Mr. Speaker, we know that mental health and addictions issues are top of mind for many NWT residents, and they are also a priority area in the mandate of this Legislative Assembly. To guide our work to address these important issues affecting our communities, the Department of Health and Social Services developed a Strategic Framework for Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in the fall of 2016. One of the important focus areas of the framework was to ensure that mental health and addiction services are delivered locally, with culturally appropriate methods. I am pleased to provide Members with an update on our work to support on-the-land healing initiatives as part of our overall approach to addressing mental health and addictions issues in our territory.
Mr. Speaker, collectively we have become much more aware of the devastating and prolonged effects of residential schools and other forms of systemic abuse, which continue to affect Indigenous peoples and communities in the NWT. We know that many survivors of residential school continue to live with the effects of this abuse, along with the impacts of racism and marginalization, and some have turned to alcohol and drugs in order to cope.
While there is no one solution to address the intergenerational impacts and legacy of residential schools on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, families, and communities, our health system needs to be able to support our residents on their healing journeys. To do this, our health and social services system must respect traditional healing approaches and support Indigenous residents so that they may choose for themselves the paths to wellness that will be most relevant and meaningful, including on-the-land options.
We have heard from residents and Indigenous leaders through community engagement that on-the-land support is a necessary and foundational part of their healing journey.
A few years ago, we established the On-the-Land Healing Fund for mental health and addictions. This supports Indigenous governments in developing and delivering culturally relevant and safe land-based healing programs specific to the regions, cultures, and peoples. The department allocates $1.23 million annually to the fund, accessible to regional Indigenous governments and community-based Indigenous governments. In 2018-2019, a total of eight contribution agreements have been signed. During this time, we have also taken steps to ensure that land-based and culturally-based programs are supported as part of our overall mental health and addictions system.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking another significant step towards supporting land-based healing options for our residents. We are proposing new land-based programming with specific focus on mobile addictions treatment and family-based treatment. For many years, our residents have told us that there is a need for mobile treatment options and person- and family-centered approaches to mental wellness and addiction recovery support, and we are taking the steps and actions to bring those options to them.
Mobile treatment refers to treatment that takes place in a community setting, by coming to the community instead of having people travel outside of their communities to get the help and support they need. This approach puts strong emphasis on community involvement, and before an actual treatment program is implemented, the community must acknowledge that a substance-abuse problem exists and be committed and involved in addressing the problem. Part of how we work to ensure that mobile treatment is providing meaningful and lasting benefits to residents is by making sure that community resources and stakeholders are involved in the preparation and in coordinating after-care and recovery supports.
The importance of after-care and recovery supports as part of our mobile treatment approach was echoed by the Standing Committee on Social Development, who provided recommendations around addiction programming following their tours of addiction-treatment facilities in December 2017. These recommendations include improving approaches to after-care for individuals returning from addictions treatment, enhancing peer support, and providing family-support programs for addictions.
Mr. Speaker, our proposed land-based mobile addictions treatment approach addresses these recommendations in several ways:
land-based, mobile addiction treatment activities can serve as an important support for individuals returning from addictions treatment and who need support to solidify their recovery;
participation in land-based activities connects participants with other individuals also working towards recovery from addictions, which enhances their social network and connections with peers who can provide support; and
Indigenous governments can use funding to provide land-based mobile treatment and after-care activities to individuals and families.
Mr. Speaker, a great deal of work still needs to happen to improve health and social outcomes of Indigenous people. The mobile-treatment option is an important step taken in addressing what we heard from residents and aligns with this government's mandate commitment towards supporting individuals in their recovery journey from addictions. Recognizing the uniqueness of each person's journey and that there are many pathways to wellness, the department provides a variety of support services, including the Community Counselling Program, child and youth care counsellors located within the school system, and southern treatment options just to name a few. This work represents the beginning of a system-wide transformation focused on creating safer spaces, increasing accessibility, and enhancing approaches to care across the spectrum of mental health and addictions recovery in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Senator Margaret Dawn Anderson is an lnuvialuk who was raised in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. She is the daughter of Ms. Sarah Anderson. She holds a bachelor's degree in child and youth care with distinction from the University of Victoria, where she is currently completing her master's in Indigenous governance. Senator Anderson worked with the Government of Northwest Territories for 22 years with the Department of Health & Social Services and the Department of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, before returning to school, Ms. Anderson served in various roles with the Government of Northwest Territories. Notably, she was the director of community justice and policing, where she implemented positive changes to the territorial justice system. She also helped develop and implement the territory's Wellness Court Program, a therapeutic program that attempts to reduce recidivism by treating underlying issues like mental health, addictions, and cognitive challenges.
Senator Anderson's dedication to the Northwest Territories and to improving the lives of others is best displayed through her work as an active member of the Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court and the development and implementation of the Planning Action Responsibly Toward Non-Violent Empowered Relationships (PARTNER) Program, a northern-based program for low- to medium-risk domestic violence offenders. She also conducted a review of the Northwest Territories Community Justice Program through consultations which resulted in a report with several recommendations to improve community-based restorative justice programming. Senator Anderson was also engaged in the development, implementation, and roll-out of the Integrated Case Management Program (ICM) pilot project, which aims to create, foster, and deliver a coordinated, collaborative, multi-departmental, client-centered approach that removes system barriers and service gaps for individuals with complex needs. ICM is led by the Department of Justice, and it is in partnership with Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, most recently, Senator Anderson worked for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in Inuvik as she prepared for her defence on her community governance project. In this role, she participated in Inuvialuit self-government negotiations between the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Government of the Northwest Territories and also the Government of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, Senator Anderson is a two-time recipient of the territorial Premier's Award for Excellence in her leadership and commitment to improving the lives of Northerners in both the individual and team category. She is a strong leader with a great passion for helping others. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share that Dawn has been appointed as the Senator for the Northwest Territories on December 12, 2018, and she is also the first-time female Senator to represent the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to commend Ms. Anderson on her achievements and also the role model that she is, not for just Inuvialuik but Indigenous women across the territory. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, today, I am reflecting on the fifth annual Anti-Poverty Roundtable, held in Hay River in November. I appreciate the Minster's invitation to attend and being able to hear from colleagues taking action on poverty throughout the territory as well as the opportunity to see what local organizations are doing and to meet their dedicated staff.
There is no question that anti-poverty efforts have come a long way since the GNWT Anti-Poverty Action Plan was introduced. The anti-poverty fund for grass-roots projects is now $1 million. There is more support for homelessness and communities outside of Yellowknife and for youth. Income-assistance clients receive more transfers from government than ever before.
While government is doing more, I am sad to say it is not doing enough. One in four children in the NWT live in poverty. The No Place for Poverty Coalition made 21 recommendations to the Minister to strengthen the next Anti-Poverty Action Plan, and we look forward to hearing they have been adopted.
Mr. Speaker, the action plan needs to include well-defined goals for which there is required funding for implementation and robust evaluation. It needs to focus on long-term solutions. Let's take hunger as an example. Statistics Canada says one-third of NWT children live in homes where having enough to eat is an issue. In addition to funding initiatives that respond to people who are hungry today, government needs to develop and pilot programs that improve food availability and affordability over the long term.
I also recommend both short- and long-term goals that relate to increasing the benefits paid by income assistance. Almost 5 percent of the territory's population is supported by income assistance, a number that has been growing, especially in Yellowknife and the Beaufort-Delta. While the department hasn't been able to provide analysis of how long families stay on income assistance, my sense is that some families rely on it from one generation to the next, to their detriment.
Mr. Speaker, an investment in poverty reduction pays off by requiring government to spend less on the negative effects of poverty, including poor health, poor educational outcomes, and poor employment prospects, to name a few. I will have questions about the action plan for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair to say that this week we are all breathing a little easier. For many Northerners, labour disruptions bring up painful memories of deep divisions in our community. Thankfully, we have avoided a recurrence and we hope we can achieve a final resolution that respects our dedicated, professional public service members and the services they provide.
Mr. Speaker, as elected MLAs, it is important that we remember who put us here. The value of the work we do in this building must always be measured by its impact on our constituents. They are the people who gave us their trust.
In turn, it is important to recognize the work of members of the media who help people understand complex public issues. We live in a time when the media has a huge impact in our lives, so it is increasingly important that we can trust what we see and hear.
In context of recent weeks, I would especially like to compliment the work of Ollie Williams at Cabin Radio. His reports about the negotiations were frank and open and offered in-depth explanation of difficult and potentially divisive issues. In a situation where emotions can run high and conflict is too easily reached, his balanced, fair reporting was crucial to serving the public interest.
Another example of the northern media providing important understanding was at the AME Roundup in Vancouver. Northern media, including CBC's Hilary Bird, were covering roundup for the first time this year and were able to better convey the importance of the work that happens there. I know that not everybody agrees that our government should invest as much as we do in going to roundup, but fair and balanced coverage of issues and events like these are crucial to our residents' knowledge and understanding of the issues, to enable them to reach their own informed opinions.
Mr. Speaker, sadly, we live in days of fake news, when even known facts are argued, debated, and disputed. In such times, honest, balanced, and fair journalism is crucial in providing people with real understanding of public issues. In the small, close-knit community of the North, we are fortunate to be well-served by a principled and impartial journalistic community. I am pleased to take this opportunity to acknowledge their important contribution.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. On October 11 of last year, I made a Member's statement on the issue of coordination of parental leave benefits with the changes to federal legislation that will improve these benefits.
These changes to the Canada Labour Code will provide a minimum of five weeks' paid leave for each parent. The changes were originally to come into effect on June 1, 2019, but the federal government recently moved up that effective date to March 17 of this year.
Amendments are required of our Employment Standards Act that will require employers to honour extended leave requests from their employees. I commend the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for fast-tracking our public consultations on amendments to the Employment Standard Act, that closed on January 14th, and the expanded scope of leave for domestic violence for caregivers and others as proposed by the department. Clearly, though, we will not be ready for the effective date of the federal legislation on March 17th.
It is not clear how long it will take us to catch up to the federal government and ensure that our families are entitled to the same parental leave benefits as other Canadians. Such benefits clearly lead to stronger families, and I am disappointed that we did not coordinate our efforts more closely with what the federal government has been doing.
Although this is obviously a sensitive area, yet another method to ensure parents receive the best possible benefits would be for our government to unilaterally offer to amend collective agreements to ensure that our employees would have their jobs protected while away on the improved federal parental leave.
I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment later today to make sure that our families receive the best possible parental leave. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this point, we have roughly six months left until our time as MLAs for this Assembly wraps up, and I am happy to hear that the long-awaited Mineral Resources Act will finally be made public. Today, I would like to address the Minister's comments rather than the particulars of the legislation itself.
The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment has spoken at length, in public and in this House, about the benefits of the new act. It will bring:
improved regulatory certainty, while respecting treaty rights;
more benefits to communities from mining activity;
superior consultation with stakeholders;
predictable dispute resolutions;
a clear, competitive regulatory framework for the 21st century.
The list goes on.
Many in the mineral resources industry and Indigenous organizations and governments continue to express their dissatisfaction that one of the most significant pieces of regulatory legislation, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, remains firmly in the hands of Ottawa and out of reach of this Assembly and arguably out of touch with the realities on the ground. I have not yet heard any Member of the Executive Council make devolution of this crucial and foundational piece of regulatory authority a priority of this government. Until the MVRMA is brought home for Northerners to shape, our regulatory regime will sorely be lacking in predictability and will continue to be difficult to navigate, at best.
I do wonder, though, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the years of public engagement and collaboration have really resulted in a government who understands the concerns, needs, and wants of the peoples it is here to represent in regards to this new legislation, further, the perspectives of industry and Indigenous partners, for that matter.
The Minister has made some mutually exclusive comments on the MRA which have left me and many members of the public understandably confused. On January 30th, published in the Yellowknifer, the Minister is quoted discussing the Mineral Resources Act: "I'm not happy with it. Indigenous governments won't be happy with it. Industry isn't going to be happy with it."
Then, Mr. Speaker, on February 8th in this House, according to Hansard, the Minister stated, "It is the culmination of years of research, public engagement, collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations, and constant engagement with the industry." So why do we have a clear mutually exclusive definition of the bill based on the Minister's comments? I would like him to clarify this for the record, so we can truly understand if this legislation is meeting the needs of Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Promising gold find in the Sahtu region: Mr. Speaker, I am happy to highlight for my colleagues a new exploration discovery coming from the Sahtu Region.
It comes from Evrim Resources Corporation, a precious and base metals project generator who in January announced surface sampling results from their Astra gold project.
This project is joint between Evrim and Newmont Mining Corporation, one of the world's largest gold producers. It has led to the acquisition of a 23,250 square-kilometre prospective land package along the border of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Of note is the discovery of a 9.5-kilometre-long gold trend that includes samples returning up to 11.6 grams per tonne of gold over significant widths. Evrim's discovery is the result of two years of boots-on-the-ground exploration from their exploration teams.
The Astro Gold Project is located six kilometres north of the mile 222 airstrip and 195 kilometres northeast of the community of Ross River, along the Canol Road, which is providing seasonal road access to the southern boundary of the property. Evrim and Newmont are now acquiring the necessary permits for a drill program for this coming summer.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Evrim's CEO recognized in the news release that the Astro project is located within the traditional territory of the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim and stated that both Evrim and Newmont are committed to developing a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on respect and transparency.
Mr. Speaker, the results reported by Evrim are encouraging, especially in a region that is known for its oil and gas. There are very few surface showings found anywhere in the world reporting this grade and width of gold. It speaks to the NWT's mineral potential in the Sahtu.
We are looking forward to the future of the project and the prosperity it will bring to the Sahtu residents and the people of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that addiction issues are a serious problem in the Northwest Territories. I am on the Standing Committee on Social Development. Last year, we tabled a report on adult residential addictions treatment facilities. What we found out will not come as a surprise. The NWT faces an uphill battle when it comes to dealing with addictions. For example, our research told us that, in 2015-2016, the NWT had the second-highest per-capita level of alcohol consumption in Canada, not counting bootlegging sales, and our residents were hospitalized due to alcohol consumption at a rate of 1,315 people per 100,000. On top of that, residents of our small communities were likely to experience harm from someone's drinking. News headlines regularly tell us that illegal drugs are coming to the NWT and harming vulnerable people.
Northerners have often called on their MLAs and on this government to offer addictions treatment options in the NWT. Currently, residents have the choice of four facilities in Alberta and BC.
Mr. Speaker, after standing empty for five years, the Dene Wellness Centre opened Wednesday, January 9, 2019, on the Hay River reserve. With room for 64 people overnight, the centre plans for wellness programming deeply rooted in Dene values and laws. Executive Director Heidi Yardley has worked across the North, and is a psychologist and therapist.
The centre will have ceremonial and traditional practices as an important component of healing. Two K'atlodeeche First Nation elders, Pat Martel and Raymond Sonfrere, will guide and help oversee the work of the centre.
Mr. Speaker, Yardley also has her staff sign a policy agreeing to follow the Dene laws: "We don't have a formal code of conduct because that's not the Dene way. We follow the Dene laws and the Dene values."
Yardley would also like to create a traditional-knowledge-holder position; however, it is dependent on funding.
Indigenous groups from across the NWT are involved in the centre, and an advisory council is being established, with invitations going out to groups from every treaty settlement region in the territory.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, an advisory council has been established with invites out to groups from every treaty settlement region in the NWT. The Northwest Territories Metis Nation, the GNWT, and the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation are also involved. The centre will be running a recovery, trauma, and depression groups over the next few months.
The building had sat vacant since 2013, when the Territorial government shut the territory's last treatment centre down. The K'atlodeeche First Nation had been actively negotiating with the NWT government to access the building since 2016. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I'd like to talk a little bit about the Taltson River and the Taltson hydro dam development.
[English translation not provided.]
[Translation] The school burned in the late '50's before the people were there and kids were going to school there. There are a lot of people living on the other side. People used to live very well there. People were trapping.
After the school burned down, the people were moved. A lot of people moved to Yellowknife. They had no jobs. None of them went to school. They couldn't trap anymore once they got here. Once they couldn't hunt here, that's where they ended up in the streets, and they died here.
Some of the people who moved to Fort Resolution, who lived there, it was a little better there. They didn't have very much to work with. The government then helped them much. They will not be building the school back in Rocher River, they were told. In the case the kids wanted to go to school, they had to move to Fort Resolution. People were still trapping around the area.
There were still a few people living there. The people who were living around the Taltson River were well-provided-for. There were a lot of beavers. There were a lot of furs. My mother told me that, in 1957, my dad killed so many beavers there, my mom, my dad, and another lady who used to help us had to all work together to prepare the fur. Some days, there were so many furs, you couldn't hunt.
After 1964, in the springtime, we went back to where we trapped. We went back in 1964. There was nothing there. There was absolutely no game, nothing to hunt. During the wintertime, when the flooding was happening in the winter, all the beaver dams and muskrat lodges were all flooded out, and they were all killed. There was no more game. That dam is the cause of it, and the government is going to be working on that again this week here. The Taltson River that is being talked on, I'm going to be reading all the documents that are pertaining to the dam development, and then I will be asking the government. Thank you. [Translation ends.]
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I have a concern from Tsiigehtchic on how the department is micro-managing the ice bridge construction in Tsiigehtchic.
In the past, the contract with the community was to supply all labour and equipment needed to complete the work. We have seen a huge shift in how this work is done since a decision was made to extend the ferry service during the winter months. The department at that time even brought a number of their staff and equipment from the South Slave region to work with the community.
Since then, Mr. Speaker, the department now uses their own heavy equipment, Sno-Cats, backhoes, Bombardiers, sprayer, and auger. This is taking revenue away from the community of Tsiigehtchic and other small business owners in our region.
The department will probably say they are trying to recover overspending, but, in fact, this overspending is due to operating their own equipment and not how our community is managing the contract.
Mr. Speaker, while the department believes they are saving money by using their equipment, what they are actually doing is taking employment away from my constituents, many of which look forward to this seasonal work, especially just before Christmas. This year, we had 14 people working at the beginning, but that only lasted for 16 days. Then, in December, we only had four people employed, and three in January. You can imagine how disappointed the workers were. Usually, they get six weeks' worth of work during this time before Christmas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions later today. Mahsi.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Danny Allaire was born in Fort Simpson on January 26, 1975, to Phoebe and Daniel Allaire. He was raised and lived his whole life in Fort Simpson. He passed away on January 12, 2019.
After graduating high school, Danny worked as a seasonal crew leader, fighting fires with the GNWT and later with the Nogha fire crew.
During the winter months, Danny spent his time on the land that he loved so much. He would trap and hunt at Notana Lake with his grandparents, Gabe and Mary Cazon, and other family members.
In 2000, Danny left for Fort Smith to attend Aurora College, along with his father, Daniel. They both enrolled in the Environment and Natural Resources Program. In 2002, Danny and his dad graduated with honours.
After graduating in the spring of 2002, Danny's career as a wildlife technician began at ENR. Being a wildlife technician for Danny was immensely rewarding, enabling him to travel and study wildlife across the North.
A large part of Danny's work was surveying caribou, bison, sheep, and moose. He was quite proud of his many co-written scientific research papers with his supervisor, Nic Larter, and having them published.
Being the hunter that he was, when somebody asked where all the moose are, Danny's reply was, "In the bush."
He was taught how to hunt, fish, and trap in an ever-revolving traditional atmosphere with teachings from his parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. He caught his first martin at the age of four and shot his first moose at 14.
He was very close to his family, especially his sister, Danita. He was always willing to share his knowledge and pass on traditional ways to his younger cousins.
Danny was an artist. He understood beauty in words and saw beauty in expressions. He loved music, dancing, and laughing with his many friends. He carved, painted, drew pictures, wrote poetry, sang, and listened to music. He was a photographer, always wanting to share the moments he captured.
Danny appreciated relationships, whether it was with the land, family, or friends. There were many weekends when you could have walked up to his house and heard his roaring laughter. If he wasn't laughing, he was singing along to one of his many favourite bands, sometimes off-beat, but that never mattered.
In times of trial and tears, let's remember him saying, "Can't we all just along?" and maybe smile in memory.
The Allaire and the Cazon families would like to thank everybody for all of their love and support in this difficult time. We have all been blessed to know him and share his life. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to a presence in the gallery. I would like to welcome the new NWT Senator to our proceedings, Senator Dawn Anderson. Masi for being here with us.
Also present before us is Mr. David Jones, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, who has joined us in the gallery today. Later on this afternoon, I will table the Conflict of Interest Commissioner's 2018 Annual Report. Masi for joining us.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I made my Member's statement on Dawn Anderson, our newest Senator, and I would like to welcome Dawn to the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Dawn has probably sat in here with the Department of Justice and other departments, and I would like to commend her for the hard work that she does across the territory and across Canada now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour are ideal locations to monitor winter storms in the High Arctic. Another roof blew apart during this last storm in Paulatuk as the winds reached 140 kilometres.
Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is: how often are community emergency plans exercised and updated across the territory, mainly those in the Barren Lands? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I just want to thank the leadership and the people of the community of Paulatuk who stepped up to the plate during this past weekend, when we had winds that reached up to about 140 kilometres per hour, to take care of our elders, our youth, and those most vulnerable in the community.
Mr. Speaker, the new territorial Emergency Management Act does require communities to update their emergency plans annually. Our staff also do a great job in coordinating and working with our leadership to make sure that these plans are updated on a regular basis and that they actually go through tabletop exercises at the community level.
We will continue to do this, not only with the coastal communities in the Beaufort Delta region, but all of our communities across the Northwest Territories as well as those on the Mackenzie River. We want to make sure that we can prevent anything from happening in terms of emergencies, such as what happened this past weekend in Paulatuk, as well as the other communities in the Member's riding.
I appreciate the response from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that we, as an Assembly, should be seeking disaster mitigation funding to help homeowners and the hamlets across the territory to prepare, as weather storms are becoming more extreme across the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, which impacts day-to-day operations and our infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is: how do you plan on building resiliency in communities that face such climate change effects as the number of winter storms increase in the High Arctic?
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will continue to work closely with community governments to update the NWT Hazard Identification Risk Assessment. We will also continue to lobby our federal counterparts to look at increasing funding or continuing some of the funding that we have used in the past years to mitigate any type of emergency situations. We will obviously continue working with our leadership and working with our community members. That will address some of these emergency issues moving forward.
I appreciate the response from the Minister. It seems like MACA is doing a good job in including the communities. Mr. Speaker, leading after that question, my question to the Minister is: how will MACA incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their local, regional, and territorial emergency planning?
As I mentioned in a previous response, we will look at working with our leadership and our local membership in the communities to address any kind of emergency-management situations and how we deal with those.
Also, with planning community plans, we are going to be working with our community leadership to develop them so that it does mitigate any kind of emergency risks right across the Northwest Territories. Obviously, we have seen over the last few years situations up in our coastal communities that do have an impact. I have brought it up to our federal Minister. I have also brought it up to our national and Indigenous leaders, about such things as permafrost degradation. I talked about coastal erosion, as well as the opening of the Northwest Passage and seeing more vessels coming through, that we need to be prepared for any kind of situation that happens, especially in the Member's riding. I have invited, like I said, our federal Minister to come up and see what we are doing to try to mitigate that risk. I have also invited some of our national Indigenous organization leaders to come see the unique situation of the Northwest Territories, the North, and how we need support on a bigger front. We will, as I mentioned, continue with the membership of the communities, as well as the leadership, who are the experts in this region, in bringing that traditional knowledge into consideration.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
