Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the honourable Wally Schumann will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Tourism meeting in Calgary, Alberta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, next month, after we have all gone home to our communities, we will see communities, provinces, and territories across the country recognizing National Housing Day. Since 1998, this has been considered a day of action on the urgent housing needs of many Canadians.
On November 22nd, Mr. Speaker, I hope you will remember this statement because, like so many northern communities, housing needs in the Mackenzie Delta are urgent, also.
I am talking about families on the waiting list for three years or more, with no end in sight, even with letters of support from doctors expressing the urgency of their housing needs.
I am talking about young people putting off starting families of their own because there is nowhere to live. Mr. Speaker, bucking national trends, communities in my riding are actually growing. People who left to seek work or go to school in Inuvik, Yellowknife, or Whitehorse want to come home.
The Mackenzie Delta wants to welcome them, Mr. Speaker, but the fact remains: there just are not enough houses. Thanks to an injection of federal money and a partnership with the NWT Housing Corporation, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation is introducing new units across the settlement region, but, Mr. Speaker, here's the thing: I understand these will not be additional units, instead slowly replacing stock that is aging out of the Housing Corporation's inventory. This means we will still be in a shortage, especially in Aklavik and Fort McPherson.
The NWT Housing Corporation has some existing projects under way, Mr. Speaker, but there is still a long way to go to put a roof over the heads of some of our most vulnerable residents. I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on a topic which I know is on the minds of many Northerners. Aurora College.
When most of us were elected in 2015, we made post-secondary education and the future of the college a key campaign issue, so it was not a surprise that made its way into our mandate. Yet, after three years, we are no further ahead on post-secondary education and a renewed mandate for Aurora College than when we started. I, like many others, am concerned by the tone and shape this conversation has taken. We have seen a report published advising the GNWT of how best to move forward on this investment in the next generation of Northerners, and it seems to many that this investment has become a political football thrown back and forth for the benefit of politicians rather than for the benefit of students and residents of the Northwest Territories.
The decision-making process has been delayed again and again, and I assume that the Minister's much-anticipated response to this report will again hold off any decision by this legislative body until after the next election. This means that, with this existing process, the college and students cannot begin a plan for the prospect of expanding northern education until 2019 or 2020, at best, based on the rate the government has put into this project to date.
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: the current focus of this government is not student-centred. Again, this has become a political hockey puck being passed around with seemingly no end. How can students and their parents in the NWT have confidence that this government has their best interests in mind?
At present, our talks seem to pit community against community, as opposed to trying to find a consensus of what is ultimately best for northern students. Students, regardless of the final location of the college, will need amenities, housing, social, educational; access to transport; technological solutions; and a well-rounded quality of campus life. These must be at the centre of our decision-making process, as opposed to what is most politically expedient for particular MLAs who put the interests of one community above others.
Young Northerners need to know that this government has their best interests in mind and that we are committed to putting their needs before the political calculations of individual Members. I hope we can, as a Legislative Assembly, find a meaningful consensus and allow shovels to get into the ground as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in small northern communities, having each other is all we have, and helping each other in a time of need is essential. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided.] Case in point: at the beginning of the month, there was a family in Fort Providence who were at their fall fish camp, and they attempted to walk back to the community. After two days of walking and three quarters of the way into town, an elderly couple had to be rescued as nighttime temperatures dipped to minus seven.
Mr. Speaker, elders Antoine Canadien and Celine Lesage are both active traditional harvesters who fish in the falltime. They experienced mechanical issues with their outboard motor and decided to walk back to town.
After the second night of their walk back to town, the elders sent their two grandchildren for help. A search team was mobilized, with people on quads, boats, and a helicopter.
Mr. Speaker, fortunately, the elders were located and brought into town and to the health centre. Both are doing well and are grateful for their bush survival skills, which enabled them to survive without food or water during their walk back to town.
A special thanks to the following people; James Nadli, Eric Nadli, Ernest Nadli, and George Nadli, Sheldon Farcy, Cameron Sapp, Michael Vandell, Rick Lesage, Colin Malewski, Danny Beaulieu, and Edward Landry.
Mr. Speaker, elders Antoine Canadien and Celine Lesage are very thankful to the people who went out searching for them. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I get into my Member's statement, I would like to inform the House that I am going to be out of the House on Tuesday to Thursday for personal issues. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, during my visit to the communities of Fort Liard and Wrigley, the chiefs were questioning why the GNWT is charging members or looking at charging band members who have traditional cabins $840 per year. This goes against Treaty 11. The chiefs were able to share with me the Report of The Commissioner for Treaty No. 11, dated October 12, 1921. The author of the report was D.C. Scott, Esquire, Deputy Superintendent General, Department of Indian Affairs. This report was done by the deputy superintendent who helped bring forward Treaty No. 11.
In the report, there are a number of quotes I would like to share: "I had several meetings with them (Providence Indians), and explained the terms of the treaty. They were very apt in asking questions, and here, as in all the other posts where the treaty was signed, the questions asked and the difficulties encountered were much the same. The Indians seemed afraid, for one thing, that their liberty to hunt, trap and fish would be taken away or curtailed, but were assured by me that this would not be the case, and the government will expect them to support themselves in their own way, and, in fact, that more twine for nets and more ammunition were given under the terms of this treaty than under any of the preceding ones; this went a long way to calm their fears."
A second one: "Also, the said Indian rights, titles and privileges whatsoever to all other lands wherever situated in the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories or in any other portion of the Dominion of Canada. To have and to hold the same to His Majesty the King and His Predecessors forever.
His Majesty the King hereby agrees with the said Indians that they shall have the right to pursue their right vocations of hunting, trapping, and fishing throughout the tract surrendered as therefore to subscribe, subject to such regulations as may from time to time be made by the Government of the Canada acting under the authority of His Majesty, and saving and excepting such tracts as may be required or taken up from the time of settlement, mining and trading or other purposes."
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask unanimous consent to finish my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues. Now, with this in mind, they are wondering why the GNWT Department of Lands is able to supersede Treaty 11 and impose the lease fee on their traditional cabins, which will cause them hardship and their ability to hunt, trap, and fish. They had the right to use this land and build their traditional cabins as they saw fit in their traditional territories. Now, the GNWT is saying no. That is not right, and if they want the certain locations, they must pay $840. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Lands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Waste recycling is a continuous and community effort. These efforts can be measured by the tidiness and organized appearance of community landfills.
Mr. Speaker, ENR delivered in 2009 a waste landfill audit per community. This audit included a recycling cost. The inventory included such items as household appliances, barrels of waste fluids, batteries, tires, et cetera.
Mr. Speaker, ongoing arrangements were made since the study was delivered, but as we know, waste is an ever-generating one and the opportunity of disposal.
Mr. Speaker, solutions for improving the management of waste resources need to consider the diverse interest of all our groups producing and managing waste. The NWT's unique challenges include our northern climate, small and isolated population, with a lack of all-season roads to licenced facilities.
Mr. Speaker, in preparation for the upcoming winter road season, discussions with our northern communities must take place now for a disposal plan to the appropriate licensed waste facilities in the south.
Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will talk about the possibilities of direct funding by the NWT Housing Corporation to some of Indigenous communities that may be in a position to receive direct funding for the various home ownership programs delivered by the Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, over the past few years there have been various strategies, initiatives, plans, and so on, all aimed at reducing core need for housing across the NWT. One of these strategies was announced last year by the federal government. They are calling it a Northern Housing Strategy, which provides $300 million to three territories over 10 years. Of this pot, the NWT got $36 million, which is only $3.6 million per year, which is hardly anything to get excited about. It hardly puts a dent on the core need.
This was also followed, Mr. Speaker, by another federal strategy that put $600 million towards housing for Indigenous reserves across southern Canada, which unfortunately left the NWT out of the equation.
Mr. Speaker, I have asked the NWT Housing Corporation on many occasions to develop community housing plans within each community across the North. Although nothing is likely to occur anytime soon, a community housing plan can tell us what needs to be done community by community to reduce core need.
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the NWT Housing Corporation knows what it will take to develop these housing plans, and if they were to develop the plans, it would be beyond the life of this government.
However, Mr. Speaker, I have a solution. Right now, the Housing Corporation has the ability to sign partnership agreements with communities that can get projects completed. I suggest the Housing Corporation begin working with communities to determine which of them can take responsibility for home-ownership programs delivered to its residents.
Over the next few months, Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation can deliver programs that will keep seniors in their own home as long as possible, and the plan can involve the Home Care Program from Health and Social Services. I'm not talking about the aging in place program that is currently rolled out by the Housing Corporation for $10,000. It's a good program, but it's not enough money to modify the homes and make homes senior friendly. We need houses that our seniors can move around barrier-free and are efficient to operate.
Mr. Speaker, I can go on and on about the benefits of just one initiative I have in mind. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. It's time for the NWT Housing Corporation to start funding community governments directly in order to put people to work and help seniors stay in their own homes in their own communities as long as possible. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the external review of the Aurora College Social Work Diploma Program. I obtained the review last month, not through the Minister but through an access to information request. I believe that one of the reasons this review has not been made public is because it contradicts the government's line. The review shows the program is worthwhile. It should never have been cut. Instead, it must be redeveloped to improve student success.
Mr. Speaker, the decision to end the social work program came in response to the government's decision to cut spending in all departments, including Aurora College. After the uproar over ending the program, the Minister of the day reinstated it, but then put the enrolment on hold. Only after all of that happened did the college contract a review of the social work program.
Mr. Speaker, after a second year without enrolment, the program is dying a slow death, and the decision to let it die is fundamentally wrong. The program has many strengths, including meeting the requirements for licensed social workers, its excellent instructors, its students who are from the population they will be working with as social workers. What would make it a better program, as the review recommends, is redeveloping it as a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Degrees are now the norm for social workers. A degree program would address the problem of students having to take third- and fourth-year courses in their first year because university-level elective courses aren't available in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, the review makes some other important recommendations. First, to gather program partners together to create an advisory committee that will assist with development of the program and future evaluation. Second, improve program reporting so that both the college and the program itself are using the same measurements. Third, screen students more rigorously to ensure they can meet the challenges of the program and provide them with more support to graduate on time.
Mr. Speaker, the Aurora College Foundational Review recommends the college become a degree-granting institution. Let's start with the social work program. The government must immediately work with the college to implement the report recommendations before the last staff and students leave and there's nothing left to work with. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. On October 4th, the federal Ministers announced that they would begin negotiation of an offshore petroleum resource co-management and resource-sharing agreement with Yukon, the lnuvialuit, and the Northwest Territories. The federal Ministers also announced their intention to "co-develop the scope and governance framework for a science-based, life-cycle impact assessment review every five years that takes into account marine and climate change science" with regard to the moratorium on rights issuances. The Ministers also said that the terms of the existing licences in the Arctic offshore will be preserved by remitting the balance of any financial deposit to affected licence holders and that required licence activities will be suspended for the duration of the moratorium. Even Russia has an indefinite state-imposed offshore petroleum rights issuance moratorium in place that will remain in force until at least 2020 to ensure orderly development. There has been no work in the Canadian Arctic offshore since at least 2014, and no drilling since 2006 because there is simply no interest. Most serious is that there is no proven method of stopping a blow-out, and no company has a proven same-season well relief capacity.
Oil spill contingency in the Arctic offshore is also inadequate. The likelihood of any future offshore petroleum development in the next 10 years is very dim at best and very risky. It's not the kind of future I would bet on, and there is certainly a need to look at more sustainable and reliable economic activities for the region.
While I welcome news of the negotiations, what is not clear is how much the negotiations will cost our government and how Regular MLAs will be involved in the development of the negotiation mandate, and then regularly updated. It is rather ironic that our government will participate in a science-based lifecycle impact assessment of offshore petroleum resource, petroleum exploration, and development, when Cabinet has refused to do the same for onshore hydraulic fracturing despite this being part of our mandate.
I will have questions for the Premier later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the 18th Assembly, we've been talking a lot about the knowledge economy and the potential for developing centres of excellence and knowledge clusters. These are important aspects of our mandate commitment to diversify the economy. To that end, I'm excited to tell Members of the Assembly about a new initiative called the Incubator for Northern Design and Innovation, or INDI.
The concept of INDI was developed by my friend Dr. Gavin Renwick. He has taught and worked in architecture and design in the North for over two decades. His ground-breaking doctorate thesis connected traditional knowledge with contemporary design. Gavin is also the Canada Research Chair in Design Studies. He has built an excellent northern support team to help make INDI a reality, and the good news is the INDI team has put in a lot of hard work and will be applying to the Arctic Inspiration Prize for additional funding support as of today. I am super proud to be the nominator for this submission.
INDI will support design innovation and sustainable economies in the NWT; it will promote creative exchange between various ways of knowing; it will help create networks and collaborations between northern communities, creative industries, academia, and entrepreneurs.
Mr. Speaker, INDI will support the North to become a centre of new ideas by attracting innovators and creative artists, sustaining Indigenous knowledge and skill. INDI wants to bring together land-based knowledge with contemporary design thinking and technologies. It will seek pioneering ways to build community-led solutions. It will build on Northerners' unique land-based knowledge to promote an economically sustainable future. INDI will inspire northern youth and communities to link areas of social innovation, design thinking, social learning, and creative economies. It will encourage innovation to connect local knowledge and skills with a global creative economy.
Think of the examples I gave a while back about the young Indigenous woman who developed an app to teach others the history of her people and sells it online, or the young Indigenous man who learned from his elders how to build teepees and goes on to design homes that are better suited for his people's way of life.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, colleagues, and thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm excited to be working with its strong founding team, and I am proud to be the nominator of INDI for the Arctic Inspiration Prize. Colleagues, please join me in congratulating Dr. Renwick, Dr. Chetwynd, and the rest of the INDI team on their efforts to date in developing the Incubator for Northern Design and Innovation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2015 this House passed a motion introduced by the former MLA for Hay River South to formally observe today, October 15th, as an annual special day of awareness and remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss in the Northwest Territories. In doing so, the NWT joined a number of other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world which use today to recognize and raise awareness of the prominence of pregnancy loss and infant death, with an aim to support women and families who experience such losses and to remember the children who have passed.
Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, the world isn't fair and a child is lost and no one is at fault, and all we can do is be mindful, offer support, and attempt to console. However, today reminds us that we must also work to provide the education and pre-natal care required to reduce preventable losses and ensure that every child is given the greatest opportunity possible to grow up.
The loss of a pregnancy or infant can take a heavy emotional toll, and parents can often feel isolated in their grief. One of the goals of today is to help break that isolation by starting a conversation that will allow parents to open up and work toward healing. To that end, there is a candlelight vigil today known as the International Wave of Light. Candles will be lit at 7:00 p.m. local time in countries all around the world and remain lit for one hour. That means that for 24 continuous hours, when candles are put out in one time zone, they are lit in another.
Hay River's event will begin at 7:00 p.m. tonight at the recreation centre. Everyone is welcome to attend and light a candle in remembrance of a baby who was taken too soon, or to show support for the women and families in Hay River and around the world who have experienced this type of loss. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing continues to be one of the biggest contributing factors to social ills within the Nunakput region. Although $15 million was delivered directly to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation from the federal government, the need for more homes to be constructed is bleakly felt by those who continue to remain on the waiting list. With the cancellation of MTS barges, this means four homes aren't being built to completion this winter.
Mr. Speaker, housing can be more than just a building; housing can be an opportunity for social progress. The communities have strengths and skills that could be of use, that need to be used. Building on these local capacities can give our people a sense of empowerment and resilience.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to take a look at the contractors who build these homes in the territory. Recently in Nunakput, there have been unfinished homes due to contractors not fulfilling commitments to the Housing Corporation. Ultimately, this has a ripple effect on the residents who are homeless, residents who are on the waiting list, and Northerners who are scheduled to move into a new home.
Mr. Speaker, we hope that this will encourage the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to monitor progress, inspect projects, and do a better job than average, as this business costs money at the end of the day.
Mr. Speaker, I'm looking forward to seeing how partnership between Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation rolls out, as it could have positive impacts for all Northerners. Mr. Speaker, we must think progressively when it comes to housing to improve the quality of life for all Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll have questions for the Minister of Housing later.
Members, I'd like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery. I'm pleased to recognize Ms. Patricia Chaychuk here with us as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Ms. Chaychuk has come north with a group of visiting interns from the Manitoba Legislature who will be our guests during this week. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Chaychuk to our proceedings today. Welcome. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to welcome my wife, Judy, to the gallery and to the Assembly, and she's also a constituent of Inuvik Boot Lake. Speaking of constituents, I would like to recognize Donna Rogers who is a constituent of Inuvik Twin Lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife north.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to recognize two key members of the Incubator for Northern Design and Innovation. I'd like to recognize Dr. Courtney Chetwynd, artist and researcher. She is also the chief development officer of INDI and happens to be a Yellowknife North resident. I'd also like to recognize my good friend, Dr. Gavin Renwick. He is the Canada Research Chair in Design Studies and is the creative director of INDI. Welcome, and thank you for being here.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to come and sit in the House and see the proceedings, and over the years, I haven't seen Ms. Donna Rogers here, so I would like to welcome her, from Inuvik, even though she is a constituent of Twin Lakes, and to welcome my constituent from Boot Lake, Ms. Judy McLeod.
We also have some special guests in the audience here, Mr. Howie Miller, well-renowned Canadian comedian, so welcome. I know he is passing through from Iqaluit with his wife, Jen Houseman, and I would also just like to recognize Mr. Deneze Nakehk'o, a long-time friend and good basketball buddy of mine. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two of my constituents from the fine riding of Kam Lake, Ms. Heather Nakehk'o and Deneze Nakehk'o. Thank you for being here today.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.
