fits within the building then they will surplus it to infrastructure.
So the next thing that's going to happen in that building is it will be part of a pilot landbased treatment program, which is happening in three communities, one of them is Fort Smith, and there's a need for the kind of infrastructure that the old Trailcross centre has. And so this pilot project will be the next thing that happens in there.
In the meantime, I have continued to talk to the NWT Council of Leaders about addictions treatment and aftercare and to understand from them what their priorities are for establishing those services and what kind of infrastructure they would need to support them. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This facility can easily be converted into a facility used by all genders for an aftercare and detox facility. Does the Minister agree with that idea? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the question. We, as you know, have been working to strengthen both addictions aftercare and detox as to weak links in our continuum of care for people with addictions, and we are less focused at this point on where that's going to take place than what it is we're going to offer. And I think I may have mentioned in the House before that I don't think a single centre will serve the needs of the entire NWT. So Trailcross may end up being part of the solution but I don't think it'll be the whole solution. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the location of the Trailcross building is ideal for detox and aftercare because of the location. It's away from the larger city. It's in pristine surroundings. There are no buildings surrounding it and near a park. Does the Minister agree that a location that would be ideal for this is an ideal location for aftercare and detox facility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Without knowing what the programming looks like, it's hard for me to comment on what an ideal location would be. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister consider a territorial aftercare facility in the old Trailcross building because of the drastic needs that are required in addressing the state of mental health and wellness in the NWT right now because the building is sitting empty right now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
