Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister. I am aware of the agreement. Can the Minister provide programs that these elders are eligible for and provide those directly to the homeowners by mail? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a number of programs with Housing NWT to encourage elders to age in place, including our preventative maintenance program, our repairs program, our mobility program, our seniors’ program specific to seniors, and we also have an emergency repairs program. We can provide this information to the MLA and all the MLAs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ITI. Dene Fur Clouds is a successful example of a locally owned and operated business. How is this department working with Prosper NWT to expand subsidiaries into other communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Minister for ITI.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would definitely like the opportunity to see a lot more entrepreneurship across the territory, especially ensuring that we're supporting the development of entrepreneurship in our small communities.
With the subsidiaries that currently fall under Prosper NWT, they employ roughly eight full-time positions annually, and they cost Prosper NWT about $1.3 million a year. And so one of the goals that I have throughout the term of this Assembly is to work with the very skilled board members of Prosper NWT, who bring a lot of entrepreneurial experience with them, in order to ensure that we're making or creating an opportunity for these subsidiaries to become as independent and sustainable as possible. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. What tourism development or economic development initiatives have taken place in my region, the Deh Cho region? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the Deh Cho region, ITI spends about $1.3 million, and that's divided up between community futures to the tune of about just over $200,000, through the community transfer initiative to the tune of about $150,000, SEED contributions at roughly $734,000, economic diversification using the northern food development program at almost $57,000, the Canadian agriculture program as well as other various contributions account for almost $165,000 as well. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for that response. How does the department work with successful artists and entrepreneurs to encourage more of the development of more entrepreneurs?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ITI works closely with entrepreneurs and has roughly $1.4 million that it can feed right into entrepreneurial investments through its SEED program. In addition to that, I'd also like to mention that roughly the same amount is invested in the arts over at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
But in addition to investing in entrepreneurs through programs like that, specific to artists the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment also has some very unique programs to try to help grow artists across the territory and also expand their reach beyond their community and beyond the borders of the Northwest Territories. So, for example, Take the Artist to Market is a program where artists are actually going as far as down to Santa Fe later this year in order to be able to sell product. And also Prosper NWT has grants of up to $15,000 in order to create a digital presence for artists of the Northwest Territories. In addition to that, we're also bringing arts together under one roof within ITI to make sure that we are supporting artists with a one-stop shop. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member from Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the department track the number of business startups? Can the Minister commit to providing a list of businesses in the Deh Cho riding and the number of businesses that have started in the last three years? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some businesses start up and quietly happen from people's living rooms. And so I would love to know exactly who wants to become an entrepreneur and ensure that they have the support that they need. But I can certainly commit to providing the Member with any information we have, especially when they relate to BIP'd companies and entrepreneurs. But any information that I am able to provide the Member from both ITI and Prosper NWT, I will certainly be happy to do so. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 19th Assembly I brought forward a concern that was brought to my attention about the burial sites located in the Taltson River area and where the hydro dam is, and the elders have told me that the burial sites in that location are buried almost 60 feet underwater. And so, Mr. Speaker, I brought this issue up to the 19th Assembly Minister of Infrastructure Diane Archie, the Minister of the day, and I just wanted to find out if the Minister of Infrastructure here today could give me an update on this. Thank you.
Minister for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have some good news to report in a broad sense. The project for the Taltson watershed area and the potential expansion of the Taltson is proceeding under an MOU. And it's an MOU that involves the Akaitcho First Nations as well as Metis governments of the region and of the Taltson watershed. And we've had more than one steering committee already in the time of this government. One, in fact, in person, where the group travelled to see what underwater tables would look like along with members of the steering committee as well as members of their council. I say all of that because I want to emphasize the fact that this is not a GNWT project. It's not GNWT led. We really are one party at that table. And under that MOU, there is funding for Indigenous governments to conduct their own investigations to understand the traditional knowledge of the region, both from a permitting perspective but also to understand the legacy. I've said very clearly to our partners, and I'll say it again, this project will not advance if legacy issues are not resolved.
So as far as the specifics of what individual groups might be doing, I believe there's -- and I know that there has been work conducted by individual members of the steering committee, individual First Nations and Indigenous governments of the region. I can't speak, as I say, to what their work is. I know there's contribution funding, and I know they're working on it. So I'll certainly commit to the Member to try and get that information put together so that both of us have an up-to-date list of what's happening. Thank you.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Minister for her response. I am happy that this government is working through the MOU with the Indigenous governments on this issue. And it's a very important issue that I keep hearing from my constituents, and this issue need to be addressed. So I think in terms of funding, from what I could understand, there was a funding commitment by the previous Minister of about $1.8 million, additional $1.2 million annually. I just want to know if this commitment is still part of that MOU? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have the existing or the specific amounts under the MOU in front of me. I'll have to just double check. There's been no reductions to the Taltson work, and there is federal funding involved. And, as I understand it, the federal funding that we have does take us forward to a point that is satisfactory to get this work done. So I've not been under any impression of any cuts or funding drawbacks. I expect that if there was an understanding from the federal government -- or from the Indigenous governments, then it should indeed be there and be satisfactory. It's not been raised from the members to me that it's unsatisfactory. So a long way of saying I think the money is still there. Thank you.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And she answered my third and fourth question. But, no, I am happy that there's a commitment here to continue to look at this project and -- because the burial sites in this area, you know, we need to come up with a plan as to how we're going to get it out of the water and move it to locations. So Mr. Speaker, I'm just happy that the Minister responded, and I don't have any further questions because she already answered my questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question, following up on my Member's statement, is directed to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
The Sahtu businesses have not only incurred additional expenses, extra transportation costs, loss of revenues, now let's explore the designing of a relief program.
My first question, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister initiate business funding grants that support Sahtu businesses to withstand all of these business pressures and disruptions for 2024-2025 fiscal year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of ITI.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to start off by acknowledging the difficult, difficult time that the low water levels are causing for many, many residents and businesses across the territory.
Mr. Speaker, we know that government supports won't replace work across the territory and in our communities, work that is vitally, vitally important. And we also know that these supports won't be all things to absolutely everyone in communities, but I want to assure the Member that we are heeding the urgency of this. I appreciate the Member making a Member's statement today on this, and that we are working on an all-of-government approach to respond to this situation. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that response. I'm glad to hear an all-of-government approach. We would need all hands-on deck here for this situation.
Can the Minister provide interest free loans to the Sahtu businesses to support cash flow to cover inventory and operating expenses for the Sahtu region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to interest free loans through Prosper NWT, they do not have currently the authority to offer these to businesses. However, this is definitely something that, through this all-of-government approach to looking how we can respond to this situation, we are considering all tools that are available to us in our toolbox. Thank you.
Mahsi cho to the reply of that. It's very encouraging to see that we are here to support our business community.
Mr. Speaker, my third question to the Minister, can the Minister immediately freeze loan payments owed to Prosper NWT from businesses in the Sahtu region without penalty for a period of time to weather this financial storm? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Prosper NWT, I can confirm for the Member, is currently working with ITI and reaching out to affected clients to discuss immediate needs, such as interest only payments or other accommodations to help clients as necessary. I can also confirm for the Member that Prosper NWT has already approved interest only payments for a client in the Sahtu with multiple loans resulting in significant monthly cash flow savings. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member from Sahtu.
Final two, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister work with the Education, Culture and Employment department to provide supports to Sahtu businesses to maintain their employees during this challenging time? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that I have reached out to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and although departments don't currently have a specific program like this at this time, ITI is working with ECE along with other departments to determine what supports are available, how they can use the tools in their toolbox to ensure that we are responding to the needs of businesses in the Sahtu region. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know of someone in our communities who was in the child welfare system. Some parents and grandparents passed on without seeing the children. This is sad as many families long to see the children, maybe just to say I love you, hug them, or ask for forgiveness.
With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister in reference to my Member's statement, can the Premier explain in as much detail as possible why the NWT was excluded from the final settlement agreement related to the compensation for those harmed by discriminatory underfunding of First Nation Child and Family Services? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Mr. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this settlement stemmed from a complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal by the Assembly of First Nations and an additional society, I can't recall the name right now. This process, that was in 2007, and it was finally in 2023 that the agreement was settled after the human rights tribunal ordered Canada to pay a certain amount, which they appealed. It was then confirmed.
From my understanding, because we are not a party to this lawsuit, it wasn't our -- we had no option to opt into this. But the program, the First Nations Child and Family Services Program, applied in all provinces and the Yukon except Ontario. In Ontario, there was a cost sharing agreement with the province for the provision of child and family services on First Nations reserves, and there was also a federal agreement with Alberta and BC to provide child and family services to certain First Nation reserves. And a similar agreement was in place in the Yukon as well. And so for whatever reason, it's those provinces and territories who fit that criteria that the claim was made on behalf of.
So I've dealt with this as a constituent issue myself because the thought that this is not fair to people in the Northwest Territories who have been through the system is one that is shared by many in the territory. And I think I agree with the Member that we should have been involved in this. We should have been part of this, as Nunavut as well. But the fact is that the tribunal -- the complaint to the tribunal did not include us. So it was a decision of those making the complaint to not include the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Yes, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for the answer. And it will be nice to know who was the Premier in 2007, and maybe Mr. Hawkins was part of -- was a Regular MLA as well. So somebody didn't do their job here.
So, Mr. Speaker, can the Premier explain whether there is anything within his powers as Premier that may be available to him to intervene in this final settlement agreement to include affected NWT residents within the recipients of the case? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated, this was a decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, which I have no influence over. It ended up with an agreement, agreed to by the Government of Canada, and so I have no ability to open up that agreement, which was the result of, you know, 16 years essentially of litigation. So, no, unfortunately the answer is no, as far as I know. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, if there's a will, there's a way, okay. So I know that they could do it. And Nunavut has a good president too, Nathan Denette -- sorry, I forgot his name but, you know, they can do it.
So, Mr. Speaker, will the Premier acknowledge that there were individuals within the NWT child welfare system between 1991 and 2022 who endured the pain, trauma, and hardship from the GNWT's child welfare system similar to what people endured under the federal system pertaining to this case.
So that's just more of a comment. So, Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to -- yes, I'm getting to it.
Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to reexamine this case and reconsider whether NWT residents in the child welfare system under the same timeframe deserve some level of compensations as individuals in other jurisdictions received under this settlement agreement. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Member had a couple of questions in there. The earlier one, were there individuals in the system in the Northwest Territories who suffered hardship? Of course there were. I know them personally; I'm sure every Member of this House probably has stories about someone they know who was in the system. That being said, this is a settled agreement that I have no ability to influence. We would likely need changes to -- or potentially need changes to federal legislation, we would need the human rights tribunal to be on board, the Government of Canada I'm assuming. So where there's a will, there's a way, but there needs to be a will beyond just the will of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. There needs to be a will among all of the parties involved and it's much, much larger than just the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECC. So the waste resource management strategy and implementation plan which was released in 2019 identifies three types of waste to focus on. As the Minister mentioned earlier, used oil, tires, and electronics. So why were these three types of waste chosen as the ones to focus on? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of ECC.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. These three items were primarily chosen because they're already segregated in landfills across the NWT. Many of the electronics and electrical devices that are sold worldwide currently contain large amounts of plastic. Modern day tires contain synthetic rubber at a rate of about 24 percent, which is a plastic polymer. So that is why that was added to the list. And used oil is certainly an issue across Canada and as part of the environmental effort, finding ways to recycle that is certainly a high priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So earlier I spoke about extended producer responsibility, which the Act, the Waste Reduction Act, gives us powers to do. So can the Minister explain what might happen to products like used oil, tires, and electronics if producers have to take responsibility for them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
