Let us bow our heads and open our hearts in the presence of our Creator, our God, and ask for guidance for his chosen people, here today, chosen by their people and sent to speak for, and debate, on the best for everyone.
Creator God, grant us the strength of character to act in the honest interests of our northern peoples. Grant us the ability to hear each other's concerns, to assess honestly and decide wisely, the outcome of our labours for the present, and future of our North and all of us.
May we be respectful to each other's opinion and views and respect the dignity of office entrusted to us, and the method, of our unique form of government.
Bless our hearts and minds to right, and our labours to you and your people. Creator God, grant us this humble wish and request. Amen.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Members back for the continuation of the third session of the 18th Legislative Assembly. We have a brief sitting this spring, but some important matters to consider as we continue to work together to build a better future for our territory and its residents.
The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to work hard to create a future full of opportunity and promise for territorial residents. Strategic engagement with the Government of Canada to help advance northern priorities and interests is one of the ways our government can achieve that. The Government of Canada continues to have important responsibilities to support economic, social, and political development in the Northwest Territories. We know they take this responsibility seriously, and we have been working hard with them to turn their commitment into practical action and investments in our territory.
Continuing to meet with our federal counterparts to promote Northwest Territories priorities and interests is an important part of our successful strategy for engaging Canada. Most recently, I met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with Nunavut Premier Paul Quassa and Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, as part of the Northern Premiers' Forum in Ottawa at the beginning of this month.
I was pleased that Prime Minister Trudeau personally reaffirmed his government's commitment to the Northwest Territories and to working with our government on shared priorities. It was particularly important to hear from the Prime Minister that Canada agrees that the Pan-Territorial Vision for Sustainable Development issued by our three territories last August will form the basis for the Arctic Policy Framework. Placing sustainable economic development at the heart of federal policy in the North will be critical to creating a better, more prosperous future for residents. It will be critical for Canada to match its policy commitments to our territory with specific investments and funding commitments, and Premiers were encouraged to learn that Canada will be using the Arctic Policy Framework to guide future funding commitments in its upcoming budgets.
Our government's efforts to directly engage the federal government on behalf of the Northwest Territories are starting to pay off. In recent months we have been successful in securing a number of significant funding agreements and investments from Canada.
In March, Ministers Schumann and Cochrane joined Infrastructure Canada Minister Sohi to announce the signing of a 10-year infrastructure agreement that will see $570 million invested in the Northwest Territories.
In April, Canada announced it is making just over $94 million available to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut over five years to make Arctic re-supply operations faster, safer, and more efficient for remote communities under its Oceans Protection Plan.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is looking forward to applying for funding under this program to improve the Mackenzie River and high Arctic marine transportation corridor. This corridor is a critical piece of our northern transportation system, serving some of Canada's northernmost residents, and the new funding will help support economic development in a region increasingly being recognized as an area of opportunity.
Our government is pleased with this recent commitment from federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau, and also hopes for positive news regarding our applications for funding under the National Trade Corridor Fund for projects that will help advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway. We also look forward to a second call for applications under this fund as an opportunity to advance the Slave Geological Province Access Corridor.
Also in April, Minister Moses and federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos announced a three-year agreement to invest over $7 million in early learning and childcare in the Northwest Territories. This funding will support delivery of high-quality early learning and childcare; culturally relevant professional development and training for all staff working within licensed early childhood programs; an increase in the number of qualified early childhood development professionals in licensed programs; and access to early learning and childcare opportunities within all communities in the Northwest Territories.
Advancing, finalizing, and implementing land, resources, and self-government agreements is a priority of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, and another area where success will create a better future for Northwest Territories residents.
Settlement of land claims in the southern part of the territory is also a priority for our government and will be a critical factor in affirming the rights of Indigenous people in these regions, creating certainty and helping unlock the economic potential of the Northwest Territories to create benefits and opportunities for all residents. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to achieving success at these tables and has worked hard with all parties to identify a path forward on negotiations with the Dehcho First Nations, Northwest Territories Metis Nation, and Akaitcho Dene First Nation.
Last year, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories made innovative new offers to the NWT Metis and the Akaitcho, based on the work of a ministerial special representative appointed by Minister Bennett and myself.
I am also pleased to advise Members that Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories made a new offer to the Dehcho First Nations on May 3, 2018, in Fort Simpson. As with the new offers to the Akaitcho and Northwest Territories Metis, the offer to the Dehcho was designed to provide them with the flexibility to choose an approach that best reflects their priorities with respect to matters including land quantum, cash, resource management, and land use planning.
We expect that the new offer will be formally considered by the Dehcho First Nations at their annual assembly in Wrigley in July. Our negotiators have done some innovative and forward work with their counterparts from the Government of Canada on this offer. We are hopeful this work will help us get beyond past disagreements and old ways of thinking and result in the settlement of this claim.
We continue to make progress on the government's legislative agenda, Mr. Speaker. During this sitting we expect to introduce several pieces of proposed legislation, including the Northwest Territories' first Ombudsperson Act, a priority for this House and a commitment in the government's mandate. We also expect to introduce An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. This bill responds to requests from community governments to have the ability to levy a tourism accommodation tax and to pass bylaws that would permit homeowners to fund energy retrofits and energy saving technology upgrades through a local improvement charge.
During this sitting we will table the 2017-2018 annual report on the implementation of the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. The annual report indicates that, as of March 31, 2018, our government had fulfilled 60 commitments. Another 160 commitments were in progress by that date, with another 10 in the planning stage. Since March 31st, 19 additional commitments have been fulfilled, bringing the total number of fulfilled commitments to 79. While some of the commitments are fulfilled by a specific activity or action, a number of the commitments relate to work that is ongoing. As we pass the halfway point of this Assembly, we are confident in saying that we have taken the steps required to implement many of these commitments and will continue to do so on an ongoing basis.
Mr. Speaker, since the mandate was adopted by the 18th Legislative Assembly near the beginning of our term, our government has been focused on fulfilling our commitments and advancing the priorities of this Legislative Assembly. Between June and October of last year, at the mid-point of our term, all Members contributed to a comprehensive review of our priorities and the mandate. We had the opportunity to evaluate our progress, consider new information, and reflect on new developments and major events in the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the world. Through this process, we revised the mandate. It now includes 230 commitments to guide our activities through the remainder of this term.
Two significant additions to the mandate will be the subject of discussions during this sitting: conducting a foundational review of Aurora College; and developing and implementing the policy, program, and legislative regimes necessary to support the legalization of cannabis in the Northwest Territories. Both of these initiatives are of great interest to the people of the Northwest Territories and Members of the Legislative Assembly. Indeed, there has been much discussion of cannabis legalization in the media in the past few weeks, as standing committees have done their important work to hear from residents on Bill 6.
We understand that residents are concerned about the potential impact of legal cannabis on their families and communities, and we respect that concern. Legalization was a federal election promise, and the Government of Canada continues to work towards delivering on that promise in the coming weeks. Many jurisdictions, including our own, are working hard to be ready in time for federal legalization, and while it would be nice to have more time to get ready, it does not look like that will be an option.
Our government made a commitment to having effective measures in place to protect the health and safety of Northwest Territories residents when federal legislation comes into effect. We continue to be committed to that goal and are confident that we will be prepared. We do recognize, however, that this is a new area of responsibility for ourselves and the rest of the country, and we will continue to monitor implementation once cannabis has been legalized so that we can identify any areas where we can make improvements and modifications to our plans.
The future of Aurora College has also been the subject of much discussion in recent months, and we expect that discussion will continue during this sitting. As Members are aware, the government has received the report of the consultants hired to conduct the foundational review of the college.
The consultants have delivered a comprehensive report, with many recommendations about how we can move forward to create a vibrant post-secondary institution in the North that is positioned to train Northerners for northern jobs. It is now our job to consider each of those recommendations and use them to determine a path forward for the college. This is the beginning of a longer process to plan for the future of the college, and we look forward to working with MLAs as we develop them together. Northwest Territories residents deserve an educational institution that is focused on preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, and the Aurora College foundational review is an opportunity for us to deliver the kind of post-secondary institution they need as a legacy of our work here.
This is a brief sitting, Mr. Speaker, but I expect it will be an active one. As always, we have an important responsibility to work together to create positive change for the people and communities of the Northwest Territories. Our government remains committed to do that work and looks forward to continuing to work towards that goal during this sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the core housing needs across the Northwest Territories. At this time, over two years into this government, there is no territorial-wide housing plan that addresses the core need reduction plan on a community-by-community basis.
Mr. Speaker, I have risen in this House many times urging our government to create a housing development plan that is pertinent to each of our 33 communities and is comprehensive enough to identify the exact types of core needs that are most pertinent within each community. A thorough plan can better inform the government on how to address core housing needs in each community.
Mr. Speaker, a housing development plan is needed to cost out each community's housing needs. For example, Mr. Speaker, a family of six may currently be living in a two-bedroom unit; however, their needs warrant a three- or four-bedroom unit. The housing plan would tell us whether to build a new house or add on to the current unit. Mr. Speaker, one solution would cost in excess of $300,000, while the other could be under $100,000.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, a family may have enough bedrooms, but may need repairs that could range from $10,000 to $100,000. In another case, Mr. Speaker, a core need may be affordability, and perhaps a family could be provided with a monthly subsidy of $300 to $1,000 per month, thereby removing that family from core need for just $3,600 to $12,000 per year.
Mr. Speaker, the housing development plan, or whatever the government chooses to call it, is a plan that would work actively to address core needs of housing on a community-specific basis. According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics Community Survey, in my riding of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the core needs of total households range from a low of 24.9 per cent in Fort Resolution to a high of 37.2 per cent in Detah.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation must begin discussions with communities and Indigenous governments to address these issues. I believe that the NWT Housing Corporation must begin to fund these governments directly in order to achieve the best results regarding the reduction of core needs within these communities. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce to this Assembly that the 2018 Arctic Winter Games, hosted by Hay River, Fort Smith, and the K'atlodeeche First Nation, were an overwhelming success.
That's not just my opinion. I have heard it from many other residents of the South Slave, from members of the various national and international delegations that attended the games, and from the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, who have seen their fair share of the games.
I'm sure the other MLAs who were able to spend the entire week in the South Slave would also agree with me. Minister Cochrane spent time in both Hay River and Fort Smith, and I know for a fact that she was impressed with what she saw. The Premier also spent the week in Hay River, and every time I saw him, it sure looked like he was having a good time, especially when he capped his week off presenting the gold ulus to both of Team NWT's male hockey teams, one of which included his very own grandson.
Mr. Speaker, the success of the 2018 games redefined the very notion of who can host these games. Essentially, the South Slave was a testing ground, used to determine whether or not smaller communities could host the games. Guess what? It can be done, and can be done in spectacular fashion. However, there is one caveat: if small communities want to host the games, they need dedicated volunteers, and lots of them.
According to Greg Rowe, the president of the South Slave Host Society, volunteers are the heart and soul the games. Luckily, the South Slave has a big heart. Between Hay River and Fort Smith, there were 1,500 volunteers. Mr. Speaker, that's over 20 per cent of the combined population of both communities. That's absolutely amazing. Some people were only able to pick up a handful of volunteer shifts, but they did what they could. Some people took leave from their jobs and volunteered full-time. Some people worked all day and then volunteered all evening. It was not uncommon to hear about volunteers putting in 10, 12, or 16 hours a day, every day.
Then, Mr. Speaker, there are the people who put in four years. I'm speaking, of course, of the Host Society board of directors. Without their efforts, the games would have never made their way to the South Slave in the first place. For their efforts, the Host Society was presented with the NWT outstanding volunteer award for a group just earlier today, and rightly so.
So, Mr. Speaker, I ask this Assembly to join me in thanking all of the volunteers for making the 2018 Arctic Winter Games such a great success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. On May 1st, Cabinet released the Energy Strategy and Climate Change Strategic Framework. What's still missing for a complete package on climate change is a firm proposal and legislative changes for carbon pricing.
Today, I'm calling out Cabinet on its efforts on climate change. I strongly urge the federal government to reject the climate change plan, as it falls far short of any likelihood of successfully reaching the Pan-Canadian Framework obligation of a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by the year 2030. These are strong words, Mr. Speaker, but backed up by the following facts:
44 per cent of the greenhouse gas reductions to meet the Pan-Canadian Framework target are to be met with hydroelectric power from huge expansions of the Taltson facilities. No quantification of the GHG reductions is provided. There's no money to build the dams or power lines that will cost billions, and no confirmed buyers, either north of the lake or in the provinces. The energy strategy is masquerading as an infrastructure proposal for the federal government, characterized by local media as an ultimatum, rather than a serious effort to address climate change and build energy self-sufficiency.
Most of the greenhouse gas reductions are back-loaded into the available time. Sixty per cent of the reductions were supposed to take place in the last five years.
Most of the effort is to be directed at electricity production, which is not the major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The 17 per cent GHG reduction target for industry was removed in the final version.
Lastly, the Auditor General's finding on our failed climate change leadership has not been addressed, as the framework and audit response make no proposals to change our approach. I've called for a Climate Change Act or Cabinet-approved policy, Financial Management Board consideration of climate change implications, and Infrastructure submissions that prioritize projects that show the greatest greenhouse gas reductions.
The residents of the NWT deserve much better on the issue of climate change, reductions to our cost of living through energy self-reliance, while building a greener economy. The federal government should reject Cabinet's approach on climate change and send us back to the drawing board to develop a real plan. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I bring to your attention the Louis Cardinal and Abraham Francis ferries. The Louis Cardinal operates on the Mackenzie River, connecting Tsiigehtchic to the Dempster highway, and the Abraham Francis operates on the Peel River, closer to Fort McPherson.
Mr. Speaker, my home community of Tsiigehtchic is only accessible by winterized roads five months out of the year and by the ferry services another five months during the summer season.
Fort McPherson is connected to the Dempster highway and, during the summer months, it's only accessible by the Abraham Francis and Louis Cardinal ferries. Mr. Speaker, the Peel River ice moved on May 10th. The ice has cleared now for the past week and water levels are receding. The Mackenzie River ice has started moving on May 15th. The ice has thinned, and water levels are also receding.
Mr. Speaker, like many of our communities in the Beaufort Delta, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic, price has increased. The cost of living goes up in the fall when the ferry shuts down, and again in the spring when the ice road closes.
Ferry services also connect our communities to central Inuvik, where we have access to the hospital, dental, and other business opportunities. We depend on the ferry and, to date, we have heard nothing about when they will be launched, and operating services may take up to two weeks. Let's not forget the expectations of tourists to our region and bringing in money, enhancing our economy. The Northwest Territories has so much to offer in terms of scenery and excellent tour guides waiting to show off our country.
Mr. Speaker, people in Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson have been asking me questions of when the Louis Cardinal and Abraham Francis ferries will start operating. I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when MLAs sat together and developed the mandate, we needed a tool that we could use to serve the people of the NWT, not a document that would get dusty sitting on a shelf somewhere. My job as a Regular Member, as all of us Regular Members, and Members of the House, is to uphold, promote, and protect that mandate.
Among our mandate commitments, we included cost of living as our second priority item. Specifically, we committed that the 18th Legislative Assembly will lower the cost of living.
Since then, here is a sample of what residents have felt impacting their cost of living in the two and a half years of this Assembly:
Seven consecutive years of power rate increases equating to a near 40 per cent increase during that time;
New airport taxes which increase the cost of everything through air transport;
Increased land lease fees by up to 300 per cent;
Increased medical service fees;
Increased Decho bridge tolls;
Coming soon, apparently, a land transfer tax; and
Also coming soon, an NWT carbon tax, and that's on top of Alberta's carbon tax that we already pay on goods and services from the South.
Mr. Speaker, none of these initiatives was identified in the mandate. I was not elected by the people of Yellowknife North to support and promote those initiatives. I was elected to support the commitment we made to lower the cost of living, but so far that commitment seems a distant reality.
I agree that we have to get our fiscal house in order, but that is achieved by smart and disciplined management on a day-to-day basis, Mr. Speaker, not by spending wildly and going on hiring sprees and maxing out the line of credit on one term and then hacking, slashing, and laying workers off in the next term.
Mr. Speaker, our residents are feeling stymied in trying to move ahead in life and are finding it harder and harder to afford living here. They are continuously being penny pinched. The words "savings" and "investing" are lost. People on fixed incomes are at even higher risk from the impacts of the cost of living. Who suffers? We all do. When a family's disposable income begins to deplete, that's the beginning of a slowing economy, one that results in some saying that our territorial economic outlook appears "grim."
Mr. Speaker, the tone has to change. The trends need to start going in the right direction, and the stats must start reflecting positive outcomes. Northerners want to trust that we have their backs and that we are building a future that they can count on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, colleagues. I hope everybody had a pleasant spring.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the upcoming NWT Tourism Week, I share the following. As mentioned during the last session on the invitation to attend a trade mission in China on behalf of the Techiq Ltd company, the business arm of the Deline Gotine government.
Mr. Speaker, more specifically, Destination Deline has launched a specific and determined plan to attract Asian tourists to the community on the shores of Great Bear Lake.
It is pertinent to note that the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of ITI provided resources to help facilitate this trip, including eight days in China. Cities included in this itinerary focused on Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xianje.
Mr. Speaker, Destination Deline's equity position to this community venture includes $2 million in upgrading additional hotel cabins. Forthcoming would be client hospitality training.
Mr. Speaker, of significant importance and evidence to the trip's success are the community representatives and tour company, Beijing Best Tour Company Ltd., signing a cooperation agreement in the efforts of tailored packages.
Mr. Speaker, the Beijing Best Tour Company is organizing a trip to Deline later this summer. This contingent will include some 25 travel agents. This is a tremendous opportunity for both groups, and particularly Deline, to contribute additional NWT destinations while sharing the unique community, northern culture, and pristine environment.
Mr. Speaker, overall the trip was deemed an overwhelming success, and new awareness has been garnered. I wish to thank Techiq and the Deline Gotine Government leadership. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the Minister of ITI. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize three high school graduates from Helen Kalvak school in Ulukhaktok.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jacob Klengenberg is graduating this year with full academic grade 12 and is accepted into a two-year Social Work Diploma at Nova Scotia Community College.
Mr. Speaker, Jacob is a role model to his peers. While earning an academic education, he still ensured that he maintained his cultural hunting, fishing, and travelling practices. During his years at Helen Kalvak school, he participated in many sports and activities, including judo, boxing, biathlon, and student council. He has been the lead youth volunteer for many years and has been willing to freely give of himself to help on school fundraisers, activities for younger students, and to help elders around the community.
Mr. Speaker, Matt Chloe Kanayok is graduating this year with full academic grade 12 and is accepted into a four-year Bachelor of Arts, planning on majoring in Psychology at Vancouver Island University. He is also the valedictorian for this year's graduation class.
Mr. Speaker, Matt has been a strong advocate for youth at Helen Kalvak school during his high school career. During his time, he took on the role of the president in the student council, and then immediately took over the planning and implementation of school dances, movie nights, an after-school art club, and the creation of the GSA. Matt is a genuine person, who wants nothing more than to help, and has been one of our most dedicated volunteers over the past three years.
Mr. Speaker, finally, Ms. Nadine Kuneluk is graduating this year with a full academic grade 12 diploma, but has not yet decided on her career path to follow. Mr. Speaker, Nadine is a joy to be around and enjoys nothing more than helping, spreading her optimism, and working with younger students. During her high school years, she was very active in the student council, assisting in the planning and supervising of every program that was offered. Nadine volunteered in almost all school activities and is dedicated to her fellow students.
Mr. Speaker, all three students are shining examples of true volunteerism. They gave up much of their time to ensure that their fellow students had activities and a safe space to spend their time. Without these students, the school's arctic espresso cafe would not have run. The student council would have not grown to where it is, and the GSA would not have been formed.
I cannot not say enough about these students, as they have been an amazing example of selflessness, wonderful role models, and respected by their peers and community members alike. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on February 20th, 10 students from TSS, accompanied by two chaperones, travelled to Vancouver to attend the Wisdom to Action, Youth-Led Suicide Prevention Programs conference that was held at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre on East Hastings Street. Conference organizers and contributors included the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Dalhousie University, the Embrace Life Council of Nunavut, and the Canadian Red Cross.
The conference was held over two days, February 21st and 22nd, and many topics relevant to our youth and community were presented and discussed. The organizers recognize that suicide is a leading cause of death among young people in Canada, accounting for 24 per cent of all deaths. Unfortunately, young people living in communities with higher rates of suicide, such as ours, are more vulnerable.
Youth play an important role in suicide prevention in Canada. They know the pathways to wellness and life enhancement. They can lead programs in their communities that support other young people. They can provide important peer support, formal and informal, and they are advocates for themselves and their communities.
Key presenters were elders who spoke, sang, and drummed, and others who presented youth leadership organizations, such as Jack.org and the Canadian Red Cross. The youth were fully engaged, and here are two quotes I would like to share:
"I learned new things and became aware that suicide comes from a lot of different reasons and difficulties. They can be family matters, school, relationships, work, mental health, et cetera, and to avoid and hopefully stop suicide, we talked in the conference about starting working with families. We also talked about activities to keep the youth occupied and make themselves feel their importance. All in all, the solution is making our environment a happy and healthy community, and, going back to our respective towns, I am hoping and looking forward to becoming a better leader and bringing back the wisdom and knowledge that I gained from the whole conference."
The second quote: "The experience of a field trip to actually get out of the community and learn from another culture was awesome, not just how to prevent suicide, but also have people bring other teachings. Elders spoke of circles, saying, 'Our circles bring us balance by understanding the balance between the spiritual and physical worlds,' and talked about meditation and prayer, finding and doing what we like to do to keep our mental state balanced, and finding out about ourselves for mental and emotional steadiness."
Mr. Speaker, moving forward, the students, with the help of the LKFN Wellness team, hope to create a youth leadership group that will provide support for peers and mentor young people. Attending this conference has helped us inform students that their mental health can be discussed openly and that there are many other organizations, professionals, and caring adults who are equipped to help youth build, sustain, and enhance their mental health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, while we were away from the House, the Premier shuffled Cabinet portfolios. When the music stopped, the honourable Alfred Moses was sitting on the chairs which gave him responsibility for Housing and Homelessness. These are the portfolios of primary interest to my constituents in Yellowknife Centre.
The Premier's mandate letter to the Minister repeats his letter to the previous Minister. It is as if the last two years didn't happen. There is no indication of priorities, just a long list of objectives, and no direction to continue with the changes started by the previous Minister. Since this letter is inadequate, I am now going to provide a summary of the mandate letter I would have written.
First, residents of Yellowknife Centre continue to experience a high level of homelessness. Families are often the invisible homeless, but they are especially hard-hit. I have constituents, a working family of six, who, for the last three years, have been living in a bachelor apartment and who are waiting for suitable housing. The waiting list for transitional housing for families at the YWCA and public housing is both in the hundreds. Federal funding administered by the city for the YWCA Housing First program for families has recently ended.
Mr. Speaker, families are facing a housing crisis, and addressing this crisis must be the Minister's top priority. Where is the mandate requirement to wrestle every possible new dollar from Ottawa's National Housing Strategy?
Second, my riding has a large population of elders. Those who are looking for affordable places to live in their retirement have few choices, and some are deferring retirement while they wait for something to open up. The waiting list for the independent units at Avens is six years long. The situation at Northern United Place is also gridlock. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Housing Corporation is going to build more units for seniors, but I can tell you now it won't be enough to meet these increasing demands.
Third, my riding has a large number of rental units. The cost of rent is unaffordable, meaning it consumes more than 30 per cent of the family's budget. The last community survey revealed that a total of 800 families in Yellowknife are in core need because their housing is unaffordable.
Mr. Speaker, high rents drive people out of Yellowknife and out of the territory at a time when we want more people to live here. The Minister must find effective ways to help working families afford a decent place to live. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We begin our legislative sitting on the heels of the Northwest Territories' 16th Youth Parliament.
It was a real honour to serve as a Page for our young leaders, and I am more impressed than ever seeing the next generation of Northerners hard at work in this great Chamber. I was particularly impressed with my counterpart, the youth representative for Kam Lake, Aafreen Khan.
Ms. Khan is a young, bilingual Muslim woman and is the embodiment of what a diverse and progressive NWT will look like in the future. Youth Parliaments are great forums that give the leaders of today an opportunity to hear the issues that matter most to the leaders of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, Youth Parliament comes once every two years. Imagine how much more we could learn from young Northerners if this government creates its own youth advisory council.
It is not a new idea; far from it, as youth councils have been established through the Canada and the world. For example, the Prime Minister's Youth Council was formed in 2016 and is served by a group of young Canadians who provide non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada on issues important to them and to all Canadians.
Youth Council members meet both online and in person several times a year to discuss issues that matter to their peers, to their communities, and to their country. They work together outside of meetings to discuss ideas, engage with local and national organizations, meet with decision-makers like Cabinet Ministers, and attend public events.
Mr. Speaker, this is exactly the kind of engagement that helps lawmakers and governments make good decisions for our people, and the Prime Minister isn't alone in his efforts to open up dialogue with young people on a regular basis. In Ontario, the Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities is a 25-member group of young professionals and leaders, ages 16 to 25, who give advice to the Premier and the Minister of Children and Youth.
During the last budget talks in Ontario, the council weighed in on project proposals, and out of 126 projects reviewed, 33 were recommended by the youth council to Ontario's Minister of Finance. This is a clear example of the positive outcomes of engaging with young people through a youth council.
Mr. Speaker, the governments of Canada, Ontario, and Newfoundland have all implemented youth advisory councils. Northerners know that this government should prioritize engaging all citizens in all of our communities, including and especially young Northerners. We can do so much more to ensure their voices and ideas are brought into our decision-making and into how this government works.
Mr. Speaker, politicians are fond of saying "the children are our future," but I say it is time that we make young people a part of today and give young Northerners the voice they deserve through their own youth advisory council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I recently attended a special high school graduation on the Hay River Reserve. Verna Buggins, Clifford Fabian, Chantelle Lafleur, and Ashley Dawn Leblanc graduated with high school equivalencies on May 18, 2018, with their families and local leaders in attendance. I want to once again congratulate them on their achievement.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, graduating rates are very low on the Hay River Reserve. Most students leave the reserve to attend high school in the town of Hay River, making this high school graduation of full graduates a special one.
Mr. Speaker, the students took online learning through Northern Lakes College Alberta, upgrading and transferred their credits to the NWT. The students studied at the Elder Daniel Sonfrere Learning Centre with their teacher, Liz Pope, and worked toward fulfilling their credit requirements to graduate from high school. Two of them met their high school credits: Clifford Fabian and Ashley Dawn Leblanc. Congratulations.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also congratulate their teacher, Liz Pope, at the Elder Daniel Sonfrere Community Learning Centre, and to the people of Aurora College Fort Smith who make community learning centres functional and successful. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Members, I would like to turn your attention to visitors in the gallery. We have with us the mayor of Yellowknife, His Worship Mark Heyck. Thank you for being here with us.
Colleagues, allow me to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery, as well, of Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. As many of you know, Mr. Whitford has many roles; former Commissioner, former Speaker, former Minister, former Member, former Sergeant-at-Arms, honorary clerk at the table, and Member of the Order of the Northwest Territories. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Whitford to the House this afternoon. It's always a pleasure having you here in the House. Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a couple of people who are incredibly important to me. First, I would like to recognize my parents, J.R. and Loretta Abernethy, who are proud new grandparents. I would also like to recognize my amazing wife, Carolyn Smith. For the first time ever, I am incredibly proud to introduce my baby boy, John Russell Smith Abernethy, who has been with us for 30 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes, and 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 seconds. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize and add to the list of accolades and welcome Mr. Tony Whitford as a Yellowknife North resident. I would also like to recognize another Yellowknife North resident, Senior Administrative Officer for the City of Yellowknife Sheila Bassi-Kellett, and, of course, recognize, as I always do, my former city council colleague and the mayor of the City of Yellowknife, Mayor Mark Heyck. Thank you, and welcome.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mayor Mark Heyck is my constituent, and he has served the city with a long and distinguished career as a city councillor and as a mayor. This may be one of his last appearances here in that role, and so I would like to thank him for the length and the integrity of his public service. Mahsi.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Kevin Smith, Deputy Mayor of Fort Smith and recently very active in the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of our Pages today. She is from Range Lake, Ms. Makayla Lane. Welcome. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.
