Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the opportunity to ask a second set of questions, colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs looks a little bored today, so I thought I'd so I thought I'd ask him a question that springs out of the fantastic opportunity that we're celebrating here tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, the outstanding volunteer awards.
Does the Minister have any inklings or desire to create more opportunities to support our wonderful volunteers in this territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm always in support of volunteerism in the Northwest Territories. Having been a volunteer for 30 years on the fire department, I'm always committed to doing more for our volunteers within the communities. And I think one of them that I'm trying to fire back up for an example is our recognition for the firefighter program. It's been a little bit of a stalemate for a little bit but hopefully we'll get that thing going again, but so, yes, I'm always looking for something to do to recognize our volunteers in the territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have been a volunteer for many years before stepping into this House, and I'm sure the Minister knows as well, burnout is really real in our territory when it comes to volunteers. If you want to you want to get something done, you ask someone who's doing eight other things, Mr. Speaker. So I'm wondering is there anything we can do for the wider volunteer just pool of folks who are out there and interested in things to support them, to get training perhaps on how to be on a board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do believe that the school of community governments does have some programs for that. However, it's something that we can look into. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Member for Great Slave.
Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the amazing opportunity to ask another question to the government.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to return to the waitlist to the Minister of Health and Social Services. And as we all know that through information given that there's about 2,000 people on the waitlist, and I'm trying to figure out how people sorry, how the department deals with people knowing whether they're chronic and urgent people who need doctors or not. So in other words, how do they manage the list and try to make sure that people move forward on the list who are of urgent need? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Member, for the question. And after our back and forth on this question the last time, I did try to get more and more of the information that I would be able to provide to the Member. And so the list this list has been in place it sits within the like, the it's an electronic list. So people and it's monitored regularly. And the information that I can provide is that there if there's a need for a patient that, you know, has chronic illness and things like that, then they, you know, they may, you know, be able to be assigned a doctor sooner. As for how long people have been on this list, you know, those are details that I don't have and I you know, within the department, I think that'll take some time to be able to compile information like that. So that's what I have. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't expect the waitlist to be like the DMV where you go pull a little tag and you wait until they ring your number or whatever on the overhead board that says now serving A52, you know, Mr. Speaker. But that said, what type of communication is given to people who have, for example, chronic conditions who are sitting there waiting for that important relationship to build in order to buttress their health care journey? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, you know, I know that the like I mentioned in the House, like I mentioned to the Member, mentioned to you, Mr. Speaker, is that the list is monitored. The questions that I have asked have come from questions that the Member has raised. You know, if there's more detailed information that the Member would like, you know, I would like to I would work with the Member to get that information and be able to provide the accurate information and the clear direction on how we communicate that to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I've kind of given it now, have I not, if you think about it. Mr. Speaker, the Minister says the information sorry, the names or the list is being monitored, Mr. Speaker. And we all know that the waiting list could be between four and six years. Ironically, that's how long it takes to become a doctor so maybe some of these people could, you know, serve their needs.
Mr. Speaker, is the Minister willing to find a way to make this list transparent so people know where they're sitting and waiting on this list because it seems like one of those endless, bottomless pits of questions, which is you send get on the list and you never hear back. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, I will commit to doing that and making sure that there is some kind of information that can go out to Members and to a communique on how this list is monitored. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Members, our time is up with oral questions.
Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 9, 2024 regarding carbon tax revenues and rebates.
Net carbon tax revenues from the September 1, 2019 start to the end of the 20222023 fiscal. Year are $12,686,000 after the nonlarge emitter carbon tax rebate for heating fuel, large emitter rebate, the carbon tax rebate for fuel used in electrical generation for community distribution, the Cost of Living Offset and administration costs are deducted from gross carbon tax revenue.
Total carbon tax rebates paid to resource sector large emitters are $45,409,000 for the same period.
Total cost of living offset payments to Northwest Territories residents from 2019 to March 2023 are $30,184,000.
At this time no carbon tax revenue has been shared with community governments through grants. The first community government carbon tax revenue sharing grant disbursements will happen in June 2024 for the 20232024 fiscal year and projected to total $1.5 million. This amount will be dispersed to each community government consisting of a base amount equal 0.5 percent of the total plus an additional amount based on the community population.
After the carbon tax rebate for diesel heating fuel is implemented, the average Zone A household using diesel will save about $308 annually in carbon tax. All households receive the same Cost of Living Offset, or COLO, amount regardless of heating fuel type. Taking into account the COLO and the fact that diesel is taxed at a higher rate than propane, the net carbon tax paid by the average Zone A household using diesel is about $178 less than a similar household using propane.
The average Zone B households using diesel will save about $604 annually in carbon tax. After considering COLO, the net carbon tax paid by the average Zone B household using diesel is $350 less than a similar household using propane and $431 less than a household using natural gas.
Zone C households use diesel for heating exclusively.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker; you are efficient as ever.
Mr. Speaker, an estimated 2,200 Northwest Territories residents do not have access to any health benefits, do not have access to any benefits like those through employee or thirdparty insurance plans. The Minister of Health and Social Services has implemented changes to the Extended Health Benefits Policy that will impose a lowincome threshold on eligible benefits.
My questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services:
Can the Minister explain the income assessment process to determine eligibility for all benefits, including exact income amounts in dollar values;.
Can the Minister explain the costsharing model for residents above the lowincome threshold, including defined reasonable family maximums and a list of all eligible benefits;.
Can the Minister indicate how many Northwest Territories residents will no longer receive extended health benefits after September 1, 2024;
Can the Minister provide a regional breakdown of how many Northwest Territories residents will no longer receive extended health benefits after April 1, 2024; and,
Can the Minister provide the total reduction in expenditures anticipated from the changes to Extended Health Benefits after September 1, 2024?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member from Range Lake. Written questions. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories health care system has seen a dramatic increase in the use of private agency nurses since the COVID119 pandemic. Many Northerners are concerned about the costs of agency nurses and their impact on health care staff recruitment and retention.
I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services:
Can the Minister provide a breakdown of the total costs for public agency nurses by fiscal year since 20192020;.
Can the Minister provide a breakdown of the total costs for private? Agency nurses based on expenditure categories, those being salaries, overtime, per diems, travel, accommodations, performance bonuses, and any other form of remuneration;.
Can the Minister provide the total number of nursing staff positions in the public service that could be funded from an equivalent expenditure as on agency nurses;.
Can the Minister provide the total number of registered nurses recruited to the public service since 20192020; and,
Can the Minister provide the total number of registered nurses who have been terminated, retired, or otherwise left their employment since 20192020?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Written questions. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 19th Assembly the Government of the Northwest Territories increased supports to communities and municipalities to reduce the municipal funding gap by $5 million; however, the government has not made the analysis of the municipal funding gap publicly available. With the rates of inflation and rising costs of goods and services, how do we know that $5 million has addressed the funding deficit?
My questions are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs:
Can the Minister provide the current value of the overall municipal funding gap for the Northwest Territories;
Can the Minister indicate the portion of the total funding gap caused by inflation;
Can the Minister breakdown the total value of the municipal funding gap by community;
Can the Minister provide a further breakdown by community of the funding provided under all three Municipal and Community Affairs funding streams, community public infrastructure, water and sewer, and operations and maintenance, compared to the analysis on community need; and,
Can the Minister provide an analysis on the updated community funding policies and how that will address the funding gaps identified government?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents: InterActivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 from April 1st to September 30th, 2023; 20222023 Northwest Territories Power Corporation Amended Capital Budget; and, Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act 2023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister responsible for Power Corp, and Finance. Tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: A Package of Information regarding Policies on 2SLGBTQIPA+ Youth in the Northwest Territories, including a letter to the Northern Mosaic Network and a response to the Northern Mosaic Network. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Tabling of documents. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a letter from the Tlicho government to Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley on Waters Regulations Interpretation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the Statement of Consistency for Bill 3: Carbon Tax Repeal Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion.
Colleagues, we will take a brief break, and then we will move on to the rest of the agenda. Thank you.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS access to safe and adequate housing is a fundamental human right essential for the overall wellbeing and dignity of individuals;
AND WHEREAS recognizing housing as a human right is consistent with international human rights principles and obligations, including those outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has recognized the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right as affirmed in international law;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, second by the Member for Range Lake, that the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly acknowledge and affirm housing as a fundamental human right;
AND FURTHER, that the implementation of housing as a fundamental human right within the laws of the Northwest Territories and policies of the Government of the Northwest Territories be referred to Standing Committee on Social Development for further study.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member from the Deh Cho.
Mr. Speaker, I move this motion because the Government of the Northwest Territories I want the Government of the Northwest Territories to acknowledge that housing is a fundamental human right for residents of the Northwest Territories. This has been recognized by the United Nations, by several countries including Canada.
The Government of Canada amended the National Housing Strategy Act to recognize housing as a human right. In the preamble of the National Housing Strategy Act, it reads: Housing is essential to the inherent dignity and wellbeing of a person. A national housing strategy would support the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing.
Mr. Speaker, by acknowledging housing as a human right, it means that the GNWT acknowledges that housing is inherent to a person's dignity and wellbeing. According to the United Nations, acknowledging housing as a human right affirms that the government's housing policies recognizing that all people have the right to live somewhere in security, peace, and dignity.
Recognizing housing as a human right means that the GNWT must evaluate the housing programs and policies to ensure that they are achieving what they are intended to do which is serve those most in need, reduce homelessness, and increasing housing affordability, accessibility, and suitability.
Recognizing housing as a human right aligns ourself with international and national law which may open opportunities for collaboration.
It has been said in this House many times the NWT is in a housing crisis. Mr. Speaker, this Assembly knows there is a lack of housing options. Homes are in need of repair. They are unaffordable. They are inadequately maintained or unsuitable for the family size. Many homes are overcrowded. Many people in small communities couch surf.
Homelessness is a real problem, Mr. Speaker, and we need to do better. We need to recognize that housing is essential to a person's dignity, affirming housing as a human right affirming housing as a human right and work towards this realization. Mahsi.
From the Deh Cho. To the motion. Member from Range Lake.
