Debates of May 25, 2018 (day 29)

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has significant and varied energy resources. As Canada's gas and liquefied natural gas industry takes steps towards competing in the global market, the Northwest Territories' resources are positioned to both improve energy security locally and help Canada compete.

The responsible development of these resources will also create meaningful jobs for residents, opportunities for business, and sources of revenue to support territory-wide public programs and services for NWT residents.

In particular, the Northwest Territories' petroleum resources offer a frontier for exploration and represent, in their development and delivery to market, significant opportunities to grow and diversify our economy.

In time, our natural gas resources will also contribute to regional energy security, lessen our reliance on imported diesel, reduce the energy costs, and lower Northwest Territories greenhouse gas emissions.

None of this will happen overnight. Realizing the benefits of the Northwest Territories' petroleum resources will take time, commitment and innovation. All of which, Mr. Speaker, we have.

On May 1st, as part of our government’s transition to a strong, healthy economy, one in which the Northwest Territories' residents and communities are resilient and adaptive in the face of a changing climate, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment introduced a Petroleum Resources Strategy as committed in our mandate.

The Northwest Territories Petroleum Resources, A Path to Northern Benefits and Energy Security presents a balanced, viable and made-in-the-Northwest Territories approach to advancing petroleum development in the NWT for the benefit of all residents.

Its aim is to realize both short and long-term economic benefits of our territory's petroleum resources, positioning and preparing the NWT to realize eventual industry investment, while pursuing local energy security and advancing our growing knowledge economy.

The Petroleum Resources Strategy, Mr. Speaker, is framed by a family of GNWT strategies and policies, including the Northwest Territories 2030 Energy Strategy and the NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework.

It outlines actions to improve the NWT's competitive edge for investment including support for infrastructure projects that facilitate activity in the NWT's petroleum resources sector; improvements to the NWT's oil and gas regulatory framework, and investment in greater public understanding and awareness.

It also highlights opportunities to provide locally produced energy to communities, build the NWT's workforce and business capacity, and take an active role in the governance of offshore oil and gas policy and co-management.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we will work, through the implementation of this strategy, to create a sustainable, innovative petroleum resources sector by ensuring decisions about the development of NWT petroleum resources consider both science and traditional knowledge and by encouraging the application of the knowledge economy to petroleum resources.

Mr. Speaker, access to secure, affordable, and environmentally sustainable sources of energy is essential to the prosperity of the NWT, and everyone has a part to play in achieving a more sustainable territory.

I look forward to working with colleagues, stakeholders, and Indigenous governments to implement this pursuit of economic opportunity and prosperity on behalf of all residents of the Northwest Territories. Later today, at the appropriate time I will be tabling this strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the federal government implements its plan to legalize cannabis this summer, the Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with other Government of the Northwest Territories departments and agencies, has already begun public education and awareness efforts.

Mr. Speaker, in late April, we launched our campaign in order to equip residents with the health information they need to make informed decisions about cannabis use. While all Northwest Territories residents will be provided with cannabis-related health information, groups that are especially at risk for harm from cannabis will be our immediate focus. This includes youth under 25, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those at risk for adverse mental health outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, this will not be an easy task. The challenge for us is in striking the right balance in providing information about the very real health risks associated with cannabis products while acknowledging that residents will soon have the option to legally purchase and consume cannabis.

Our goal is to provide residents with evidence-based and culturally appropriate harm-reduction information on safer cannabis use so that they can feel confident in their ability to make informed health decisions.

Like other controlled substances, there are risks associated with cannabis use that people should be aware of. We know that cannabis use negatively impacts brain development in infants and young people, possibly up to an age of 25. For this reason, some of our most important audiences for this education and awareness campaign are youth, their parents, and youth influencers. To this end, we provided residents with the Cannabis Talk Kit: Know How to Talk With Your Teen, a publication from Drug Free Kids Canada and endorsed by Health Canada. This simple talk kit was sent to all households and businesses in the Northwest Territories. Over 13,000 kits were distributed to help start and guide the conversation regarding cannabis use. This kit is one of the many initiatives that will raise awareness regarding cannabis use.

To make sure that the important information in the Cannabis Talk Kit reaches all residents, we have worked with local translators to provide a summary of the kit in all of our Indigenous languages. These translations are currently airing on local and commercial radio stations and are available on the Department of Health and Social Services website.

Other elements of our public education and awareness campaign include social media and newspaper advertising, videos, and posters that will provide fact-based health messaging for our target audiences. Our work with the schools and educators is an important part of how we are working together as a government and with our partners to make sure that our youth are getting important information about cannabis.

On June 11, 2018, a brain expert from the University of Calgary will host a live video conference question-and-answer session with students and educators in schools across Northwest Territories on the effects of cannabis on the brain. Similar information sessions are also being provided to health professionals and Northwest Territories recreation leaders on how to talk to youth and people who use cannabis about the health effects. As Community Healthy Living Fairs begin in the fall, we will also have materials available for the wider public.

We hope that these new resources and activities will prompt further discussions in our communities and in our homes.

Mr. Speaker, ensuring that our young people and residents have the most up-to-date information on cannabis is not a one-time effort. We know that we will need to continue to be a trusted source of information for residents and that this will require longer term planning and dedicated resources. That is why the Department of Health and Social Services has submitted a detailed, multi-year funding proposal to the federal government that will allow us to expand our campaign to support even more public education activities in communities.

Part of the proposal will help us identify community champions and provide information to our communities in culturally appropriate ways. This would be in addition to the scheduled Community Healthy Living Fairs that will take place this fall, which provide healthy choices advice and information directly to communities.

We applaud the work that the federal government has begun on cannabis public education, including using social media, paid advertising, and promotional materials, all of which is helping to provide important information to residents in NWT and across the country. We hope to leverage this campaign and extend our own campaign.

Our government is committed to making sure that NWT residents and communities have the information they need to educate themselves and their children in order to make informed decisions on cannabis use. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the release of an action plan to support the 2017 NWT Aboriginal Languages Framework.

The Northwest Territories Indigenous Languages Action Plan has two goals. The first is language revitalization, with efforts intended to slow down, stop, and reverse the decline of Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories. The second goal is to improve people’s access to public services in the nine Indigenous official languages of the Northwest Territories: Inuvialuktun, Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut; Gwich’in, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tlicho, Chipewyan, and Cree.

Mr. Speaker, the Framework and Action Plan together support the 18th Legislative Assembly’s priority of increasing cultural programming in education --

I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker. I'm missing a page. I apologize, Mr. Speaker. I am missing a page from my document. Thank you. Sorry. I'm going to try to find where we are. I can't believe this just happened.

Mr. Speaker, the Framework and Action Plan together support the 18th Legislative Assembly’s priority of increasing cultural programming in education and revitalizing Indigenous languages. Indigenous languages are essential to the history, culture, and traditions of the Northwest Territories. They are vital to the identity, well-being, and prosperity of Northwest Territories residents now and in the future.

Revitalizing Indigenous languages is an enormous task, one that takes the effort and commitment of many people. Parents, families and language communities; Indigenous governments and non-government organizations; early childhood programs, schools, and postsecondary institutions; language representatives, boards and the Government of the Northwest Territories; all share the responsibility for strengthening Indigenous languages.

Mr. Speaker, our investment in Indigenous languages has increased to $21 million this past year, which includes $5.9 million from Canadian Heritage as part of a multi-year funding agreement. We provided a total of $4.8 million last year to Indigenous governments to design and deliver Indigenous language programming in their communities. This amount includes support for Indigenous languages in early childhood programs. A further $10.6 million was invested in Indigenous languages and culture-based education in schools.

Forty language partners were supported in taking Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute courses through the University of Alberta to increase the quality and success of their local Indigenous language programming.

The new Revitalizing Indigenous Languages in Communities Program provided multi-year funding to innovative, community-based Indigenous language learning and revitalization training programs, such as the Elder and Youth Language Mentoring programs and Family Language Learning initiatives. As well, we continue to support community radio stations across the territory to provide Indigenous language programming.

Our schools are doing their part towards achieving the action plan goals. Nineteen schools piloted the new Our Language curriculum this school year. We will be piloting the program in all Northwest Territories schools beginning in September 2018. This means students in all schools will hear and use Indigenous languages during their school routines and in interactions with staff and other students.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Languages Board, many of whom are here today. They played a vital role in the completion of the NWT Indigenous Languages Action Plan: A Shared Responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, we must act now to revitalize Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories and improve access to public services in Indigenous official languages. Our government is committed to meeting these goals, together with our key language partners. We are working with them to achieve a shared vision where Indigenous languages are supported, respected, and thriving. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer our sincere thanks to the many people and groups who were involved in the 2018 Arctic Winter Games held in the South Slave Region from March 18th to March 24th.

I acknowledge Mr. Greg Rowe, President of the Arctic Winter Games Society, his dedicated Board of Directors and staff, whose efforts over many months resulted in the delivery of a very successful Games. All Northwest Territories residents should be proud.

I would like to recognize Mayor Lynn Napier-Buckley of Fort Smith, Mayor Brad Mapes of Hay River, and Chief Roy Fabian of the K'atlodeeche First Nation for being tremendous hosts to the athletes, coaches, mission staff, cultural delegates, and visitors from across the circumpolar region.

One of the many benefits of hosting the Arctic Winter Games is the infrastructure legacy that the community receives afterwards. This year, we saw investments in the Hay River airport, the new arena, and upgrades to the snowboard park, which residents will be able to enjoy for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate Mr. Doug Rentmeister, Chef de Mission, and his staff. They helped the 350-plus members of Team NT make a great showing in 19 different sports, with our athletes bringing home 102 ulus.

I am sure that all Members of this House will join me to thank the many parents and volunteers who helped make the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games a success. Hosting an event of this scale in one community is a large feat, but hosting across a region required an amazing effort from many people in the South Slave.

Congratulations to all those who supported these games by opening your homes to visitors, volunteering at events, or by attending and cheering on the participants. As volunteers, you are the heart of our communities, and without you, these games simply do not happen. On behalf of all Members, thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my appreciation to all of the Members who took time from their busy schedules to take part in the Arctic Winter Games. We only have the opportunity to host this event every decade or so. Having a strong show of support from this House for our athletes and cultural performers demonstrates our commitment to the young people of the Northwest Territories. They are our future.

There is also still some work to be done to wrap up the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. Currently, many who were involved in different aspects of the games are supporting the completion of an economic impact study. Its findings will help demonstrate the economic effects this event had on the South Slave Region. Studies of this nature reflect the need for us to continue to support the Arctic Winter Games and to invest in our economy in all parts of the Northwest Territories.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would once more invite all of my colleagues to join me in offering our thanks to all those who were involved in the 2018 Arctic Winter Games for a job well done. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Ministers' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go to item 5 on the orders paper.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you can see, we have a full gallery today. It is the annual grade 6 class trip. The gallery is full of students from Princess Alexandra School, and we are happy to have them. We have a long list of names here. I don't want to miss anyone. Let's get started.

The students, we have Ashley Angulalik-Elder, Chayce Beck, Emerson Beck, Esha O'Brien, Kaiden Broedner, Jadeane Brown, Glacia Gordon, Teagan Hedderson, Kyzer Hehn, Angelia Nitsiza, Nora Lecouter, Teagan Lefebvre, Theron Mabbitt, Grace Schaub, Joshua Cayen, Sienna Daniels, Alijah Famorcan, Linkin Giesbrecht, Teddy Lefleur, Angelina Maerz, Tyrel Thomas-Comeau. We have chaperones, as well: Wayne Korotash, Reverend Francais Delaplain, Stephanie Haas, Miranda Orr, and Joe Ganier, who got them all here safely.

Masi. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member stated, we have students from Hay River, our growing population. He only read half of the people who are here. I would like to introduce 24 other participants: Kale Beck, Dawson Bourque, Tyler Brockway, Keira Coakwell, Zoe Cross, Adison Korotash, Breanna Makepeace, Emma Peters, James Graham, Brooke Delorey, Marie Buggins, Albert Jensen, Alanna Klause, Hayden Braun, Teegan Brockway, Lainey McPhee, Ava Pokiak, Dominic Sim, Payton Walters, Liam McIntyre, chaperone Colleen Cochrane and Darlene Lamb, and also Paulette West and Lynnette Moore, and also my CA, Myrtle Graham. I would like to wish happy birthday to Paulette, Lynette, and Myrtle today, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. I would also like to recognize Tammy Dechamel, my Edzo neighbour, and my good friend, as well, we call her Dr. James, nowadays. Thank you for coming. Thank you for coming. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I would like to recognize our language board members who are here in the gallery: Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, Jonas Landry, Deanna Marie Jacobson, Emily Kudlak, Richard Latourneau, Vance Sanderson, Angie Lantz, Sarah Gargan, Bella T'Seleie, Betty Elias, Joshua Oliktoak, Karen Mitchell, Mary Cardinal, Mary Rose Sundberg. I want to thank each of you for sharing your expertise and stepping forward in our efforts to revitalize and strengthen our languages. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wife, Anne, who has travelled from balmy Fort Smith to be here with us today. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some people in the gallery today, two members of the language board that are from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Angie Lantz and Maro Sundberg, and I would like to recognize Vance Sanderson, father of my grandson Syi Sanderson. I would like to recognize Zoe Beaulieu Cross, my great niece from Hay River. I would like to recognize the interpreter for us this week, Tom Unka, from Fort Resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce to the House three pages from my riding of Kam Lake, Mr. Kyle Rogers, Ms. Lydia Taylor, and Ms. Rhuwina Javier. Thank you very much for serving with us today.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize the board members of the language program and also in particular Bella T'Seleie from my home community in Fort Good Hope. Welcome. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the language board members. Welcome to everybody, especially three of my constituents, Joshua Oliktoak from Ulukhaktok, Emily Kudlak from Ulukhaktok, and Betty Elias from Tuktoyaktuk, as well as my relative Ann Peters, who is somewhere in here. Welcome, everybody, and have a good weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a page from Yellowknife South, Jaida Dowe, and also thank all the pages that are here this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too want to recognize some pages from the riding of Yellowknife North that will be assisting us during this sitting. I want to recognize Christopher Mathison, Ellie Mia Taylor, Ramanda Castillo, and Thomas Willoughby. Thank you for your work, and we would be lost without you. Welcome to the House. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, me too, I would like to rise and recognize the language board members that are here and thank them for the work that they do in terms of initiating revitalization projects throughout the Northwest Territories. I would like to especially recognize Jonas Landry, a constituent of mine from Fort Providence who got to go through training; also, Sarah Gargan from K'atlodeeche but from Hay River. I would like to welcome them to the House. Mahsi.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity to recognize a former Inuvik resident working here in Yellowknife, Mr. David Bob, as well as Richard Latourneau and Diana Marie-Jacobson. I will also take the opportunity to just thank the official board members for all the work, dedication, and passion that you guys have for languages. Mahsi.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Karen Mitchell, who is marked down as from Yellowknife but is originally from Fort McPherson. I would also like to take this time to thank her for all the work that she has done for the Gwich'in language. Mahsi cho.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sorry if I garbled anyone's name earlier. They always give the MLA for Hay River South easy names, but I failed to mention my constituent, Ms. Myrtle Graham, is with us today, and I would like to wish her a happy birthday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the global population grows, the climate changes and Arctic ecosystems experience unprecedented warming. Marine shipping companies have continued to expand operations through the Arctic as a result of increased traffic. One of the concerns that have been raised at the international levels is a prevalent use of heavy fuel oil, or HFO, that fuels marine vessels, as well as a lack of infrastructure in the Arctic, such as deep sea ports, small and medium craft harbours. This is something that needs to be addressed by the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Northwest Territories, the Government of Canada, Inuit and Indigenous people that live in the Arctic, working together to ensure our communities and the people are prepared as traffic increases in the Northwest Passage.

HFO is dangerous in that it is several times more polluting than other forms of fuel. For instance, HFO spills are 50 times more toxic to fish than medium and light crude oil spills. HFO produces higher amounts of black carbon than other fuels, which is the second-largest contributor to climate change after CO2. In 2012, more than 75 per cent of the fuel mass of the vessels in the Arctic was composed of HFOs. Recognizing the dangers of HFO, it has been banned in Antarctica, Mr. Speaker. However, in the Arctic, there are no regulations.

The International Maritime Organization, or IMO, is the United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. As part of its work in developing international shipping-related regulations to prevent pollution of marine environments, the use of HFO in the Arctic is currently a topic of concern. This is especially true for Inuit and Indigenous people that live in the Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, there are currently no independent organizations to represent the Arctic and Indigenous peoples at the IMO. This means that the Inuit and Indigenous groups who will be most affected by the potential setting of new international policy have no direct say in how Arctic policy is developed. Instead, Indigenous groups must rely on United Nations member states to effect change.

Indigenous knowledge plays a fundamental role in Inuit culture. Without adequate representation at the IMO, Inuit voices are not heard and Indigenous knowledge is not considered, leading to potential policies that do not take into consideration the views of those who will ultimately be the most impacted.

There currently exists a gap in setting international Arctic policies, where Indigenous knowledge of Arctic Indigenous people is not considered. Until a better solution is found, Inuit and other Indigenous groups continue to partner with Arctic states to carry our voice as we regulate marine shipping. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the unfair allocation of capital resources by this government. For three terms, Mr. Speaker, I have been asking this government to increase spending in smaller communities. In addition and as a mandate of this government to create employment where jobs where needed most, all one has to do is to examine some Northwest Territories statistics to know that our smaller communities are where jobs are needed most.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, I have asked this government to work with our small communities on a wide variety of community projects and strategic spending items. Some of these include building more access roads around the communities, building a new healthcare centre in Lutselk’e, building a new school in Detah, all of which would stimulate our economy by creating new jobs and improving services.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, I have asked for a more economic and feasible way of allowing seniors to age in place in their homes and in their communities. This could be done by increasing homecare services and making seniors' homes barrier-free. Instead, Mr. Speaker, this government is choosing to invest in more expensive models of senior care by building long-term care facilities in Hay River, Inuvik, and Yellowknife. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Speaker, I think that these long-care facilities will be needed by our government, but, for a government that is struggling to increase revenues, it is very apparent that other economic alternatives are needed.

Mr. Speaker, there is a proven and acceptable economic model that shows that, if you put people to work, the government will see returns of at least $2.50 for every dollar that is spent.

Mr. Speaker, Ministers have told me that this point is true but that the returns were too long-term, and the government often chooses to prioritize short-term returns. Indeed, some of this spending does take time to return results. As an example, in the last 15 years, the percentage of high school graduates has gone up by 35 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, investments that produce more immediate returns can be seen in things such as healthcare costs. It is a fact that a higher individual income means a healthier life. Moreover, other immediate returns can be found through investing and other prevailing social issues such as social housing, mental health and addiction services, which take cost pressures off health care, justice and income support. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Many of our people either end up homeless or incarcerated due to the high rates of alcoholism, drug addiction, and a chronic lack of employment opportunities. Overall, Mr. Speaker, there are many initiatives that this government can do that can help turn things around and improve the quality of life for the people of the NWT. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.