Madam Chair, right now, the project scope does not have an assisted living. It has contemplates the higher level of medical requirements that would be needed for individuals, so as well as other facilities, kitchen, laundry, and, you know, communication systems. Some of these are included right now in what is being scoped out. But as I said, at the present time it's being scoped for being an assisted living facility at a higher end need. So, you know, again, I would say the first step is to just get the site, do the technical evaluations and do this engagement. So to the extent that there does require something alternative, this would be an opportune time for the community to be involved and to discuss what the needs of the community, in fact, are. Thank you.
Thank you. Did you have any further questions?
(audio) because things change. People change. After the next election, things change. Thank you, Madam Chair. That's all I have, too
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Member for Nunakput.
So anyways, Madam Chair, in regards to the longterm care facility design that they have in Inuvik, again, like I brought up in this House numerous times about my elders in the communities of Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk having to be brought in from the communities when care is too hard to give for families. And, you know, they always say elders aging in place of their home community. I think that there's nothing in the books this go around in regards to a go forward for those two facilities. I mean, I went to the extent of my office, you know, getting designs and that built. But what I'm thinking is there any, like, potential, again, I mean, for the next Assembly or even us to put something in for longterm facilities in the communities for aging in place because the only time that people get to see their parents, their nanik and dadik, is when they come in for medical because of price of tickets are so high. You could go from Yellowknife to Disneyland and back for a oneway ticket from Inuvik to Ulukhaktok. So it's really to me, as an Inuvialuk, we take care of our elders and we don't want to send them out into a place where they're not we think they're not cared for but they give the best care that they can. They're not eating their native foods. They're not eating and they're not with family. And like I said before, it's harsh for me to say this but when the elders go out, they say they go out and they come back in a box. And that's really tough with the over the last 12 years, you know, being here, I seen a lot of it. And I hear the families, especially in Ulukhaktok and especially in Paulatuk, Tuk, we have a road, Sachs Harbour same thing. You know, they're caring for families that are they should be nursing like, should be cared for 24/7. They are cared for 24/7, but, you know, it's just the way they're they're not in a proper facility. It's hard for one person when they're usually it's one or two people. They got to wash them. They got to do everything for them. Feed them. And they they have no problem doing that. But when you send them out for respite care, if the people in the communities, they get tired, 90 percent of them will stay there because they don't want the the parent doesn't want to be a burden on the children no more. So it's give and take. But for myself, I think we're in a day and age where we should be able to like, I worked with Ministers in regards to looking and teaming up with the communities to get facilities in place but we never I never got it pushed over the goal line. But it's something that we should be looking at in the longterm instead of sending them to Inuvik. Because I see 20 beds going into Inuvik. I'm happy for Inuvik because there's a waiting list to get in there. But half that waiting list is people from my riding. We need to be able to have our elders age in place and give them the respect that they deserve. And I really I really think that there's it's a good news story in regards to it. I know and I think there's no way to add. But, you know, I'll support today in the budget today. I'm supporting it. But I want the Cabinet and the Members to know, the ones that come back, they should be it's so easy to have elders saying elders aging in place but they don't back it up. They have to back up our elders because they were the ones that made the path that we're on today. And I really think that we should be working with the community corporations and IRC to make this happen because we're more than capable of making it happen. It's just a matter of working together because I I have family, say, in Ulu. I have an uncle that has dementia. And my auntie and cousins, they watch them. And it's really tough for me when I hear that. And they say they're waiting for a bed in Inuvik. And it all kicks in, you know, for myself that what's going to happen. Proper care. They're gonna feed him, yeah. Proper care for him. But he should be able to do that in his home community of Ulu or in Paulatuk. So the elders that we have and the people that we represent, the people that put us here, the voters, the constituent, we should be looking out for their best interests. And the best interest is getting elders' facilities in the communities so we're able to care for ourself. So working with IRC and our government in the next go around, I think that should be a priority of looking right across the whole territory and seeing if flyin communities have able to do that and the community corporation, or however they have their business arm set up for the Aboriginal groups, they should be looking at that. I really think something like this would go a long way and have people more happy and happy in regards to when mom and dad are home or your grandparents, you're able to go visit them and you're not visiting them in Inuvik. Sorry, to put it like that. Visiting them in Inuvik in longterm care. And I thank longterm care in Inuvik. The staff, thank you so much for what they do because they do care, and they do the best job they could do with what they got. But like I said, this is so easy for longterm care facilities in the bigger communities, in the city here. They're doing an awesome job here in the city because they have funds and it's easier to access. Going into communities, it's, you know, triple the cost. We've seen that over and over. But I have no issue. And now, like I say, I'm supporting this 100 percent I'll support it today. But we need to start thinking outside the box in regards to how to get stretch our money and make it go longer, and that's partnering up with the Aboriginal groups across the territory if they want to go that way. And it's their choice. But having for myself, like I said, I've been here since 2007. I have 12 years here in this building. I've been trying to do this to a point where I went out and I sought private business. And now we're close but now it's the end of this Assembly. And now going forward, I have to start all over again. But Members here, I want them to hear it loud and clear. Elders should be should be able to age in place with dignity and not away from family and in the room and God forbid they're alone. And, you know, for the people that are going through this right now, my thoughts and prayers are with you. We're working as hard as we can to get it done. But I think that the Minister and the Members here that come back should put emphasis real a lot of emphasis in working with to make our money go further because we got now very little money going forward anyway. We're in a pretty tight situation for next go around. Going to be a lot of work. So thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. I didn't hear any questions but more of a statement and thank you for that. Are there any further questions or comments on the page 45, 46? Seeing none.
Department of Health and Social Services, health and social programs, infrastructure investments. 15 million sorry, this is Department of Health and Social Services, longterm care and continuing care services, infrastructure investments, $15,976,000.
Agreed.
Does committee agree? Thank you, Members. Please return now to the department summary found on page 39. Health and social services, 20242025 Capital estimates, $56,997,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services is now complete?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investments. Minister, would you like to switch your witnesses?
Yes, please, Madam Chair.
Sergeantatarms, please escort the witness from the Chamber.
Minister, would you please reintroduce your witness for the record.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's Kristal Melanson back again, the director of the Management Board Secretariat.
Welcome back. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, which begins on page 47. We will defer the departmental totals and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with page 48. Economic diversification and business support with information items on page 49. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I note that this money, the $750,000, is for the Robertson Drive dock rehab, which is in my riding. It's my understanding it is through the ICIP fund, which means at this point it's been 100 percent funded by the federal government, which I think is great. I do note, though, that it doesn't show up anywhere in the parks area. So my guessing, then, or my question for the Minister is the dock money or this money earmarked just to repair the dock that's there, or will this be an expansion to sort of the day use and other area around that? Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, Madam Chair, this isn't being turned into a territorial park. But there is a recognition that right now the dock that is there is quite unsafe, is being used, and so as a matter of a primarily a safety concern and safety issue, that's the thrust behind this. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Can the Minister tell me, then, is this a replacement of the existing dock that is there or just repairs to the dock that is there? And if it is a replacement, will the dock be larger than it is now? Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I actually don't have confirmation as to whether it will be a full replacement or not. I'm just trying to see if I can see the detail here. But I think at this point, there was an assessment done so I just don't have the details of the project here. I'm not sure if Members of the Department of Finance have it. I'm not sure that we do, Madam Chair, sorry about that.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you. I'm willing to take that at a later date if the Minister could provide me with a bit of the details around the planned work. I would assume that some of that is still being figured out, but as much as I could get ahead of time, that would be great. I definitely know this will be a concern to people in the upcoming election, and they are going to want to know what use is. And I guess I just want to take the time to make a plug on behalf of my constituents and advocate for the whatever happens there, replacement or repair, that there is a portion of the dock that remains accessible to the public for fishing by the shore. I don't know if that has a specific name, but casting from the dock itself. I know that a lot of my constituents walk there with their children. They'll catch dinner for themselves off the dock and currently with the houseboat, or whatever it is that has been taking up half the dock for the last I don't know however many years, it has become harder and harder for people to use the area that live there. So I don't really have a question in that but just want the Minister to hear that and ensure that it's still be able to be used by residents and not just the fishers. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance, did you want to comment?
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it is just to be able to confirm that at this point it's really a repair project, and it's done it is in following to the recommendations that were received as part of the larger environmental not larger, but the environmental assessment that was done. So we've taken those recommendations and that is what we are planning to act upon, and the first round of funding is to do the planning to undertake that and just to get that going. There's still other work happening at the dock with DFO. That is DFO's that they are working on as to whether or not this could be a site for a small craft harbour but that again, that responsibility lies with DFO. For now, recognizing the use as already described, it is quite clear that this is unsafe, and so those repairs do need to get done. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you for that. And I do appreciate that it's a weird one with the double jurisdictions and such, but it would be a great area, I'll put the plug in again, for some sort of recreational use.
Can the Minister at least confirm that the houseboat will be removed and that it will no longer be allowed to be anchored at the dock, which really is inhibiting industry and recreational use. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Not strictly in my capital books but I can say that my understanding last I heard was that the boat in question, or whatever it is in question, had, in fact, been ticketed and that, you know, obviously, enforcement measures do need to then be taken and those enforcement measures can be, I believe, up to and including removing forcibly. That is some crossjurisdictional but I can follow up again with the Member directly. That certainly is not lost on me the challenges that vessel was creating. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you. The Minister has my empathy with that as I worked at Giant Mine and dealt with the houseboat that was sitting in the mouth of Baker Creek for over a decade as well as we are all aware of the ones that were off of the point there at Rotary Park. So I'm hoping the city's going to get that harbour plan going that's been talked about for the last decade but that's not this Minister's problem. So thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. You don't have any further questions? Okay. Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. The Robertson Drive dock, I'd like to know whether that's within the surface lease area that Miramar Con has. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't believe it is, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Yeah, I guess belief is one thing, but I guess I'd want a definitive answer. My concern is that the property is still under active remediation as far as I understand. And I'm just wondering what responsibility, if any, does Miramar Con have for remediation of the dock. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Madam Chair, I have confirmed this is GNWT land, not it's not something belonging to another entity. So the Department of Lands at one time transferred this to ITI. It is, one way or the other, GNWT owned and not therefore, this dock would then be our responsibility which is why it's coming through this process. Thank you.
Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks. So did that transfer happen within the last five or ten years, or do we know? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I mean, there's transfer from lands to ITI I can say, I believe, was within the last five years. Where and when it became a GNWT asset before that point, I don't know.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks. I guess I'm just a bit concerned that there might be potential contamination in the fill that was used for the dock, around the dock, and that we may have incurred some liability in accepting that property, which wouldn't be the first time, or at least the property back from the mining company. And I don't know, is there what, if any, responsibility does Miramar Con residual responsibility does it have with regard to remediation the dock if there's contamination there and so on. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So Madam Chair, point of clarity, Miramar does have its own dock so the two aren't to be confused, that there are different facilities in that area. This particular dock, when the Stantec Engineering assessment was done in 2022, they did take into account what remediation may be required, and so as I say, the amount that's being proposed here is taking into account what remediation work was recommended by the engineers in that assessment. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
